Simonetta Grilli

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About

Simonetta Grilli is a leading figure in applied photonics and microfluidics, renowned for pioneering the integration of pyroelectric effects into lab-on-a-chip technologies. Her most celebrated contribution is the invention of the Pyroelectric Adaptive Nanodispenser (PYRANA) microrobot, a groundbreaking platform that uses laser-induced pyroelectric fields to manipulate and dispense micro- and nano-liter droplets with unprecedented precision. This work, detailed in her highly cited 2011 paper (31 citations), has opened new frontiers for contactless liquid delivery in biological assays and materials science. Grilli’s research bridges optics, electrohydrodynamics, and micro-robotics, enabling the gentle handling of fragile biological specimens and polymeric microcarriers. Her innovations have been recognized for their potential to revolutionize drug screening, single-cell analysis, and tissue engineering. With a career spanning over two decades at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISASI), Grilli continues to shape the future of microfluidics, earning her a reputation as a visionary in the development of smart, energy-efficient tools for biomedical and chemical research.