Johanna Bartlechner, a PhD candidate at TU Wien, was awarded the prestigious Young Author Award at IFAC AAC 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Her winning paper focused on 'Health-conscious MPC for PEM fuel cells' and addressed the challenge of maintaining durability in fuel cell systems under real-world driving conditions. Fuel cells play a crucial role in sustainable mobility by converting hydrogen into electricity with zero emissions. Bartlechner's research, conducted in collaboration with AVL List GmbH, introduced a novel model predictive control framework that optimizes the tradeoff between efficiency, safety, and system longevity by considering degradation mechanisms. This innovative approach also involved the development of a state-of-health observer, enabling real-time analysis of critical components inside fuel cell systems. The research, led by Professor Stefan Jakubek and Professor Christoph Hametner at TU Wien, emphasizes practical relevance and innovation in emission-free propulsion systems. Professor Jakubek praised Bartlechner's work for its academic excellence and practical application in advancing cleaner transport systems. Bartlechner's contributions are significant in the quest for cleaner and more efficient electric vehicles, especially for long-range and heavy-duty applications.