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New Faces, New Energy: Welcoming Aashna, Carlo, and Emily to the Team!

From left to right: Emily, Aashna, and Carlo.
Published Mar 03, 2025

We're pleased to welcome three new researchers to our division! Aashna, Carlo, and Emily have recently joined us, bringing their expertise to a range of exciting projects in aerospace, thermal energy, and industrial applications. Their work will contribute to key research initiatives in collaboration with industrial and academic partners.

Meet Aashna

Aashna Raj
Aashna Raj postdoc aashna@kth.se Profile
UNIT OF HEAT AND POWER TECHNOLOGY

Aashna joins us as a postdoctoral researcher working on the MERiT+  project, funded by the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA). Her research focuses on studying nickel-alloys, hydrocarbon fuels, and channel geometries to understand pressure loss and other performance factors under different operating conditions. She will work closely with GKN Aerospace Sweden and the European Space Agency and will also contribute to project coordination within the division.

Meet Carlo

Carlo Rotundo
Carlo Rotundo doctoral student rotundo@kth.se Profile
UNIT OF HEAT AND POWER TECHNOLOGY


Carlo is part of the DARLING  project, which is coordinated by GKN Aerospace AB and funded by Vinnova under the NFFP8 program. His research focuses on compressor blade damage in aeromechanics, where he will develop an advanced model to detect and quantify damage using aerodynamic and aeromechanical data. Carlo will also conduct experimental campaigns at the ITSM lab  in Stuttgart, working with the ACTIVE compressor test rig  to refine his model and better understand how different types of damage affect rotor performance.

Meet Emily

Emily Fricke
Emily Fricke postdoc efricke@kth.se Profile
UNIT OF HEAT AND POWER TECHNOLOGY


Emily has joined as a postdoctoral researcher contributing to both the COMHPTES  and PRINCESS projects. The COMHPTES project aims to develop a compact, modular heat pump and thermal energy storage system for industrial heating and cooling applications. By demonstrating this system with various sustainable technologies, the project hopes to support industrial decarbonization. Emily’s work will focus on heat exchanger design, project development, and coordination. She will also contribute to the design of a compact air-to-sCO₂ heat exchanger for the PRINCESS project.

With their diverse expertise and enthusiasm, Aashna, Carlo, and Emily are great additions to our team. We look forward to seeing their contributions take shape in the coming months!

If you would like to learn more about their work or get in touch, feel free to reach out!