Professional career:
- since November 2014: Leader of the Optoelectronics group
- June 2009 - October 2014: Senior scientist at Nanofabrication Department of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genova.
- January 2003 - June 2009: Researcher at the National Nanotechnology Labs of CNR-INFM, Italy. Work on optical and electronic properties of colloidal nanocrystals and biomolecules.
- November 2000 – December 2002: Postdoc at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), in the group of Prof. Dr Israel Bar-Joseph. Research on electronic properties of single nano objects. Fellowships awarded from the Feinberg Graduate School and the Thyssen Foundation.
Education:
- October 2000: PhD in Physics, at the University of Hamburg. Topic: FIR Fourier-transform-spectroscopy on field-effect induced quantum dots and modulated two-dimensional electron systems.
- April 1996: Master in Physics Title: Raman spectroscopy on GaAs-AlGaAs microstructures in an external magnetic field.
Research interests:
Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals can be excellent light emitters or absorbers, and the optical properties like for example the light emission wavelength, direction and polarization can be controlled via the nanocrystal size, shape and composition. This makes them very interesting as active material in light emitting, lasing, or photovoltaic devices, and we are exploring novel approaches for proof of principle prototypes. On the other hand, metal nanostructures are very good conductors and can strongly interact with light in the visible and infrared spectral regions due to the presence of free electrons that can perform plasmon oscillations, which opened the field of nanoplasmonics. Recently, graphene has attracted great interest as a 2D material with very appealing conductive, plasmonic, and mechanical properties. We aim at combining the favorable properties of these materials in order to investigate complex optoelectronic systems and to pave the way for novel architectures for components in photodetectors, optical communication, photovoltaics, plasmonics, and nanoscale electronics.
- Coordinator of the EU Horizon2020 MSCA Rise project “COMPASS-691185” for long term scientific exchange between IIT, Ludwigs-Maximilian-University, University of Gent and University of Utrecht with partner institutions University of California-Berkeley, Cornell Unversity, and Columbia University in the US, total budget 890 k€, 2016-2020.
- PI of the Molecular Foundry User Facility project # 3641 on Nanospectroscopic imaging of electrically contacted nanowire heterostructures, 2016/2017.
- PI (host) of the EU MSCA IEF project SCEL-TA - 659144 (2015-2017)
- PI in the Optoelectronics work package of the Core 1 phase of the FP7 FET Flagship "Graphene-Driven Revolutions in ICT and Beyond" (GRAPHENE), 2016-2018.
- PI for IIT in the CARIPLO project NANOCRYSLAS, Title: Micro-laser based on rod-shaped self-assembling colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, 2013-2014, total budget 148.000€, 77k€ under my control.
- PI for IIT for the FP7 FET Flagship "Graphene-Driven Revolutions in ICT and Beyond" (GRAPHENE), starting 2013, 2013-2016, IIT budget 500.000€.
- IIT national project “Neuro-plasmonics”: plasmonic nanoneedles for multi-site intracellular recording”. Co-Principal investigator, budget: roughly 100K euro for 2 years.
- Workpackage leader of a European Commission financed FP7 STREP project (SA-NANO) and participation in the coordination of the project. The total value of the project was 2 million Euro over three years.
- Experienced researcher in a Transfer of knowledge Marie Curie project (NANOTAIL) coordinated by FORTH in Greece (2006-2009).
- Leader of a Molecular Foundry user facility project on electronic and optical characterization in a bilateral project financed by the Italian Ministry of Research (MIUR) with the Molecular Foundry in Berkeley, USA.
- Responsible scientist for the National Nanotechnology Laboratory (NNL) in a MIUR financed PRIN project (2004-2005) with total budget 120.000 Euros for 2 years.
- Project leader in two EU transnational access program financed visits to the Braun Center of Microstructure Research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.
- Program Chair of the 8th International Conference on Quantum Dots in Pisa, May 11-16 2014, Italy (www.qd2014.it).
- Co-organizer of the 3rd international conference “Nanoscience with Nanocrystals – NaNaX3” on May 21-31 2008 in Lecce, Italy.
Books:
- Fellowship from the Feinberg Graduate School (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, 2001).
- Fellowship from the Thyssen Foundation (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, 2002).
- Guest Professor at the Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, September 2013
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.
