Anna Vorndran has been awarded first place in the Master Thesis category of the Best Thesis Award at the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Conference (EFCH2 2026) in Capri. The award recognizes outstanding research by young scientists in the field of hydrogen technologies, systems and applications.
Anna Vorndran completed her Master's thesis, "Optimization of Water Management in PEM Fuel Cells: Experimental HFR Analysis under Variable Humidity Conditions," in collaboration between the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Fuel Cells (ivb) at Technische Universität Braunschweig and the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics.
The thesis investigated the use of high-frequency resistance (HFR) measurements as a diagnostic tool for PEM fuel cells. Her experimental results demonstrated the potential of HFR for assessing the humidity state of the fuel cell, providing a basis for improved monitoring and control of water management during operation.
The thesis was jointly supervised by Florian Becker from DLR and Michael Heere and Nadine Mohamed from ivb, TU Braunschweig, reflecting the close collaboration between the two research institutions in the field of fuel cell research.
The Best Thesis Awards were presented during EFCH2 2026 in Capri and recognized outstanding Master's and doctoral research in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The awards were supported by H2IT and the H2Excellence Erasmus+ project.
We congratulate Anna Vorndran on this achievement and are pleased to see her research recognized by the international fuel cell and hydrogen community.