Education and Research Experience
1990-1994, University of Bari, Italy, Bachelor in Chemistry
1994-1996, University of Bari, Italy, M.S. in Chemistry
1996-2001, University of Bari, Italy, Ph.D.in Chemistry
2001-2003, University of California, Berkeley, Postdoctoral Fellow
2003-2009, the National Nanotechnology Lab in Lecce, Italy, Head of the Chemistry Group
2009-current, the Italian Institute of Technology in Genova, Italy, Head of the Nanochemistry
2016-2020, Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Genova (Italy), part-time
2018-current Associated Editor – Nanoscale and Nanoscale Advances
Research Interest
Functional Inorganic Materials and Devices, Functional Nanostructured Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces, and Applications
Projects
2020-2023: Flag-Era JTC2019 "Solution-Processed Perovskite/ Graphene Nanocomposites for Self-Powered Gas Sensors (PeroGaS)", coordinator
2020-2022: ERC Proof of Concept "In-situ fabricated hydrogen evolution catalysts for alkaline water electrolysis” (HyCat) (contract n. 899412), PI
2019-2021: AI-4-QD, Bilateral project with Israel, funded by the Italian Ministry of Research, partner
2018-2021: H2020-FETOPEN-2016-2017 project “Testing the Large-Scale Limit of Quantum Mechanics” (TEQ, contract n. 766900), partner
2018-2020: H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 project (RETAIN, contract n. 794560), Supervisor (PI: Dmitry Baranov)
2016-2019: H2020 MSCA Research IF-GF project (MOPTOPus, contract n. 705444), Supervisor (PI: Ilka Kriegel)
2015-2020: H2020 MSCA Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) project (Compass, contract n. 691185), partner
2014-2019: European Research Council (ERC) FP7 Consolidator grant recipient (TRANS-NANO, contract. n. 614897), PI
2014-2016: Fondazione Cariplo, “Green nanomaterials for next-generation photovoltaics (GREENS)”, partner
2013-2016: FP7-ICT-2013-FET-F “Graphene-Driven Revolutions in ICT and Beyond”, 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
2005-2008: European project FP6 STREP (SA-NANO, contract n. 013698), coordinator
Patents
Since 2009, my technology transfer activity has generated 14 patent families (inventions) and 46 applications, of which 20 granted, leading to 39 patents.
Honors and awards
2020: Highly cited researcher (Clarivate Analytics)
2020: Ufficiale all’Ordine del Merito della Repubblica Italiana (bestowed by the President of the Italian Republic)
2019: 2019 Highly cited researcher (Clarivate Analytics)
2019: Sacconi Medal in Inorganic Chemistry (Italian Chemical Society)
2019: The Inaugural MEM-C Annual Lecture (University of Washington, Seattle)
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 (Italian National Federation of Chemists)
2018: Chemistry of Materials Outstanding Reviewer Award
2017: Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
2017: Chemistry of Materials Outstanding Reviewer Award
2013: American Chemical Society Early Career Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry
2011: Ranked #24 among the top 100 Chemists of the 2000-2010 decade by Thomson Reuters
2011: Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship Award (Royal Society of Chemistry)
2011: Emerging investigator in chemical sciences (ChemComm, RSC)
2010: Emerging investigator in materials chemistry (Journal of Materials Chemistry, RSC)
2009: R&D 100 Award recipient for ‘Cost Competitive Solar Cells’
2007: “Campisano” Young Investigator Award in Materials Science (Italian Nat. Inst. Physics of Matter)
2002: Berkeley Lab Technology Transfer Award
2001: Semerano Award (Italian Chemical Society), best PhD thesis in Italy in Physical Chemistry
