Gambardella leads the Magnetism and Interface Physics group at ETH D-MATL. Research directions: (1) Scanning probe magnetometry — using NV-center cantilevers (collaboration with Degen) and magneto-optical Kerr microscopy to image spin textures (skyrmions, domain walls) in thin-film heterostructures with sub-100 nm resolution; (2) Spin-orbit torques — current-induced magnetization switching via interfacial spin-orbit coupling; spin Hall and Rashba effects for spintronic devices; (3) Single-atom magnetism — STM and X-ray absorption for element-specific orbital and spin moments of individual atoms on surfaces; (4) XMCD at synchrotron — quantitative element-specific magnetic spectroscopy. Quantum sensing angle: spin-orbit driven phenomena, high-resolution magnetic imaging.