Whitewashed courtyard architecture

Jesika Asatryan, PhD
Material's Engineer and Photographer

About

Personal Description

Born in Germany to an Armenian family, I grew up in a vibrant, multicultural household that taught me to embrace diversity and always keep an open mind.

Because of my background, I feel right at home in international environments. I absolutely love collaborating with diverse teams, adapting to new challenges, and bringing people together to do great work.

"I believe that the best innovations come from a mix of hard work, persistence, and a healthy dose of humility."

Portrait photo

Education

Academic path
2016 — 2020

BSc in Materials Engineering

Seville, Spain

Graduated in 2020, consistently awarded academic scholarships throughout my undergraduate studies in recognition of my grades.

2020 — 2021

MSc in Polymer Physics

Sorbonne Université, Paris & Polytechnic School of Ferrol

Pursued to deepen my expertise in polymer physics. Collaborated with world-renowned scientists and elite research centers at Université Paris Diderot and the University of A Coruña.

2021

MBA & Project Management

Business School of Barcelona

Built a strong foundation in corporate dynamics and entrepreneurship, gaining practical expertise in project management, risk management, and business strategy.

2022 — 2026

PhD in Applied Physics

University of A Coruña

Honing technical expertise while cultivating independence, proactivity, creativity and the ability to rapidly master new techniques. Secured research funding at my host university and during research stays, and gained extensive hands-on experience in advanced synchrotron facilities and laboratories — while transferring academic knowledge into practical industry applications.

Training and Experience

Hands-on experience

I gained extensive laboratory experience starting with my Master's in Polymer Physics, and further expanded my expertise during my PhD training at POLYMAT, an internationally recognized Spanish polymer research center. I subsequently continued my work in Ferrol. During the first year of my PhD, I successfully set up a laboratory from scratch, which equipped me with highly practical skills in laboratory design, equipment procurement, and logistics management.

I have also acquired specialized, hands-on training in advanced synchrotron techniques by conducting experiments at premier European facilities, including ALBA (Barcelona, Spain), Elettra (Trieste, Italy), and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF in Grenoble, France). Following this, I completed an international research stay at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Working in the prestigious lab of Professor Christian Müller allowed me to broaden my technical expertise and gain a valuable global perspective on scientific research and collaborative work culture.

During my PhD, I also actively applied my entrepreneurial skills by participating in startup development initiatives. In 2022, I completed the AddVenture Applied Entrepreneurship Program, focusing on the IT sector and digital transformation for microenterprises. The following year, I was selected for the Explorer program powered by Santander X. Collaborating with my teammates, Beatriz Sánchez Martillo and Garik Asatryan, we successfully designed and developed real-world startup projects, bridging the gap between innovative ideas and market execution.

2021

Master's Thesis — Organic-Inorganic Frameworks for Solid-State Refrigeration

CICA UDC (Centro de Investigación de Científicas Avanzadas), A Coruña, Spain
2022

Research Intern

POLYMAT, San Sebastián, Spain
2022 — 2026

PhD Student

Ferrol, A Coruña
  • Set up of the laboratory of functional polymers — Ferrol, A Coruña (2022)
  • Beamtimes at ALBA synchrotron — Barcelona (2022 — 2026)
  • Elettra — Trieste, Italy (2023)
  • European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) — Grenoble, France (2023)
  • International stay at Chalmers University of Technology, in Professor Christian Müller's lab (2024 — 2025)
  • AddVenture Applied Entrepreneurship Program — A Coruña (2022)
  • Explorer program powered by Santander X
  • Startup Project "Derivada de Ciencia" — A Coruña (2023)
2026 — Present

Postdoctoral Researcher

Chalmers University of Technology-Goteborg, Sweden

Skills

Capabilities

Leadership & Operations

  • Facility setup & operations: established and managed a high-tech R&D laboratory from the ground up, handling budget allocation, equipment procurement, and workflow optimization.
  • Team leadership & talent development: onboarding, training, and mentoring new team members and students, ensuring rapid integration and adherence to rigorous safety and operational standards.

Project Management & Innovation

  • Process engineering & innovation: designing and executing complex technical projects on strict timelines; developing novel methodologies that improve efficiency and data accuracy.
  • Agile problem solving: managing end-to-end R&D cycles — from concept and strategic design to troubleshooting and final execution.

Data Science & Programming

  • Advanced data analytics: Python for data science (Pandas, NumPy) to clean, process, and extract insights from large, complex datasets.
  • Computational modeling: custom code for model-based data fitting, e.g. complex UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis, to automate analytical processes.
  • Data visualization: Matplotlib and OriginLab to translate raw data into clear, impactful graphs for data-driven decisions.

Materials Characterization

  • Grazing Incidence Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering (GIWAXS)
  • Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering (WAXS)
  • Flash Differential Scanning Calorimetry (Flash DSC)
  • Standard DSC
  • UV-Vis Spectroscopy
  • Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA)
  • Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
  • Optical Microscopy

Proposal & Grant Writing

  • Synthesizing complex project goals into compelling, high-stakes technical proposals. Adept at authoring competitive pitches to secure project funding.

Communication & Mentorship

  • Technical training: Physics Lecturer at the Polytechnic School of Ferrol (University of A Coruña), teaching complex foundational science to engineering students.
  • Science communication: invited speaker at Pint of Science (2023, 2024) and G-Night (2025), making deep-tech R&D accessible to general and cross-functional audiences.

Global Collaboration

  • Cross-cultural collaboration: extensive international experience across Europe, building strong networks with global stakeholders and driving cross-border projects.
  • Languages: fluent in English, Spanish, Russian and Armenian; foundational knowledge of French and German.
Skills diagram

Achievements & Awards

Recognition

Projects

Selected research