Francesco Paolucci

Francesco Paolucci
Professor of Chemistry, University of Bologna
Associate Researcher, CNR-ICMATE Padua
Email: francesco.paolucci@unibo.it | ORCID: 0000-0003-4614-8740
Website: https://site.unibo.it/emfm/en

Professional Summary

Senior academic with over 35 years of experience in physical chemistry and molecular electrochemistry, with a strong track record of international research leadership, competitive funding acquisition, >280 high-impact publications [>15000 citations, H-index 68 – Google Scholar; 61 – Scopus], and student mentoring. Specialist in electrochemiluminescence, nanostructured materials, and supramolecular chemistry, with applications in diagnostics and energy. Experienced in managing academic departments, international collaborations, and public engagement.

Personal Information

• Born: 25 February 1961, Jesi (Italy)
• Nationality: Italian

  Current Positions

• Full Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna (since 2011)
• Associate Researcher, ICMATE - National Research Council, Padua

  Academic Appointments

• Full Professor, University of Bologna (2011–present)
• Associate Professor, Physical Chemistry, University of Bologna (2001–2011)
• Assistant Professor, Physical Chemistry, University of Bologna (1992–2001)
• Researcher, National Research Council (1987–1992)

  Visiting Positions and Fellowships

• 2015: Visiting Professor, Keio University (Japan), JSPS Fellowship
• 2013, 2007: Professeur Invité, Université de Bordeaux (France)
• 2010: Chercheur Invité, CNRS Bordeaux (France)
• 2005: Visiting Professor, University of Texas at Austin (USA)
• 1995: Research Fellow, École Normale Supérieure (France)
• 1991–1992: Research Fellow, University of Southampton (UK)

  Institutional Roles and Scientific Leadership

• Director, Scientific Innovation Unit of AlmaClimate, University of Bologna (2023–present)
• Head, Department of Chemistry, University of Bologna (2018–2021)
• Vice President, International Society of Electrochemistry – ISE (2019–2021)
• Chair, Electrochemistry Division, Italian Chemical Society – SCI (2017–2019)
• Chair, Molecular Electrochemistry Division, ISE (2015–2016)
• Scientific Committee Member, Journées d’Électrochimie (France, 2015–2021)

  Conference Organization (Selection)

• Co-Chair, 69th Annual ISE Meeting, Bologna, 2018 (2030+ participants)
• Chair, ECL Workshops (2014–2016)
• Chair, ECHEMS 2012, Bertinoro
• Chair, ISE Symposia (2015, 2017)
• Co-Chair, ChemOnTubes 2014

  Awards and Recognitions

• JSPS Special Visiting Professorship, Keio University (2015)
• Finalist, Descartes Prize (2003)
• NATO Research Grant (1995)
• Royal Society – Accademia dei Lincei Grant (1991)

  Competitive Research Grants (Last 5 Years)

• 2025 – PRIDE: Sustainable Hydrogen Production (3 M€), Italian Ministry of Environment (Coordinator)
  
• 2022 – MEET: Mechanism Enhanced ECL Technology (Coordinator)
• Horizon-MSCA – Nano-ImmunoEra (EU, co-Coordinator)
• 2017 – 3D-FARE (National Coordinator)

  Editorial and Reviewing Activities

• Editorial Boards: Current Opinion in Electrochemistry (since 2024), J. Electroanalytical Chem., Electrochimica Acta
• Guest Editor: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Current Opinion in Electrochemistry
• Reviewer: ACS Nano, Angew. Chem., JACS, Adv. Mater., Nat. Commun. and others
• ERC Consolidator Grant Panel PE4 (2021–present)
• Reviewer for MIUR, ANVUR, FNRS, Saudi RDIA, European Science Foundation

  Teaching and Mentoring

• Courses: Physical Chemistry, Electrochemistry (BSc, MSc, Doctoral School), ~130 hrs/year since 1995
• Supervision: 19 PhD students, 12+ postdocs, 30+ MSc/BSc students, including cotutelle (France), CSC (China), Japan
• Many former students now in academic roles

  Public Engagement and Outreach

• University orientation courses (SNS Pisa, 2008–2012)
• Public lectures: Bologna, Milan, Accademia dei Lincei (Rome)
• TEDx Bologna 2015: “La foglia artificiale”
• Pint of Science Bologna 2024: “Dal carbonio non nasce niente?”

Selected Publications

1. Fracassa, A. et al., Chem. Commun. (2025) – Remote electrochemiluminescence on BDD
2. Alemu, Y.A. et al., ChemElectroChem (2025) – Carbon dots in immunosensor design
3. Tuci, G. et al., Nanoscale (2025) – CO2 reduction on nickel hybrids
4. Feng, Y. et al., Small (2025) – Tomographic ECL imaging
5. Fracassa A. et al., Chemical Science (2024) - Redox-mediated electrochemiluminescence enhancement

Full list: available on Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com] or Scopus [https://www.scopus.com]