Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum della Pr.ssa Gilda Scioli
Research Activities
My research activity is focused on High-Energy Physics and Astroparticle Physics, with particular emphasis on the development of innovative detector technologies for precise time-of-flight measurements and particle identification in collider and astroparticle experiments.
Since 2002, I have been a member of the ALICE Collaboration at CERN, dedicated to the study of strongly interacting matter under extreme conditions through heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Throughout my career, I have been involved in all stages of the development of the ALICE Time-Of-Flight (TOF) detector, from the research and development of Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs) to detector construction, installation, commissioning, and operational management during data taking.
Over the years, I have held several leadership and coordination roles within the ALICE Collaboration, including TOF System Run Coordinator, ALICE Run Coordinator during the first LHC data-taking period, Technical Coordinator of the TOF detector, and, since 2026, Project Leader of the ALICE TOF system. Since 2026, I have also served as Deputy Project Leader of the Time-Of-Flight detector for the future ALICE 3 experiment. This experience has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the entire detector lifecycle, from design and prototyping to integration, operation, and scientific leadership within large international research infrastructures.
Since 2013, I have coordinated research and development activities at the INFN Bologna laboratories on ultra-fast timing detectors based on Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs), Ultra-Fast Silicon Detectors (UFSDs), Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs), and, more recently, monolithic CMOS-LGAD sensors. These activities are aimed at developing next-generation timing systems capable of achieving time resolutions of a few tens of picoseconds for future High-Energy Physics experiments. Since 2023, I have been responsible for the ALICE-TOF Bologna R&D programme on SiPM, LGAD, and CMOS-LGAD detectors for the future ALICE 3 TOF system.
I am also actively involved in Astroparticle Physics research. Since 2017, I have been a member of the DarkSide-20k Collaboration, dedicated to direct dark matter searches at the INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratories, and of the EEE and PolarQuEEEst projects, focused on the study of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and their variations at different geomagnetic latitudes.
At the national level, I have held several coordination roles, including Coordinator of Group 3 at the INFN Bologna Division and member of the INFN National Scientific Committee 3 (2016–2023), as well as Coordinator of the Refereeing Committee for the ULYSSES and FAMU experiments. At the international level, I co-coordinated research and development activities within the European AIDAinnova project, dedicated to the development of advanced timing systems for future High-Energy Physics experiments, collaborating with numerous research groups, universities, and laboratories across Europe and Asia.
My scientific activity is documented by more than 600 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, with an H-index of 106 (Scopus) and more than 40,000 citations.
Teaching Activities and Academic Responsibilities
My teaching activity is carried out within the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes in Physics at the University of Bologna. Over the years, I have been responsible for several courses that are fundamental to the education of physicists and engineers, ranging from introductory physics to advanced experimental activities.
I am currently responsible for the courses Electronics Laboratory in the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Physics and Laboratory of Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics 1 in the international Master’s Degree Programme in Physics. The former is dedicated to the study of the physical principles and operation of the main semiconductor electronic devices, while the latter focuses on particle-matter interactions and the main detection techniques employed in nuclear and subnuclear physics.
Previously, I taught General Physics in the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Management Engineering, covering fundamental topics such as thermodynamics and electromagnetism, and I have also been involved in laboratory teaching activities within both the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes in Physics.
My teaching activity is closely integrated with my research activities and provides students with opportunities to participate in national and international experimental projects in detector physics, ultra-fast silicon timing technologies, instrumentation for High-Energy Physics, and Astroparticle Physics.
Student supervision and training represent a significant component of my academic commitment. I have supervised, or am currently supervising, numerous Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD theses, primarily in the fields of detector physics, ultra-fast silicon timing technologies, instrumentation for High-Energy Physics, and Astroparticle Physics.
I have also held several institutional positions within the University of Bologna. From 2018 to 2024, I served as Coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Physics and Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee. Previously, I was responsible for student orientation activities within the Physics Degree Programme. Since 2023, I have been a member of the University Quality Assurance Board, contributing to the continuous monitoring and improvement of teaching, research, and third-mission activities across the University of Bologna.
