Number 7 - 31.10.2025

Since October 2024, I have had the pleasure of serving as Coordinator of the PhD Program in Physics, supported in this stimulating role by Professor Laura Gozzelino, vice-coordinator.

The program trains researchers in both theoretical and experimental physics, with particular focus on frontier research topics in the fields of physics of matter, quantum physics, statistical physics, complex systems, and high-energy physics.

The PhD takes place in a dynamic scientific environment, closely connected with national and international research institutions, and promotes interdisciplinary paths and collaborations with universities, research centers, and industry.

The program provides methodological tools, technical skills, and autonomy essential to train researchers qualified to work in academia, industry, and other fields requiring scientific expertise and flexibility.

The goal is to prepare researchers capable of meeting the challenges of contemporary science with competence and critical thinking.

To find out who we are and what we do, please visit the website:

https://www.polito.it/en/education/phd-programmes-and-postgraduate-school/phd-programmes/physics

The Funding Committee pursues two specific objectives for the Department: 

• The coordinated management at the Department level of project proposals submitted to calls for proposals internal to the Polytechnic of Turin and those external to the University that require preliminary internal evaluation at the Department level.
• The promotion of specific actions aimed at increasing and improving project funding attraction within the Department, complementary to those of the University.

To achieve these two objectives, the following actions are implemented: 

1. For calls for proposals internal to Politecnico di Torino, or external to the University but with preliminary selection at the Department level, the Department intends to provide transparent and timely information to encourage access and the maximum possible participation by faculty and research staff. Upon request from the Department, if necessary, the Funding Committee proposes a policy to regulate project submission. Furthermore, the Funding Committee coordinates with the Department to provide scientific support for internal evaluation processes.
2. The Department, through the Funding Committee, encourages participation in research calls for proposals with the aim of increasing the overall rate of access to a variety of projects, through:
   • Internal seminars by Department faculty members with successful experience in specific types of projects (calls promoted by European, national, regional, and private bodies), complementary to the services already offered at the University level.
   • The extraction and/or dissemination of active calls for proposals, customized for Department staff, also complementary to the services already offered at the University level.

At Politecnico di Torino, innovation isn’t measured only in laboratories or research projects, it’s also reflected in the way we manage our resources.

Behind every course, infrastructure, research program, and strategic decision lies an accounting system that works with precision, turning initiatives into resources, numbers into choices, data into value, and management into innovation.

What is accounting? Many consider it a dull and difficult subject made up of numbers, formulas, and spreadsheets, without realizing its fundamental role in managing an institution. Accounting is not merely a set of numerical records or a legal requirement, it is one of the most important tools for the strategic management of any organization, public or private.

In a context characterized by limited resources, strict regulations, and growing demands for accountability, accounting becomes a key element for the good governance of a university. Through it, leadership can monitor the economic and financial situation, evaluate performance, guide future decisions, and support the quality of research and teaching.

University accounting serves institutional, administrative, and managerial functions.

On one hand, it ensures compliance with public accounting regulations and ministerial requirements (MIUR/MUR, MEF, Corte dei Conti); on the other, it provides analytical tools to improve resource management and support the strategic decisions of the Rector, the General Director, and the governing bodies. Every time a decision involves analyzing expenses, revenues, types of costs, or the sources of funding, the data comes from accounting records.

Accounting allows us to:

• Monitor the use of public funds and external financing; 
• Ensure the correct allocation of resources to departments, centers, and research projects;
• Guarantee transparency towards citizens, students, and oversight bodies;
• Gain a comprehensive view of the economic and financial situation;
• Accurately assess the costs of different activities;
• Enable faster, safer, and more transparent management through integrated digital platforms and the progressive digitization of accounting processes.

Within the organization of DISAT, the Accounting Office handles activities related to the active and passive cycles, budgeting, and data analysis, reconciling accounting rules, administrative requirements, and tax legislation. These include:

• • Budget allocations for individual projects;
  • Resource transfers between projects;
  • Budget monitoring and cost analysis;
  • Handling revenues in both commercial and institutional contexts;
  • Internal transfers to and from administration and other departments;
  • External transfers to other institutions;
  • Payment of domestic and international invoices, inventory, and customs duties;
  • Conference registrations and membership fees;
  • Issuance of payment and collection orders;
  • Petty cash reimbursements;
  • Departmental credit card payments;
  • Adjustments of cost allocation plans for third-party contracts and fee payments;
  • Collection of documentation for reporting purposes.

Accounting is a silent engine that tracks every financial and economic transaction, essential for implementing projects and keeping the organization running smoothly.

Because behind every great idea, there must be a solid management system that makes it possible.

How chemical gradients shape soft matter

By Claudio Perego

I am a theoretical physicist interested in how matter organizes itself in nature, gathering atoms and molecules to generate complex collective phenomena. Using computer simulations, I study soft materials such as polymers, liquids, and molecular assemblies—systems that can self-organize, change, and adapt to their surroundings. My work combines physics and chemistry to understand how molecules move, interact, and come together under different conditions.

I have joined Politecnico di Torino to lead the SYSMAGRAD project, in which I plan to explore how synthetic materials can respond to chemical gradients—environment variations that are typical of living systems conditions. To reach this ambitious purpose, I will develop advanced molecular dynamics methods that can recreate such specific physico-chemical scenarios on the computer. By revealing how artificial materials might sense and adapt to their surroundings, the project will help the design of next generation smart, life-inspired materials—able to heal, reorganize, and react to the world around them. At the same time, my research aims at innovating the computer simulation tools available for the study of soft-matter systems.

Advanced nanomaterials for sustainable energy

By Mengjiao Wang

Hello I'm an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DiSAT) at Politecnico di Torino, Italy. Before joining Politecnico di Torino, I've conducted postdoctoral research at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Genoa, Italy, and at the Center for Materials Research at Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany. I earned my master’s degree in Materials Physics and Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China and completed my Ph.D. in Science and Technology of Chemistry and Materials at the University of Genoa.

My research focuses on developing advanced nanomaterials and exploring their applications in (photo)electrochemistry and heterojunction technologies. I'm particularly interested in designing photoelectrocatalysts and photoelectrochemical devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials for efficient energy conversion and indoor environmental improvement. I'm also a recipient of the Bando TRAPEZIO – Paving the Way to Research Excellence and Talent Attraction award, which recognizes  contributions to advancing innovative and sustainable energy technologies.

From extractive metallurgy to additive manufacturing

by Nicolás Rojas-Arias

Ciao! I am Nicolás Rojas-Arias, and I am from Colombia. I am a metallurgical engineer, holding a PhD from UFSCar (Brazil, Dr.-Ing.) in cotutelle with TU Graz (Austria, Dr.-Tech.).

My early research focused on extractive metallurgy, optimizing mining processes for coal, copper, iron, ferronickel, and gold ores, as well as studying environmental radioactivity from minerals and radon emissions. I have contributed to research and social projects applying new technologies to industrial component development and ecological restoration of mining-affected areas.

During my PhD, I specialized in physical metallurgy, particularly in designing, producing, and validating novel metal alloys for additive manufacturing, using advanced manufacturing techniques such as gas atomization and laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M). I remain active in science outreach and in initiatives to improve STEM education, especially in engineering and the exact sciences. Currently, I am a researcher at PoliTO, Alessandria campus, where you can find me.

John Vincent Tumaneng

PhD Candidate in Materials Science and Technology - 39^th cycle 

Hello, what is your name and in which research group have you been working?

JV from MP4MNT's PolyMat research group. I work under the direct supervision of Dr. Sara Dalle Vacche and Prof. Roberta Bongiovanni.

Can you briefly describe your PhD research?

I am one of the 13 doctoral candidates under the Marie Curie project "ESPERANTO". My project focuses on the reversible photopolymerization of biobased monomers in the presence of fillers. As part of my career development plan, I had spent six months in Austria to synthesize my starting materials, and three months in France to make composites with polysaccharides.

What have you enjoyed the most about your PhD work so far?

I truly enjoy the networking opportunities granted by my project. Exchange of knowledge and expertise has never been easier, plus the fact that I can immerse myself in different cultures. Truly this is a privilege that I am grateful for.

What challenges or difficulties have you faced during your PhD?

Bouncing from the academe to the industrial setting proved to be challenging in terms of the administrative steps. As a foreigner, the paperworks to legally stay in Europe can be daunting.

What inspired you to start a PhD, and why at DiSAT?

I wish to serve my country after my studies, and holding a PhD degree is a necessity if I choose to contribute to the research and development sector of my country. I chose DiSAT because it hosts the project I am interested in, and the university's mission to promote sustainability can be felt through its various initiatives.

Looking back at your PhD journey, do you have any reflections, advice for future PhD students, or a memorable/fun anecdote from your time at DiSAT?

I am still on my second year of PhD, but if I were to send a message to aspiring students, I would say that they have to be fully committed and passionate to their work. PhD is a ride that will definitely change the person big time.

Have you already decided on your next career step? If so, would you like to share it with us?

I plan to go to the industry and train to become a more effective science communicator. My passion is in polymer and organic chemistry, so entering in the food, textile, or personal care industry is my dream.

Hello, what is your name and in which research group have you been working?

Ciao! I'm Rijul Bajaj, and I’m currently working with the GAMELab – the Group for Applied Materials and Electrochemistry at the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DiSAT), Politecnico di Torino. I’m lucky to be supervised by Prof. Claudio Gerbaldi and Dr. Hamideh Darjazi

Can you briefly describe your PhD research?

My PhD focuses on exploring novel polymer electrolytes for next-generation solid-state lithium and sodium metal batteries. I work on designing and optimising these materials through innovative processing techniques to make them safer, more efficient, and scalable for real-world applications. As part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie RIDERS network, I collaborate with leading research centers, beginning with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, where I’ll synthesize novel single-ion polymers before carrying out in-depth characterization at Polito and scaling up at COMAU facilities. The ultimate goal is to enhance ion transport, suppress dendrite growth, and bring solid-state battery technology a step closer to everyday reality.

What have you enjoyed the most about your PhD work so far?

The freedom to explore and experiment in such a cutting-edge field has been incredibly exciting. I’ve loved brainstorming new ideas and actually getting the chance to try them out. What adds even more joy to this journey is the vibrant academic environment full of workshops, networking events, conferences and schools where I get to meet brilliant minds from all over the world. It's both inspiring and motivating to be surrounded by such a passionate community.

What challenges or difficulties have you faced during your PhD?

Honestly, since I’ve just started, I can’t claim to have faced major difficulties yet. And I definitely won’t complain about work-life balance, after all, I live in Italy! That said, one thing that surprised me was the amount of paperwork needed for even the smallest things, whether it's ordering chemicals or handling safety forms. Bureaucracy really loves to make itself known!

What inspired you to start a PhD, and why at DiSAT?

Coming from a Master’s background in Material Science, Technology and Health, with a focus on Energy Storage and Sustainable Development, pursuing a PhD in this area felt like the natural next step. DiSAT stood out not just because of its academic excellence, but also because of the warmth and strength of the GAMELab group, led by Prof. Dr. Gerbaldi and Prof. Dr. Elia. They’ve built more than just a team, they’ve created a family. Everyone I spoke to recommended I apply here for the best PhD journey, and I’m genuinely glad I did.

Looking back at your PhD journey, do you have any reflections, advice for future PhD students, or a memorable/fun anecdote from your time at DiSAT?

It’s still early days for me, but here’s something I’ve learned already: when choosing a PhD, don’t just look at global rankings. Choose a place that aligns with your passions and where your motivation feels at home. Look for a lab culture that celebrates even the little wins (like my group haha) with cornetti, chocolates, and shared smiles because those small moments add up to a big sense of belonging.

Have you already decided on your next career step? If so, would you like to share it with us?

It’s a bit early for concrete plans, but I’d love to continue working in this field, hopefully in the battery R&D industry, ideally in collaboration with GAMELab and DiSAT. That way, I’d still be part of this incredible journey… just in a slightly new direction!

Rijul Bajaj

PhD Candidate in Materials Science and Technology 40^th cycle 

 Miguel Amaro Ferreira

Hello, what is your name and in which research group have you been working?

Miguel Amaro Ferreira.

Can you briefly describe your PhD research?

My project concerns hydrogen production from water (watersplitting) using solar energy, in a process known as photoelectrocatalysis (PEC). I synthesize and test novel photocatalysts, both for the anodic and cathodic reaction (OER and HER) from sustainable and cheap materials. The final catalysts should have a suitable bandgap for each of the reactions they are catalysing. Once suitable catalysts have been found for each reaction, both should be utilized to design a photoreactor using, based on flow conditions rather than batch or semi-batch conventional prototypes, to maximise process efficiency.

What have you enjoyed the most about your PhD work so far?

The environment and colleagues, and also the conditions.

What challenges or difficulties have you faced during your PhD?

Hard to work in english, as a foreign student, as most people prefer to an excessive degree communicating in italian.

What inspired you to start a PhD, and why at DiSAT?

PoliTo is a great institution and I liked the subjects I could choose from.

Looking back at your PhD journey, do you have any reflections, advice for future PhD students, or a memorable/fun anecdote from your time at DiSAT?

I would like to advice that: proper planning and organization is the most important part of the work, even if might not feel like it. On a fun anecdote: any new student that has the luxury of staying in the Ring* should enjoy every moment of it.

Have you already decided on your next career step? If so, would you like to share it with us?

No, not yet.

*The room where new arrivals in DiSAT stay

SiCPIC: Revolutionizing Photonic Chips with Silicon Carbide Efficiency

By Luciano Scaltrito - Elettra Decise

The future of European electronics lies at PoliTO, and specifically at Chilab-ITEM: the SiCPIC (Silicon Carbide Photonic Integrated Circuit Doctoral Network) project, funded by Horizon Europe and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, will start in January 2026. The initiative aims to revolutionize photonic integrated circuits (PICs) with Silicon Carbide (SiC), a material with the potential to overcome current limitations of microchips such as power consumption and signal delays. The starting point is the results obtained by the previous SiComb project (2020-2024), which had already explored the potential of SiC and developed several fabrication techniques: SiCPIC now aims to integrate the main functional blocks directly onto the SiC chip. The goal is to develop devices for practical and strategic applications in optical communications, quantum communications, and mid-infrared spectroscopy.

However, this is not just a scientific challenge: the project will offer Doctoral Programs for 15 young Researchers, who will help fill the international shortage of qualified personnel in the microelectronics and optoelectronics sector.

Two doctoral students will begin their studies at Chilab-ITEM, under the guidance of Professor Scaltrito - Scientific Director for the Politecnico - and Professor Ferrero, and Dr. Bertana and Dr. Mossotti; other students will join the lab later.

By participating in this project, the Politecnico di Torino and the entire international consortium, led by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), will actively contribute to strengthening European leadership in the sector and promoting the objectives of the EU's Chips Act for the continent's technological autonomy.

The research collaboration between DiSAT and the University of Illinois at Chicago advances

By Leonardo Iannucci

In September, the ‘CoMeTA’ research group visited the University of Illinois at Chicago (USA). The mobility involved three researchers from DiSAT (Dr. Leonardo Iannucci, Prof. Sabrina Grassini, and Prof. Emma Angelini) and took place as part of the project ‘Innovative Materials and Techniques for Dental Health (IMT4DeH)’, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and managed by Dr. Leonardo Iannucci as the Principal Investigator of the project.

The project is carried out in collaboration with the research group led by Prof. Tolou Shokuhfar from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Illinois, and it focuses on studying innovative materials and surface treatments for use in restorative dentistry and biomedical prosthetics.

On September 26, a roundtable titled “Needs and Challenges in Materials for Restorative Dentistry: New Opportunities for US and Italy Cooperation” was held. During the event, the results achieved so far in the project were discussed, and future prospects for collaboration between the two universities in the field of dental biomaterials were explored. Attendees included the Consul General of Italy in Chicago, Dr. Mario Alberto Bartoli, the Scientific Attaché of the Consulate, Prof. Marcello Alecci, and representatives from UIC, including Prof. Thomas Royston, Head of Biomedical Engineering Department, and Dr. Neal R. McCrillis, Vice Provost for Global Engagement. Among the invited speakers were Prof. Mario Alovisi (Dental School, University of Torino) and Prof. Massimo Costalonga (University of Minnesota), who presented some of the main challenges in this area of research, offering insights from the clinical perspective.

The roundtable highlighted the importance of strengthening the collaboration between clinical practice and the fields of chemical and materials engineering, to better identify relevant research topics and develop solutions that can be implemented in the medical field in the short to medium term.

Moreover, all participants emphasized the importance of continuing this collaboration beyond the current project's duration, by accessing new research funding opportunities and exploring new joint research topics.

Hi, we are the WEEE Open Student Team, supervised  by prof.ssa Debora Fino, and for 8 years we have been devoted to providing an alternative solution to the disposal of electronic equipment discarded by the university.

Our goal is to collect, repair, and donate as many computers as possible to give them new life and create new opportunities, while simultaneously reducing the university’s environmental impact.

Over the years, we have developed software and hardware to optimize our activities, reaching the milestone of over 300 computers donated.

Like the previous years, we participated in the Maker Faire Rome 2025, presenting our creative reuse projects and offering our educational PC repair competition.

If you have computers to dispose of or other needs you can visit our lab by entering from door 3 turning left and going down to floor -1, or you can reach us via email at weeeopen@polito.it .

Hideout PoliTO is the first social media team at the Politecnico di Torino, supervised by Professor Guido Saracco. Our mission is to share the stories of engineering and architecture through the voices of those who study them by involving other student teams. We welcome students from every degree program, giving them the opportunity to learn, experiment, and grow through hands-on experience in dynamic crews with flexible roles.

We officially launched our social media campaign on October 11 with the release of our first video. Since then, we’ve been active on three different platforms: Instagram, TikTok, and, more recently, LinkedIn. 

Our true "baptism of fire", however, came with our participation in the Maker Faire.

Despite being a young team, we were selected to take part in the event. Three of our members attended with a clear mission: to document the fair.

Even with limited time, our first reporting experience was a complete success. We achieved all our goals which were producing two reels for our own channels and the official reportage for the University. From the best moments of this footage, we’ll also create a trailer to be released as a third reel on our social media pages.

In addition to interviewing thirteen participating teams, we also had the opportunity to feature Professor Fulvio

Corno, Vice-Rector for Education at the Politecnico di Torino, in our recordings.

This experience also marked the beginning of what will become our flagship segment, as we started introducing teams to the exciting projects we’ll be unveiling very soon.. actually, extremely soon.

In short: a great start!

Hope we have sparked your curiosity! Check out @hideoutpolito on Instagram and TikTok to see what we’re all about.