WGBI Member Spotlight Series – Cora Lind-Kovacs

The Women in the Global Battery Industry (WGBI) proudly spotlights Cora Lind-Kovacs, a full professor at The University of Toledo whose unexpected path into battery research has led to significant contributions in lead-acid battery technology.

The Women in the Global Battery Industry (WGBI) proudly spotlights Cora Lind-Kovacs, a full professor at The University of Toledo whose unexpected path into battery research has led to significant contributions in lead-acid battery technology.

🚀 Career Journey: From Crystallography to Battery Breakthroughs

Cora’s venture into battery research began with a simple collaboration request. “If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be working on batteries, I would have given you a very quizzical look,” she admits. It all started when Samira Farahani from Crown Battery sought help analyzing complex powder diffraction data at the University of Toledo’s Instrumentation Center.

What initially seemed like a typical crystallography challenge—examining phase compositions of low-symmetry compounds—soon turned into a deeper inquiry about the mysteries of lead batteries, particularly lignosulfonate expanders. “Naturally, this intrigued me, and I started voicing some ideas,” Cora recalls.

That curiosity sparked collaboration with Pietro Papa Lopes at Argonne National Laboratory and various industrial partners, resulting in the Model Expander Molecules for Advanced Lead Acid Batteries project, funded by Battery Council International’s American Battery Research Group (ABRG) since 2021. Today, Cora leads a research team that synthesizes and analyzes small sulfonated molecules mimicking those in negative expanders.

The results have been promising: “We’ve discovered several ‘enhancers’ that improve both charge and discharge, and hope to make molecules with even better performance,” she shares.

💡 Industry Insights: Bridging Academia and Innovation

As one of the few academic members of WGBI, Cora brings a unique perspective, working to bridge the gap between research institutions and industry. She also sees herself as a role model, aiming to inspire more women to pursue scientific research careers. Her lab is a testament to this mission: among her battery project participants, one of three graduate students and six of seven undergraduates are women.

đŸ€ WGBI Involvement: Finding Community and Connection

Cora joined WGBI at its inception, drawn to the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals. “As a woman working in this field, I was of course excited to join a group of like-minded people who want to be there to help each other excel and thrive!”

She finds great value in WGBI’s monthly webinars and subcommittees, especially sessions on leadership and communication styles. “As an outsider coming into the battery field, WGBI is the place where I first truly felt that I belonged,” she notes.

🌟 Advice and Inspiration

Cora encourages women to consider careers in batteries. “It is a field in which you can make a difference. Batteries are important, and that will not change any time soon, much the opposite.” She acknowledges the field’s male-dominated history but sees real momentum toward inclusivity: “It takes more women entering the field to truly achieve that – so if you are interested in batteries, the industry needs you!”

She credits her Ph.D. advisor as her biggest influence—someone who taught her not only science but how to mentor others. “He showed me how to raise up young scientists to become the best version they can be.”

đŸ„‹ Life Beyond the Laboratory

Outside the lab, Cora is a 5th degree black belt in ITF-style Taekwon-Do and proudly represented Team USA at the 2022 World Championships in Amsterdam, bringing home silver and bronze medals.

She also tends a 600-square-foot garden, hikes, snowboards, plays guitar in her church’s Praise Band, and volunteers at Vacation Bible School.

WGBI celebrates Cora Lind-Kovacs for her innovation, mentorship, and inspiring example for the future of the battery industry.