Personale docente

Francesco Cugini, Ph.D.
Researcher in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics and Applications – University of Parma

Associate Researcher at CNR – IMEM Parma

Member of CIDEA

Qualified for Associate Professorship

Education and Academic Career
Francesco Cugini earned his Master’s Degree in Physics (110/110 cum laude) in 2013 and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Technology (awarded “Excellent with Honors”) in 2018 from the University of Parma. In 2015, he obtained his teaching qualification for upper secondary school (TFA) in the area A027 – Mathematics and Physics from the University of Bologna (score: 100/100).

From 2018 to 2021, he carried out postdoctoral research as a Research Fellow, and since 2021 he has been a Fixed-Term Researcher at the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences of the University of Parma, where he works within the MMElab – Magnetic Materials for Energy group, coordinated by Prof. Massimo Solzi.

Since 2014, he has been an Associate Researcher at the Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism (IMEM-CNR) in Parma, collaborating with the Magnetic and Multiferroic Materials group led by Dr. Franca Albertini.

Since 2024, he has been a Member of the Interdepartmental Center for Energy and Environment (CIDEA) at the University of Parma.

Since 2015, he has been a member of AIMagn – Italian Magnetism Association.

In 2022, he obtained the National Scientific Qualification for Associate Professor in the field 02/PHYS-03/A - Experimental Condensed Matter Physics and Applications.

Institutional Roles

• Admissions Advisor for the Bachelor's and Master's Degree Programs in Physics (since 2024)
• Member of the Department Council (since 2025)

Awards and Honors

• “Antonio Garbasso” Award for Scientific Merit – Italian Physical Society (2016)

Research Activity

His research focuses on the experimental study of the physical properties of functional magnetic materials, with particular emphasis on materials for thermomagnetic energy conversion (thermomagnetic generators and magnetic refrigerators). His multidisciplinary approach integrates:

1. Synthesis and characterization of magnetocaloric materials (Heusler alloys, high-entropy alloys), using advanced techniques (magnetometry, calorimetry, X-ray and neutron diffraction, NMR) and simulations (DFT, Monte Carlo).
2. Development of experimental protocols for measuring the magnetocaloric effect, especially near magnetostructural transitions.
3. Integration of materials into devices, through the development of functional composites and additive manufacturing techniques.
4. Prototyping of laboratory-scale thermomagnetic generators for testing under operating conditions.

In parallel, he works on:

• Magnetic characterization of molecular nanomagnets, nanoparticles for biomedical and energy applications, thin films, metal-organic compounds, and nanocomposites.
• Study of multiferroic materials, particularly perovskite-structured oxides.
• Environmental biomonitoring through magnetic susceptibility measurements of airborne particulate matter on organic substrates.

He actively collaborates with numerous national and international research groups, including:
TU Delft, Universität Bielefeld, TU Darmstadt, Universidad de Sevilla, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, ISIS-RAL, Universität Duisburg-Essen, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, CNR-ISMN Bologna, University of Verona.

Research Projects

Francesco Cugini is Principal Investigator of the PRIN 2022 PNRR project – STEve “Small-scale Thermomagnetic Energy harvesters: from materials to devices”.
The project aims to develop innovative thermomagnetic oscillators for small-scale waste heat recovery, through:

• Study and optimization of rare-earth-free intermetallic alloys (Fe-, Ni-, Mn-based Heusler and HEA)
• Advanced synthesis techniques for engineering atomic order and microstructure
• Miniaturization via melt-spinning and polymer composites
• Design and fabrication of operational prototypes

He was also Principal Investigator of the project “Thermomagnetic Waste Heat Harvesting: a Laboratory-Scale Prototype for Materials Testing”, funded by the University of Parma’s Research Call – Action B. The project aimed to bridge the gap between fundamental research on thermomagnetic materials and their application in waste heat recovery devices. A small-scale thermomagnetic generator prototype inspired by the Curie wheel was developed for material characterization under operating conditions. In parallel, a method was devised for fabricating integrable thermomagnetic elements based on polymer composites formed using soluble molds produced via additive manufacturing techniques. At the end of the project, several optimized Heusler alloys were tested for heat recovery in the 30–80 °C range.

Participation and Collaboration in Research Projects:

• SPEED PARMA PoC – Strengthen Parma Patents’ Effectiveness and further Expedite their Development through PoC projects
• MAGMOVE – Sustainable magnetic materials in high-efficiency electric motors for the green transition, PR-FESR EMILIA ROMAGNA 2021–2027

• FRIMAG – Magnetic refrigeration: an eco-friendly technology for cold production. Development of a prototype for food preservation, POR-FESR 2014–2020
• HEAT4ENERGY – Magnetic ENERGY conversion for waste HEAT – HORIZON-MSCA-2022 Project
• NQSTI – National Quantum Science and Technology Institute – PNRR Project – NextGenerationEU

He has participated in numerous neutron diffraction experiments at the international facility ISIS – Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK), serving as Principal Investigator in three experiments.

Scientific Output

• 50 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals
• 1 book chapter in the Handbook of Magnetic Materials (“Magnetocaloric characterization of materials”)
• 16 oral contributions at international conferences and workshops, including 7 as Invited Speaker, and co-author of over 90 contributions to international conferences

Editorial and Reviewing Activity

• Assistant Guest Editor of the Special Issue “Thermodynamics and Phase Transitions in Magnetic Materials” in the journal Entropy
• Reviewer for international scientific journals including:
  Nature Communications, Scripta Materialia, Acta Materialia, Physical Review B, Physical Review Materials, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Applied Physics Reviews, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, International Journal of Refrigeration, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement, Journal of Materials Science

Technology Transfer and Patents

He is involved in industrial consulting and technology transfer activities related to:

• Characterization of magnetic materials
• Design and simulation of magnetic field sources
• Measurement of the magnetocaloric effect for cooling systems
• Development of capacitive sensors

He is the inventor of the industrial patent:
“Method for the preparation of the magnetocaloric material AlFe₂B₂”, granted in 2020.

He is also the author of the patent application:
“Method for Lithium Extraction from Spent Batteries”, filed in 2025.

Teaching Activities

Since 2021, he has been teaching the following courses at the University of Parma for the Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Physics:

• Data Analysis Laboratory
• Physics Laboratory III
• Laboratory of Diffraction, Magnetometry and Magnetic Resonances

Since 2015, he has supervised:

• 5 Bachelor's Theses (4 in Physics, 1 in Materials Science)
• 7 Master's Theses (5 in Physics, 1 in Ecology and Ethology for Nature Conservation, 1 in Applied Geological Sciences for Environmental Sustainability)
• 11 Bachelor's Theses in Physics as co-supervisor

Since 2014, he has supported teaching activities in various Physics courses (laboratory work, exercises, tutoring).

Science Outreach

Since 2012, he has been actively involved in science outreach and university orientation activities organized by the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences at the University of Parma, including:

• Presentations of the Physics degree program
• Seminars in schools
• Open Days, summer internships, and workshops for high school students
• The Scientific Degree Project
• Events such as the European Researchers' Night

From 2017 to 2022, he gave presentations on the topic of “Energy” in collaboration with the Googol Association, aimed at primary and lower secondary school students.

In 2024, he participated in the science outreach podcast Scientificast (episode 501, aired on 26/02/2024 – link).

Since 2025, he has been involved in organizing the project “UniPRovando: the University of Parma’s Science Fair”, funded through the FAPE call of the University of Parma