PNNL

Dr. Giovanna Ricchiuti is a scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where she focuses on critical material separations, photonics, and multimodal chemical imaging. As a part of the Non-Equilibrium Transport Driven Separations (NETS) initiative, she develops laser-based imaging and spectroscopy approaches, including Mach–Zehnder interferometry (MZI) and digital off-axis holography, to visualize and understand field-driven ion transport, concentration gradients, interfacial phenomena, crystallization, and electrochemical processes. Her work explores innovative approaches for rare earth element separation, including magnetic- and electric-field-assisted strategies for selective recovery of critical materials from complex aqueous systems. She integrates optical instrumentation, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, holographic imaging, and advanced data analysis, including AI/machine learning (ML) tools, to address challenges in chemical imaging, sensing technologies, and engineering research. 

Ricchiuti has a multidisciplinary background spanning electrical engineering, analytical chemistry, applied physics, and photonics, with extensive experience in the design and development of advanced optical instrumentation, laser spectroscopy systems, integrated photonic sensors, and interferometric imaging platforms. She earned her BSc and MSc degrees in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari in Italy and subsequently completed a double PhD in analytical chemistry and physics. She was recognized with the Post Graduate Award from the International Society of Automation Ireland Section for her exceptional multidisciplinary PhD research in photonics.

• Rare earth element and critical material separations 
• Photonics, optics, and laser-based sensing 
• Spectroscopy and multimodal chemical imaging 
• MZI and digital off-axis holography 
• AI/ML and intelligent scientific workflows

• PhD in analytical chemistry, TU Wien (Vienna, Austria)
• PhD in physics, Munster Technological University (Cork, Ireland) 
• MSc in electrical engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Bari (Bari, Italy)
• BSc in electrical engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Bari (Bari, Italy)

• PNNL Outstanding Performance Award for exceptional technical leadership in critical mineral separation and for delivering high-impact results in support of the NETS initiative, 2026
• International Society of Automation Ireland Section Post Graduate Award, 2025
• Optical Sensing using Advanced Photo-Induced Effects (OPTAPHI) Joint Doctorate network funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Innovative Training Networks) fellowship, 2020

2026

Huang Y., H. G. Greenberg, S. Tan, G. Ricchiuti, J. Shi, V. Shutthanandan, K. C. Thangaraj, T. Varga, E. T. Baxter, D. Zhang, et al. 2026. “Selective Electrochemical Metal Separations at Field-Tunable Ionic Liquid Interphases.” Separation and Purification Technology 409: 139160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2026.139160.

Ricchiuti, G., S. I. Allec, M. Ziatdinov, and V. Prabhakaran. 2026. “Toward Intelligent Multimodal Holography for Real-Time Chemical Imaging of Dynamic Ion Separation.” Advanced Intelligent Discovery 2 (4): e202500237. https://doi.org/10.1002/aidi.202500237.

Ricchiuti, G., Z. Fox, B. Palmer, M. Dinpajooh, I. Jayalath, Y. Huang, S. Zhang, E. Mondarte, G. E. Johnson, A. G. Joly, et al. 2026. “Localized Magnetic Field Gradients Accelerate Ion Enrichment and Formation of Electrochemical Potentials for Critical Metal Separation.” Separation and Purification Technology 385: 136148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136148.

2025

Dinpajooh, M., G. Ricchiuti, A. J. Ritchhart, T. E. Li, E. Nakouzi, S. T. Mergelsberg, V. Prabhakaran, J. Chun, and M. L. Sushko. 2025. “Magnetic Interactions Between Nanoscale Domains in Liquids.” Journal of Chemical Physics 163: 014502. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0260005.

Zorin, I., P. Gattinger, G. Ricchiuti, B. Lendl, B. Heise, and M. Brandstetter. 2025. “All-Mirror Wavefront Division Interferometer for Fourier Transform Spectrometry Across Multiple Spectral Ranges.” Optics Express 33 (1): 867–884. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.545267.

2024

Ricchiuti, G., A. Walsh, J. H. Mendoza-Castro, A. S. Vorobev, M. Kotlyar, G. V. B. Lukasievicz, S. Iadanza, M. Grande, B. Lendl, and L. O'Faolain. 2024. “Photothermal Spectroscopy On-Chip Sensor for the Measurement of a PMMA Film Using a Silicon Nitride Micro-Ring Resonator and an External Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser.” Nanophotonics 13 (13): 2417–2427. https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2024-0033.

Ricchiuti, G., L. Riedlsperger, A. Dabrowska, E. Rosenberg, L. O'Faolain, and B. Lendl. 2024. “Mid-Infrared Photothermal Spectroscopy for the Detection of Caffeine in Beverages.” Sensors 24 (6): 1974. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24061974.

2023

Pinto, D., J. P. Waclawek, S. Lindner, H. Moser, G. Ricchiuti, and B. Lendl. 2023. “Wavelength Modulated Diode Probe Laser for an Interferometric Cavity-Assisted Photothermal Spectroscopy Gas Sensor.” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 377: 133061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2022.133061.

2022

Ricchiuti, G., A. Dabrowska, D. Pinto, G. Ramer, and B. Lendl. 2022. “Dual-Beam Photothermal Spectroscopy Employing a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer and an External Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser for Detection of Water Traces in Organic Solvents.” Analytical Chemistry 94 (47): 16353–16360. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03303.