Serena Agnolin's PhD project centered on revolutionizing hydrogen production in the chemical industry by developing innovative membranes as an alternative to energy-intensive separation processes. The chemical industry, a major CO2 emitter, often relies on distillation for separation, contributing to high energy consumption and emissions. Agnolin's membrane reactor approach aimed to directly separate hydrogen during production, mitigating the need for subsequent energy-intensive separation steps. By focusing on palladium membranes deposited on metal tubes, she overcame challenges to achieve stable membranes with high selectivity for hydrogen. Her membranes proved successful in efficiently separating hydrogen from methane steam reforming and ammonia cracking reactions, showcasing promise for industrial applications. Agnolin's post-PhD work on carbon molecular sieve membranes highlights her continuous commitment to advancing sustainable process engineering. Her passion for creative processes and innovation drives her pursuit of developing new technologies in academia or potentially transitioning to industry in the future.