My research focuses on experimental astroparticle physics, with particular emphasis on dark matter detection, neutrino physics and the development of advanced particle detectors. I combine low-background experimental techniques, photodetection, detector calibration, Monte Carlo simulations and data analysis to investigate fundamental questions in particle physics.

A central aspect of my work is the development of experimental capabilities and research infrastructure, connecting major international collaborations with locally led research programmes at Adelaide University. My activities span dark matter direct and directional detection, liquid-scintillator instrumentation, quantum sensing and interdisciplinary applications of ultra-low-light photodetection. Through these programmes, I lead detector development and calibration activities, establish international research partnerships and provide opportunities for students and early-career researchers to gain hands-on experience in experimental physics.

My research extends beyond Adelaide through major international collaborations. I serve on the Executive Board of NEXUS, a consortium funded through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges programme, where I co-lead the Quantum Science and Technology Work Package and contribute to research on muon- and neutron-induced backgrounds in underground laboratories. I actively foster international and interdisciplinary collaborations, bringing together complementary expertise to address the challenges of next-generation rare-event physics experiments.

Beyond research, I am committed to scientific leadership, mentoring and community building. I serve on the Nuclear and Particle Physics Committee of the Australian Institute of Physics and on the Mentoring Committee of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics. I believe that scientific excellence benefits from collaboration, diversity and inclusion, and I actively support initiatives that create opportunities for students, early-career researchers and under-represented groups in STEM.

Students interested in experimental astroparticle physics are very welcome to get in touch to discuss research opportunities, ranging from hands-on experimental work to data analysis and simulations.

Dark matter direct detection

Dark matter is one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics. Although it is thought to account for approximately 85% of the matter in the Universe, its nature remains unknown. My research focuses on developing and operating highly sensitive detectors designed to search for dark matter particles and distinguish potential signals from background radiation.

SABRE South

I am a member of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics and play a leading role in the international SABRE collaboration, which aims to investigate the long-standing DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation signal. SABRE comprises two complementary low-background sodium-iodide experiments: SABRE North, located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) in Italy, and SABRE South, located at the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL) in Victoria, Australia.

Within SABRE South, I lead the detector calibration programme, coordinating the development and implementation of techniques essential for understanding detector performance and identifying potential dark matter signals. I am also part of the SABRE Speakers Committee, coordinating the presentation of collaboration results at international scientific conferences.

Having worked directly on both SABRE North and SABRE South, I bring experience in detector assembly, commissioning, calibration and characterisation. My affiliation with INFN Milano strengthens the scientific connections between the Australian and Italian research communities.

For students, SABRE offers opportunities to work on real experimental challenges, from photodetector characterisation and calibration to Monte Carlo simulations, signal processing and data analysis. These activities provide experience with the technologies and techniques used in some of the world's most sensitive particle physics experiments.

Curious about SABRE? Watch the video Veritasium made about SABRE South https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6etTERFUlUI

Cygnus-Oz

I am also involved in the international CYGNUS collaboration, which is developing a new generation of detectors capable of reconstructing the direction of low-energy nuclear recoils. Unlike conventional dark matter detectors, directional detectors aim to identify the direction from which potential dark matter particles arrive, providing an additional way to distinguish dark matter interactions from background events.

As part of CYGNUS-Oz, we are developing experimental capabilities in Adelaide to investigate Micromegas-based gaseous detectors, which can reconstruct particle tracks with high spatial resolution.

This research involves detector development, readout electronics, data acquisition, track reconstruction and background rejection techniques. It offers students opportunities to contribute to emerging detector technologies while developing practical skills in experimental physics, simulations and data analysis.
 

R&D Developments at Adelaide University

A central component of my independent research programme is MonA LiSA, a liquid-scintillator research facility that I established and lead as Principal Investigator. Developed through competitive research funding, MonA LiSA provides a flexible experimental platform for testing detector technologies and calibration techniques before their implementation in large-scale underground experiments.

The facility allows us to investigate photomultiplier tube (PMT) performance, develop precision optical calibration techniques and study light propagation in liquid scintillators. We also develop reconstruction algorithms for sparse detector geometries and investigate cosmic-ray-induced signals. Beyond its original purpose as an optical testbed, MonA LiSA is evolving into a platform for detector prototyping and interdisciplinary research involving ultra-low-light detection.

Students working on MonA LiSA gain extensive hands-on experience, from detector assembly and electronics to data acquisition, signal processing, simulations and analysis. They participate directly in the development and operation of a research detector, acquiring practical skills in experimental physics and instrumentation.

Complementing MonA LiSA, I am expanding a dedicated Photonics and Photosensor Test Bench at Adelaide University's North Terrace campus. This facility supports the characterisation of photodetectors, including traditional PMTs and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), using precision laser systems, optical fibres, calibrated light sources and light-tight enclosures.

The test bench enables measurements of key detector properties, including timing resolution, gain, photon-detection efficiency, dark noise and afterpulsing. It also supports investigations of optical materials, light coupling, wavelength shifters and novel calibration techniques.

Students involved in these activities develop practical expertise in optical alignment, laser systems, digitiser configuration, data acquisition software and precision measurements under low-light conditions.

Together, MonA LiSA and the photonics test bench provide an integrated research and training environment, connecting fundamental photosensor characterisation with the development and testing of complete detector concepts. These projects equip students with transferable skills in instrumentation, electronics, photonics and data analysis, relevant to careers in both academia and industry.

Quantum technologies

In parallel to my astroparticle work, I am strongly involved in quantum technologies, where I apply low-background detector techniques to the development of next-generation quantum sensors. I am co-leader of a Horizon Europe Marie Curie Staff Exchange that links underground physics with quantum science, focusing on superconducting devices, ultra-low-noise readout systems, and advanced cryogenic instrumentation. This program allows students and researchers to work across Europe, Australia and the US, forming a bridge between particle physics and the rapidly growing quantum-technology sector.

In 2025, I secured additional funding to open a new research line on quantum measurements using the MonA LiSA facility. This project explores how a fully controlled scintillator detector can be used to test quantum-level light emission and ultra-low-photon processes, taking advantage of MonA LiSA’s radiopure environment and precision calibration system. By combining quantum optics, photon statistics, and detector physics, the project creates a unique training ground where students can work hands-on with lasers, single-photon sensors, and state-of-the-art electronics, while contributing to cutting-edge research that connects fundamental physics with quantum technology applications.

Neutrino Physics

Neutrinos are among the most elusive particles in the Universe. They interact extremely weakly with matter, allowing them to travel enormous distances almost undisturbed and carry valuable information about some of the most extreme environments in the cosmos. My research in neutrino physics spans solar and reactor neutrino experiments, including Borexino and SoLid, where I worked on detector development, calibration and data analysis.

I am also involved in the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a remarkable detector embedded deep within the Antarctic ice. IceCube uses thousands of optical sensors to detect the faint light produced by particles created when neutrinos interact with the ice. By studying these signals, we can investigate the origins of high-energy cosmic neutrinos, explore fundamental particle physics and search for potential signatures of dark matter.

For students interested in neutrino physics, IceCube offers opportunities to work with experimental data, develop simulations and explore how we reconstruct and interpret signals from particles travelling across the Universe. These projects are particularly suited to students who enjoy programming, data analysis and tackling fundamental questions in physics.

LiDiR: Ultra-Sensitive Light Detectors System to Advance Multidisciplinary Research

Can living cells emit light? Surprisingly, they can! Biological systems produce extremely faint light, known as ultra-weak photon emission or biophotons, which is far too weak to be detected by the human eye. Understanding how this light is produced, what influences it and whether it carries information about biological processes remains an exciting area of research.

Through LiDiR, an interdisciplinary research initiative that I lead, we are exploring how ultra-sensitive photodetection technologies originally developed for dark matter and neutrino experiments can be applied to the study of biophoton emission. By combining single-photon detectors, low-background experimental techniques and advanced data analysis, we aim to measure these extremely faint signals and investigate their possible connections with cellular metabolism and stress.

LiDiR brings together physics, photonics and the life sciences, offering students the opportunity to work on an emerging research topic with applications beyond fundamental particle physics. Projects may involve developing optical detection systems, designing experiments, analysing photon signals and exploring how precision measurements can help us better understand biological processes.

Science Communication and Outreach

Communicating science is an important part of my work. I regularly present my research at international conferences and research institutions worldwide, sharing developments in dark matter detection, neutrino physics and advanced detector technologies.

I enjoy sharing my passion for physics and making astroparticle physics accessible, exciting and inspiring for students and the general public. Over the years, I have developed and delivered a wide range of outreach activities, from hands-on photonics workshops to public lectures and national science events, across Australia and internationally.

I regularly introduce high-school students to the fascinating world of dark matter detection, exploring the scientific questions and experimental techniques behind the search for one of the Universe's greatest mysteries. These activities include interactive sessions at Liceo Scientifico Cattaneo and other schools in Torino and the surrounding regions. For younger students, I design and lead hands-on optics and photonics activities through Children's University in Adelaide, giving them the opportunity to explore light, sensors and the technologies used in modern physics experiments.

I have also delivered professional development sessions for the South Australian Science Teachers Association (SASTA) in collaboration with the AIP SA Branch, sharing practical demonstrations and classroom-ready experiments in photonics and particle detection.

I coordinated the Adelaide programme of the Women in Physics Tour, bringing together a public lecture, secondary-school outreach and opportunities for visiting physicists to engage with university students and research groups. Through initiatives like this, I aim to encourage greater participation in physics and inspire young people, particularly girls and young women, to consider careers in STEM.

I also gave public lectures, including

          • “The Hunt for Dark Matter in a Gold Mine in Australia” for the Astronomical Society of South Australia

          • A talk about dark matter direct detection as part of the National Quantum and Dark Matter Road Trip, bringing physics to                 communities across the country.

My work has been featured in the media, including the COSMOS magazine interview “Why dark matter matters” (link: https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/why-dark-matter-matters/).

I have also participated in initiatives such as the ARC Centre of Excellence’s “Meet the Researcher”, discussing my scientific path and the motivations that led me into physics (link: https://www.centredarkmatter.org/all/https/meet-the-researcher-irene-fbolognino-7ekyh-4x5nh).

If you are a student curious about the Universe—whether you enjoy hands-on experimentation, optical setups, data analysis, simulations, or simply asking big questions—there will always be a place for you in my group.