Paolo Lugli

Paolo Lugli is a Tenured Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. His research focuses on advanced sensing technologies, wearable electronics, and biohybrid systems with applications in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. He leads the Sensing Technologies Lab, which develops innovative solutions such as nanoplastics detectors, flexible biosensors, and IoT-enabled agricultural tools. Recent projects include the 'ghostbuster' sensor for nanoplastic detection in water and smart packaging systems. Lugli has contributed to over 5 million euros in FSE+ research funding and actively collaborates with industry partners like Volksbank and Raiffeisenverband Südtirol. As former Rector of the university, he championed strategic initiatives to enhance regional innovation and educational excellence.

Research Highlights:

• Development of flexible electrolyte-gated transistors for environmental and biomedical sensing
• Integration of nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, conjugated polymers) into wearable devices
• Machine learning-driven bioimpedance systems for agricultural quality assessment
• Pioneering work on light-sensitive bioprinted scaffolds for tissue engineering

Grants & Collaborations:

• 5.695.769,23€ FSE+ funding for research training programs (2024-2028)
• Industry partnerships for smart agriculture and medical device prototyping
• EU-funded EDUNEXT project for digital education innovation

Labs & Teams:

Director of the Sensing Technologies Lab, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams across electronics, materials science, and biomedical engineering. Active in training PhD students and early-career researchers in printable electronics and bioelectronic interfaces.