What about R2ES Laboratory

The headquarters of R2ES are hosted at the Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy (DBCF), University of Siena. DBCF has been recently appointed as Department of Excellence 2018-2022 by the National Agency for Evaluation of University and Research.

The R2ES group members are associated to the following research centres, societies and networks:

The research group consists of 3 PhD students, Carmen Coppola and Alessio d’Ettorre, experts in computational chemistry, and Kipyator Mercy Jelagat, expert in environmental sustainability analyses; 2 research fellows, Dr. Federico Rossi, expert in LCA and methodology for environmental sustainability analysis, and Dr. Mayra Avelar, expert in computational chemistry; Prof. Maria Laura Parisi, an expert in the application and teaching of LCA analysis and of the methods of the Life Cycle Thinking approach, and Prof. Adalgisa Sinicropi, an expert in computational chemistry applied to the study and development of techniques and technologies to support environmental sustainability analysis.

The research group has worked and gained experience in the field of sustainable development and thermodynamic, energy and environmental analysis thanks to the guidance of Senior Prof. Riccardo Basosi and his decades-year experience in the fields related to physical-chemistry and environmental and energy sustainability.

Meet Our Team

Prof. Adalgisa Sinicropi
Associate Professor

Background/Education

  • National Academic Qualification as Full Professor of Physical Chemistry (2017)
  • National Academic Qualification as Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry (2017)
  • PhD in Chemical Sciences, University of Siena, Italy (2002)
  • Marie Curie Training Site Fellow, King’s College London, London, UK (2002)
  • Laurea in Chemistry Magna cum laude, University of Siena, Italy (1999)

Relevant Experience

Associate Professor at the University of Siena and Associate Researcher at CSGI consortium and ICCOM-CNR. She is a specialist of computational chemistry and her recognized research activity comprises the design and characterization by means of computational methods and life cycle analysis of innovative materials for the production of new generation photovoltaics characterized by high efficiency, stability and with high environmental added value.
More specifically, she acquired a robust experience in the research of structural patterns to impart specific optical characteristics to chromophores for the optimization of solar cells properties and the life cycle environmental impact analysis of materials and their reuse/recycling potential.

Prof. Maria Laura Parisi
Associate Professor

Background/Education

  • National Academic Qualification as Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry (2020)
  • ESF Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Siena, Italy (2010-2013)
  • PhD in Chemical Sciences, University of Siena, Italy (2008)
  • Laurea in Chemistry Magna cum laude, University of Siena, Italy (2005)

Relevant experience

Associate Professor at the University of Siena and Associate Researcher at CSGI consortium and ICCOM-CNR.
Her research activity spans from the environmental profile characterization of advanced materials and technologies for energy and resource efficiency implementation to the integrated life cycle thinking methodological approach for studying renewable energy conversion (particularly photovoltaics and geothermoelectric systems) and storage systems.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Federico Rossi
Research fellow

Background/Education

  • PhD in Industrial Engineering at University of Siena, Italy (2021). Thesis on  Environmental impact assessment of energy storage technologies in photovoltaic systems. 
  • Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at University of Florence, Italy (2017). Thesis on the Design and simulation of an off-grid photovoltaic system. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering at University of Florence, Italy (2015).

Relevant experience

Research fellow at the University of Siena and Associate Researcher at CSGI.
Dr. Federico Rossi has experience in the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) methodology for the assessment of environmental and economic impact, optimization of renewable energy and storage systems.

His expertise area includes the application of Life Cycle Sustainability methodologies (LCA, Life Cycle Costing, Carbon Footprint), innovative photovoltaic systems and energy production technologies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Riccardo Basosi
Senior Professor

Experience and expertise

Senior Full Professor of Physical Chemistry & Lecturer of Sustainable & Efficient Energy at Department of Excellence of Biotechnology, Chemistry & Pharmacy, University of Siena, Italy; Deputy Rector for Energy.

Since 2013 to nowadays Italian Representative in Energy Committee of HORIZON 2020, Delegate of Italian Ministry of University & Research (MIUR) in the SET Plan Steering Committee and in the Mission Innovation Inter-Ministry Task Force. Advisor for Energy of MIUR Ministry at G7 Berlin (October 2015), Kyoto, (April 2016) and Torino, (Sept. 2017). Member of Technical Table of Presidency of Minister Council on “De-carbonization of Italian Economy” (2016-2017). Appointed by Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) as National Expert for IEA/EGRD and since October 2017 to nowadays Member of ENEA National CTS. Previously acting as Scientific Advisor of Italian Presidency of Minister Council (2007-08).

In the 80s Visiting Prof of Molecular Biophysics at the Nat. Biom. ESR Center Milwaukee, WIS, USA. National coordinator of PRIN National Projects and EU Projects. Author of more than 300 papers in international journals of physical chemistry, biophysics and energy. In the last 15 years active in research on LCA of Energy Processes & Renewable Sources and Complex Systems. Until 2013 Director of PhD Course in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Member of Editorial Board of  Quale Energia (since 2000), Masterhead International Journal of  Energy & Technology  (since 2009)- Editorial Board Biocatalysis (since 2014)-Editorial Board International   Journal of Solar Energy Research (JSER) since 2016-Guest Editor  for EES (Energy Policy , Energy).
Fellow of RSC (UK) and of International EPR Soc, of ACS and AAAS. Recipient of 2014 SCI Gold Medal for excellent achievements in the field of energy and environment. Co-recipient of the World Energy Globe Award 2014. Chairman of the VIII SET Plan Conference in the frame of Italian EU Presidency, Dec 2014.

Dr. Carmen Coppola
Research fellow

Background/Education

  • PhD student in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Siena (2018-2022).
  • Master’s degree in Chemistry Magna cum laude at University of Siena (2018). Thesis on the Design of novel organic hole transport materials for efficient perovskite solar cells.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Sciences at University of Siena (2016). Thesis on the Evaluation of the environmental impacts of the innovative photovoltaics.

Relevant experience

Her research activity focuses on the design and characterization, by means of computational methods, of novel materials for the development of solar energy conversion. More specifically, she specialized in perovskite solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells and luminescent solar concentrators components, including their design and the prediction of their working principles.

Dr. Mayra Avelar
Research fellow

Background/Education

  • Posdoctoral Fellowship founded by The Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) Grant—Department of Excellence 2018–2022 at University of Siena (2018-2020).
  • Researcher assistant, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico (2018).
  • PhD in Biochemistry Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico. Honorable mention (2017).
  • Master’s degree in Chemical Science, Chemistry Faculty, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico (2012).
  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry Sciences Faculty, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Mexico. Honorable mention (2009)

Relevant experience

Her research is focused on the in silico studies of macromolecules and protein engineering techniques. She is involved on different projects which includes environmental and medical topics. Her skills range on experimental and computational in biochemical topics, including different methodologies as DFT, QM/MM, molecular dynamics, molecular docking, molecular biology (cloning, protein expression) and protein purification techniques.

During the years she has developed multidisciplinary projects concerning to the study of electron transfer on oxidative enzymes, for bioremediation potential applications; and light-harvesting proteins. At the moment she is a posdoctoral researcher at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas, her research is focused on the in silico design of compounds for medical applications.

Kipyator Mercy Jelagat
PhD student

Background/Education

  • PhD student in sustainable development and climate change, National doctorate program (2021-2024).
  • Master’s degree in Chemistry at University of Siena, Italy (2011). Thesis on Life Cycle Assessment innovative photovoltaic technologies focused on perovskite tandem solar cells.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Analytical chemistry with computing at University of Eldoret, Kenya. Thesis on Determination of heavy metals in vegetables sold by the roadside within Eldoret city.

Relevant experience

My research focuses on ecodesign of materials and technologies for sustainable energy production and storage focused on perovskite tandem solar cells

Alessio d’Ettorre
PhD student

Background/Education

  • PhD student in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Siena (2020-2023).
  • Master’s degree in Chemistry for Sustainable Development cum laude at University of Siena (2020). Thesis on a computational study of long-range electron transfer pathways in bacteriorhodopsin as photosensitizer for TiO2. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemiscal sciences at University of Siena. Thesis on Caffeic acid and dihydroxyindole modelling on TiO2: DFT assessment of their role as sensitizers in photovoltaic DSSC of type II.

Relevant experience

His skills range in the computational chemistry field, focused in the usage of DFT and QM/MM methods for the development of more efficient chromophores for new emerging photovoltaic devices.

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