Sarah Plutzar
DC22: Accelerated Discovery of Supramolecular Molecular Energy Storage Systems .
Sarah is a doctoral researcher and MSCA Fellow in DREAM+PLAN, Employed at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain & Co-enrolled at RMIT University in a Double Degree Position.
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Sarah's Story
Sarah is an early-stage PhD researcher in the DREAM+PLAN program, starting her project in October 2025 at UPC in Barcelona. Originally from Vienna, Austria, she began her academic path in 2017 at the University of Vienna, continued with her Master’s at TU Wien, and is now living abroad for the first time to pursue her PhD. She’s especially excited about the opportunity to not only experience life in Barcelona, but also to spend time in Melbourne through the double degree program.
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Her research focuses on developing materials that can store and release both solar and ambient heat - offering new ways to heat and cool buildings more efficiently. The goal is to help reduce energy consumption in everyday life by combining two complementary technologies: molecular solar thermal systems (MOST) and phase change materials (PCMs). For Sarah, it’s rewarding to work on something that’s not only scientifically fascinating but also highly relevant for society and the environment.
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Outside the lab, Sarah brings just as much energy to her other passions. She recently completed her dance instructor certification and has a long history of competing in dancing, including formation dance, where she and her team ranked 2nd in the world. Teaching and sharing the joy of dance is something she cares deeply about. In her free time, she also enjoys staying active, learning to play guitar, and baking sourdough bread with her own starter.
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She’s looking forward to the community and exchange that DREAM+PLAN offers, and to growing both as a researcher and as a person - across cultures, disciplines, and continents.
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