Grimaldi Gaia

Dr. Grimaldi Gaia serves as a Researcher III at the CNR-SPIN Institute (National Research Council of Italy) within the Department of Physical Sciences and Technologies of Matter, holding National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor since 2018. She leads multiple national projects including PRIN PNRR 2022 as Principal Investigator and coordinates the SPIN Institute's Research Activity Theme on Superconductors for Energy Applications. Her laboratory leadership includes scientific responsibility for the MaSTER Lab equipped with a 16T Cryogen-Free Magnetic system and dilution refrigerator.

Her educational background includes a Master's degree in Physics (110/110 with honors) and PhD in Physics from the University of Salerno, with doctoral research conducted at ENEA Frascati and Technical University of Munich. She has taught specialized courses including Superconductivity and Low-Temperature Physics at the university level.

Dr. Grimaldi's research focuses on experimental superconductivity, particularly vortex dynamics in high-temperature superconductors under extreme conditions. Her work examines nonlinear dissipations in I-V characteristics to map magnetic field-temperature phase diagrams, investigate order-disorder transitions in Abrikosov vortex lattices, and analyze pinning influences on vortex dynamics. She specializes in electrical transport measurements at high currents and dissipation regimes to study high-speed vortex behavior.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on iron-based superconductors (Fe(Se,Te)) and REBCO tapes, with emphasis on flux pinning mechanisms, critical current optimization, and dimensionality effects. Her work bridges fundamental physics with energy applications, particularly in quench current analysis for large-scale superconducting systems.

Her technical expertise encompasses

• Vacuum and cryogenic measurement techniques
• LabView and Object-Bench programming for instrument control
• Electrical/structural characterization of superconducting films
• UV photolithography and CAD mask design
• Critical current measurements via Hall probe magnetometry
• Vibrating Sample Magnetometer analysis

Dr. Grimaldi has secured substantial research funding including €216,654 for the PRIN PNRR 2022 project 'QUESTIONs' and managed multi-million euro collaborations with ENI and Joint Research Agreements. Her leadership extends to Institute Councilor responsibilities (2020-2024) and coordination of regional projects funded by Regione Campania.

She directs the MaSTER Lab featuring advanced capabilities including:

• 16T Cryogen-Free Magnetic system
• Dilution refrigerator
• Double-axis rotator
• Thermo-electric effects measurement inserts

supporting her research on superconductors for energy production, transport, and storage applications.