Researchers/Technologist

© unibz|Alexander Erlacher

Received her M.Sc. degree in Medical Engineering from University of Rome TorVergata (Italy) in 2016. Her master’s thesis focused on developing and testing organic semiconducting polymers and thin films for bio-hybrid interfaces with retinal system to develop Artificial Retina models. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in Electronic Engineering in 2020 from University of Rome TorVergata (Italy) with a thesis entitled “Conjugated polymer photosensitive platforms for Artificial Retina and light control of living cells”. During the three Ph.D. years she worked at CHOSE (Center of Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy, Rome) and one year (2nd year of Ph.D.) at University of Surrey (UK) as visiting Ph.D. on the development of an inkjet printed polymeric Artificial Retina (project funded by Lazio Region-TORNOSUBITO program). She won the ITWIIN (Italian Women Inventor&Innovator) Awards-Special Mention MaterialConneXion-Best Innovative woman 2016, and the EIWIIN (European International Women Inventors&Innovators) Special Recognition Award 2017 for ingenious and innovative achievements. 
Dr. Ciocca is currently Assistant Professor at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy), working in the PRIME Research Group at the Faculty of Engineering. 

© unibz|Alexander Erlacher

Received his B.Sc. degree in Physics in 2015 and subsequently completed his M.Sc. degree in Physics in 2017, both from the Department of Physics within the Faculty of Science at the University of Casablanca, Morocco. He successfully defended his doctoral dissertation to earn his Ph.D. degree in Physics in July 2021 from the University of Ferrara at the Sensor and Semiconductor Laboratory, in collaboration with the Micro Nano Facility at the Bruno Kessler Foundation in Trento. Following the completion of his doctoral studies, he held positions as a postdoctoral researcher at the Sensing Technologies Lab of the Free University of Bolzano (Italy) from 2021 to 2023 and as a junior university researcher from 2023 to 2024 at the same institution.
Currently, his research interests revolve around the development of electronics on flexible substrates and printing techniques employed in fabricating sensors, devices, and circuits, with a specific emphasis on photonics and optoelectronics devices.

Post-Docs/Research assistants

Received his Bachelor ofTechnology (distinction) in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, Nuzvid (India) in 2014. He obtained his 1^st master’s degree in Electronics in 2017 from Halmstad University and worked as a research engineer for a short period in Sweden. During his master thesis at Lund University, he was awarded “Global Swede” by Swedish ministry of foreign affairs and the Swedish Institute (SI) on May 18^th, 2016, in Stockholm. He moved to Italy in 2017 and received his 2^nd master’sdegree in Nanotechnologies for ICTs from Politecnico di Torino in 2020 by performing his master thesis on “bismuth oxynitrates based electrochemical sensors” in Bio/CMOS interfaces Lab of prof. Sandro Carrara at EPFL in Switzerland. Later, he worked as a research assistant for a year in Sensing Technologies Lab of prof. Paolo Lugli at Free University of Bolzano. He received his PhD (cum laude) in Electrical, Electronics and Communication Engineering from Politecnico di Torino by successfully defending his PhD thesis “Enhancing the Electron Transfer at Electrochemical Interfaces by Spinel Oxide-Nanostructures” in 2025. During his PhD he spent a period in the research group of prof. Irene Taurino at KU Leuven, Belgium and worked on potentiometric pH and amperometric dissolved oxygen sensing using ZnO and ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, as well as a period in Bio/CMOS interfaces Lab at EPFL where he focused on non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of anticancer drugs (5-FU, etoposide, and methotrexate). Later, he held a 6-month postdoctoral position at Politecnico di Torino focusing on photocatalytic color degradation of organic stains (red wine, lemon tea, and coffee) by ACE products (Fater group) integrated with Fe-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. He started his research contract at Free University of Bolzano in July 2026.

Currently, his research focuses on the development of biocompatible and bioresorbable batteries and optoelectronic devices for electronic medicine, avionic, and satellite applications.

PhD students

Received his B.Sc. in Physics (Solid-state and Electronics) from the University of Tabriz (2011–2015) and his M.Sc. in Solid-state Physics from Shahid Beheshti University (2015–2018). During his Master’s studies, he worked on the fabrication, characterization, and magnetoresistance of magnetic/non-magnetic multilayer nanowires. After graduation, he worked as a junior researcher in the Nano-Physics and Spintronics Group at Shahid Beheshti University’s Department of Physics and later as a lab assistant until 2023. Beyond his academic pursuits, Javad has significant experience in mechanical design and 3D printing. He has applied this expertise to design and create lab instruments, such as the mechanical components of an ellipsometer.
Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. under the supervision of Professor Franco Cacialli at the Faculty of Engineering at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. His Ph.D. project focuses on developing biocompatible, biodegradable, and bioresorbable infrared and near-infrared organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

Received her M.Sc. degree in Materials Engineering from Shiraz University of Technology, in 2019. Her undergraduate studies were in the same field, as well. During her M.Sc. studies, he worked on a project on the fabrication of perovskite solar cells using as synthesised and characterized inorganic semiconductors, in collaboration with University of Tabriz. Her foundation of multidisciplinary research approach is laid by the combination of advanced material synthesis techniques with optoelectronic applications. Following her graduation, she joined the Nanomaterials group at the University of Tabriz as a junior researcher and laboratory assistant, where she was involved in the development of photocatalytic materials aimed at environmental remediation. Her research focused on designing and optimizing semiconductor-based photocatalysts for the degradation of organic and pharmaceutical pollutants in aqueous solutions. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, PRIME research group, working under the supervision of Professor Franco Cacialli.

External collaborations

Group Name
Faculty
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Prof.