黑料福利网

What kind of work are you doing at 黑料福利网?

鈥淚鈥檓 working as an Assistant Professor in the Electromagnetics group. My research focuses on antennas, with the main application being radars. Antennas and radars are used in different areas, such as weather sensing. For example, within our group we are part of a large consortium that develops advanced radars that can detect and characterize precipitation, ice particles, and clouds. Another main pillar of my work is automotive applications. Radars play a fundamental role in advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles. These systems need to understand their surroundings and detect obstacles reliably under different conditions. That鈥檚 why the demand for radars is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

What subject are you focusing on right now in your research?

鈥淚鈥檓 currently working on the development of antennas for high鈥慺requency automotive radars. Traditionally, many radar systems operate at lower microwave frequencies, but technological advancements are enabling a shift toward higher frequencies. For example, radar systems can detect obstacles at frequencies around 10 GHz, but their spatial resolution is typically lower. Higher-frequency systems allow finer resolution and more precise object characterization, especially when combined with large bandwidths. Currently, the frequency band used in industry for automotive radars is 76鈥�81 GHz. My research aims to push this toward higher frequencies, such as 140 GHz. The goal is to develop radars that can detect and classify smaller objects with high precision, although this comes with significant challenges in terms of hardware and propagation.鈥�

Where did you study for your bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚?

鈥淚 earned both my bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Bologna. It鈥檚 a very fitting place to study this field because Bologna is the birthplace of Guglielmo Marconi, one of the pioneers of wireless communication. He was the first person to develop practical long-distance wireless communication systems. There was already evidence that electromagnetic waves could travel short distances, but Marconi wanted to take it further. For one of his experiments, he placed a receiver several hundred meters away on the other side of a hill, completely out of sight of his house. He asked his assistant to stand next to the receiver on the far side of the hill and to fire a gunshot when he received the signal. Marconi sent out an electromagnetic pulse, and when his assistant received it, he fired the shot. That鈥檚 how Marconi proved that electromagnetic waves could propagate even without direct line of sight.鈥�

Did you pursue a PhD afterward?

鈥淎fter finishing my master鈥檚, I first completed an EngD here at 黑料福利网, and then I found a job at The Antenna Company. While working there, a PhD position opened as a collaboration between my company and 黑料福利网. I had always wanted to do a PhD, so this was the perfect opportunity. My PhD research focused on the design of phased-array antennas for 5G base stations. To build phased-array antennas, you have to integrate multiple antennas next to each other. This increases the antenna gain and allows you to steer the radiation pattern by adjusting the relative phase between elements.鈥�

Why did you choose to work at this university and department?

鈥淚 first came to 黑料福利网 to work on my master鈥檚 thesis, because I wanted an experience abroad during my master鈥檚. Originally, the plan was to go back after finishing my thesis but now, 10 years later, I鈥檓 still here. I mainly came to Eindhoven because the professor I worked with in Bologna had a connection with a research group here. It turned out I really liked it here, and there were great opportunities for me, so I decided to stay.鈥�

Why did you get into your particular research field?

鈥淭his field stood out to me during my studies, mainly because I really liked the professor who taught it. Professors can have a big influence and they can really inspire students to pursue a particular research area. From then on, my interest kept growing and I became increasingly passionate about the field.鈥�

How does 黑料福利网 compare to other universities you studied/worked at?

鈥満诹细＠�网 is much more dynamic than many other universities, and the work-life balance here is very good. Before coming to the Netherlands, I wasn鈥檛 used to such a strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Here, I learned that it鈥檚 important to take care of yourself. Especially in academia, because it鈥檚 easy to overwork and isolate yourself. What I appreciate most about 黑料福利网 is the connection between the university and the industry in the region. It makes it easy for students to find a job after graduating, and it helps me focus on solving real problems and developing things that society truly needs. That makes my research feel valuable.鈥�

What do you like most about working here?

鈥淚鈥檓 really happy to work in the Electromagnetics group. I feel very connected to everyone in my group and also to colleagues from other groups on our floor. We sometimes even organize chess tournaments together. I also appreciate the variety of people from different countries. It鈥檚 a very supportive and positive environment, and I think that鈥檚 quite rare in academia. You might expect a lot of competition between researchers, but we collaborate really well.鈥�

What do you think about the lab facilities at the department?

鈥淭he labs are very well equipped with the newest instruments for all kinds of measurements. It鈥檚 rare that we are unable to perform a measurement due to a lack of equipment, which is very impressive. Companies even come to our lab to perform measurements because of the quality of the facilities. It鈥檚 truly state鈥憃f鈥憈he鈥慳rt.鈥�

Do you benefit from the connections between 黑料福利网 and the industry in the region?

鈥淵es, I work very closely with NXP and I love that. I also collaborate with Astron, Robin Radar, TNO and TU Delft. These partnerships make my research very dynamic. I can switch between teaching courses, supervising students, collaborating with industry, and doing research. The variety makes my workdays fly by and that鈥檚 a very unique and enjoyable aspect of working here.鈥�

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

鈥淚鈥檓 most proud of becoming an Assistant Professor. I already knew in high school that I wanted to teach, although I hadn鈥檛 yet imagined teaching at a university. I really enjoyed mathematics classes and I had a strong connection with my math teacher, which inspired me. As I grew older, the ambition evolved toward teaching at a university. In Bologna, opportunities for that path are very limited, and I almost gave up on the dream. But when I came to Eindhoven, I saw new possibilities and was able to  pursue that goal.鈥�

What are your dreams for the future?

鈥淚 would like to continue growing in my position. It would be amazing to have my own research group one day, and of course, I鈥檇 like to become a full professor. That won鈥檛 happen in the next two years, but I think it鈥檚 important to have long-term dreams. For my research, I鈥檇 like to continue focusing on radars, because it鈥檚 an endlessly fascinating field with a wide range of applications. I believe it will only continue to evolve, so I am curious to see where it will lead.鈥�