NAST Seminar December, 9, 2011‏

DNA aptamers – novel receptors in biosensors

Prof. Tibor Hianik

Comenius University Bratislava

venerdì 9 dicembre 2011 ore 12:00

Aula U. M. Grassano

Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali

Dipartimento di Fisica

Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”

Abstract:
The talk will deal with the following topics:

Structure and properties of DNA aptamers. Aptamer engneering, preparation of
nanostructured surfaces and aptamer immobilization. Electrochemical and
acoustical methods of aptamer-ligand detection. Examples of biosensors for
detection thrombin, prions, and ochratoxin.

Biographical:

Professor Tibor Hianik is head of the Laboratory of Biophysics of Comenius
University Bratislava.

He is chair of the Master and PhD program in Biophysics at CUB. Prof. T.
Hianik supervised 16 PhD students and more than 30 diploma works.

A substantial area of his research is focussed on the development of
biosensors based on DNA aptamers and antibodies.

He has authored 135 papers in International Journals, two monographs, six
chapters in books and serves as associate editor of the International
Journal Bioelectrochemistry (Elsevier) and editor of the International
Journal of General Physiology and Biophysics (SAS). He also served as a
guest editor of special issue of Electroanalysis (Wiley) focused on
electrochemical aptasensors.

He is member of the Council of Bioelectrochemical Society, member of
commission C6 on Biological Physics of IUPAP and president of the Slovak
Biophysical Society.

Comment

Prof. Olivia Pulci

Contact details

Office: Physics Department,
Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1
00133 Roma, Italy

Tel: +39 0672594548
Fax: +39 062023507

Current Professional Position

Associate Professor in Condensed Matter at the Faculty of Science of The University of Rome Tor Vergata

Research Experience

Olivia Pulci is a computational theoretical physicist, received a Laurea Cum Laude at the University “La Sapienza” (Rome) in 1992, and the PhD degree at the University of Rome Tor Vergata in 1996.

She is presently associate professor in Condensed Matter at Department of Physics – Faculty of Science – at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

In the years 1997-2000 she worked at the Friedrich Schiller Universitaet (Jena, Germany), at the Ecole Polytechnique (Palaiseau, France) and the the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Plank Gesellschaft (Berlin).

Since 2003 OP teaches “Theory of Solid State Physics” for the Laurea Specialistica in Material Science.

Since 2007 OP is beamline responsible scientist at the European Theoretical Spectroscopy

Facility (ETSF, www.etsf.eu) for the Optical Beamline.

Expertise

Surfaces:

Ground state properties: equilibrium geometry, determination of relaxation and reconstruction, study of the relative stability of surfaces under different growth conditions. Electronic band structure and optical properties of surfaces. Effect of steps.

Nanocrystals, nanodots:

Absorption and emission spectra of silicon nanocrystals, free standing and embed-ded.

Towards systems of biological interest:

study of water, and formamide in water; optical spectra within QM/MM+MBPT of indole in water solution; study of the photoisomerization of rhodopsin; optical properties of Flavin

Functionalizing graphene and other 2-D systems:

study of graphene, silicene and polygermine with adsorbates.

Cultural heritage: understanding the yellowing of ancient paper through the study of possible oxidation processes in cellulose

keywords: Ab-initio calculations, computational physics, Density Functional Theory (DFT), Time-Dependent DFT (TDDFT), Many-Body Perturbation Theory, ground state properties, electronic band structure calculations, optical absorption spectra, Reflectance Anisotropy, Surface Differential Reflectivity, GW approximation, excitonic effects (BSE).

Invited Talks and lectures

XVIII Meeting of Theoretical Solid State Physics, Fai della Paganella (Trento), 30 March 1999 (invited).
17th Heimbach Meeting, Isola Polvese, Italy 29 September -3 October 2003 (2 invited lectures)
EPIOPTIC-8 School, Erice 20th-26th July 2004 (2 Invited Lectures, 4 hours)
Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft Spring Meeting 2005: Invited Talk (8 March 2005 Berlin, Germany)
Invited talk at the EPS 2006 Meeting (DPG, Dresden, Germany, 27-31March 2006) “Ab-initio calculations of excitations at surfaces”
Invited Lecture at EPIOPTICS-9 (38th school, Erice 20-26 July 2006), ‘The optical properties of surfaces: ab-initio calculations within two-particle schemes’
Invited talk at the 11th Nanoquanta Workshop on Electronic Excita-tions: ‘A decade of applications of the Bethe-Salpeter Equation’, 19-22 September 2006 Houffalize (Belgium). Title of the talk: Electronic and Optical properties of Surfaces: ab-initio calculations within MBPT and TDDFT approaches
Invitation to give a talk at the APS March meeting (March 2007) (I could not travel for health reasons)
Invited talk at the conference SIMBIOMA ‘Progress in ab initio mod-elling of biomolecules : towards computational spectroscopy’, Rome 2-4 April 2007
Invited talk at the ‘PhD school for Nano and Bio Technologies’, 21-31 May 2007, Rome Tor Vergata. Title of the Talk: ‘Ab-initio calculations of optical properties of Silicon nanocrystals’
Invited talk at the International workshop on computational physics and Materials ‘Progress in Computational Electronic Structure Theory’ Bonn 10-12 January 2008 ‘ Optical spectrum of water: many-body per-turbation theory meets molecular dynamics’
Invited talk at the russian-italian mini-workshop 14 March 2008 Castel Gandolfo, Rome ‘Ab-initio calculations of Silicon nanocrystals’
Two Invited Lectures at EPIOPTICS-X school (Erice 20-27 June 2008)
Invited talk at the conference School of Nanophotonic and Photovoltaics Ab initio theory and calculation of the optical properties of nanostruc-tures Santiago de Cuba 7-14 January 2009
Invited talk at the NAST-ISM(CNR) meeting Rome (Italy) (22 June 2009) ‘Theoretical Approaches to the Ab-initio study of complex systems’
Invited talk at ICFSI-12 Weimar (Germany) 5-10 July 2009
Invited talk at OSI-8 Ischia (Italy) 6-11 September 2009
Invited talk at ICCMSE 2009 Rhodes (Crete, Greece) 29-September- 4 October 2009
Invited talk at the conference ‘PhysCompTech’ Natal, Brasil 1-5 March 2010
Invited talk at the international School on optical properties of surfaces EPIOTICS-XI (Erice July 2010)
Invitation to ECOSS27 (29 August- 3 September 2010) (could not attend for family reasons)
Invited talk at the international conference NANO 2010 (Rome La Sapienza 13-17 September 2010)
Invited talk at the 2nd International School on Nanophotonics and Pho-tovoltaic, Tsakhadzor, Armenia (16-22 September 2010)
Invited talk at ICSFS15 (Beijing, China 5-10 October 2010)
Invited talk at the first meeting of the Mediterranean Institute of Fun- damental Physics (MIFP) Marino, ROME 16-19 March 2011
Invitation to give a talk at CECAM July 2011 Lausanne
Invited talk at the School of Nanophotonics Maratea (September2011)

Peer Review:

OP served as:

Referee of international journals (Phys. Rev. Lett., Physical Review B, Thin Solid Films, Physica Status Solidi, Superlattices and Microstructures, The Journal of Physical Chemistry, Appl. Phys. Lett.).
2007-2009: Member of the evaluation panel for CINECA-INFM supercomputer projects
2010: evaluator of proposals to the CEA-Eurotalents projects
since 2011: Reviewer for CINECA ISCRA projects

Organization of conferences:

Organizer and Member of the Scientific and Advisory Board of the conference “Ab initio Theoretical Approaches to the Electronic Structure and Optical Spectra of Materials”, CECAM, Lyon, September 2002.
Organizer and Member of the Scientific and Advisory Board of the conference “Ab initio Electron-Excitations Theory: Towards systems of Biological Interest”, DIPC, S. Sebastian, Spain, 21-24 September 2003.
Organizer and Member of the Scientific and Advisory Board of the conference “Theory and Modeling of Electronic Excitations in Nanoscience“, Acquafredda di Maratea, Italy, 19-23 September 2004
Organizer and Coordinator of the section “Ab-initio approaches to excited states and transport” of the MMD (Matter, Materials and Devices) workshop (INFM-meeting 2005, Genova, June 22-25 2005)
Organizer and Member of the Scientific and Advisory Board of the conference GW2005: 40 Years of the GW Approximation for the Electronic Self Energy: Achievements and Challenges Physikszentrum Bad Honnef, Germany 12-15 September 2005
Member of the International Advisory and Programme Committee of ICFSI-12 (Weimer 2009)
Member of the Program Committee of PLMCN10, Cuernavaca, Mexico, 11-16 of April, 2010
Member of the International Advisory Board and Programme Committee for the 13th International Conference on the Formation of Semiconductor Interfaces (ICFSI-13) Prague, Czech Republic, July 3-8 2011
Local committee member for NANOSEA 2012 S. Margherita di Pula 2012
Member of the International Programme Committee of OECSE13 (Rome 2013)

Scientific coordination:

Since 2004 Scientifc Coordinator of the section ‘Surfaces and Interfaces’ (IT7) for the NoE (Network of Excellence) European Project ‘NANOQUANTA: Nanoscale Quantum Simulations’
Since 2005: Member of the Nanoquanta scientific committee for the organization of the European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF)
Since 2007: Member of the scientific committee of NaST (Laboratorio d’Ateneo) Rome Tor Vergata
Since 2007: Research Team Leader in the European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF: http://www.etsf.eu) core node of Rome Tor Vergata
Since 2008: Optical Beamline reference scientist for the European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility
Since November 2010: Coordinator of the IRSES European Project “New Century of Superconductivity: Ideas, Materials, Technologies” (SIMTECH), project n. 246937
Since March 2010: Member of ‘Collegio dei Docenti’ of Tor Vergata University for the PhD in Physics

Recent (selected) Publications:

A. Mosca Conte, L. Guidoni, R. Del Sole, and Olivia Pulci, Photo-isomerization of the Protonated Schiff Base Minimal Model: a theoretical investigation by quantum Many-Body and TDDFT methods (Chem. Phys. Lett) (accepted)
E. Cannuccia, O. Pulci, R. Del Sole, M. Cascella, Optical properties of flavin mononucleotide: a QM/MM study of protein environment effects Chemical Physics 389 (2011) 35–38
R. Guerra, M. Marsili, O. Pulci, and S. Ossicini Local field effects in silicon nanocrystals Phys. Rev. B 84, 075342 (2011)
G. Bussetti, et al. Coexistence of Negatively and Positively Buckled Isomers on n+-Doped Si(111)-2×1 Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 067601 (2011)
M. Schwitters, D. S. Martin, P. Unsworth, T. Farrell, J. E. Butler, M. Marsili, O. Pulci, and P.Weightman The contribution of steps to the optical properties of vicinal Diamond (100):H surfaces Phys. Rev. B 83, 085402 (2011)
O. Pulci, A. Marini, M. Palummo, and R. Del Sole, Test of long-range exchange-correlation kernels of TDDFT at surfaces: application to Si(111)2x1, Phys. Rev. B 82, 205319 (2010) (selected as Editor’s suggestion)
Stefano Ossicini, Michele Amato, Roberto Guerra, Maurizia Palummo, and Olivia Pulci, Silicon and Germanium Nanostructures for Photovoltaic Applications: Ab-Initio Results, Nanoscale Research Letters 5, 16371649 (2010)
M. Marsili, O. Pulci, The fascinating physics of carbon surfaces: first-principles study of hydrogen on C(001), C(111), and graphene, invited Review paper in Journ. of Phys. D 43, 374016 (2010)
Paola Gori, Munise Rakel, Christoph Cobet, Wolfgang Richter, Norbert Esser, Axel Ho®mann, Rodolfo Del Sole, Antonio Cricenti, and Olivia Pulci, Optical spectra of ZnO in the far UV: First Principle Calculations and Ellip-sometric measurements, Phys. Rev. B 81, 125207 (2010)
Adriano Mosca Conte, Emiliano Ippoliti, Rodolfo Del Sole, Paolo Carloni, Olivia Pulci Many-Body meets QM/MM: Application to indole in water solution accepted Phys. Stat. Sol. b) Volume 247, Issue 8, August 2010, Pages: 19201924
E. Degoli, R. Guerra, M. Marsili, O. Pulci, and S. Ossicini, Local-fields and disorder effects in free-standing and embedded Si nanocrystallites accepted Phys. Stat. Sol. (b) Volume 247, Issue 8, August 2010, Pages: 21132117
O. Pulci, P. Gori, M. Marsili, V. Garbuio, A. P. Seitsonen, F. Bechstedt, A. Cricenti, and R. Del Sole, Ab initio calculations of electronic and optical properties of group IV 2-dimensional materials, Phys. Stat. Sol. (a) 207, 291 (2010)
O. Pulci, E. Degoli, F. Iori, M. Marsili, M. Palummo, R. Del Sole, S. Ossicini, Electronic and optical properties of Si and Ge nanocrystals: an ab-initio study, Superlattices and Microstructures 47, 178 (2010)
Silicon Nanocrystallites in SiO2 Matrix: The Role of Disorder and Size R. Guerra, I. Marri, R. Magri, L. Martin-Samos, O. Pulci, E. Degoli, and S. Ossicini, Phys. Rev. B 79, 155320 (2009)
M. Marsili, O. Pulci, M. Palummo, P.L. Silvestrelli, and R. Del Sole, Electronic and optical properties of acetylene and ethylene on Si(001), “Su-perlattices and Microstructures” 46, 240 (2009)
O. Pulci, V. Garbuio, R. Del Sole, Optical and electron energy loss spectra of liquid water: an ab-initio study paper in the book Synchrotron Radiation and Nanostructures, in honour of Paolo Perfetti, World Scientific, Ed. Cri-centi, Margaritondo, pag. 90 (2009)
Ab-initio study of Ethylene on Si(001), M. Marsili, O. Pulci,R. Del Sole proceedings of the school EPIOPTICS-10, Erice 2008 World Scientific, ed. A. Cricenti
First-principles calculations and bias-dependent STM measurements at the alpha-Sn/Ge(111) surface: A clear indication for the 1U2D configuration P. Gori, F. Ronci, S. Colonna, A. Cricenti, O. Pulci, G. Le Lay, European Physics Letters 85, 66001 (2009)
Optical Properties of Silicon Nanocrystallites in SiO2 Matrix: Crystalline vs. Amorphous Case, R. Guerra, I. Marri, R. Magri, L. Martin-Samos, O. Pulci, E. Degoli, and S. Ossicini “Superlattices and Microstructures” 46, 246 (2009)
Tight Binding calculations of quasiparticle wavefunctions for C(111)2x1 M. Marsili, O. Pulci, F. Bechstedt, and R. Del Sole Phys. Rev. B 78, 205414 (2008)
Ab-initio calculation of luminescence and optical gain properties in silicon nanostructures Elena Degoli, Roberto Guerra, Federico Iori, Rita Magri, Ivan Marri, Olivia Pulci, Olmes Bisi, and Stefano Ossicini in special volume “The oretical Spectroscopy”, CR de Physique de l’Academie des Sciences, Elsevier doi:10.1016/j.crhy.2008.09.003 C. R. Physique 10 (2009) 575586
Many-Body Theory meets QM/MM: application to indole in water solution A. Mosca Conte, E. Ippoliti, R. Del Sole, P. Carloni, O. Pulci J. Chem. Theory Comput., 5, 1822 (2009)
Excited state properties of Liquid Water, V. Garbuio, M. Cascella, O. Pulci, invited topical Review Article at J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21, 033101 (2009)
Ab-initio absorption spectra of 3-tert-butylcyclohexene Katalin Gaal-Nagy, Olivia Pulci, and Giovanni Onida, in the special volume “Theoretical Spectroscopy”, CR de Physique de l’Academie des Sciences, Elsevier doi:10.1016/j.crhy.2008.08.002 C. R. Physique 10 (2009) 491503
Codoping goes Nano: Structural and Optical properties of Boron and Phosphorus codoped Silicon Nanocrystals, R. Magri, F. Iori, E. Degoli, O. Pulci, S. Ossicini, AIP Conf. Proc. 963, 359 (2007)
Role of Surface passivation and doping in silicon nanocrystals, R. Magri, E. Degoli, F. Iori, E. Luppi, O. Pulci, S. Ossicini, G. Cantele, F. Trani, D. Ninno, Journal of Computational Methods in Science and Engineering, 7, 219-232 (2007)
Quantum mechanical calculations of electronic and optical properties of surfaces Cecilia Noguez and Olivia Pulci, ‘Quantum Mechanical Calculations of Electronic and Optical Properties of Semiconductor Surfaces’, chap. 12 in the book ‘Quantum Chemical Calculations of Surfaces and Interfaces of Materials’, ISBN: 1-58883-138-8, American Scientific Publishers, Vladimir A. Basiuk and Piero Ugliengo Eds., Pages: 217-248 (2009)
Adsorption of small hydrocarbon molecules on Silicon surfaces: ethylene on Si(001) M. Marsili, N. Witkowski, O. Pulci, O. Pluchery, P. L. Silvestrelli, R. Del Sole, Y. Borensztein, Phys. Rev. B 77, 125337 (2008)
Ab-initio optical spectra of complex system E. Cannuccia,O. Pulci, M. Palummo, V. Garbuio, R. Del Sole, Phys. Stat. Solidi C 5 2543 (2008)
Engineering Silicon Nanocrystals: E®ect of Codoping with Boron and Phosphorus F. Iori, E. Degoli, R. Magri, I. Marri, G. Cantele, D. Ninno, F. Trani, O. Pulci, S. Ossicini, Phys. Rev. B 76, 085302 (2007)
M. Marsili, V. Garbuio, M. Bruno, O. Pulci M. Palummo, E. Degoli, E. Luppi, R. Del Sole Excited state properties calculations: from 0 to 3 dimensional systems proceedings of the school EPIOPTICS-9, Erice 2006 p.41 World Scientific, ed. A. Cricenti
E. Luppi, F. Iori, R. Magri, O. Pulci, S. Ossicini, E. Degoli, V. Olevano, Excitons in Silicon Nanocrystallites: the Nature of Luminescence Phys. Rev. B 75, 033303 (2007)
M. Palummo, M. Bruno, O. Pulci, E. Luppi, E. Degoli, S. Ossicini, R. Del Sole Ab-initio electronic and optical properties of low dimensional systems: from single particle to many-body approaches Surf. Sci. 601 (13), p.2696-2701, Jul 2007
M. Marsili, O. Pulci, F. Fuchs, F. Bechstedt, R. Del Sole, Many body effects in the electronic and optical properties of the (111) surface of diamond. Surf. Sci. 601 (18), p.4097-4101, Sep 2007
P. Gori, O. Pulci, S. Colonna, F. Ronci, A. Cricenti Structure and phase transitions of the Sn/Ge(111) surface Surf. Sci. 601 (18), p.4381-4385, Sep 2007
M. Palummo, O. Pulci, A. Marini, L. Reining, R. Del sole Many-body e®ects on the EEL spectrum of the C(100) surface Phys. Rev. B 74, 235431 (2006)
S. Ossicini et al., First Principle Study of Silicon Nanocrystals: Structural and Electronic Properties, Absorption, Emission and Doping, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 8, 479- 492 (2008)
S. Ossicini, E. Degoli, F. Iori, O. Pulci, G. Cantele, R. Magri, O. Bisi, F. Trani, D. Ninno, Doping in Silicon Nanocrystals, Surf. Sci. 601, 2724 (2007)
V. Garbuio, M. Cascella, L. Reining, R. Del Sole, and O. Pulci, Ab-initio calculations of Many-Body effects in liquids: the electronic excitations of water, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 137402 (2006)
O. Pulci, M. Marsili, P. Gori, M. Palummo, R. Del Sole, A. Cricenti, F. Bechstedt, Geometry and electronic band structure of surfaces: the case of Ge(111):Sn and C(111) Appl. Phys. A 85, 361 (2006)
P. Gori, O. Pulci, and A. Cricenti, Surface structure and energy bands of 1/3ML Sn/Ge(111), Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 45, 2140 (2006)

Comment

Seminar October 28, 2011

Oxide materials engineering by layer-by-layer deposition

Prof. Giuseppe Balestrino

Università di Roma Tor Vergata – CNR SPIN

Venerdì 28 ottobre 2011 alle ore 15.00

aula ‘R3′ del Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettronica dell’Università di Roma Tor Vergata (edificio Ing. dell’Informazione, piano terra)

Dowload locandina

Comment

Seminar November 2, 2011

Conformational studies of proteins and peptides and their application at biomaterials development

Professor Patricia Targon Campana
Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

Wednesday November 2nd, 2011
Seminar room of the Department

Dowload Abstract

Comment

Neutrons for Cultural Heritage studies

Collaborative research among scientists from Nast Centre , CNR , Universita’ di Milano-Bicocca and Cultural Heritage Institutions – Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage, Opificio delle Pietre Dure , Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia , Museo Civiche Raccolte Archeologiche e Numismatiche di Milano (link sito: ) have investigated archaeological artefacts via integrated neutron techniques.

Comment

Dr. Roberta Congestri

Contact details

Dept of Biology, LBA, Laboratory of Biology of Algae

Tel 06 72594332

Fax 06 2023500

Research Activity

Dr. Roberta Congestri is research scientist in the Department of Biology at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”.

Her research interests include taxonomy, ecophysiology and ultrastructure of microalgae and cyanobacteria in aquatic biofilms and marine phytoplankton, especially toxic and bloom forming species. Electron microscopy and image analysis techniques; structural, 3-dimensional, and spectral analysis of biofilms by confocal microscopy. Applications in the field of biofilm based remediation of waters and biofouling monitoring. Traceability of algal toxins along the food chain by means of microsensors. Diatom photonics and micro-mechanics, ultrastructural analysis of diatom frustules, pore patterns, silica nanostructures and linking mechanisms for nanotechnology and biodesign.

Relevant Publications

Caroppo C., Congestri R., Bracchini L., Albertano P. 2005 – On the presence of Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha Lundholm, Moestrup et Hasle and P. delicatissima (Cleve) Heiden in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea, Italy): Journal of Plankton Research, 27 (8): 763-774. Equal contribution first two authors.
Congestri R, Cox E.J., Cavacini P., Albertano P. 2005 – Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) in phototrophic biofilms colonising an Italian wastewater treatment plant. Diatom Research, 20 (2): 241-255.
Congestri R., Di Pippo F., De Philippis R., Buttino I., Paradossi G., Albertano P. 2006 – Seasonal succession of phototrophic biofilms in an Italian wastewater treatment plant: biovolume, spatial structure and exopolysaccharides”. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 45 (3): 301-312.
Congestri R. 2008 – Advanced microscopy techniques as instruments for cell and tissue analysis in plants – FISH methods in phycology: phototrophic biofilm and phytoplankton applications. Plant Biosystems, 142 (2): 337-342.
Congestri R., Polizzano S., Albertano P. 2008 – Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia populations from the Middle Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) In: V. Evangelista, L. Barsanti, A.M. Frassanito, V. Passarelli, and P. Gualtieri [eds.] Algal toxins: nature, occurrence, effect and detection. NATO Science Series, Chemistry and Biology. Springer Netherlands. p. 197-210. Albertano P., Congestri R., Micheli L., Moscone D., Palleschi G. 2008 – Development of sensors to trace toxins from dinoflagellates and other algae to seafood In: V. Evangelista, L. Barsanti, A.M. Frassanito, V. Passarelli, and P. Gualtieri [eds.] Algal toxins: nature, occurrence, effect and detection. NATO Science Series, Chemistry and Biology. SpringerNetherlands. p. 301-310.
De StefanoM., De Stefano L., Congestri R. 2009 – Functional morphology of micro- and nanostructures in two distinct diatom frustules. Superlattices and Microstructures 46: 64-68.
Di Pippo F., Bohn A., Congestri R., De Philippis R., Albertano P. 2009 – Capsular polysaccharides of cultured phototrophic biofilms. Biofouling 25: 495-504
Congestri R., Albertano P. 2011 – Benthic diatoms in biofilm culture. In: The Diatom World (vol 19, Cole series) Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, Vol. 19 cap 10 Seckbach, Joseph & Kociolek, Patrick [eds.] ISBN: 978-94-007-1326-0: in press.

Comment

Consiglio Scientifico

aggiornato al 14/09/2011

AFFERENTI

ALBERTANO Patrizia Beatrice

ANDREANI Carla

AVIGLIANO Luciana

BALESTRINO Giuseppe

BALZAROTTI Adalberto

BIANCO Alessandra

BOCCHINFUSO Gianfranco

BONANNI Beatrice

BOTTINI Massimo

CHIARADIA Piero

CINI Michele

COLETTA Massimo

CONGESTRI Roberta

DE PASCALE Maria Pia

D’EPIFANIO Alessandra

DESIDERI Alessandro

DI BARTOLOMEO Elisabetta

DI VENERE Almerinda

ERBA Fulvio

FIORUCCI Laura

GAMBACURTA Alessandra

GOLETTI Claudio

LICOCCIA Silvia

MAGRINI Andrea

MARINI Stefano

MEI Giampiero

MONTANARI Roberto

MORANTE Silvia

PACI Maurizio

PALLESCHI Antonio

PALUMMO Maurizia

PATELLA Fulvia

PICOZZA Piergiorgio

POLINI Riccardo

PULCI Olivia

RICHTER Wolfgang

ROSATO Nicola

ROSSI Antonello

SALSANO Adelio

SANTUCCI Roberto

SAVINI Isabella

SCHILLACI Orazio

SENESI Roberto

SGARLATA Anna

SPARVOLI Roberta

STEFANUCCI Gianluca

STELLA Lorenzo

TRAVERSA Enrico

VENANZI Mariano

AFFILIATI

ARCOVITO Giuseppe

BERGAMASCHI Antonio

BERGAMASCHI Enrico

BROWN Cameron

CALABRIA Ferdinando

CANNISTRARO Salvatore

CATANI Luciano

CELINO Massimo

CICCOTTI Giovanni

CONTINI Giorgio

CRICENTI Antonio

DE SPIRITO Marco

DE STEFANO Luca

DE STEFANO Mario

DIKONOS MAKRIS Theodoros

FESTA Giulia

FLAMMINI Davide

FIORANI Dino

GATTO Emanuela

GIORGI Rossella

GORI Paola

GORINI Giuseppe

HOGAN Conor David

KAVOKIN Alexey

GUIDONI Leonardo

LAMBERTI Ilaria

MACCARRONE Mauro

MALFITANA Daniele

MARANI Debora

MARINI Andrea

MECHERI Barbara

MORALES Pietro

MOSIELLO Lucia

NICOLAI Eleonora

PANTALEI Claudia

PIETROPAOLO Antonino

RINALDI Antonio

ROSSI Valerio

VARLAMOV Andrei

VASI Cirino

VITTORINI ORGEAS Alessandra

Comment

Prof. Patrizia Beatrice Albertano

Contact details

Address: Department of Biology

Tel: +39 06 7259 4859

Lab: +39 06 7259 4332

Fax: +39 06 2023500

Current Professional Positions

Full Professor of General Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy

Research Activity

Prof. Albertano obtained her degree title in Biological Sciences (University of Naples,Italy) in 1978; research activity at the University of Naples (1979-1982); contract professor in Plant Physiology at the University of Calabria (1983-1984). Since 1984, research scientist (1984-1992), assistant professor in Phycology (1993- 1997), associate professor in Botany (1998-2001), full professor in General Botany (2001 to present) at the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’.

Group leader of the Laboratory for Biology of Algae (LBA), the main interest is on the ecophysiology, cytomorphology and systematics of cyanobacteria and microalgae from subaerial, aquatic and extreme environments. Important research topics include the community structure of phototrophic biofilms, biodeterioration of stone monuments, toxic blooms of cyanobacteria and microalgae in lakes and coastal areas.

Applications in the field of: biotechnology and nanotechnology for the conservation of cultural heritage; algal biomasses for biofuels and innovative compounds; bioremediation of effluent waters; bio-immunosensors for traceability of phycotoxins; advanced microscopy techniques.

Research Awards as scientific responsible of research units in the following projects:

1994-1995 ‘Development and fate of cyanobacterial blooms in the Baltic’, EU-Environment (contract n°EV5V-CT94-0404).
1997-2000 ‘Characterization and evaluation of the damage caused by phototrophic microorganisms in hypogea by ultramicrosensor construction and assembling for in situ non-destructive analysis’ funded by the National Research Council of Italy – C.N.R, Progetto Finalizzato Beni Culturali;
1998-1999 ‘BASIC: an investigation of the structure and dynamics of water blooms of cyanobacteria in theBaltic Sea: responses to a changing environment’, EU-Environment (contract n° ENV4-CT97-0571).
1998-1999 ‘Influence of treated sewage effluent discharges on coastal marine benthic cyanobacteria and microalgae’, CRUI/MIUR-British Council.
2001-2003 ‘CATS-Cyanobacteria attack rocks: control and preventative strategies to avoid damage by cyanobacteria and associated microorganisms in Roman hypogean monuments’, EU-EESD Programme (contract n° EVK4-CT2000-00028).
2002-2003 ’Biodiversity and adaptive responses of sub-aerial microalgae’ for a study on the “Ecophysiology and taxonomy of terrestrial epilithic cyanobacteria from hypogean environments”, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research-MIUR.
2002-2004 ’Application of phototrophic biofilms in waste water treatment plants’, University Research Grant.
2003-2005 ‘PHOBIA’ for an investigation of the “Phototrophic biofilms and their potential applications: towards the development of a unifying concept”, EU-Quality of Life Programme (contract n°LFK3-CT2002-01938).
2004-2005 ‘Biodiversity and adaptive mechanisms in terrestrial extremophilic cyanobacteria’ in the frame of the project “Phylogeny and survival strategies of extremophilic phototrophic microorganisms”, Italian Ministry of University and Research-MIUR.
2004-2005 ’Identification of toxin producing algae in bivalves harvesting areas sensible to phycotoxins accumulation risk’, funded by Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana.
2005-2006 ‘Biology and ecology of planktic bloom-forming microalgae in coastal areas’,University Research Grant.
2005-2007 ‘The phytoplankton ofLakeAlbanoin the territory of the Regional Park of Castelli Romani’, funded by the Ente Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani.
2005-200 ‘Assessment of bioerosion of exposed surfaces of monuments and hypogea, and development of preventive strategies for their conservation (CHCRT-1), in the frame of the Scientific and Technological cooperationMAEItalianRepublic- DST Republic of India.
2007-2008 ‘Biology for Cultural Heritage: phototrophic biofilms on monuments’, University Research Grant.
2007-2009 ‘Nanotechnologies and Biotechnologies for the assessment and monitoring of biodeterioration caused by phototrophic biofilms on stone monuments’, International Cooperation Programme between the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and the Utkal University, Bhubaneswar (Orissa, India).
2008-2010 ‘Microphytobenthic algae in coastal and inland waters of the Oristano area (Sardinia,Italy)’, financed by CNR-IAMC.
2009-2010 ‘Toxic cyanobacteria of Vico and Bolsena lakes’, funded by SS-National Health Institute of Italy.
2009-2010 ‘Evolution of desiccation tolerance in cyanobacteria’, Executive Programme Italy-French Community of Belgium.
2010-2011 ‘Biotechnology and nanotechnology for Cultural Heritage’, International Cooperation Programme between the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and theVisva-Bharati University, Santiniketan (West Bengal, India).
2011-2012 ‘Extremophilic cyanobacteria of Antarctic sub-glacial lakes’, National Programme for Antarctic Research PNRA 2009.

Teaching Activities

Prof. Albertano is currently teaching Botany and Evolution, Diversity and Biology of Algae at the Faculty of Sciences. She also co-ordinates the activity of the PhD Schoolin Evolutionary Biology and Ecology at the University of Rome“Tor Vergata.

Teaching activities in undergraduate and graduate biology and biotechnology courses also include applied research, particularly focussing on preventive conservation of stone monuments, production of algal biomass and application of new sensors for environmental monitoring, mostly in collaboration with colleagues of the Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies.

Management and organizational experience

1994-1999 National Coordinator of the Phycology Working Group of the Italian Botanical Society
1996-1999 Organizing Committee and Scientific Council of the 2^nd European Phycological Congress and the 8th International Conference on Applied Algology (Montecatini 1999)
2000-2004 European Co-ordinator of ‘CATS’ project – contract n° EVK4-CT2000-00028
2006-2007 Founder Member of the Federation of European Phycological Societies
2006-2009 NAST Scientific Council
2006-2008 Scientific Council of the 14^th International Symposium on Biodeterioration and Biodegradation (Taormina 2008)
2006-2009 Scientific Council of the 13^th International Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes (Montreal 2009)
2009-2010 Vice-President Overseas of the British Phycological Society
2009-2011 Scientific Councils of the 5^th European Phycological Congress (Rhodes 2011)
2008 to present Council Member of FEPS
2008 to present Coordinator of the PhD school in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology
2008 to present Scientific Responsible of CMA - Centre for Advance Microscopy of Tor Vergata
2008 to present Promoter and President of the Scientific and Technical Board of the University spinoff AlgaRes s.r.l

Member of the scientific societies

FEPS – Federation of European Phycological Societies
IAC – International Society for Cyanophyte Research
ISAP – International Society for Applied Phycology
BPS – British Phycological Society
SBI – Italian Botanical Society
EMS- European Microscopy Society

Recent publications (last five years)

Albertano P., 2011. Cyanobacterial biofilms in monuments and caves. In: B. A. Whitton (ed.) The ecology of Cyanobacteria II: Their Diversity in Space and Time, Springer,Dordrecht, The Netherlands, in press.

Congestri R., Albertano P., 2011. Benthic diatoms in biofilm culture. In: Seckbach (ed) The Diatom World. Springer,Dordrecht, The Netherlands, in press.

Di Pippo F., Cavalieri F., A. Bohn, Albertano P., 2011. ¹H-NMR analysis of water mobility in cultured phototrophic biofilms. Biofouling 27: 327–336.

Di PippoF., GuzzonA., Ellwood NTW, Siliato L., Micheletti E., De Philippis R., Albertano P., 2011. Effect of light and temperature on biomass, photosynthesis and capsular polysaccharides in cultured phototrophic biofilms. Journal of Applied Phycology 23: 1-10.

SpizzichinoV., FioraniL., LaiA., Palucci A., Semyanov K., Viaggiu E., Albertano P., 2011. First studies of pico- and nanoplankton populations by a laser scanning flow cytometer. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative Transfer 112: 876–882.

Zammit G., Billi D., Shubert E., Kastovsky J., Albertano P., 2011. The biodiversity of subaeorophytic phototrophic biofilms from Maltese hypogea. Fottea 9: 155-164.

Zammit G., Sanchez-Moral S., Albertano P., 2011. Bacterially mediated mineralisation processes lead to biodeterioration of artworks in Maltese catacombs. Science of the Total Environment 409: 2773–2782.

MoroI., Rascio N., La Rocca N., Sciuto K., AlbertanoP., BrunoL., AndreoliC., 2010. Polyphasic characterization of a thermo-tolerant filamentous cyanobacterium isolated from the Euganean thermal muds (Padua,Italy). European Journal of Phycology 45:143-154.

Palozzi R., Caramanna G., Albertano P., Congestri R., Bruno L., Romano A., Giganti M.G., Zenobi R., Costanzo C., Valente G., Polani D., Vecchio M., Vinci M., 2010. The underwater exploration of the Merro sinkhole and the associated diving physiological and psychological effects. Underwater Technology 29: 1-10.

Urzi C., De Leo F., Bruno L., Albertano P., 2010. Microbial diversity in Paleolithic caves: a study case on the phototrophic biofilms of theCaveofBats(Zuheros,Spain). Microbial Ecology 60: 116-129.

Urzi C., De Leo F., Bruno L., Zammit G., Krakova L., Pangallo D., Albertano P., 2010. Methodological approaches to the control of phototrophic biofilms colonizing subterranean sites in the Mediterranean area. In: Ferrari A. (ed), 4th Science and Technology for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Basin, CNR, Grafica Elettronica, Napoli, pp. 265-271. ISBN 978-88-96680-32-2

Zammit G., Kastovsky J., Albertano P.,2010. Afirst cytomorphological and molecular characterization of a new Stigonematalean cyanobacterial morphotype isolated from Maltese catacombs. Algological Studies 135: 1-14.

Bruno L., Billi D., Bellezza S., Albertano P., 2009. Cytomorphological and genetic characterization of trogophilic Leptolyngbya strains isolated from Roman hypogea. Applied Environmental Microbiology 75: 608-617.

Di Pippo F., Bohn A., Congestri R., De Philippis R., Albertano P., 2009. Capsular polysaccharides of cultured phototrophic biofilms. Biofouling 25: 495-504.

Ellwood N.T.W., Albertano P., Galvez R., Funiciello R., Mosello R., 2009a. Water chemistry and trophic evaluation ofLakeAlbano(Central Italy): a 4 year water monitoring study. Journal of Limnology 68: 288-303.

Ellwood N.T.W., Albertano P., Viaggiu E., Mosello R., 2009b. Physical, chemical and biological aspects ofLakeAlbano. In: Funiciello R. and Giordano G. (eds), The Colli Albani Volcano, Special Publications of IAVCEI 3, pp. 269–277, Geological Society, London.

Urzì C., De Leo F., Albertano P., De Philippis R., Adhikary S.P., 2009. The Method of Adhesive Tape (MAT) for the sampling of biofilms on Indian temples. In: Scienze e Patrimonio Culturale nel Mediterraneo – Diagnostica e Conservazione, Atti del III Convegno Internazionale di Studi “La materia e i segni della Storia”, Quaderni Palazzo Moltalbo 15, Palermo (Italy), pp. 275-, ISBN 978-88-64-086-3.

Zammit G., De Leo F., Urzì C., Albertano P., 2009. Anon-invasive approach to the polyphasic study of biodeteriogenic biofilms at St Agatha Crypt and Catacombs at Rabat, Malta. In: Scienze e Patrimonio Culturale nel Mediterraneo – Diagnostica e Conservazione, Atti del III Convegno Internazionale di Studi “La materia e i segni della Storia”, Quaderni Palazzo Moltalbo 15, Palermo (Italy), pp. 323-327, ISBN 978-88-64-086-3.

AlbertanoP., CongestriR., MicheliL., MosconeD., Palleschi G., 2008. Development of sensors to trace toxins from dinoflagellates and other algae to seafood. In: V. Evangelista, L. Barsanti, A.M. Frassanito, V. Passarelli, P. Gualtieri (eds), “Algal Toxins: nature, occurrence, effect and detection”, NATO ASI Ser. A, p. 301-310, Springer,Dordrecht(NL), ISBN 978-1-4020-8479-9.

CongestriR., Polizzano S., Albertano P., 2008. Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia populations from the middle Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea,Italy). In: V. Evangelista, L. Barsanti, A.M. Frassanito, V. Passarelli, P. Gualtieri (eds), “Algal Toxins: nature, occurrence, effect and detection”, NATO ASI Ser. A, p. 197-210, Springer,Dordrecht (NL), ISBN 978-1-4020-8479-9.

Guzzon A., Bohn A., Albertano P., 2008. Cultured phototrophic biofilms for phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment. Water Research 42: 4357-4367.

Reale L, Bonfigli F., Lai A., Flora F., Poma A., Albertano P., Bellezza S., Montereali R.M., Faenov A., Pikuz T., Almaviva S., Vincenti M.A., FrancucciM., Gaudio P., Martellucci S., Richetta M., 2008. X-ray microscopy of plant cells by using LiF crystal as detector. Microscopy Research and Technique 71: 839–848.

Valentini F., Diamanti A., Bellezza S., Albertano P., Palleschi G., 2008. Analytical diagnosis of stone deterioration: a comparison between different substrata and different environments. In: Lukaszewicz J.W. and P. Niemcewicz (eds), 11th International Congress on Stone Deterioration, p. 309-316, Nicolaus Copernicus University Press, Torun (Poland), ISBN 978-83-231-2236-4.

Viaggiu E., Russo T., Bianco I., Cortese M., Zaottini E., Albertano P., 2008. Modelling fluctuation of the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens in the Lake San Puoto (Central Italy) using self-organizing maps. In: G. Morabito and C.N. Bianchi (eds), Atti Associazione Italiana di Oceanologia e Limnologia 19: 499-503, CNR – Pallanza.

Zammit G., De Leo F., Albertano P., Urzì C.,2008. Apreliminary comparative study of microbial communities colonizing ochre-decorated chambers at the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum atPaola,Malta. In: J.W. Lukaszewicz and P. Niemcewicz (eds), 11th International Congress on Stone Deterioration, p. 555-562, Nicolaus Copernicus University Press, Torun (Poland), ISBN 978-83-231-2236-4.

Zammit G., Psaila P., Albertano P., 2008. An investigation into biodeterioration caused by microbial communities colonising Maltese Palaeo-Christian Catacombs. In: A. Notea and Y. Shoef (eds), ‘Art 2008 Non-destructive testing, microanalysis and preservation in the conservation of cultural and environmental heritage’, p. 1-10, ISAS International Seminars Ltd.,Jerusalem(Israel).

Albertano P., Bruno L., Piermarini S., Bellezza S., 2007. Monochromatic light and portable spectroradiometry for the conservation of stone monuments affected by phototrophic micro-organisms. In: Drdacky M., Chapuis M. (eds.) “Safeguarded Cultural Heritage – Understanding & Viability of the Enlarged Europe”, vol 2, pp. 814-817. Glos Semily, Praha (CzechRepublic), ISBN 987-80-86246-32-1.

Quintiliani V., Valentini F., Terranova M.L., Orlanducci S., Albertano P., Palleschi G., 2007. Studiodeldegrado fisico, chimico e biologicodelmattone romano. In: F. Lo Coco (ed), AttidelCongresso Società di Chimica Italiana su “Inquinamento atmosferico e beni culturali. Protezione e conservazionedelpatrimonio culturale”, p. 1-18,Udine, ISBN 978-88-902460-2-9.

Albertano P. (2006) Biotecnologie per la diagnosi e il controllodeldanno prodotto da biofilms epilitici In: Sabbioni C.,PersiaF., Castelletti L., (eds.) “Biologia e Archeobiologia nei beni culturali: conoscenza, problematiche e casi di studio”, pp. 112-124. AIAR e Musei Civici- Comune di Como,Como, ISBN 88-85680-32-2.

Bellezza S., De Philippis R., Paradossi G., Albertano P., 2006. Exopolysaccharides of two cyanobacterial strains from Roman hypogea. Geomicrobiology Journal 23: 301-310.

Bianco I., Congestri R., Sangiorgi V., Zaottini E., Albertano P., 2006. Blooms (Fioriture) di microalghe potenzialmente tossiche lungo le coste laziali. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 13: 947-950, ISSN1123-4245.

BorlinghausR., GugelH., AlbertanoP., SeyfriedV., 2006. Closing the spectral gap – the transition from fixed-parameter fluorescence to tunable devices in confocal microscopy. In: Conchello J-A, Cogswell C.J. and Wilson T. (eds) “Proceedings of SPIE”, vol 6090: 0T1-6,San Josè(CA,USA).

Bruno L., Billi D., Urzì C., Albertano P., 2006. Genetic characterisation of epilithic cyanobacteria and their associated bacteria. Geomicrobiology Journal 23: 293-299.

Bruno L., Piermarini S., Albertano P., 2006. Monitoraggio del biodeterioramento: la spettroradiometria nel visibile. In: Sabbioni C.,PersiaF., Castelletti L. (eds.) “Biologia e Archeobiologia nei beni culturali: conoscenza, problematiche e casi di studio”, pp. 277-284. AIAR e Musei Civici- Comune di Como,Como, ISBN 88-85680-32-2.

CongestriR., Di PippoF., De Philippis R., Buttino I., Paradossi G., Albertano P., 2006. Seasonal succession of phototrophic biofilms in an Italian wastewater treatment plant: biovolume, spatial structure and exopolysaccharides. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 45: 301-312.

Congestri R., Sangiorgi V., Bianco I., Polizzano S., Ravizza P., Albertano P., 2006. Il fitoplancton delle coste laziali dal1997 aoggi: struttura della comunità, taxa dominanti e specie tossiche. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 13: 54-60, ISSN1123-4245.

Piermarini S., Calvo-Quintana J., Bruno L., Albertano P., Moscone D., Palleschi G., 2006. Importanza dei microsensori nella conservazione dei beni culturali. In: Sabbioni C., PersiaF., Castelletti L., (eds.) “Biologia e Archeobiologia nei beni culturali: conoscenza, problematiche e casi di studio”, pp. 229-234. AIAR e Musei Civici-Comune di Como, Como, ISBN 88-85680-32-2.

_______________________________________________________________________

Notes. Prof. Albertano is co-editor of two books, and author of more than 170 full papers and 280 contributions to national and international meetings.

Comment

Dr. Maurizia Palummo

Contact details

Address: Dipartimento di Fisica,
Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”
Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1
00133 Roma, Italy

Tel: +39 06 7259 4894
Fax: +39 06 202 3507

Research Activity

Maurizia Palummo is researcher at the Physics Department of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

The main research topics are the following:

quantum-mechanical simulations of the electronic and optical properties of materials based semiempirical and ab-initio aproaches;
First-principles Many-body Green’s functions schemes for a proper description of the electronic excited states.

The systems of recent interest are: Semiconductor Nanowires, molecular organic compounds and titanium dioxide surfaces and nanostructures.

Invited Talks

“Silicon and Germanium nanostructures for opto-electronic and photo-voltaic applications: ab-initio results”, “MRS Fall Meeting” Boston, 29 November-3 December 2010
“Materials for opto-electronic applications: ab-initio calculations and modelling”, “Nanoscience and Nanothecnology workshop N&N2010″ INFN, Frascati 20-23 September 2010
“Quasi-particles and excitons in Silicon Nanowires: effect of Doping and Surface Termination and mixing” OSI-VIII 7-11 September 2009 Ischia
Invited Talk :”Quasi-particles and excitons in Silicon Nanowires: effect of Doping and Surface Termination” Cecam Workshop 6-8 July 2009 Lausanne
”Electronic properties and dielectric response of semiconducting surfaces and nanostrutures from ab-initio approaches” Nanosea2008 7-10 July 2008 MontePorzio Catone, Rome Italy
“Semiconducting nanowires: from one-particle to many-body approaches” Cecam-Psi-K Workshop 9-12 June 2008 Lyon France
“First-principles optical spectra of semiconducting surfaces and nanowires: the role of the excitonic effects”, 12th Nanoquanta Workshop 18-22 September (2007), Aussois France
“First-principles optical and energy loss spectra of one-dimensional nanostructures of Silicon”, Epioptics 2006, Erice 20-26 July (2006)
“Semiconductor nanowires: ab-initio electronic and optical properties beyond the one-particle approach”, OSI 2005, Aalborg, Denmark 6-10 June, (2005)
“First-principles optical spectra of semiconductor surfaces: from one-particle to many-body approach”, Epioptics-7 20-26 July 2002

Scientific Publications

MP is author of more than 80 papers published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals.

Go here http://www.fisica.uniroma2.it/~palummo/Maurizia_homepage_files/publications_mau.html to read the complete list of MP publications.

Other activities

Member (up 2008) of the Nanoquanta (link a http://www.fisica.uniroma2.it/~cmtheo-group/Nanoquanta/nanoquanta.html) Network of Excellence.
Member of the ETSF and responsible for several ETSF user-projects (link to www.etsf.eu)
Project Manager of several Cineca/ISCRA supercomputing projects since 2001.
Host of European young scientists, within the HPC-Europa2 Transnational Access programme proposal
Organizer of a series of Nanoquanta conferences from 2003-2006.
Local Organizer of the conference in Maratea Nanoexc2004 (link a http://www.fisica.uniroma2.it/~palummo/conferenza.html)
Local Organizer of the Conference OSI -VIII: 7-11 September 2009, Ischia (http://osi8.roma2.infn.it/)
Organizer of the Conference NW2010: 27 September – 1 October 2010, Crete http://www.iesl.forth.gr/conferences/nw2010/default.html)
Organizer of the Conference NW2011: 13 June – 19 June 2011, Plomari-Lesvos Greece (link a http://www.iesl.forth.gr/conferences/nw2011/default.html)

Teaching Activities

A.A. 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, Univ. Tor Vergata, Course of Classical Physics, Assistant Professor;
A.A. 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, Univ. Tor Vergata, Matematical Methods for Material Science, Professor;
Since A.A. 2002, Univ. Tor Vergata, Course of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Assistant Professor;
Since A.A. 2007, Univ. Tor Vergata, Course of Solid State Physics, Professor;
Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Science;
Processing Structure and Properties of Sintered Materials, Faculty of Science;
Supervisor/Director of Master (5-year degree) theses in Chemistry;
Member of the Teaching Supervising Committee of the Ph.D. Course in Materials for Health, Environment and Energy and Supervisor/Director of Ph.D. theses.

Recent Publications (selected)

G. Bussetti, B. Bonanni, S. Cirilli, A. Violante, M. Russo, C. Goletti, P. Chiaradia, O. Pulci, M. Palummo, R. Del Sole, P. Gargiani, M. G. Betti, C. Mariani, R. M. Feenstra, G. Meyer, and K. H. Rieder” Coexistence of Negatively and Positively Buckled Isomers on n+-Doped Si(111)-2×1” Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 067601 (2011)
M. Palummo, M. Amato, S. Ossicini “Ab-initio opto-electronic properties of SiGe nanowires: role of many-body effects” Phys. Rev. B 82, 073305 (2010), selected for the August 30, 2010 issue of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology
M. Palummo, F. Iori, R. Del Sole, S.Ossicini Giant excitonic exchange splitting in Si nanowires Phys. Rev. B 81, 121303 (2010)
M. Amato, M. Palummo, S. Ossicini SiGe Nanowires:structural stability, quantum confinement and electronic properties Phys. Rev. B 80 235333 (2009)
M. Palummo, C.Hogan, F. Sottile, P. Bagala’, A. Rubio Ab initio electronic and optical spectra of free-base porphyrins: the role of electronic correlation J. Chem. Phys. 131, 084102 (2009)

Comment

Dr. Riccardo Polini

Contact details

Office: Department of Chemical Science and Technology
Tel: +39 06 72594414
Fax: +39 06 72594328

Research Activity

Dr Riccardo Polini (RP) is Professore Aggregato of Chemistry at the Department of Chemical Science and Technology of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

RP research activity is mainly focused on the following topics:

Nucleation and growth processes of micro- and nano-crystalline diamond films deposited by CVD onto technologically important substrates;
Surface tailoring of cemented carbides for improving adhesion of diamond coatings;
Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of functional properties of micro- and nano-structured advanced electroceramics for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs);
Development of novel ionomers to be used in Polymeric Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs);
Surface modification of porous Silicon layers.

RP has been the leader of several R&D projects funded by Italian SMEs (overall funding > 360,000 €).

Active Research Collaborations

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro,PORTUGAL;
Laboratoire Capteurs Diamant (CEA-LIST-DETECS – SSTM), Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, Saclay, FRANCE;
Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST),Braunschweig,GERMANY.

Professional Recognitions

2010 – Keynote Speaker, 3rd International Conference on Advanced NanoMaterials (ANM 2010), 12-15 Sept 2010, Agadir, Morocco.
2009 – Co-Chair of the 4th International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials (nanoSMat 2009), 19-22 Oct 2009, Rome (Italy).
2008 – Guest Editor of the Speial Issue on “Micromachining systems and tailored surfaces”, Int. J. Surface Science and Engineering, Vol. 2 [3/4], 177-324 (2008).
2008 – Invited Speaker, 5th International Conference on Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition (HWCVD-5),Cambridge,MA (USA).
2008 – Invited Speaker, 2nd International Conference on Advanced NanoMaterials (ANM 2008),Aveiro,Portugal.
2007 – Organizer and Chair of the “Nanoporous Semiconductor” Symposium, 2nd International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials (nanoSMat 2007),Algarve,Portugal.
2007 – member of the International Organizing Committee of the 2nd International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials (nanoSMat 2007),Algarve,Portugal.
2006 – Visiting Research Scientist at the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering,University of Aveiro,Portugal.
2006 – “Interlayers for diamond film deposition on hostile substrates” (invited seminar), Dept. of Mechanical Engineering,University of Aveiro,Portugal.
2006 – “Diamond CVD: nucleation and early growth stages” (invited seminar), Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (CEA),Saclay,France.
2005 – Invited Speaker, International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials (nanoSMat2005),Aveiro,Portugal.
2004 – Visiting Research Scientist at the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering,University of Aveiro,Portugal.

Scientific Publications

RP is the author of more than 80 papers published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals, 2 patents and more than 30 papers in Conference Proceedings (h-index = 15). Click here to read the complete list of RP publications.

Other Activities

RP is member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering (IJSurfSE).

Teaching Activities

Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Science.

Processing Structure and Properties of Sintered Materials, Faculty of Science.

Supervisor/Director of Master (5-year degree) theses in Chemistry.

Member of the Teaching Supervising Committee of the Ph.D. Course in Materials for Health, Environment and Energy and Supervisor/Director of Ph.D. theses.

Recent Publications (selected)

[1] V. Valentini and R. Polini, “Confined Functionalization of Mesoporous Silicon Layers”, J. Electrochem. Soc., 158 (2011) K35-K41.

[2] S. Zeppilli, J.C. Arnault, G. Gesset, P. Bergonzo, R. Polini, “Thermal stability and surface modifications of detonation diamond nanoparticles studied with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy”, Diamond Relat. Mater., 19 (2010) 846-853.

[3] R. Polini, M. Barletta, G. Cristofanilli, “Wear resistance of nano- and micro-crystalline diamond coatings onto WC-Co with Cr/CrN interlayers”, Thin Solid Films, 519 (2010) 1629-1635.

[4] F. Bozza, R. Polini, E. Traversa, “Electrophoretic Deposition of Dense La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.115Co_0.085O_3-_δ Electrolyte Films from Single-Phase Powders for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 92 [9] (2009) 1999-2004.

[5] F. Bozza, R. Polini, E. Traversa, “High performance anode-supported intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) with La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3-_δ electrolyte films prepared by electrophoretic deposition”, Electrochem. Comm., 11 (2009) 1680-1683.

[6] R. Polini and M. Barletta: “On the use of CrN/Cr and CrN interlayers in hot filament chemical vapour deposition (HF-CVD) of diamond films onto WC-Co substrates”, Diamond Relat. Mater., 17 (2008) 325-335.

[7] J. C. Arnault, S. Saada, S. Delclos, L. Rocha, L. Intiso, R. Polini, A. Hoffman, S. Michaelson and P. Bergonzo, “Surface Science Contribution to the BEN Control on Si(100) and 3C-SiC (100): Towards Ultrathin Nanocrystalline Diamond Films”, Chem. Vap. Deposition, 14 (2008) 187-195.

[8] R. Polini, A. Falsetti, E. Traversa, O. Schäf, P. Knauth, “Sol-gel synthesis, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and electrical properties of Co-doped (La,Sr)(Ga,Mg)O_3-_δ perovskites”, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 27 (2007) 4291-4296.

[9] J. C. Arnault, L. Intiso, S. Saada, S. Delclos, P. Bergonzo, R. Polini, “Effect of 3C-SiC(100) initial surface stoichiometry on bias enhanced diamond nucleation”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 90 (2007) 044101.

[10] G. Mattei, V. Valentini, R. Polini, “Chemical Vapour Infiltration of nano-structured carbon in Porous Silicon”, Phys. Stat. Sol. (c), 4 (2007) 2049-2053.

[11] R. Polini, F. Pighetti Mantini, M. Barletta, R. Valle, F. Casadei, “Hot Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition and wear resistance of diamond films on WC-Co substrates coated by PVD-arc deposition technique”, Diamond Relat. Mater., 15 (2006) 1284-1291.

[12] G. Cabral, P. Reis, R. Polini, E. Titus, N. Ali, J.P. Davim, J. Grácio, “Cutting performance of time-modulated chemical vapour deposited diamond coated tool inserts during machining graphite”, Diamond Relat. Mater., 15 (2006) 1753-1758.

[13] R. Polini, “Chemically vapour deposited diamond coatings on cemented tungsten carbides: substrates pretreatments, adhesion and cutting performance”, Thin Solid Films, 515 (2006) 4-13.

Comment

Dr. Massimo Celino

Contact details

ENEA

Tel: +39 0630483871

Fax: +39 0630483176

Comment

UCANS-II presentations online‏

The second meeting of the UCANS collaboration was held at Indiana University in Bloomington – home of the Low Energy Neutron Source. Web site

UCANS-II Group Photo

The UCANS-II presentations have now been posted on the UCANS-II website at http://www.indiana.edu/~lens/UCANS/Meetings/UCANSII/program.htm

Comment

Dr. Festa Giulia

Contact details

Office: Physics Department
Tel: +39 06 72594429

Fax: +39 06 72594089

Research Activity

Giulia Festa is an experimental physicist. Her research interests relate to the development of neutron instrumentation for applications on materials and, in particular, applied to the study of materials of archaeological and cultural interest.

With regard to neutron instrumentation, GF worked on the development of neutron imaging instrumentation (Prompt Gamma Activation Imaging) and devices for gamma and neutron detection (Silicon Photo-Multiplier technology, neutron radiative capture-based counting technique). Within the EU-funded ANCIENT CHARM project, GF developed ancillary equipment and gamma detectors to be used for Neutron Resonance Capture Imaging (NRCI) and neutron tomography on objects of cultural and archaeological interest as well as software for data analysis.

GF employed scientific investigation techniques in the field of archaeological research providing successful results such as the integrated neutron analysis of the Ghiberti East Door from the Florence Baptistery determining state of conservation and manufacturing technique, or the study about the composition and corrosion products of Etruscan Bronzes from the Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia.

Link

IRICH: Forum on Technology for Cultural Heritage, Shanghai, 24-25 June 2010 ( Video)

Neutron Tomography results of an Etruscan Vase ( Video)

Recent Publications

♦ G. Festa, P. A. Caroppi, A. Filabozzi, C. Andreani, M. L. Arancio, R. Triolo, F. Lo Celso, V. Benfante, S. Imberti ‘Composition and corrosion phases of Etruscan Bronzes from Villanovan Age’, Meas. Sci. Technol. 19, 034004 (2008)

♦ G. Festa, W. Kockelmann, A. Kirfel and the Ancient Charm Collaboration ‘Neutron Diffraction Analysis of ’Black Boxes’’, Archaeometry Workshop, Hungary, N. 1

♦ Zs. Kasztovszky, Z. Kis, T. Belgya, W. Kockelmann, S. Imberti, E. M. Schooneveld, G. Festa, A. Filabozzi, C. Andreani, A. Kirfel, K. T. Biró, K. Dúzs, Zs. Hajnal, P. Kudejova M. Tardocchi and the Ancient Charm Collaboration, ‘Promt Gamma Activation Analysis and time of flight neutron diffraction of ‘Black Boxes’ in the ‘Ancient Charm’ project’, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 278, N.3 (2008) 661–664

♦ T. Belgya, Z. Kis, L. Szentmiklósi, Zs. Kasztovszky, P. Kudejova, R. Schulze, T. Materna, G. Festa, P. A. Caroppi and the Ancient Charm Collaboration ‘First elemental imaging experiments on a combined PGAI and NT setup at the Budapest Research Reactor’, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 278, N.3 (2008) 751–754

♦ T. Belgya, Z. Kis, L. Szentmiklósi, Zs. Kasztovszky, G. Festa, L. Andreanelli, M. P. De Pascale, A. Pietropaolo, P. Kudejova, R. Schulze, T. Materna and the Ancient Charm Collaboration, ‘A new PGAI-NT setup at the NIPS facility of the Budapest Research Reactor’, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 278, N.3 (2008) 713–718

♦ G. Festa, C. Andreani, M. P. De Pascale, R. Senesi, G. Vitali, S. Porcinai, A. M. Giusti, R. Schulze,L. Canella, P. Kudejova,M. Mühlbauer, B. Schillinger and the Ancient Charm Collaboration, ‘A non-destructive stratigraphic and radiographic neutron study of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s reliefs from Paradise and North doors of Florence Baptistery.’ Journal of Applied Physics, 106, N.4 (2009)

♦ A. Pietropaolo, G. Gorini, G. Festa, C. Andreani, M. P. De Pascale, E. Reali, F. Grazzi and E. M. Schooneveld, ‘A silicon photomultiplier readout for time of flight neutron spectroscopy with gamma-ray detectors’, Review of Scientific Instruments, 80, Issue 9 (2009)

♦ G. Festa, Pietropaolo, E. Reali, F. Grazzi and E. M. Schooneveld, ‘A gamma-ray detector with silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) readout for neutron diffraction experiments at spallation neutron sources’, Measurement Science and Technology, 21 (2010) 035901

♦ A. Pietropaolo, G. Gorini, G. Festa, E. Reali, F. Grazzi and E. M. Schooneveld, ‘Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis Experimental Station at the ISIS Spallation Source’, Applied Spectroscopy, 64, n.9 (2010)

♦ G. Festa, R. Senesi, M Alessandroni, C. Andreani, G. Vitali, S. Porcinai, A. M. Giusti, T. Materna, A. Paradowska, ‘Non destructive neutron diffraction measurements of cavities, inhomogeneities and residual strain in bronzes of Ghiberti’s relief from the Gates of Paradise’, Journal of Applied Physics, 109, n.6 (2011)

♦ G. Festa, A. Pietropaolo, F. Grazzi, E. Barzagli, E. M. Schooneveld, A. Scherillo, ‘Neutron diffraction measurements at the INES diffractometer using a neutron radiative capture-based counting technique’, Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, doi:10.1016/j.nima.2011.04.032, (2011)

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NAST researchers awarded the American Ceramic Society ACerS Ross Coffin Purdy Award 2011

NAST researchers awarded the American Ceramic Society ACerS Ross Coffin Purdy Award 2011

NAST Members Alessandra D’Epifanio, Elisabetta Di Bartolomeo, Silvia Licoccia, Giuseppe Balestrino and Enrico Traversa, together with colleagues Daniele Pergolesi and Emiliana Fabbri (National Institute for Material Science, Japan), and Antonello Tebano and Simone Sanna (Department of Mechanical Engineering) have been given the award because of their paper “High proton conduction in grain-boundary-free yttrium-doped barium zirconate films grown by pulsed laser deposition” that was published in Nature Materials in 2010. The Purdy award is given to the author or authors who made the most valuable contribution to ceramic technical literature during the calendar year prior to the selection.

For more info http://ceramics.org/

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NAST Seminar June, 7-8, 2011‏

Scanning Probe Microscopy: Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and Derived Modes

Rachel Desfeux

Unit of Catalyst and Solid Chemistry UMR 8181 (UCCS) - France

Martedì 7 giugno 2011 ore 14.30 – 15.15 15.30 – 16.10

Mercoledì 8 giugno 2011 ore 14.30 – 15.15 15.30 – 16.10

aula Seminari del Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche

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Delivering the science at the Spallation Neutron Source (31st May 2011)

Delivering the science at the Spallation Neutron Source

Dr. Ian Anderson

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA)

Martedì 31 maggio 2011 ore 15.00

aula ‘R3′ del Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettronica dell’Università di Roma Tor Vergata (edificio Ing. dell’Informazione, piano terra)

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Science at Free Electron Lasers Femtosecond X-ray Protein Nanocrystallography (9th June 2011)‏

Dr. Francesco Stellato

Center for Free Electron Laser science – DESY Hamburg

Coherent Imaging Division

Science at Free Electron Lasers
Femtosecond X-ray Protein Nanocrystallography

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Aula U. M. Grassano

Facoltà di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Naturali

Dipartimento di Fisica

Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”

Ore 15.00 – 9 Giugno 2011

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IRICH – A New Way of Looking at Cultural Heritage

The “Forum on Technology for Cultural Heritage” will take place on the 24th and 25th June at the Italian Pavilion at Expo Shanghai and IRICH will also be there. It stands for Italian Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Analysis of Cultural Heritage and is the first infrastructure for research in the field of Cultural Heritage. Its objective is the preservation and analysis of Cultural Heritage through the integration of infrastructures and technologies in various Italian regions. IRICH also provides a solid base for advancing understanding in the science and technology sectors applied to cultural heritage

web site: www.irich.it

Video Launguage English | Italian | Chinese

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