Dr. Tonino Pisanu received the M.S. degree in Physics from the University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy, in 1995. Since 2001, he has been a Technologist with the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, Selargius (CA). His research interests include the analysis and design of microwave components for radio-astronomy applications, the research and development of non-contact measuring systems for characterizing and correcting the optical shape, and the mechanical configuration of big antenna systems.
Dr. Paolo Maxia is a Technologist at the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomical Observatory. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Cagliari in 2014. His research interests include Electromagnetic Fields, Microwave, CST Microwave Studio, Antenna Engineering, Electromagnetics, Microwave Engineering, RF Engineering, Waveguides, Antennas and Propagation, and Antennas.
Dr. Alessandro Navarrini received an S.M. degree in Physics from the University of Florence, Italy, in 1996, and a Ph.D. degree in Electronics and Microelectronics from the Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France, in 2002. From 2003 to 2006, he worked with the Radio Astronomy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. In 2006, he joined INAF (National Institute for Astrophysics), Cagliari, Italy. From 2010 to 2015, he was the Receiver Group Leader of IRAM (Institut de RadioAstronomie Millimetrique), France. From 2015 to 2022, he re-joined the INAF. Since 2022, he has been the Leader of the (sub)millimeter Receiver Group, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), Charlottesville, VA, USA. His research interests include radio astronomy instrumentation, specifically low-noise millimeter-wave receivers.
Dr. Giuseppe Valente received his M.S. degree in Electronic Engineering and his Ph.D. degree in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy, in 2007 and 2016, respectively. From 2007 to 2008, he worked at the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM), France, on developing harmonics mixers at millimeter wave. Between 2009 and 2016, he was with the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Cagliari Astronomy Observatory (OAC), where he worked on the development of the cryogenic receivers for the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT). During the same period, he was the supervisor for the front ends of the SRT and the coordinator of the microwave and cryogenics laboratory of the OAC-INAF. Since 2016, he has been a researcher at the Italian Space Agency and currently holds the position of Project Scientist of the Sardinia Deep Space Antenna RF Systems. His research interests include the design of microwave systems for space and astronomical applications, low-noise microwave components and systems, and characterization and measurement techniques for microwave components and cryogenic radio receivers.
Dr. Renzo Nesti received a Laurea degree in Electronics Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Telecommunications from the University of Firenze, Italy, in 1996 and 2000, respectively. Since December 1999, he has been with the National Institute for Astrophysics, Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, Firenze, where his main activity is in the area of radio astronomy receivers. His research interests include design and development of microwave passive devices for the receiver front-ends and numerical methods for the electromagnetic analysis and design of millimeter wave components.
Dr. Luca Schirru received a master’s degree in Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy, in March 2016 and February 2020, respectively. From July 2016 to February 2019, he served as a Scholarship Fellow at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari, where from March 2019 to February 2023, he was a Technical Collaborator for the maintenance of the receivers installed in the Sardinia Radio Telescope. Since March 2023, he has been a Technologist for the radio receivers’ management of the Sardinia Radio Telescope and for radio frequency interference monitoring and mitigation. His research activity focuses on space surveillance and tracking using radar systems, the development and test of microwave components for radio astronomy receivers, the electromagnetic simulation for beam radiation pattern optimization of phased array feeds, the monitoring and mitigation of radio frequency interferences, and the study of radio propagation in the urban environment. He is a reviewer for several electronic and electromagnetic journals.
Dr. Paola Di Ninni received a physics degree in Astrophysics and Space Physics at the University of Florence, Italy, in 2008, and a Ph.D. degree in Experimental Physics from the University of Siena, Italy, in 2017. From 2009 to 2013, she worked at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Italy. She currently works as a Grant Researcher in Radio Astronomy at the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, National Institute of Astrophysics, Italy. Her research interests mainly focus on electromagnetic theory, antennas, and radio telescopes.
