Professional Preparation
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Bari, Italy, 2001
M.S. in Chemistry, with Honours, University of Bari, Italy, 1996
Research interests
Synthesis and assembly of colloidal nanocrystals, study of structural, chemical and surface transformations in nanoscale materials, modelling and related applications in energy-related areas, in photonics, electronics and biology.
Areas of Expertise
Functional Inorganic Materials and Devices, Functional Nanostructured Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces, and Applications
Appointments
June 2018-current Associated Editor – Nanoscale and Nanoscale Advances
2016-current: Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Genova (Italy), part-time, unpaid position
Dec 2015-current Deputy Director for Materials and Nanotechnology programs, the Italian Institute of Technology in Genova (Italy)
2010-current: Professor of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands), part-time, unpaid position
2009-current: Head of the Nanochemistry Department at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genova (Italy)
2006- 2009: Leader of the Chemistry Division at the National Nanotechnology Lab in Lecce (Italy)
2003-2008: Junior Scientist at the National Nanotechnology Lab in Lecce (Italy)
2003: Visiting Scientist at the Center for Nanoscience, Munich (Germany)
2001-2003: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley
1999-2000: Visiting student, University of California, Berkeley
Major Research Grants Secured:
With IIT/CNR affiliations
2018-2020: H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 project (RETAIN, contract n. 794560), Supervisor (PI: Dmitry Baranov)
2016-2019: H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research IF-GF project (MOPTOPus, contract n. 705444), Supervisor (PI: Ilka Kriegel)
2015-2018: H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) project (Compass, contract n. 691185), partner
2014-2018: European Research Council (ERC) FP7 Consolidator grant recipient (TRANS-NANO, contract. n. 614897)
2014-2016: Fondazione Cariplo, project partner “Green nanomaterials for next-generation photovoltaics (GREENS)”
2013-2016: FP7-ICT-2013-FET-F “Graphene-Driven Revolutions in ICT and Beyond”, Project Partner
2012-2014: European FP7 Marie Curie IEF project (NIRPLANA, contract n. 298022), Supervisor (PI: Iwan Moreels)
2012-2014: European FP7 Marie Curie IEF project (LOTOCON, contract n. 301100), Supervisor (PI: Vladimir Lesnyak)
2013-2016: European FP7 Marie Curie ITN project (MAGNETICFUN, contract n. 290248), partner
2012-2015: European FP7 large scale project (SCALENANO, contract n. 284489), partner
2011-2014: Italian FIRB project (Nanostructured oxides, contract n. RBAP115AYN), partner
2009-2013: European Research Council (ERC) FP7 starting grant recipient (NANO-ARCH, contract n. 240111), PI
2009-2012: European project FP7 SMALL, project partner (MAGNIFYCO, contract n. 228622), partner
2006-2009: European FP6 Marie Curie TOK Network, scientific leader for NNL (NANOTAIL, contract n. 042459), partner
2006-2010: Italy-USA Bilateral Project (Italian Min. of Research), scientific leader for NNL (contract n. RBIN048TSE)
2005-2008: European project FP6 STREP (SA-NANO, contract n. 013698), project coordinator
With Delft affiliation
2018-2021: H2020-FETOPEN-2016-2017 project “Testing the Large-Scale Limit of Quantum Mechanics” (TEQ, contract n. 766900), Partner
Dutch Technology Foundation STW (n. 13903), co-PI
Dutch Technology Foundation STW (n. 12734), co-PI
Awards, recognitions & research highlights:
2019: The Thirty Second Waite Philip Fishel Memorial Lecture in Chemistry (Vanderbilt University)
2018: 2018 Highly cited researcher (Clarivate Analytics, https://hcr.clarivate.com/)
2018: “Chimici Eccellenze a Livello Internazionale” Award, Federazione Nazionale degli Ordini dei Chimici e dei Fisici
2018: 2018 Chemistry of Materials Outstanding Reviewer Award
2017: 2017 Chemistry of Materials Outstanding Reviewer Award
2017: Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
2013: American Chemical Society Early Career Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry (http://phys-acs.org/awards/2013.html)
2011: Ranked #24 among the top 100 Chemists of the 2000-2010 decade by Thomson Reuters (http://www.sciencewatch.com/dr/sci/misc/Top100Chemists2000-10/)
2011: Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship Award (Royal Society of Chemistry)
2011: Highlighted by ChemComm as among the top emerging investigators in chemical sciences worldwide.
2010: Highlighted by the Journal of Materials Chemistry as among the top emerging investigators in materials chemistry worldwide.
2009: Highlighted in the October 2009 issue of ScienceWatch for “Emerging Research Front Paper in the field of Materials Science” (Thomson Reuters, http://sciencewatch.com/).
2009: R&D 100 Award recipient for ‘Cost Competitive Solar Cells’
2007: ‘Ugo Campisano’ Young Investigator Award in Materials Science (Italian Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, www.infm.it).
2007: Ranked #9 among the most cited scientists worldwide working on nanocrystals by ‘Essential Science Indicators’ (Thomson Scientific), www.esi-topics.com.
2005: Top nine innovators in Italy younger than 35 (Financial magazine ‘Il Sole 24 ore’)
2002: ‘Berkeley Lab Technology Transfer Award’.
2001: ‘Semerano Award’ (Italian Association of Physical Chemistry): best PhD thesis in Physical Chemistry in Italy in 2001.
2000: ‘Umberto Maria Grassano Award’ (Italian Association of Physics).
L’Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) è una fondazione di diritto privato - cfr. determinazione Corte dei Conti 23/2015 “IIT è una fondazione da inquadrare fra gli organismi di diritto pubblico con la scelta di un modello di organizzazione di diritto privato per rispondere all’esigenza di assicurare procedure più snelle nella selezione non solo nell’ambito nazionale dei collaboratori, scienziati e ricercatori ”.
IIT è sotto la vigilanza del Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca e del Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze ed è stato istituito con la Legge 326/2003. La Fondazione ha l'obiettivo di promuovere l'eccellenza nella ricerca di base e in quella applicata e di favorire lo sviluppo del sistema economico nazionale. La costruzione dei laboratori iniziata nel 2006 si è conclusa nel 2009.
Lo staff complessivo di IIT conta circa 1440 persone. L’area scientifica è rappresentata da circa l’85% del personale. Il 45% dei ricercatori proviene dall’estero: di questi, il 29% è costituito da stranieri provenienti da oltre 50 Paesi e il 16% da italiani rientrati. Oggi il personale scientifico è composto da circa 60 principal investigators, circa 110 ricercatori e tecnologi di staff, circa 350 post doc, circa 500 studenti di dottorato e borsisti, circa 130 tecnici. Oltre 330 posti su 1400 creati su fondi esterni. Età media 34 anni. 41% donne / 59 % uomini.
Nel 2015 IIT ha ricevuto finanziamenti pubblici per circa 96 milioni di euro (80% del budget), conseguendo fondi esterni per 22 milioni di euro (20% budget) provenienti da 18 progetti europei, 17 finanziamenti da istituzioni nazionali e internazionali, circa 60 progetti industriali
La produzione di IIT ad oggi vanta circa 6990 pubblicazioni, oltre 130 finanziamenti Europei e 11 ERC, più di 350 domande di brevetto attive, oltre 12 start up costituite e altrettante in fase di lancio. Dal 2009 l’attività scientifica è stata ulteriormente rafforzata con la creazione di dieci centri di ricerca nel territorio nazionale (a Torino, Milano, Trento, Parma, Roma, Pisa, Napoli, Lecce, Ferrara) e internazionale (MIT ed Harvard negli USA) che, unitamente al Laboratorio Centrale di Genova, sviluppano i programmi di ricerca del piano scientifico 2015-2017.
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) is a public research institute that adopts the organizational model of a private law foundation. IIT is overseen by Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca and Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze (the Italian Ministries of Education, Economy and Finance). The Institute was set up according to Italian law 326/2003 with the objective of promoting excellence in basic and applied research andfostering Italy’s economic development. Construction of the Laboratories started in 2006 and finished in 2009.
IIT has an overall staff of about 1,440 people. The scientific staff covers about 85% of the total. Out of 45% of researchers coming from abroad 29% are foreigners coming from more than 50 countries and 16% are returned Italians. The scientific staff currently consists of approximately 60 Principal Investigators, 110 researchers and technologists, 350 post-docs and 500 PhD students and grant holders and 130 technicians. External funding has allowed the creation of more than 330 positions . The average age is 34 and the gender balance proportion is 41% female against 59% male.
In 2015 IIT received 96 million euros in public funding (accounting for 80% of its budget) and obtained 22 million euros in external funding (accounting for 20% of its budget). External funding comes from 18 European Projects, other 17 national and international competitive projects and approximately 60 industrial projects.
So far IIT accounts for: about 6990 publications, more than 130 European grants and 11 ERC grants, more than 350 patents or patent applications, 12 up start-ups and as many which are about to be launched. The Institute’s scientific activity has been further strengthened since 2009 with the establishment of 11 research nodes throughout Italy (Torino, Milano, Trento, Parma, Roma, Pisa, Napoli, Lecce, Ferrara) and abroad (MIT and Harvard University, USA), which, along with the Genoa-based Central Lab, implement the research programs included in the 2015-2017 Strategic Plan.
