Rethinking how batteries survive extreme cold
A Texas A&M materials science and engineering doctoral candidate is developing next-generation batteries for aerospace applications and teaching the next generation of scientists how to ask better questions along the way.
Jaybelle Pranada
Jaybelle Pranada grew up in the Philippines, asking, “Why?”
Why does nature work the way it does? Why does a piece of technology behave the way it does? Those questions followed her from a science-oriented high school to a career in research.
Today, that curiosity drives her work at Texas A&M University, where she’s a doctoral candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on one of clean energy’s persistent problems: How batteries behave when temperatures drop.
“Rather than viewing those conditions as barriers, I see them as opportunities to rethink conventional approaches,” she said.
The work, and why it matters
Batteries power much of clean energy technology, from electric cars and renewable power grids to lunar rovers and electric aircraft. But many lose performance in demanding environments, including extreme cold.
Pranada uses computational models to study how battery materials store and deliver energy — the interplay among ion transport, charge transfer and electrochemical reactions. Understanding those mechanisms can help researchers design batteries that hold up under conditions where current versions struggle.
She hopes the work helps accelerate cleaner transportation, renewable energy integration and future aerospace missions.
“At its core, the clean energy transition is also a materials challenge,” she said. “Advances in clean energy are often made possible by advances in materials science.”
Pranada knew early that materials science was the path she wanted to pursue. She studied as an undergraduate at Mapúa University in the Philippines, one of the few schools in the country to offer the degree. A research project on dye-sensitized solar cells became a defining moment.
“It was the first time I saw how fundamental materials science could be translated into a technology with the potential to address real-world energy challenges,” she said. “That experience sparked a lasting interest in energy storage and was the moment I realized that I wanted to pursue research as a career.”
A focus on teaching
Alongside her research, Pranada serves as a teaching assistant, a role she describes as one of the most rewarding parts of graduate school.
Her approach starts by meeting students where they are and creating an environment that encourages questions. She focuses on breaking complex ideas into smaller, more approachable pieces and connecting them to examples students can relate to.
“I also remind students that struggling with difficult material is a normal part of learning,” she said. “That understanding develops through practice, not instant mastery.”
Some of her most meaningful moments come from working with undergraduate researchers tackling open-ended problems for the first time. Early on, she said, many students worry about finding the right answer, but research often involves uncertainty, iteration and learning from mistakes.
“Watching students grow more confident in their ability to think independently, ask thoughtful questions and develop their own ideas has been incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Education is not just about transferring knowledge but helping people realize what they are capable of achieving.”
She sees teaching and mentorship as part of her long-term path. Whether she pursues a career in academia, government research or industry, she hopes to keep mentoring students and early-career researchers — the same way her own mentors invested in her.
More than a researcher
Science was never Pranada’s only interest.
Growing up, she was drawn to math, science, writing, public speaking and creative work. At the time, she didn’t realize those interests would eventually complement one another.
“You don’t have to fit a particular mold to succeed in STEM,” she said. “Your unique interests and experiences can become some of your greatest strengths.”
A typical week for Pranada is a mix of research, running simulations, writing papers, mentoring students and professional development. She also makes a conscious effort to maintain balance by staying active, pursuing creative writing and spending time with family and friends.
“Those moments outside of research help me recharge and bring fresh perspectives back to my work,” she said.
She traces that approach to her childhood in the Philippines, where she said academics mattered but so did family, relationships, creativity and personal growth.
Looking ahead
Pranada’s path has taken her from the Philippines to graduate research in the United States. Along the way, she’s learned that success is rarely a straight line.
“Stay curious, and don’t let fear stop you from pursuing opportunities that excite you,” she said. “Some of the most meaningful experiences in my own journey happened because I said yes to something that felt a little intimidating at the time. Growth rarely happens when we’re completely comfortable.”
