Gerda Vaitkunaite graduated in 2017 with a MEng. in Manufacturing Engineering (Material Science and Welding Engineering) from Vilnius Tech University, Lithuania.
Gerda’s BEng and MEng projects both involved development of Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coatings for industrial applications. In her MEng project, a correlation was established between the deposition process chemistry, coating friction performance and resistance to impact. The DLC coating that exhibited the highest hardness and lowest coefficient of friction was applied to an F1 racing car design and later industrialised for passenger vehicle applications.
In 2018 Gerda joined the Institute of Functional Surfaces at the University of Leeds to work on a PhD supervised by Prof. Ardian Morina, Prof. Anne Neville, Dr. Cayetano Espejo Conesa and industrial advisor Benoit Thiebaut from TotalEnergies Research.
Gerda’s PhD (due to complete in 2021) studied the effects of low friction tribofilm kinetics on engine tribological components. In collaboration with industry, the PhD investigated the underlying reactions of lubricant additives with the aim to improve lubricant formulation for passenger cars. A novel quantitative analysis method for low friction MoS2 tribofilm characterisation was developed, based on Raman Spectroscopy and HAADF-STEM-EDX mapping. Alongside bench top tribotests, engine cylinder samples from commercial powertrain tests were analysed using this new method. The method correlated the friction performance with tribofilm lateral distribution, its chemical composition and thickness and it has already started to generate impact through helping the OEM to optimise engine oils for lowest friction and better fuel efficiency and thereby address reduction of CO2 emissions in passenger cars.
Gerda has always been involved in outreach and teaching at the various academic institutions that she has attended. At Leeds she taught courses on fundamentals of Raman Spectroscopy and tribometer testing methodology while supervising and managing laboratory responsibilities. She has also been recognised widely for her excellence in approach, receiving multiple awards and scholarships for her academic achievements and research potential.
Gerda is a highly accomplished young tribologist who has already developed a unique skill set and very importantly the ability to communicate between academia and industry: Bridging the gap between academic research and industry is essential, especially in tribology, as the world faces immense energy and environmental challenges. Gerda is committed to developing an academic career in tribology and in July 2021 she started a three-year postdoctoral research and teaching position in the Tribology Research Group in the Institute of Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany), in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials.
Gerda is a very worthy winner of the 2021 Tribology Bronze Medal.