M. Soccio is researcher Senior in the disciplinary sector Chemical Fundamentals of Technologies (CHIM/07) at the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering of the University of Bologna, since June 2017.
Education and academic career
M. Soccio earned the degree in Industrial Chemistry (2004) developing an experimental thesis entitled "Regi-specific formation of carbanions. Synthesis of enantiopure cyclic olefins containing sulfur atoms" under the supervision of Prof. S. Pollicino, at the Department of Organic Chemistry of the Faculty of Industrial Chemistry of the University of Bologna.
She continued her scientific career at the Department of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science of the University of Bologna, where she worked on the synthesis and solid state characterization of polymeric materials, in particular, aromatic and aliphatic polyesters. She earned the Ph.D. in Industrial Chemistry (2008), presenting a thesis entitled "Synthesis, characterization and property-structure correlations of innovative polyesters for special uses", developed under the supervision of Prof. A. Munari.
During her first Post-Doc research contract (Synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials for biomedical use) at the University of Bologna (2009-2010), she began working in the field of polymeric micro- and nano-structuring.
She continued her research work with a second Post-Doc contract (Structure-dynamics relationships in nanostructured polymeric materials) (2011-2013), together with the research group of Prof. T. Ezquerra, at the Instituto de Estructura de la Materia of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IEM-CSIC) of Madrid. In the same centre, M. Soccio had spent two stays during her Ph.D. period (2006 and 2007). In that time, she worked on the preparation of different types of polymeric nanostructures made using inorganic membranes, nanolithography (this technique was mainly developed in the IMB-CNM-CSIC in Barcelona, where M. Soccio spent several stays) and laser techniques (in collaboration with the research group of Prof. M. Castillejo IQFR-CSIC of Madrid).
Thanks to her experience in the field of polymer chemistry and physics, she was selected for a Post-Doc research contract (Dynamics of Precise Ethylene Copolymers and Ionomers Using Dielectric Spectroscopy) in the group of Prof. J. Runt, on the study of ionomer polymers, at The Pennsylvania State University's Material Science and Engineering (2014).
After the abroad experience, she resumed her research activity as research fellow (Project title: Evaluation of the biodegradability of recalcitrant polymers and synthesis of new biodegradable polymers from degradation products) at the DICAM of the University of Bologna, in collaboration with Prof. N. Lotti (2014-2017).
Currently, she is working as a RTD-Researcher at the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering of the University of Bologna.
In April 2017 she earned the National Scientific Qualification as associate professor.
Teaching activity
Since 2007 she has been tutoring the Courses Fundamentals of Chemistry and Chemistry and Materials Technology of Degree Courses in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
She was professor of Chemistry Fundamentals of the Degree Course in Management Engineering and of the integrated course of Chemistry and Materials Technology of the Degree Course in Civil Engineering.
Currently, she is professor of Chemistry Fundamentals of the Degree Course in Mechanical Engineering.
She is tutor and co-tutor for Degree, Master and Ph.D. theses.
M.S. taught in the "Sciences da la Matiere" Master of the University of Rouen (France). Course title "Bioplastics: synthesis, properties and applications".
Scientific activity
M. Soccio is co-author of 131 articles in international scientific journals, with a number of citations of 3068 and Hindex of 33 (source: Scopus), and of over 100 communications at national and international congresses.
She has participated in several national and international research projects including: the European BIOCLEAN project; the international projects 1206571-DMR, MAT2011-23455, MAT2008-03232, II-20100103 EC, GICSERV Program: 7th and 8th call; the MIUR Scafelmed project.
She is responsible for the international competitive projects EUSMI - European Soft Matter Infrastructure: E171100040; E171100043; E190300254; E210400527; E2100400523 and co-proposer of the project E190300255.
She is the PI of the competitive research project AlmaIdea 2022 "Nuovi polimeri per imballaggio alimentare: Rinnovabili, selettivamente Eco-degradabili e ri-Sintetizzabili per un’economia circolare (RiEcoSin)"
M.S. is a member of the Editorial Board of the international scientific journal Polymers and Frontiers in Chemistry.
She serves as referee of international journals in the field of Materials Sciences.
Tutor activity for international students
M.S. tutored the student Brigitte Djuiga Wabo from the University of Rouen (France) for the Master thesis, as part of the Erasmus + project.
M.S. tutored the visiting Ph.D. students: Agata Zubkiewicz from West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin) - Polonia; Kylian Hallavant from University of Rouen - Francia
