Shataskhi Saxena

Somewhere between school experiments and late-night curiosity, I saw science as a tool to shape the future, a vision I carried into my Master’s in Materials Science and Nanotechnology in India. Early on, I became increasingly drawn to a central question: how do we power the future sustainably? This curiosity soon matured into a purpose, driving my focus toward technologies that enable smarter, cleaner ways to capture, store, and use energy responsibly. This guided me to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie DESTINY PhD program, a journey defined by both ambition and humility. Being accepted into such a prestigious, international, and interdisciplinary network was not just an honor; it was a profound reminder of why I chose this path to contribute to science that matters, science that serves the future.

Today, as a doctoral researcher at CEA Grenoble, working in close collaboration with Syensqo, I stand at the interface of materials innovation and energy sustainability. My research focuses on the intricate interfacial mechanisms in hybrid polymer-electrolyte based lithium-ion batteries - emerging systems that promise to redefine the future of energy storage. By combining electrochemical techniques with advanced structural and surface analyses, we aim to uncover the fundamental links between material processing, interface formation, and long-term performance bridging the gap between scientific insight and practical application.

DESTINY has been more than an academic endeavor; it has been a transformative experience. It has surrounded me with a vibrant community of thinkers and pioneers across Europe, where collaboration, cultural exchange, and interdisciplinary dialogue have broadened not only my scientific perspective but also my understanding of what it means to contribute to a collective vision. Through these experiences, I have learned that true scientific progress thrives not in isolation but in the synergy of diverse minds united by a shared purpose.

At the core of this journey is a belief that science at its true frontier is not defined solely by the answers it provides but by the audacity of the questions it dares to ask - questions that illuminate new horizons, questions that can only be answered together.”