Jun.-Prof. Maartje Boon is from the Netherlands, and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Nitu Lakhmara is from India. They are jointly conducting research on subsurface gas storage at the University of Stuttgart, a topic relevant for the energy transition. Their work focuses on the underground storage of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in porous rock layers. This collaboration is supported by the Margarete von Wrangell program, a funding initiative of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts aimed at emerging female scientists.
Maartje Boon works at the Institute of Mechanics (MIB). Her junior professorship is a joint appointment of the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SC SimTech) and Faculty 2. Dr. Nitu Lakhmara from India is also part of the network. In this interview, Boon and Lakhmara provide insights into their research and interdisciplinary teamwork.
Jun.-Prof. Boon, as an expert in porous media, you are in good company at the University of Stuttgart. In Collaborative Research Center 1313 (SFB 1313), around 60 scientists from nine institutes are conducting research into structures consisting of a solid framework and interconnected pores. What makes porous media so exciting?
MB: The fascinating thing about porous media is that they appear almost everywhere—both in nature and technology. A kitchen sponge, asphalt, bones, even the human brain—these are all porous media. At SFB 1313, we are working to better understand their properties. Our findings are extremely useful in a wide range of areas. To name just a few examples: In medicine, research into porous media can support new approaches to the treatment of osteoporosis. In agriculture, it helps researchers understand how water and fertilizers are distributed in the soil. In construction, it allows engineers better assess the durability and insulating performance of building materials. My team is researching the storage of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in porous underground formations. This holds great potential for the energy transition.
How can subsurface gas storage in porous underground formations contribute to the energy transition?
The energy transition requires both large-scale energy storage and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Underground hydrogen storage in porous formations can support the energy transition by enabling large-scale energy storage. Surplus renewable energy can be converted into hydrogen, stored underground, and produced again when demand is high. Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier at the point of use, but its overall contribution depends on how it is produced and how storage is integrated into the energy system. In addition, porous subsurface formations can be used for the permanent storage of carbon dioxide, helping to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
Where does your research begin?
For example, underground hydrogen storage in porous reservoirs is a relatively new concept, many aspects of how hydrogen interacts with reservoir brine and rock underground are still not fully understood. This is where our research on multiphase flow in porous media comes in. The questions we want to clarify include: Can hydrogen be stored and recovered effectively underground? What processes occur during storage? How can we optimize storage?
Your project team is interdisciplinary. Which disciplines are represented?
Initially, the team consisted of three doctoral researchers in the geosciences with a strong focus on experimental observations. Then, mathematician Nitu Lakhmara joined the team in August 2025. She focuses on numerical and analytical modeling tools and is a great addition to our research team.
Dr. Lakhmara, how does a mathematician from Kharagpur end up in a team of geoscientists in Stuttgart?
NL: In my doctoral thesis at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, I worked intensively on models for porous media. When I learned that an entire Collaborative Research Center in Stuttgart was conducting research on porous media, I was thrilled. I wrote an email to the SFB, introduced myself, and inquired about opportunities to continue my research in Stuttgart. That’s how Maartje Boon and I got in touch.
MB: After a few emails and online meetings, it was clear: Nitu’s expertise is a perfect fit for our team. So, we applied for funding—and were successful. The Margarete von Wrangell Program of the Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts of Baden-Wuerttemberg is funding Nitu’s postdoc position for three years.
At the University of Stuttgart, close collaboration between experimental and simulation-based researchers is not unusual. SFB 1313, which conducts research on porous media, is affiliated with the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science. What is it like to work in this unique ecosystem?
NL: My work benefits greatly from the intensive exchange between the various disciplines. What particularly excites me is that I am not working on a purely theoretical model in isolation but rather I can see how other researchers are applying and further developing those results.
Your research brings together different disciplines, cultural backgrounds, and perspectives. Diversity is a strength—when collaboration works well. What do you think is the key to this?
MB: I find this diversity very enriching. It is important to consciously take time to get to know each other and develop a common understanding. Communication plays a central role in this.
NL: I completely agree. Timely communication helps build bridges between different points of view.
The Margarete von Wrangell Program
The Margarete von Wrangell Program of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts promotes the academic careers of women in higher education. Funded by the European Social Fund Plus, it enables junior and tenure-track professors to further develop their research profile while promoting early career researchers. As part of the program, female professors can hire a newly graduated female PhD scientist for three years. Over the three-year period, the early-career scientist will be employed in a stable full-time position, enabling professional development and qualification for a subsequent role.
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Lena Jauernig
Editor Research / Early Career Researchers