Welcome Silvia ! – Monalisa

Silvia Spagnoli will be joining the University of Bologna in November 2025 as a Doctoral Candidate.

In the framework of the MonaLisa project, Silvia will spend 3 years working on “Polymeric Materials for Non-Equilibrium Photo- and Electro- Mechanical Actuation”, while participating in many trainings and network events.

Read the following introduction to get to know her:

Tell us more about your background!

I was born in Parma, Italy, 26 years ago. There, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Parma, graduating with honors in 2021 with a thesis focused on the synthesis and characterization of copper and nickel coordination complexes as potential antitumoral agents. For my Master’s studies, I moved to Bologna to pursue the Photochemistry and Molecular Materials program at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna. I graduated with honors in 2023 with a thesis on a light-triggered molecular machine integrated into a polymeric system. This work was based on the research I conducted during a five-month stay in the SAMS laboratory of Prof. N. Giuseppone in Strasbourg, France. Later that year, I joined the University of Bordeaux, France, where I worked on photoactivable self-assembled soft materials within the MSCA project MultiSMART. Outside of research, I enjoy playing tennis, playing the guitar, and traveling.

Why do you want to be part of MonaLisa?

I am keen to return to research and contribute to the field of molecular machines, which I find both fascinating and full of potential for next-generation applications. In particular, I am interested in their integration into polymeric materials and their photo- and electro-actuation. I believe working within the MonaLisa project will be an extremely stimulating experience, offering me the opportunity to learn and grow in a high-level research environment. I am especially looking forward to collaborating with both academic and industrial experts in the field and to contributing to a project with such a strong international and multicultural character.

What are your expectations of living and working in Bologna?

Bologna has been home during my Master’s studies, I therefore look forward to living again in such a welcoming andnwarm city.

What do you think will be your main challenge for you in the next three years?

During a 3-years project, never loosing motivation and staying patient could be the biggest challenges I could face. Nevertheless, with careful time management, and perseverance, they can be great opportunities to learn and improve.