Team Leader SENIOR Researcher
Lucia Petti
Dr. Lucia Petti is a Senior Researcher and Team Leader at the Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “E. Caianiello” (ISASI-CNR), where she heads the NanoPhotonics and Smart Materials Research Team. Her work bridges photonics, plasmonics, and advanced materials, with a focus on developing nanostructured biosensors for medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety, as well as photoresponsive polymer-based actuators.
Dr. Petti coordinates four main research lines: Label-free nanobiosensing technologies, Advanced optical diagnostics, Smart materials and actuation systems, Engineered photonic metamaterials. She is the scientific lead of several high-tech laboratories at ISASI—Smart Materials, NanoSOFT (Nanocomposites and Soft Matter), NanoFAB (Nanofabrication), and IOL (Integrated Optics)—which support internal and collaborative research efforts. Since 2005, she has also served as director of the institute’s Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) research facility, a cornerstone infrastructure for nanofabrication.
In the past five years, she has been the Principal Investigator of several high-impact projects, including the Horizon 2020 FETOPEN project PULSE-COM (Photo-Piezo-ActUators based on Light SEnsitive COMposite), the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) “Proof of Concept” project H2OSafety (Design and development of environmental sensors for the research of microbiological and chemical contaminants hazardous to health, POC01_00109), the POC Project “ALICE” (Actuators based on Light sensitive CompositE) funded by the Fund “Eureka! Fund I – Technology Transfer, and regional initiatives such as the PO FESR Campania 2014/2020 Project “SERS-CoV” (Advanced Nanobiosensing platforms for diagnostics and surveillance POC). These projects reflect her interdisciplinary approach, bridging materials science, photonics, and biomedical applications, with strong emphasis on translational research for healthcare and environmental safety.
She currently leads three major projects: PRIN 2022 – SENSOSTEC (DFM.PN009.001.22), funded by MUR, focused on the development of a plasmonic nanobiosensor for the rapid, point-of-care diagnosis of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections in humans; SMARTSenso (DFM.AD005.510), a CNR self-funded project on SMART materials and engineered nanobiosensors for bio-diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety; a research consultancy for the EMDAS (Environmental Mobile Data Acquisition System) regional project, which aims to develop mobile and modular platforms for real-time environmental data collection. Her research integrates nanofabrication, spectroscopy, and smart materials, with a strong translational emphasis on public health and sustainability.
She was deemed eligible for Full Professor qualification under Italian Call D.D. 1532/2016 in the field of Experimental Physics of Matter and has served as Vice-Chair, Expert Evaluator, and Project Monitor for Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe research programs. With a research output that includes 6 patents, 136 peer-reviewed journal articles, 46 technical reports, and over 135 international and national conference presentations, her work has had significant scientific and technological impact.
Researcher
Massimo Rippa
Massimo Rippa graduated in Physics cum Laude, in 2004, at the University of Naples “Federico II”. In December 2009 he received his Ph.D in the International course “Novel Technology for Materials, Sensor and Imaging” from the Science Faculty of the University of Naples “Federico II” with a thesis entitled “Monitoring of laser – biological tissue interaction on plane angioma by functional infrared imaging“. He is currently a permanent researcher at Institute of Applied Science and Intelligent Systems “E. Caianiello” (ISASI), National Council of Research (CNR), Pozzuoli, Italy. He has been involved in several national and International projects including bilateral projects of cooperation between the CNR, the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS). His current research focuses on Photonics with particular regard to plasmonic nanostructures for sensing applications and Infrared Imaging for applications in precision agriculture, in the cultural heritage field and for non-destructive testing. He is author/co-author of more than 70 scientific papers published on International journals, 3 patents, one monographic publication and he has attended more than 80 national and international conferences with oral or poster presentations. MR is currently coordinator of the research activities developed in the Thermography and infrared imaging laboratory of the ISASI CNR institute.
RESEARCHER
Valentina Marchesano
Valentina Marchesano is a researcher at the Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems (ISASI) of the National Research Council (CNR) in Pozzuoli, Italy. Her work focuses on the intersection of nanobiotechnology, molecular and cellular biology, biomaterials, and radiotherapy. With over 60 scientific publications and more than 1,700 citations, she has made significant contributions to the development of innovative solutions in medicine and biomedical technology. Her multidisciplinary approach integrates physics, biology, and engineering to tackle complex challenges in health and materials science.
POST-DOC RESEARCHER
Domenico Sagnelli
Domenico was born in Maddaloni, Italy. He obtained his Bsc and Msc in Biotechnology in Naples. Continuing his study in Copenhagen where he completed his PhD. He was awarded with a postdoctoral grant from the Danish council of research in 2018 and joined the Howdle group to work on the synthesis of polymers from renewable resources in supercritical CO2. Now he is actively working in the Smart Material group at ISASI. He is filling the role of WP leader for the EU project PULSE-com for the synthesis and characterization of photo-mobile polymers.
POST-DOC RESEARCHER
Bryan Guilcapi
Bryan Guilcapi Alulema is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “Eduardo Caianiello” (ISASI) of the National Research Council (CNR) in Naples, Italy. His research focuses on photonic crystals, nanophotonics, and biosensors, particularly in the development of high-sensitivity optical devices for biomedical and environmental applications.
He holds a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technology and Engineering from the University of Naples “Parthenope” (2023). His academic background includes a Master’s in Nanoelectronics from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, a Master’s in Electronic Engineering from the University of Calabria, and a Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering from the Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial. Additionally, he has completed an MBA and specializations in embedded systems and project management.
Guilcapi has co-authored several scientific publications, including studies on label-free DNA biosensing using topological light confinement and high-Q photonic aptasensors for trace detection of ochratoxin A. He has also contributed to research on plasmonic metasurfaces for the discrimination of Shiga toxins.
Beyond his research, he serves as a lecturer at the Universidad Internacional de Valencia (VIU), teaching courses in robotics, intelligent systems, and big data.
Guilcapi’s multidisciplinary expertise bridges physics, engineering, and data analysis, contributing to advancements in nanotechnology and photonics.
POST-DOC RESEARCHER
Alessia Milano
Alessia Milano is a biologist and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems “Eduardo Caianiello” (ISASI) of the National Research Council (CNR) in Naples, Italy. She obtained her PhD in Public Health from Sapienza University of Rome in 2024, conducting her doctoral research at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, where she worked on zoonoses surveillance within a One Health framework and developed risk maps for vector-borne diseases.
Her current research focuses on the application of SERS nano-biosensors to biomedical and environmental challenges. She specializes in spectral data analysis and machine learning for molecular discrimination, and in optimizing sensor specificity through antibody-based functionalization strategies.
PH.d student
Amalia D’Avino
Amalia D’Avino is a Ph.D. student in Information and Communication Technology and Engineering at the University of Naples Parthenope.
She holds a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Naples Federico II, graduating with honors.
Her research activity focuses on smart and functional materials, in particular photo-responsive polymers and plasmonic nanostructures for sensing and actuation applications.
Since 2022, she has been working as a research fellow at the Nano Smart Lab, contributing to several national and European projects, including PULSE-COM (Horizon 2020), ALICE (Eureka! – Proof of Concept), and PRIN-SENSOSTEC. Her
work spans from material synthesis and optical characterization to device prototyping and application in advanced sensing platforms such as SERS-based diagnostics. Amalia has co-authored peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter,
and presented her research at international conferences. Most recently, she was invited as a speaker at the SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics 2025 conference in Prague, where she was also awarded for the best student presentation.