Working Groups
WG1. From Molecules to Life
WG1 deals with the study of the interactions between organic molecules, metal ions and biological networks (genetic, metabolic, epigenomic, etc.) to understand, manipulate and engineer biological systems. Advanced knowledge of chemical and biomolecular sciences will be combined with the aim of exploring the frontiers of synthetic biology and systems biology/chemistry. The skills in the Department, internationally recognized in the field of the study of molecular and biomolecular interactions, will be able to make a further advance in quality, tackling with systems of greater complexity and applicative interest. In the framework of the COMP-R program, WG1 will operate on various strategic themes, to obtain sustainable processes and materials from biological systems, as well as applications for environmental regeneration, ranging from the valorization of residues to the reduction of waste, from the description of genetic and molecular biodiversity in different environments, to the study of environmental impacts on organisms.
WG leaders: Prof. Elena MAESTRI - Prof. Mauro CARCELLI
WG2. From Molecules to Materials
WG2 addresses the study of the relationships between structure and properties in molecular and polymeric materials, with particular reference to compounds for advanced photonics and electronics, and their interaction with inorganic substrates. The interplay between synthesis and supramolecular chemistry allows the properties of substances to be engineered at the atomic level, and to fully control their synthesis processes. The development of advanced and multifunctional materials with self-healing and self-diagnostic and reprocessability capabilities, biocompatible for bio-medical applications (advanced composites, fluorophores for microscopy, nanoparticles for theranostics, biopolymers, bio-responsive materials) fits into the development project, starting from internationally recognized research activities in the sector. Particular attention will be paid to research on reuse materials and in particular to the concept of "urban mining" to identify safer and more sustainable supply strategies for critical elements and raw materials.
WG leaders: Prof. Enrico DALCANALE - Prof. Paola IACUMIN
WG3. From Molecules to Devices
WG3 addresses the development of smart IoT sensor platforms based on the use of nanomaterials functionalized with receptors or bioreceptors for the monitoring of environmental compartments relevant to the study of ecosystems. Other activities of the WG will be focused on the development of innovative devices for both the removal and selective extraction of persistent and emerging pollutants for ultra-sensitive determinations using chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Finally, metrologically traceable methods based on Raman micro-spectrometry and environmental scanning electron microscopy will be developed for the characterization of micro- and nanoplastics as emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems in accordance with objectives of the EU on harmonization of analytical methodologies for the evaluation of contamination by micro- and nanoplastics in the environment.
Emergent properties in the action of WG3 arise from the interaction between analytical chemistry of excellence and other departmental skills in the geological and biological fields, oriented to new frontiers in the monitoring and recovery of contaminated sites and the use of environmental quality bioindicators in natural, urban and agroecosystem systems.
WG leaders: Prof. Maria CARERI - Prof. Marco BARTOLI
WG4. From Models to Complexity
Understanding complex systems relies on the definition and exploitation of theoretical and experimental models, allowing to single out most important interactions among the several components of structures of chemical and biological relevance. WG4 is therefore devoted to different experimental techniques, including linear and non-linear optical spectroscopy, chiroptical spectroscopy, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, imaging and microscopic techniques, DNA sequencing techniques, etc. The experimental study is tightly intertwined with theoretical and computational study on a variety of systems ranging from molecular, supramolecular, colloidal, nanostructured and crystalline systems to biological systems like, e.g. microbic populations. The phenomena of interest cover a large spectrum: electron and energy transfer (crucial for several technological applications, including bioimaging, photosynthetic systems, solar cells, photodetectors, OLED, etc), intermolecular interactions and environmental effects, the ecological interactions in complex microbial communities ed the related metabolic network.
WG leaders: Prof. Francesca TERENZIANI - Prof. Riccardo PERCUDANI
WG5. Environmental Sustainability
The working group addresses environmental sustainability through the study of the living component in natural, urban, industrial systems and in agroecosystems, in relation to abiotic components and ongoing global changes. The living component is studied at different levels of organization, from molecules, to processes, to forms of interaction that are established in the communities and between organisms and the physical-chemical environment that hosts them. The founding hypothesis of the working group is that environmental sustainability can be achieved through a transversal path of study including biochemical, biological, ecological and ethological processes and the multiple interactions with the abiotic components of ecosystems. The working group includes researchers in the chemical, biochemical, biogeochemical, geological, ecological and ethological fields who deal with biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, search for georesources, land protection, remediation of contaminated sites and environmental regeneration, preferably through circular approaches and nature-based solutions.
WG leaders: Prof. Fulvio CELICO - Prof. Donato Antonio GRASSO
WG6. Processes and Synthesis
WG6 carry out the theoretical and experimental study aimed at developing sustainable chemical and biotechnological processes for the synthesis and scaling up of chemical productions, for the reduction of the environmental impacts, regeneration of degraded environments, reduction of waste and scraps and improvements of the energy efficiency. By way of example and not exhaustively, the WG will deal with the integrated – chemical and microbiological – removal of waste materials and emerging contaminants (including micro-nanoplastics), recycling strategies for the production of intermediates for fine chemicals, methodologies for innovative syntheses with low environmental impact, synthetic flow processes, use of alternative solvents (water, supercritical fluids, ionic liquids, solvents derived from biomass, deep eutectic solvents), use of alternative energy inputs (microwaves, ultrasound or mechanochemistry) as well as catalysts of new concept (organo-, photo-, electro- and biocatalysts) for the activation of chemical reactions.
WG leaders: Prof. Andrea SECCHI - Prof. Alessio PERACCHI
