Elena Vagnoni

Elena Vagnoni is a Senior Scientist and Researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Engineering (STI) and actively involved in the Technology Platform for Hydraulic Machines (PTMH) and the Dynamic Engineering Systems Laboratory (DESL). She holds a PhD in Mechanics from EPFL and has held prestigious research roles at Johns Hopkins University and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

• Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (2013)
• PhD in Mechanics from EPFL (2018)

Her research focuses on experimental investigation and predictive modeling of flow phenomena and fluid-structure interactions in hydraulic machines, with applications in improving hydropower plant design and operation. This work addresses critical challenges in strengthening hydropower technology competitiveness amid climate change and power system decarbonization.

She has served as Swiss expert for the International Energy Agency's Hydropower Technology Cooperation Programme (Annex IX) and as Vice-Coordinator of the European Energy Research Association's joint program on Hydropower. Her teaching responsibilities include Master-level courses on Hydropower Plants: Generating and Pumping Units and Hydraulic Turbomachines, covering design, components, and operating principles.

• SNSF Fellowship

Elena supervises PhD students including Alerci Aldo Leonardo, Bocconi Sara, Saroufim Elie, and Veuthey Nathan Justin. She was previously involved with former EPFL PhD student Seydoux Martin. Her work spans both academic research and industrial collaboration through EPFL's hydraulic research infrastructure.