Simona Cristescu

Prof. Dr. Simona Cristescu is the head of the Life Science Trace Detection Laboratory (TDLab) at Faculty of Science, Radboud University (Nijmegen, the Netherlands). She pioneered the development of laser-based spectroscopy for detection of volatile compounds in exhaled breath and/or produced by microorganisms towards understanding the biochemical processes involved in disease. Her lab has a strong analytical infrastructure based on state-of-the-art optical systems and mass spectrometry instrumentation for chemical analysis of complex gas mixtures. Currently, her research group develops mid-infrared-based systems for in situ multispecies gas detection and methods for (un)targeted gas analysis using high resolution mass spectrometry. Next to this, her interest includes also the development of compact sensors (shoe box size) using lasers and photonic integrated circuit-based spectroscopy. Applications target environmental and air quality monitoring (exposure, pollution), animal and human health, soil health, circular economy and energy transition (process control, real-time monitoring of chemical reactions or contaminants), etc. She is the chair elect of the IABR.