CORNERSTONE Young Professionals: Panagiota Petsi

Developing new water treatment technologies, optimising smart monitoring tools or validating the sustainability of solutions: In CORNERSTONE, many young professionals are doing their part to achieve the goals of the project. One thing they all have in common: They are highly motivated and passionate about their work. One of our "CORNERSTONE Young Professionals" is Panagiota Petsi. She is a postdoc researcher at the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH). Currently, she is conducting research on the process optimization of bipolar electrodialysis. Read more about Panagiota and her work in the interview!

What is your motivation and what excites you the most about your work?  

My motivation comes from contributing to technical solutions for critical environmental challenges through innovation in water and wastewater management. As a chemical engineer and postdoctoral researcher, I find it rewarding to work on technologies that improve water quality, sustainability, and resource recovery. What excites me most is combining scientific research with practical applications that can create real environmental impact. My current work on electrodialysis motivates me because of its potential in sustainable water treatment and selective separation technologies.

Which impact do you think your research will have on the future?

I believe my research can contribute to developing more sustainable and efficient water and wastewater treatment technologies, which are increasingly important due to water scarcity and environmental pollution. Through my work with electrodialysis, I aim to support cleaner and more energy-efficient treatment systems for industrial and municipal applications. In the future, I hope my research will improve water reuse strategies, reduce environmental impacts, and promote circular economy approaches, leading to safer water resources and a more sustainable future.

What opportunities does the research project CORNERSTONE offer you as a young researcher in your early career? 

The CORNERSTONE project offers me a valuable opportunity as an early-career researcher to work in an international and multidisciplinary environment focused on sustainable industrial water management. I particularly appreciate the integration of advanced research with practical industrial applications. Through collaboration with academic and industrial partners, the project enables me to broaden my expertise, develop interdisciplinary skills, and contribute to innovative solutions that support resource recovery, circular economy goals, and sustainable water treatment technologies.

What is the best thing about your job as a scientist in the CORNERSTONE project? 

The best part of my work on the CORNERSTONE project is contributing to innovative solutions for sustainable water and wastewater management while collaborating with researchers from different disciplines and countries. I enjoy the combination of research, problem-solving, and practical application. One funny moment during an electrodialysis experiment occured when the recirculation flow suddenly became unstable. After a lot of troubleshooting, I discovered that a tiny piece of paper was stuck inside the pump. I had to open the pump, clean the ED cell, and readjust the entire flow system. It was a simple issue, but it reminded me how even the smallest detail can completely affect an experiment.

Find Panagiota on LinkedIn!