SERENA SILVI was born in Fano (PU) in 1978. She is researcher at the Chemistry Department “Giacomo Ciamician”, where she works on the photophysical, photochemical and electrochemical investigation of supramolecular systems. In particular her research is focussed on the design and characterization of artificial molecular machines and complex systems for signal processing.
Training
She received her Laurea in Chemistry cum laude from the University of Bologna in 2002, under the supervision of prof. Vincenzo Balzani, with a thesis on the photophysical and electrochemical investigation of new prototypes of artificial molecular machines. From 2003 to 2005 she attended the School of doctorate in Chemical Sciences under the supervision of prof. Alberto Credi, and she earned her Ph.D. in 2006 with a thesis entitled “Artificial Molecular Machines”. In 2005 she spent a six- months research period in the laboratory of prof. Angel E. Kaifer, at the University of Miami.
Academic career
From 2006 to 2008 she collaborated to the research in the Photochemistry and Supramolecular Chemistry laboratory, leaded by prof. Vincenzo Balzani. Since December 2008 she is researcher in the scientific sector CHIM/03 at the Chemistry Department “Giacomo Ciamician” of the University of Bologna. In December 2013 and in April 2018 she qualified as associate professor in the field 03/B1.
Teaching activity
Since 2009 she carries out her teaching activity in the scientific sector CHIM/03 at the Chemistry Department “Giacomo Ciamician” (first cycle degree programme in Chemistry and Materials Chemistry) in the following courses:
- 2009- 2012 Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory (second year students)
- 2012-2014 Photochemistry and Supramolecular Chemistry (third year students)
- 2013-2014 Chimica di Coordinazione con Laboratorio (second year students)
- 2014- Chemistry Laboratory (first year students)
Since 2007 she holds a course at the National Introductory School on Photochemistry on chemical actinometry, photocromic compounds. emission quantum yields and methods for the correction of emission and excitation spectra.
Scientific activity
She authored or co-authored 80 publications on international journals, several book chapters, a European patent, and she edited volumes on photochemistry and molecular machines.
She attended 30 national and international conferences, with oral and poster communications, in particular: Gordon Research Conference. Organic Structures & Properties - Molecular Design & Supramolecular Assemblies, Barga (Lucca); Gordon Research Conference on Photochemistry, Smithfield (USA); 3rd EuCheMS Chemistry Congress, Nuremberg (Germany) (finalist at the European Young Chemist Award); Avogadro Colloquia, Roma (invited talk).
Other activities
Member of the organizing/scientific committee of the following events:
- National Introductory Course on Photochemistry
- Italian Photochemistry Meeting (2012)
- symposium The Photochemistry of the Future - 100 Years Later (2012)
- symposium “I Giganti della Fotochimica” (2017)
Since 2015 she is Secretary and Treasurer of The Italian Group of Photochemistry.
