Dr. Paola Sansoni

phone: +39 0552308232

e-mail: paola.sansoni@ino.cnr.it

personal page on site CNR- INO

publications on database INO

Curriculum Vitae

Degree in Physics (1992 - Univ. of Florence)
Master (Specialization) in Optics (1994 - INO)

Since 1996 CNR - National Institute of Optics as researcher
1994 -1995 University of Geneva, Group of Applied Physics, with an European H.C.M. Grant on atmospheric lidar measurements in collaboration with ESA.
1993 -1994 Consortium CEO with a contract in the framework of an European project.
1991 -1992 Grants for the analysis of multiple scattering in lidar echoes.

Her current work at the CNR-INO is addressed to environmental and industrial applications of optoelectronics, to photometry and lighting, to researches on alternative energies and in particular to the exploitation of solar energy. She is member of the “Laboratory of Photometry and Lighting” and of the “Laboratory of Solar Collectors”. Within the research on renewable energy, the Lab. of Solar Collectors studies and experiments applications of solar collectors in energetic, thermal and photovoltaic field, as well as in the sector of lighting-technique and cultural heritage preservation.

• Solar Collectors: study of solar collectors for concentration photovoltaic (CPV) systems, heliostats and concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. Optical design, performance analysis, experimentations and tests for the development of solar CPV and CSP plants.
• Optical Tests: realization of optoelectronic devices to measure the characteristics of lenses, solar concentrators and other optical components. Field tests on Fresnel lenses and other solar collectors.
• Pointers for Solar Tracking: development of tracking methodologies and devices; design and test of sun-finders.
• Profilometry: development of techniques and devices for profile measurements; design and test of profilometers in particular applied to linear solar collectors.
• New materials for solar applications: experimentation and optical characterization of innovative compounds, like nano-particulates and other materials, to be utilized as absorbers in solar plants or for other applications.
• Solar Simulators: optical design of modifications for adapting a solar simulator to perform tests on photovoltaic cells.
• Water purification: contribution, for the optical part, to systems for detoxification of polluted water or purification of waste water using sunlight.
• Cultural heritage: analysis of museum illumination with the development of a sensor for colorimetric measurements and UV fraction detection. Development of a system with solar collectors and optical fibers for the illumination of museum showcases.
• Energy and Environment: detoxification of polluted waters using solar light and nanoparticles of Titanium oxide. Realization of a system for the collection of solar light and its transportation using optical fibers applied to museum lighting.
• Photometry and Lighting: optical characterization of materials, analysis of spatial and spectral emission of luminous sources, color measurements; consultancies for optical-medical measurements or optical industrial controls.
• Photochromism: characterization of photochromic molecules and compounds and realisation of photochromic optical elements for optical filtering, holography and optical switching.
• Textile: application of Fourier Optics to the fabric analysis, realisation of sensors and development of original detection techniques.
• Agricultural and Mining: granulometrical study of powders and development of instrumentation.
• Mechanic: realization of optical systems for roughness assessment and 3D monitoring on surfaces. Control of mechanical parts and deformation measurements on wood timbers.

From 1993, during her activity at CEO and INO, she collaborated to the development of optoelectronic devices for quality control in industry, for environmental monitoring, for solar energy exploitation and for applications in the field of preservation of cultural heritage.
Between 1990 and 1996 she developed her research work in the field of "remote sensing" in collaboration with NASA and ESA realizing:

• optimization of Monte Carlo calculations for simulation of atmospheric measurements both of ground-based lidar and of lidar from satellite;
• laboratory measurements on diffusing media using a psec laser and their modelisation by Monte Carlo simulations;
• Monte Carlo analysis of multiple scattering in diffusing media, stratified or not, for measurements of atmospheric lidars from ground and from satellite.

- Referee of the Programma 'Amico' - Bando POC (Proof of Concept) MiSE 2020.
- Reviewer of European projects accredited as Expert of H2020 ICT Call ICT-30 "Photonics KET" since 2016.
- Reviewer of national projects, included in the REPRISE - Register of Expert Peer Reviewers for Italian Scientific Evaluation, within CENECA, since 2016.
- Responsible of the Commessa CNR MD.P03.020 “Optical devices for industrial applications: diagnostic, development and characterization of new sources and optical components”.
- Responsible of Module MD.P03.020.002 “Study and characterization of systems and components for lighting and for visual perception.” inside the Commessa CNR MD.P03.020.
- Responsible of the Laboratory of Solar Collectors of CNR-INO.
- Substitute of the Responsible of the Laboratory of Photometry and Lighting of CNR-INO.
- Responsible of Project PIACE (2010-2013) and of Project Sunflowers (2001-2003).
- Component of the “Comitato di Consulenza Scientifica” (Scientific Consulting Committee) of INOA.
- Component of Examination Commissions for permanent or fixed-term employment of: 4 Researchers, 1 CTER and 3 Administrative Collaborators.
- Component of over 40 Examination Commissions for Research Grants or Scholarships.