Umberto Lucia

Prof. Umberto Lucia, Full Professor of Thermal Physics at the Politecnico di Torino's Department of Energy (DENERG), is a leading expert in Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics, Biophysics, and Quantum Thermodynamics. His work bridges Industrial Engineering with Biomedical Applications, focusing on entropy production, structural irreversibility, and thermodynamic modeling of biological systems.

• Education: PhD in Energetics (1995, University of Florence), MSc in Physics of Matter (1997, University of Ferrara), MSc in Experimental Nuclear Physics (1991, University of Turin)

His research interests span:

• Thermodynamic analysis of cancer growth via exergetic and Constructal Law approaches
• Magnetocaloric refrigeration for sustainable technologies
• Quantum thermodynamics in open atomic systems
• Transport phenomena in biological membranes
• Thermoeconomic indicators for sustainability (THDI index)
• Photofission and nuclear energy systems

Recent publications highlight his work on biomethane production from rice straw, low-frequency EMF effects on tumors, and thermodynamic time definitions, reflecting interdisciplinary trends in Energy Systems, Quantum Biology, and Sustainable Policy.

Scientific awards include

• Constructal Law Prize (2024)
• Siebel Energy Institute Smart Energy Award (2015)
• Fellowships at Constructal Law Conferences (2012-2019)

Advising and grants feature PhD student Giulia Grisolia. He leads projects like ELF (EMF cancer inhibition), PlaSNeuriM (neurorehabilitation), and ReVideo (visual rehabilitation), with patents on magnetic cancer therapy and neurorehabilitation insoles.

Labs: PolitoBIOMed Lab (Biomedical Engineering), Energy Center Lab, and INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics) collaborations.