Energy: PhD Day, ENEA supports 80 young protagonists of the transition

Over 80 ENEA PhD students presented studies and research projects on the most strategic topics of the energy transition during the “PhD Day” training event held at the ENEA Casaccia Research Center in Rome.

Addressed to PhD students from the ENEA Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources (TERIN), the event aimed at highlighting the work of young researchers and fostering the exchange of expertise among colleagues from across Italy, creating opportunities for networking in energy research, from renewables to hydrogen, storage systems to smart grids.

In particular, six final-year PhD candidates presented the results of their three-year research projects in plenary sessions, detailing their scientific contributions. The other participants showcased their projects through a thematic exhibition pathway, with posters and visual materials highlighting activities and objectives, stimulating curiosity and peer-to-peer dialogue.

“At a time when the so-called ‘brain drain’ is one of the main challenges for the national research system, an event like the PhD Day demonstrates ENEA concrete commitment to supporting young talent, also by funding the doctoral grants of all participants,” pointed out Giulia Monteleone, Director of the TERIN Department.

This support has enabled PhD students not only to dedicate themselves continuously to research, but also to acquire cross-disciplinary and operational skills, working closely with ENEA experts and the advanced infrastructures of its Research Centers.

“Thanks also to projects like the Operational Hydrogen Research Plan (POR), funded by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security under the NRRP, we have been able to activate PhD scholarships at numerous Italian universities, with the goal of bringing young people closer to research and making them active players in the energy transition our country is undergoing. We are confident that the integration of diverse skills will further stimulate and enhance their professional growth”, Monteleone concluded.