Dr Stefanie de Graaf

Dr. Stefanie de Graaf is an aerospace engineer and researcher with recognized expertise in sustainable aircraft propulsion, gas turbine technology and electrified propulsion systems. Her interdisciplinary research seamlessly integrates numerical simulation, innovative propulsion concepts and close collaboration with industry partners.

She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Stuttgart, where she focused on thermodynamics and aerodynamics as well as two-phase flows for combustion simulation. After working as a project engineer at MTU Maintenance in Vancouver, she went on to pursue a PhD in the field of chemistry-turbulence interaction for swirl stabilized combustion at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada. During this time, she initiated and planned her first project funded by NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) for collaborative work between UBC, MTU Maintenance and MTU Aero Engines.

Since 2021, Dr. de Graaf has been part of the DLR-Institute of Electrified Aero Engines in Cottbus, Germany, where she currently serves as Deputy Director of the Institute and is the Head of the Research Department “Architecture and Integration of the Propulsion System”. Since 2024 she is leading the EU-funded FlyECO project, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable propulsion technologies for the future of aviation.

Dr. de Graaf has published extensively in leading journals and conferences. She combines deep technical expertise with strategic vision and is passionately committed to driving the development of cleaner, more sustainable aviation technologies.