In this interview, Diana San Benito and Alejandro Block, PhDs in Aerospace Propulsion from Cranfield University, provide a brief intro of their doctoral research regarding innovation in aircraft propulsion. These young professionals also share insights of their trajectories in the industry and provide words of inspiration and determination for youth looking to join the aviation sector.

Diana San Benito is a research scientist and R&T system engineer with a PhD in Aerospace Propulsion from Cranfield University (2021), where she also obtained her Master of Science in Thermal Power (2016) with honours of the first class. In parallel to her PhD research, she worked on the European Clean Sky 2 joint undertaking in partnership with Airbus. The last four years she has collaborated with multicultural and multidisciplinary research teams on advancing the Contra-Rotating Open Rotor technology. She is passionate about technological innovation for a greener future of the aerospace industry and encouraging youth in aviation.

Alejandro Block is a Fuels and Propulsion Researcher at Airports Council International (ACI) and a Sustainability Consultant at the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). He also holds a visiting researcher fellow position at Cranfield University where he obtained his PhD in Aerospace Propulsion in 2019. He has already co-authored 8 papers in international journals and conferences on the topic of aviation and the environment, and participated in several other industrial studies on the same topic with organizations like IATA, ATAG and ACI. His current role involves facilitating the entry into service of more efficient aircraft and the adoption of more sustainable sources of energy with the aim of decarbonizing the aviation industry.