Valeria Nico

Dr. Valeria Nico is an Associate Professor at the University of Limerick (UL), affiliated with the School of Engineering and the Bernal Institute. Her research focuses on designing and optimizing vibrational energy harvesters for IoT sensors, emphasizing piezoelectric and electromagnetic systems. She leads projects in the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) CONNECT Centre’s Sustainable IoT group and has contributed to national initiatives. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, promoting renewable energy solutions.

Education:

• PhD in Physics, University of Limerick (2018)
• MSc and BSc in Physics, University of Perugia (Italy, 2013 and 2011)

Research Interests:

• Energy Harvesting for IoT Sensors
• Piezoelectric/Electromagnetic Device Design
• Nonlinear Dynamics and Optimization
• Sustainable Microfluidic Systems

Article Trends: Her publications emphasize optimizing harvester efficiency for low-frequency vibrations, nonlinear systems, and IoT integration. Recent work explores ortho-planar spring designs and H-structure modifications for enhanced energy capture.

Scientific Awards:

• Bernal Postdoc of the Year (2022)

Advising & Grants: Leads SFI-funded projects, collaborates nationally/internationally, and has authored 23 publications and two patents. Active in conference presentations and peer review.

Labs & Teams: Core member of the Bernal Institute’s Energy Harvesting group, contributing to interdisciplinary research in sustainable IoT systems.