Research activities in Molecular Biophysics in the IIT-SNS perfezionamento (PhD) program

The research activities take place within the NEST Centre at the Scuola Normale Superiore, the research groups of the Italian Institute of Technology Foundation and the nanobiotechnology research groups connected to it.

The research fields have been identified jointly by the IIT Foundation and the Scuola Normale Superiore with the idea of training young researchers in the technical/scientific areas of the Nanobiotechnology platform of the IIT (further details about the areas listed below can be found on the IIT web site: www.iit.it).

Advanced characterization tools and imaging

1. Monitoring and modeling single molecule and single-bioevents in living cells
2. Design and realization of active nanoprobes as fluorescent or magnetic intracellular reporters
3. New high-resolution fluorescence or magnetic in-vitro and in-vivo imaging strategies (two-photon, correlation spectroscopy, superparamagnetic compounds)
4. Scanning probe microscopy characterization

Intelligent drug delivery

5. Molecular motifs for targeted intracellular delivery of drugs and nanorobots
6. Modeling, design and realization of active nanoprobes as intracellular nanorobots

LAB-on-a-chip technologies

7. Development of portable micro-/nano-fluidic systems for ultra-high sensitivity diagnostics.
8. New strategies for biomolecule immobilization with high-spatial resolution onto biocompatible surfaces.
9. Nanotechnologies for guided cell culture and differentiation under highly controlled conditions.


Teaching activities in molecular biophysics

The teaching activity is organized in courses and seminars held by professors of the Scuola Normale and invited scholars. First year Molecular Biophysics graduate students, in accordance with the Faculty Council, will choose and attend three annual courses among those being taught at the Scuola Normale Superiore, in partnership with other Universities as well, in the University of Pisa’s doctoral programs or at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. These courses have the aim of both broadening the basic knowledge of the graduate student and preparing the student to work on her/his specific research project.