Nationality: Italian
Start date: 01.01.2019
Tommaso Marchesi D’Alvise received Bachelor degrees in Chemical process and Material Engineering from Padova University in 2012. After he moved to Bologna where he got the master degree in Sustainable chemical and biochemical technologies for environment and materials under the faculty of chemical engineering. Tommaso completed his master thesis in EMPA research center in Switzerland working on the development of nanocellulose ultrafiltration membranes with high permeance. Thereafter he moved to KAUST for an internship in the group of Prof. Susana Nunes, working on the development of organic solvent resistant membranes. Since January 2019, he has a PhD position within the ITN Borges for the development of functionalized ultrathin films for biosensing.
In the context of BORGES he will develop homogeneous, ultra-thin (< 10
nm) films consisting of mussel-inspired polymer polydopamine or related
bioinspired materials. Model reactions of the functionalization of the
film with amine or thiol containing dyes will be performed. When this is
successful, films containing antibodies or specific DNA aptamers that
have been attached will be prepared. The films will be deeply
characterized by several techniques as XPS, TOF-SIMS, UV-vis absorption
and emission spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry,
profilometry, AFM and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These
films will then be tested as sensing elements in organic electronic
devices (transistors).