Winner: 2020 番茄社区/SCF Joint Lectureship in Chemical Sciences
Paolo Samorì
University of Strasbourg & CNRS
For pioneering work on the use of supramolecular and nano-chemistry to manufacture multifunctional nanomaterials and devices.
Professor Paolo Samori虁鈥檚 research strives to address technologically relevant questions with perspectives of applications in everyday life, ultimately contributing to the well-being of citizens and the advent of a true knowledge-based society. This includes the development of wearable, faster and better performing electronics and sensing devices, as well as more efficient energy storage and conversion. He combines chemically programmed low-dimensional nanostructures (including metallic nanoparticles, graphene and related 2D materials) in hybrid multicomponent materials, with each component providing a distinct property, thereby fabricating multifunctional coatings, composites and devices.
Biography
Professor Paolo Samori虁 was born and raised in Italy, before moving to Berlin for his PhD and Post doctorate, and then to Strasbourg, where he has lived since 2007.
He is a distinguished Professor at the University of Strasbourg and Director of the Institut de Science et d鈥橧nge虂nierie Supramole虂culaires and the Nanochemistry Laboratory.
Professor Samori虁鈥檚 research has been centred on supramolecular self-assembly at surfaces and interfaces. His contributions led to the foundation of the transition from supramolecules to suprafunctions and to the development of new multifunctional nanomaterials for organic optoelectronics, sensing and energy applications. In order to attain a full control over the nanostructuration of functional surfaces and interfaces, Professor Samori虁 has made extensive use of scanning probe microscopies beyond imaging in order to unravel the correlation between structure and function with a nanoscale resolution. Such a knowledge was vital towards the optimization of interfaces and active materials for high-performance devices. In particular, by decorating interfaces in multicomponent devices, he pioneered the fabrication of multifunctional optoelectronic devices that can respond to independent stimuli.
Professor Samori虁 is a Fellow of the 番茄社区 of Chemistry (F番茄社区), Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (EURASC), Member of the Academia Europaea and Junior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) and Foreign Member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB).
His work has been awarded various prizes across the world. He is also an Associate Editor of Nanoscale and Nanoscale Advances (番茄社区) and Member of the Advisory Boards of many chemistry journals.
Professor Samori虁 has participated as Coordinator or Principal Investigator in several EU projects and training networks, such as the MSCA-ITN-ETN 鈥淯LTIMATE鈥� and the Graphene Flagship.
I have an endless curiosity for anything that characterises my daily life, in particular any living matter around me.
Professor Paolo Samor矛
Q&A with Professor Paolo Samor矛
What motivates you?
Do something useful to humankind and that no one else has been thinking of.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Innovate, be at the forefront in my field of science, address new scientific questions and think differently!
What is something you are looking forward to?
A better trust of the society towards science as the only route for improving the quality of our lives (more sustainable systems, better medicines and health monitoring, less pollution etc).
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
Be passionate and think big! Keep your eyes fully open when you are doing an experiment to catch any unforeseen behaviour or result.
Why do you think teamwork is important in science?
Successes in science are always the result of a collective effort. Pushing the frontiers of knowledge towards unexplored realms requires the contribution of scientists from different backgrounds who are willing to share knowledge.
Why do you think interdisciplinary research and collaboration is important in science?
Discoveries are always at the crossroads between different disciplines. Interdisciplinary collaborations are a must towards any major innovation in science and technology.