Giovanni Gilardi was born in Tivoli, Italy, in March 1982. He recived the laurea degree in electronic engineering from University of Rome "Sapienza", in 2007. He joined the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems of the italian national research council (CNR - IMM) in Rome, during 2008. He is currently working toward the Ph.D degree in electronic engineering at the department of electronic engineering of university of Rome "Sapienza". His main research interests include design and realization of integrated optic devices based on liquid crystals for optical communication systems. In 2011 he was visiting Ph.D student at the Department of Photonics Engineering Structured Electromagnetic Materials of DTU, Technical University of Denmark.

The major axis of my research deals with liquid crystals and polymers. My main research interests include design and realization of integrated optic devices based on liquid crystals for optical communication systems and sensors. My research also include design and fabrication of novel nanostructures based on surface plasmons resonance.

Understanding of photonic materials: Nematic and smectic liquid crystals, glass, polymers (SU8, PDMS), silicon.

Optical modelling and simulations: 1D and 2D modal analysis, 2D and 3D BPM, device simulation, COMSOL Multiphysics.

Technology: Liquid crystal cells, ion-exchanged waveguides, silicon micromachining, nanophotolithography, MEMS devices and clean room capabilities.

Characterization: Electrooptic characterization of free-space and guided optics devices.