Claudia Fasolato

Scientific interests

I am an experimental physicist, and I was trained in the field of condensed matter, with a specific focus on functional nanomaterials. Since my Ph.D., my research activity has involved the study of molecular system by surface-enhanced spectroscopies, gaining extreme optical sensitivity by the use of plasmonic nanostructures as nanoantennas for visible light [1]. The development of biofunctionalized plasmonic nanocarriers has enabled me to address significant biomedical questions, as biosensing [2], cancer diagnostics [3] and, more recently, metabolomics – exploring the molecular fingerprint of the organism’s response to biological stimuli (TAMERLANO project).

My research also involves the study of functional inorganic nanostructures and low-dimensional systems by
advanced optical methods [4,5], including real-time and time-resolved optical spectroscopy (SOSpESO project). I have employed pump-probe techniques in experiments aimed at studying the dynamics of photoexcited systems, both inhouse and at user-accessible facilities, like the free electron laser FERMI at Elettra, Trieste [6] and the SPRINT Lab at NFFA-Trieste (trieste.nffa.eu), with which I maintain a stable collaboration.

I enjoy science outreach very much and, since I was a student, I created and coordinated outreach and science dissemination projects, with both the academic institutions I have worked in, and associations like The Science Zone, Doc Educational, and other.

[1] C. Fasolato. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy for biophysical applications using plasmonic nanoparticle assemblies. Springer, Cham (CH), 2018.
[2] A. Capocefalo, D. Mammucari, F. Brasili, C. Fasolato, F. Bordi, P. Postorino, and F. Domenici (2019). Exploring the potentiality of a SERS-active pH nano-biosensor. Frontiers in chemistry, 7, 413.
[3] C. Fasolato, S. Giantulli, A. Capocefalo, Y. Toumia, D. Notariello, F. Mazzarda, I. Silvestri, P. Postorino, and F. Domenici (2019). Antifolate SERS-active nanovectors: quantitative drug nanostructuring and selective cell targeting for effective theranostics. Nanoscale, 11(32), 15224-15233.
[4] C. Fasolato, M. De Luca, D. Djomani, L. Vincent, C. Renard, G. Di Iorio, V. Paillard, M. Amato, R. Rurali and I. Zardo (2018). Crystalline, phononic, and electronic properties of heterostructured polytypic Ge nanowires by Raman spectroscopy. Nano letters, 18(11), 7075-7084.
[5] V. Carpenella, C. Fasolato, D. Di Girolamo, J. Barichello, F. Matteocci, C. Petrillo, D. Dini, and A. Nucara (2023). Signatures of Polaron Dynamics in Photoexcited MAPbBr3 by Infrared Spectroscopy. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C.
[6] C. Fasolato, F. Sacchetti, P. Postorino, P. Tozzi, E. Principi, A. Simoncig, L. Foglia, R. Mincigrucci, F. Bencivenga, C. Masciovecchio, and C. Petrillo (2020). Ultrafast plasmon dynamics in crystalline LiF triggered by intense extreme UV pulses. Physical Review Letters, 124(18), 184801.

Research Experience
(2021-now) Tenured researcher, Institute for Complex Systems CNR-ISC, Rome.
(2018-2021) Assistant Professor, fixed time appointment (RTD-a), Department of Physics and Geology,
University of Perugia.
(2017-2018) Postdoctoral researcher, Nanophononics Lab, Department of Physics, University of Basel.
(2016-2017) Research collaborator (NOXXS project), Department of Physics, University of Milan.
(2014-2017) Ph.D. Fellow, Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome.