Ashkan Bigham holds M.Sc. in Materials Science & Engineering (Ceramics) from Islamic Azad University of Najafabad, Iran. Currently, he is a Research fellow at Institute of Polymers, Composites, and Biomaterials (IPCB) of National Research Council of Italy (CNR) working on multifunctional organic-inorganic bio-hybrids. His expertise falls into designing and fabrication of various bio-ceramics and bio-composites for biomedical-related applications among which tissue engineering & regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and cancer therapy can be enumerated.

EDUCATION
Postdoc fellowship at Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut Storrs, CT, USA – (research grant CNR-NATO) from march 1998 to February 1999
Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences – Macromolecular Chemical Program, Department of Chemistry – University of Naples “Federico II”. October 1996
Master degree in Chemistry at University of Naples Federico II, a.c.1990-1991.

WORKING POSITIONS AND RESEARCH POSITIONS
Senior Researcher, National Research Council of Italy, January 2021 to present
Researcher with permanent position, CNR, Jan 2008- Dec 2020
Cooperation associate in Collaborative R&D with CERN 2016 – present
Associate Researcher at the Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials, National Research Council – January 2006 – December 2007
Associate Researcher at the Department of Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples “Federico II” Mar 1996 – Dec 2005
Visiting Researcher at the SCA Molnlycke, Sweden in the framework of “A novel class of biodegradable superabsorbent hydrogels for baby diapers applications” agreement between DIMP-UNINA and SCA Molnlycke(1996-2000) – Mar 1997
Visiting research Scientist at the Rowett Research Institute Aberdeen-Scotland July-August 1996
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Scientific advisor for the DSCTM and Scientific Responsible for IPCB-CNR of the ECOSTORE-H2 Project Research line: “innovative technologies for hydrogen storage and transport and its transformation into derivatives and e-fuels” – (PNRR – M2-C2/ Investment 3.5) (2023-present)
Management Committee Member (Action Mc) of COST ACTION: Advanced Composites under HIgh STRAin raTEs loading – HISTRATE – OC-2021-1-25486, (2022 – present)
Responsible of Research Unit and Cooperation associate in Collaborative R&D with CERN on “Relative humidity fiber optic sensors based on long period gratings” (2016-present)
Responsible of Research Unit in the Project: “Enhancement and implementation of the dairy supply chain through operational methods for the production of functional foods with high nutraceutical and health potential ” “Natura Lattea” Regionale MISURA 16 “Cooperation” (2019-present)
Responsible of Research Unit in the self-founded research “Design Of Active Interfaces And Functional Geometry For Reversible (Bio)Sensing Materials” Project Area: Chemistry and Materials Technology 2019 – present
Responsible of Research Unit in EU Project “Extreme— Dynamic Loading – Pushing the Boundaries of Aerospace Composite Material Structures Project number 63654 H2020 (2015-2018)
Responsible of Research Unit in the EU Project “OPTObacteria — Project number 286998 FP7-SME-2011” (2012-2015).
Responsible of Research Unit in Project “Premiale EOS Organic Electronics for Innovative Research Instrumentation” (2015-2016)
Responsible of Research Units in the framework of several national research programmes and in cooperation with industrial partners (e.g. STM, Alenia, P&G, etc). (2011 – 2016)

MAJOR SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANCIES
Member of the Scientific Steering Committee of IPCB-CNR, from 2019 to present
Scientific Responsible of Surface and Nanoengineering Laboratory of IPCB UOS Napoli/Portici
Members of the European Society for Biomaterials from 2009 to present
Expert Evaluator of proposals of national and international Programmes for Research, Technological Development and Innovation
VICE CHAIR of the European Community H2020-FETOPEN Future and Emerging Technologies – Research and Innovation Actions Panel (RIA) (2015-2017)
Member of the Scientific Committee of AIPRAS Onlus – Italian Association for the Promotion of Research on the Environment and Human Health from 2015 to present
Expert Evaluator for the Italian Ministry of Economical Development (MISE) of the Programma Fondo per la Crescita Sostenibile FCS 2015 to present
Expert Evaluator for the Italian Ministry of Research and University of the Program 2013 to present
The scientific activity has been devoted to: Design, synthesis, study of properties and engineering of polymeric systems. – Author of 120 scientific publications, and 10 patents, covering the following topics: Electrically Conductive Polymers, Nanofillers in polymer composite, polymer electrolyte membranes, Bio-Inspired Materials, Superabsorbing hydrogel, (bio)sensig materials, aerogels.

Assunta Borzacchiello is Senior Researcher at the Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB) of the National Research Council (CNR) (2001-present). Her research activity is focused on the field of biomaterials, tissue engineering, controlled drug release, rheology and microreology of complex fluids for biomedical applications. She earned her M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Naples “Federico II”, 110/110 cum laude (1994) and a PhD in Materials Technologies at the same University (1998). She was a Visiting Scientist at the IRC at Queen Mary and Westfield College (London, 1996) and at the Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, USA (1997). She was Professor of Biomaterials at the University of Naples “Federico II” from 2002 to 2011. She was Visiting Professor at McGill University, Canada, (2018-2019). Dr. Borzacchiello has numerous international collaborations with leading research institutes, universities and leading industries in the biomedical sector. She is the author of more than 90 peer-reviewed articles, 16 book chapters and editor of the “Encyclpedia of composite” published by Wiley. She has an H-index of 33 and 2898 citations (Scopus). She has been scientific manager of 16 projects, some of which are in progress are listed below: MIUR-PON ARS01_01081 “INMBIOMED Innovative products with high bio-technological content for the medical sector”, POR Campania B43D18000240007 “ADViSE Antitumor drugs and vaccines from the sea”, MUR -FISR 2019-04798 Solid state refrigeration: a solution for an eco-compatible investment SUSSTAINEBLE, MISE-Altergon Development contract CDS000463, Research project under the cooperation agreement Fondazione Betania-IPCB-CNR 0000449/2020. In addition, she was responsible for projects financed by the Italian and Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the project entitled: “Novel plant silk/multiple nano-metals hydrogels with bactericidal and anticancer applications”, as part of bilateral projects of Great Relevance included in the Executive Protocol of Scientific and Technological Cooperation Italy-Egypt. And of the project entitled “Innovative composite and injectable hydrogels for the engineering of cartilage tissue”, as part of the bilateral Protocol of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Italy and Quebec, relating to a joint research between IPCB/CNR and McGill University funded by Italian and Quebec Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Borzacchiello supervised 10 post Doc, 9 PhD, 2 Marie Curie PhD fellows (Scientific Project Manager for IPCB: “INnovative Life science Phd Program in South Italy-INCIPIT” project CONFUND, co-funded by HORIZON 2020/Marie Sklodowska) and more than 50 undergraduate and bachelor’s degree students. she organized 6 international conferences.

Dr. Giovanna G. Buonocore graduated in Chemical Engineering (1998) and received the Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering (2003) at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy). Since 2021 she is Senior Researcher at Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB) – National Research Council, Naples (Italy), from 2008 to 2020 she has been Research at the same Institute and from 2004 to 2008 she has been researcher (temporary position) at the Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials.

Her research activity is devoted to the study, development, characterization and modelling of innovative polymeric materials used in various application fields such as packaging, transport, cultural heritage and energy. In particular:

1. i) New active polymeric films and coatings exhibiting antimicrobial and antibacterial properties for food packaging and health applications
2. ii) Innovative polymeric materials obtained by embedding functionalized micro and nanoparticles (i.e. graphenes, clay, silica) in order to impart tailored (multi)functionalities such as high barrier properties, control of water sorption, control and triggering of the active compound release

iii) The study of mass transport properties in polymers and nanocomposites has been focused on the determination of sorption kinetics and isotherm of low molecular weight compounds such as water and oxygen.

Giovanna Buonocore has been the Principal Investigator of several national and international projects on the development of advanced multifunctional polymeric materials. She is author and co-author of 96 scientific contributions (full papers, communication, review) in international peer-reviewed journals, 3 book chapter and 4 patents. Her works received more than 3.300 citations and her activity is ranked with an H index of 33 (Scopus Database source). She has presented her scientific results in more than 70 national and international congresses and she has been Invited speaker in more than 20 events. She is member or several national and international commission and working group on active polymeric materials for packaging and healthcare applciations.  Since 2008 she is member of the directive board of the Italian Scientific Group on Food packaging of which she has been  vice-president from 2012 to 2015.