Special Interview -Episode1012

Mr Adalberto Camisasca, a Ph.D student of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Italy, visited the Bio-Nano Electronics Research Centre, Toyo University for 3 months for a collaborative research project.

Please introduce yourself and your university.

My name is Adalberto Camisasca and I’m a second year doctoral student in the group headed by Professor Silvia Giordani at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa. Before moving to Genoa, I studied chemical engineering and nanotechnology engineering at Sapienza University of Rome.

IIT is the most famous research centre in Italy and one of the most important in the world. IIT has been ranked by the journal Nature among the 100 research institutes and universities in the world that in the period 2012-2015 have published scientific articles in high impact journals. The network currently consists of 11 laboratories throughout Italy at some of the most important Italian universities (Trento, Milan, Turin, Pisa, Naples, Rome, Lecce and Ferrara) and 2 outstation in the USA in collaboration with MIT and Harvard.

What is your recent research topic?

My research is focused on the development of novel bio-imaging and drug delivery systems based on carbon nano-onions (CNOs). My work includes the synthesis and the functionalization of this carbon nano-material to create novel imaging probes and diagnostic tools that can be used for biomedical imaging, cancer diagnostics and therapy.

What is your motivation to do research?

During my master degree I studied Nanotechnology and immediately I developed a passion for research. Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the world as we know it and to be a part of it is very exciting. As a researcher, every day is a new challenge and the possibility to better understand and to provide a solution to different problems is the main motivation to do research.

Please tell us about your life in Italy.

I was born and lived in Rome, which is a beautiful city full of history, and last year I moved to Genoa, a fascinating city in the norther part of Italy, for my PhD at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT). In Genoa I spend my time working in the laboratory and staying with my friends and colleagues.

Please give a message to Toyo University students considering doing research abroad.

I strongly recommend doing research abroad! It is a great experience. You have the possibility to know international researcher, exchanging ideas and scientific knowledge, which is a very important part of your growth as a researcher but in the same time you can know new cultures.