WELCOME TO THE STL WEBSITE

The Sensing Technologies Lab is a research group at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. Our work lies at the intersection of materials science, electronics, and sustainable engineering, with a strong focus on: 

We develop flexible and sustainable solutions for next-generation sensors and electronics

RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

FLEXIBLE

SENSITIVE

SMART

Enabling sustainable electronics for a smarter, connected world

We develop flexible, printed, and biodegradable electronic systems for applications in the Internet of Things, smart agriculture, food monitoring, biotechnology, and wearable healthcare. Our goal: fully autonomous devices that combine sensing, signal processing and wireless communication; all based on sustainable materials and scalable technologies.

To fabricate our devices, we employ a wide range of additive manufacturing methods, including screen printing, spray coating, inkjet printing, dispense printing, and 3D printing. In addition, our newly established laboratories at the NOI Techpark (funded by the European Regional Development Fund) are equipped for advanced microfabrication. Facilities include a softwall cleanroom with a mask aligner and spin coater, a CVD system with integrated Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), and a glovebox for e-beam and thermal evaporation. For characterization, we rely on a comprehensive set of tools both at the material and device level.

JOIN US

We are looking for motivated researchers to join our group and contribute to cutting-edge projects across our core research areas

Postdoctoral Positions 


Postdoctoral opportunities, including research contracts and technologist positions, are available within the Faculty of Engineering, depending on funding. Supervised by senior group members, openings can be found at:

Prospective applicants for fellowships, such as the Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, are encouraged to contact senior group members to explore opportunities and receive guidance with their applications.

Bachelor and Master Theses

Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis projects are always available within the group’s research topics. Interested students should contact senior group members to discuss topics and supervision. 

Pre-Doctoral Positions  

Postdoctoral opportunities, including research contracts and technologist positions, are available within the Faculty of Engineering, depending on funding. Supervised by senior group members, openings can be found at:

PhD Positions 

PhD positions are open annually under the PhD in 

The program typically starts on November 1, with applications opening in spring. PhD projects are supervised by senior group members and span the group’s four core research directions. 

RESEARCH

CURRENT PROJECTS

Here is a list of the main topics and research areas our group is focusing on

Focus: Development of flexible, wearable sensing systems for real-time, continuous health and physiological monitoring.

Key Components:

  • Screen-printed three-electrode sensors for biomarker detection in sweat.
  • Electrolyte-gated FETs (EG-FETs) and organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) for sweat-based biomarker sensing.

  • Advanced surface functionalization and interface chemistry to enhance sensitivity, selectivity, and stability.

  • Printed bioimpedance electrodes for impedance plethysmography and physiological signal monitoring.

  • Seamless integration with wearable platforms, including microfluidics, iontophoresis-based sweat induction, and portable readout electronics for continuous on-body operation.

Applications: Health monitoring, sports performance optimization, personalized diagnostics, and real-time physiological research.

Focus: Development of scalable, low-cost, and sustainable sensors for precision agriculture, food quality, and environmental monitoring.

Key Components:

  • Printed capacitive, resistive, and impedimetric sensors for detecting temperature, humidity, gases, ions, and strain in environmental and agri-food settings.
  • Electrolyte-gated FETs (EG-FETs) for analyte detection in water and agri-food matrices.
  • Printed bioimpedance electrodes and non-printed bioimpedance techniques (e.g., standard ECG setups) for monitoring plant and fruit health, including plant stress detection and fruit ripening assessment.
  • Machine learning and data-driven approaches for analyzing sensor data and predicting crop health, food quality, and environmental conditions.
  • Printed stretchable resistive strain gauge to continuously monitor apple fruit growth

Applications: Precision agriculture, crop and plant monitoring, food quality assessment, water quality monitoring, and environmental sensing

Focus: Development of biohybrid and neuromorphic devices integrating organic electronics with biology.

Key Components:

  • Organic semiconductors, conjugated polymers, and bio-inspired materials.
  • Devices for sensing and stimulation of bioelectric activity.
  • Mixed ionic–electronic conductors for enhanced biomimetics.
  • Materials interface modeling, device optimization, and signal analysis.

Applications: Biosensing, neuron-like devices, and advanced bioelectronic systems.

Focus: Development of low-temperature, flexible thin-film devices and integrated energy systems for multifunctional, sustainable electronics.

Key Components:

  • Metal oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) and circuits on flexible and sustainable substrates.
  • Thin-film sensors and actuators fabricated via microfabrication and printing techniques.
  • Mechanical, thermal, and electrical optimization for bendable, stretchable, and robust electronics.
  • Integration with low-power embedded systems, wearable devices, and multifunctional platforms.

Applications: Flexible and wearable electronics, BEOL-compatible thin films, embedded sensing platforms, energy-harvesting devices, and multifunctional thin-film sensors.

STL TEAM

LEADERSHIP

RESEARCHES & ENGINEERS

PHD STUDENTS

Martina Aurora Costa Angeli – ex Assistant Professor (RTDa) + Postdoc (AR)

Denis Garoli – ex Assistant Professor (RTDa)

Giuseppe Cantarella – ex Postdoc (AR)

Enrico Avancini – ex Postdoc (AR) + Technologist

Antonio Altana – ex Technologist

Manuela Ciocca – ex Postdoc (AR)

Soufiane Krik – ex Postdoc (AR)

Biresaw Demelash Abera – ex PhD FEB

Bajramshahe Shkodra – ex Postdoc (AR) + PhD FEB

Ali Douaki – ex PhD FEB

Asma Mustaq – ex PhD candidate FEB 

Maria Rivola – ex PhD candidate FEB 

Sarwar Inam – ex PhD FEB

Mattia Petrelli – ex PhD ASE + Postdoc (AR) 

Raheel Riaz – ex PhD ASE

Mukthar Ahmad – ex PhD ASE

Elia Scattolo – ex PhD ASE

Antonio Orlando – ex PhD ASE

Saleh Hamed – ex PhD ASE

Edoardo Suraci Picchiotti – ex PhD ASE 

Camilla Febo – ex PhD FEB

Annelot Nijkoops – ex PhD FEB

Fahimeh Masoumi – ex PhD FEB

Anna Tagliaferri – ex PhD candidate FEB 

Mallikarjun Madagalam – ex pre-doc (AR)

Simone De Prá – ex Master Thesis student

PUBLICATIONS

2025

Shkodra, B.; others,

Flexible Memristive Biosensors for Sensitive Detection of Prostate-Specific Antigen in Biological Environments Journal Article

In: IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 7954–7961, 2025.

Links | BibTeX

Ciocca, M.; Nijkoops, A.; Trentini, G.; others,

Harnessing biomaterials for advanced biosensor and bioelectronic devices development: From natural chromophores to biodegradable substrates and peptide-based detection of nanoplastics Journal Article

In: MRS Advances, 2025.

Links | BibTeX

Ciocca, M.; Febo, C.; Gentile, G.; others,

3D-Bioprinted Light-Sensitive Cell Scaffold Based on Alginate-Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for Biophotonics Applications Journal Article

In: BioNanoSci., vol. 15, pp. 251, 2025.

Links | BibTeX

2024

Riaz, S.; Ibba, P.; Sadar, N.; Rasheed, A.; Stürz, S.; Zanella, A.; Lugli, P.

Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy-Based Detection of Internal Browning Disorder in Apples Journal Article

In: IEEE Transactions on AgriFood Electronics, pp. 1–8, 2024.

Links | BibTeX

Ibba, P.; Muhammad, Z.; Angeli, M. A. C.; Cantarella, G.; Shkodra, B.; Altana, A.; Petti, L.

Integration of a Textile Electrode into a Smart Glove for On-Field Analysis of Fruit Quality Journal Article

In: IEEE Journal on Flexible Electronics, pp. 1, 2024.

Links | BibTeX

Ploner, M.; Shkodra, B.; Altana, A.; Petrelli, M.; Tagliaferri, A.; Resnati, D.; Petti, L.

Flexible Electrochemical Sensor for Interleukin-6: Towards Wearable Cytokine Monitoring Journal Article

In: IEEE Sensors Letters, vol. 8, no. 8, 2024.

Links | BibTeX

publications
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