Sona GULUZADE

My love affair with Chemistry started in high school and went through a series of break-ups with a BSc in Chemical Engineering and an MSc in Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, and Nanoengineering. However, I am grateful that DESTINY brought me back to Chemistry and into the field of Energy Storage within Europe's greatest network of battery scientists.

My project combines computational research at my host institution, the University of Bath, and experimental research during my mobility at the Laboratoire de Réactivité et de Chimie des Solides (LRCS). The question that keeps me wide awake on days (and some nights) revolves around the new sulfide fast-ion-conducting solid electrolytes understanding their performance, the underlying mechanisms, and how we can develop and study them in real life. To tackle these questions, I use tools like Ab-initio Random Structure Searching (AIRSS), machine-learned forcefields for atomistic modeling, solid-state synthesis, mechanochemistry, and powder X-ray diffraction.

I love being part of the DESTINY program. The people I work with are incredibly supportive and passionate, creating a conducive environment for the growth of a researcher. DESTINY has provided access to technical training and meetings that enhanced my competence in my field, as well as career development sessions and industry exposure that helped me understand how and where my strengths can best serve the field of energy storage.

I particularly enjoyed the Umicore Market Intelligence training and the presence of industry experts in our gatherings, which made us aware of higher TRL activities in the field and how we can be involved in them. I am grateful to those who conceptualized, funded, and invested countless hours to make DESTINY what it is to us!