Stefania Tescari holds a degree in physics and a doctorate in engineering. She has been working at the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) Institute of Solar Research in Cologne since 2012.

„Always follow the Sun was my motto, even as a child“

During her studies in physics in Padua, Stefania Tescari worked on numerical models, but she was still fascinated by the Sun. After graduating, she began a Master's degree in solar energy at the University of Perpignan straight away. She worked at the PROMES CNRS research facility in Odeillo in the Pyrenees, which operates the largest solar furnace in Europe, and finally completed her doctorate on the shape optimisation of solar thermochemical reactors.

The Sun also led her to DLR. She met DLR employees in her doctoral colloquium and the head of the DLR Institute of Solar Research was a member of the review board for her dissertation. Their mutual exchange and professional support convinced her. As a DAAD scholarship holder, she joined the Institute's Department of Solar Chemical Engineering, and eventually joining as a full member of the scientific staff in 2012.

„Together with my international colleagues, I am researching the efficient use of solar energy for industrial applications“

Collectively discussing research topics from various perspectives is still very important to her. At DLR, research teams and projects are international and interdisciplinary – a creative atmosphere that inspires and motivates her in each of her projects.

As part of RESTRUCTURE, she helped develop a prototype for a thermochemical storage system, which was installed and successfully tested in the Jülich solar tower. For SOLPART, she is involved in research on a reactor heated with high-temperature solar energy for industrial cement production. In 2018, she spent a few months in Athens as part of an exchange programme through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. There she worked on the development of the prototype of a hydrogen compressor based on metal hydrides.

„I consider my work at DLR not only my profession, but also my calling“

At DLR, she particularly appreciates the freedom to conduct her research. It is a basic prerequisite for her work, which contributes significantly to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. She is passionate about passing on the excellent support she received as a doctoral student and scholarship holder, and now supervises students and doctoral candidates herself.