Massimiliano Curcio (MC) is a Junior Assistant Professor at the University of Bologna. His research experience focuses on coordination chemistry and supramolecular chemistry, with an emphasis on the development of artificial molecular machines, redox-active ligands, and homogeneous catalysis.
MC earned his MSc degree in Chemical Sciences with honors in 2013 at the University of Naples "Federico II", developing chiral sugar-based ligands for asymmetric catalysis under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Ruffo. After a brief period as a research fellow at the IMCB-CNR studying self-healing epoxy thermosets, in 2014 he was awarded a PhD scholarship within the CRITICAT-CDT (Centre for Doctoral Training in Critical Resources Catalysis), an inter-university consortium organized by the Universities of St Andrews, Edinburgh, and Heriot Watt. For his doctoral studies, MC joined the group led by Prof. Jason Love at the University of Edinburgh to develop redox-active heterocyclic ligands to act as mediators in electron transfer reactions, with a specific focus on the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. During this four-year period, he participated in training sessions (three months of theoretical and practical lectures at the University of St Andrews covering homogeneous, heterogeneous catalysis and biocatalysis) and two research internships as a visiting PhD student in the groups of Prof. Stephen Nolan (St Andrews) and Dr Alexander Pöthig (TUM). In 2018, MC obtained his PhD in Chemistry, defending the thesis “Redox-active di(heteroaryl)methenes as ligands for electron transfer reactions.” Following an additional three-month stay as a visiting researcher at TUM, in 2019 he moved to Bologna to join Prof. Alberto Credi as a postdoctoral researcher and develop mechanically interlocked molecules and molecular machines activated by chemical and light stimuli. In 2023, MC was appointed as a Junior Assistant Professor at the Department of Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari" of the University of Bologna.
Education
2011 – BSc in Chemistry, University of Naples "Federico II"
2013 – MSc in Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II"
2018 – PhD in Chemistry, University of Edinburgh
Teaching Activities
Since 2025, MC teaches General Chemistry within the BSc degree program in Chemistry and Technologies for the Environment and Materials. Previously, he held courses such as General Chemistry within the Materials Science BSc degree program (2023-2024) and Inorganic Materials within the professional degree program on Products and Processes for the Chemical Industry (2023-2024). From 2023 to 2024, he taught courses on modern applications of homogeneous catalysis for the PhD programs in Chemistry and Nanosciences at the University of Bologna.
Scientific Activities
MC co-authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications in leading chemistry journals and a national patent. He has been an invited speaker at 10 seminars at Italian and European Institutions and delivered over 20 contributions at conferences spanning the areas of coordination chemistry, catalysis, supramolecular chemistry and molecular machines. In 2022, he was part of the organizing committee of the conference Molecular Machines: Modelling, Making, Measuring (Mach-5, Bologna, IT).
Research Projects
MC participated to national and international research programs, with a total awarded funding of over 1.0 M€.
Currently, he coordinates the following projects:
- DYnamic NAnoscale MOtion - Light-powered molecular motors in smart materials and biocompatible systems (DYNAMO, MUR FIS, 2026-2031)
He has previously coordinated the following project:
- Renewable Furan Biomonomers Through Earth-Abundant Bifunctional Catalysis (FURBICAT, RSC Research Fund, 2023-2024)
Academic and Scientific Roles
MC is a member of scientific societies such as the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) and the Italian Group of Photochemistry of the European Photochemistry Society. He has been a thesis advisor (3 MSc, 1 BSc) and co-advisor (1 MSc, 2 BSc) and has (co)-supervised 1 postdoctoral researcher, 5 PhD students, 8 MSc students, and 3 short-term visiting reearhers. He regularly serves as a referee for leading international journals in the chemistry field, including J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., and Sci. Adv.
