Legenda
Alberto obtained his PhD in Science and Engineering of Materials in 2018 at the University of Padova (Italy), working on developing and characterizing (spin and photophysics) novel photovoltaic materials based on organic molecules and semiconducting nanoparticles. In 2017, he joined the Advanced Functional Materials and Devices group at the University of Oxford (UK). Here, he transitioned to a more “device-focused” approach and worked on the photophysics of organic optoelectronic devices, e.g. organic solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes. Leveraging his “spin-centered” perspective, he has contributed to disclosing the fundamental role of the electron spin in organic photovoltaics. In 2021, he moved to the Laboratory of Molecular Magnetism at the University of Florence (Italy), extending his research interests to the field of the chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect. In December 2022, he was awarded the NRRP Young Investigator Fellowship with the project PHOTOCODE and became Junior Assistant Professor (RTDA) at the Department of Industrial Engineering (DIEF). In November 2023, he moved to Northwestern University as a Global Marie Curie Fellow with a project on the photophysical investigation of CISS for organic photovoltaic applications. In parallel, he holds a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor (RTT) position at DIEF (University of Florence).
Education
16/04/2018 - PhD Degree, Science and Engineering of Materials and Nanostructures, University of Padova, Italy
Thesis title: “Development and characterization of nanostructured materials for organic and hybrid solar cells”
Supervisor (SP): Prof. Lorenzo Franco
17/07/2014 - Master’s Degree, Materials Science, 110/110 cum laude, University of Padova, Italy
12/09/2012 - Bachelor’s Degree, Materials Science, 110/110 cum laude, University of Padova, Italy
Current position
Feb 2024-present - Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track, RTT), Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Italy
Nov 2023-present - Global Marie Curie Fellow, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, IL, USA
Previous positions
2022-2023 - Assistant Professor (Junior, RTD-A), University of Florence, Italy
2022 - Postdoc Researcher, University of Florence (group leader (GL): Prof. Sessoli), Italy
2021 - Postdoc Researcher, University of Turin (GL Prof. Chiesa), Italy
2020-2017 - ITN Marie Curie fellow, University of Oxford (GL Prof. Riede), UK
2019 Oct/Nov - Visiting researcher, University of Mons (GL Prof. Beljonne), Belgium
2018 Oct/Nov - Visiting researcher, University of Würzburg (GL Prof. Dyakonov), Germany
2017-2014 - PhD fellow, University of Padova (SP Prof. Franco), Italy
2017 May/Jul - Visiting researcher, KAUST (GL Prof. Bakr), Saudi Arabia
Alberto’s research explores the photophysics of novel organic molecules and materials for optoelectronic applications. Particular attention is given to the electron spin interactions, which in recent years have disclosed a fundamental photophysical role in organic optoelectronics. Alberto’s aim is to achieve unprecedented control of these spin interactions in organic devices to foster their efficiencies and lifetimes and to promote new applications in the field of organic spintronics. In recent years, he is particularly interested in the use of molecular chirality as a novel route to harness the quantum properties of the electron spin, thereby extending his research interests to the field of Quantum Information.
