Dr. Aurelian Catalin GALCA is a Senior Researcher I at the National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP) in Magurele, Romania, where he works in the Laboratory of Complex Heterostructures and Multifunctional Materials (HeCoMat). He serves as NIMP's responsible for international collaborations with the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) since 2016, managing administrative procedures and educational, training, and research activities for foreign PhD students and postdocs. Dr. GALCA's educational background includes: PhD in Physics from the University of Twente, Netherlands (2006) Master's degree in Solid State Physics from the University of Bucharest, Romania (2002) Bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Bucharest, Romania (2002) Dr. GALCA's research focuses on the non-destructive characterization of nanoscaled materials using advanced techniques including spectroscopic ellipsometry, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. His work also encompasses the preparation of dielectric/semiconductor/metallic thin films by physical vapor deposition methods and the development and testing of optoelectronic devices . His expertise spans materials science, nanotechnology, photovoltaics, and magnetooptics, with particular emphasis on thin film characterization and engineering for solar cell applications, memory devices, and other electronic applications. Analysis of Dr. GALCA's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advanced materials for energy applications , particularly photovoltaics and energy storage. His work spans thin film solar cells (CZTS, CBTS), perovskite solar cells, supercapacitors, and magnetocaloric materials. A common thread is the precise engineering of material properties through composition control, phase transitions, and surface morphology optimization. His research increasingly incorporates computational methods to complement experimental findings, demonstrating an interdisciplinary approach to materials science. Dr. GALCA has received notable recognition for his work, including: RADU GRIGOROVICI prize awarded by the Romanian Academy in 2011 for contributions to the optical characterization of oxide systems As a research leader, Dr. GALCA has coordinated three national projects, two of which as Principal Investigator, including the "Science and engineering of kesterites for the next generation of solar cells" project. He has also contributed to economic projects with CyberSwarm Inc. and Honeywell Romania. His expertise is sought after as a scientific reviewer for top journals including Scientific Reports, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and Applied Surface Science, and as an Expert Evaluator for the European Commission (H2020), ANR (France), CNR (Italy), and Romanian funding agencies. Dr. GALCA leads research activities at the Laboratory of Complex Heterostructures and Multifunctional Materials (HeCoMat) at NIMP, where his team focuses on the characterization and development of advanced materials for optoelectronic applications. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation for thin film deposition and characterization, supporting research in photovoltaics, memory devices, and other electronic applications. Dr. GALCA's team collaborates extensively with international partners, reflecting his role as NIMP's responsible for AUF collaborations.
