CURRICULUM

Luigi Falciola graduated cum laude in Chemistry in 1998 at the University of Milano. In 1999 he obtained the qualification to the profession of chemist and after a collaboration with Professor Cavallotti at the Polytechnic of Milano on topics concerning the electrodeposition of noble metals, he obtained in 2002 the Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences (XV cycle), in the laboratories of Professor Torquato Mussini, on topics concerning the thermodynamic, transport and solvation properties of electrolytes in mixed water-organic solvents, studied both with electrochemical and electroanalytical techniques, and with spectroscopic methods (EXAFS). This study included both fundamental and interpretative aspects (in particular in the field of thermodynamic studies and transport in solution), as well as application aspects, especially in the field of electroanalysis. As part of the EXAFS studies, he carried out a first internship at the synchrotron in Daresbury (UK) under the direction of Professor Walkiria Schlindwein (University of Leiscester) and a second internship at the GILDA line of the synchrotron in Grenoble (ESRF - France), where he acquired the knowledge necessary for the collection, processing and interpretation of the EXAFS and XANES spectra.

From November 2002 to August 2006 he was a Research Fellow at the laboratories where he received his doctorate, continuing his studies in the field of electrochemical thermodynamics and related electroanalytical applications (pH-metric and rH- metric standardization) and expanding the research interests in the field of organic electrocatalysis, in particular on silver electrodes for the study of the mechanism of electronic transfer in catalytic reactions of organic halides (in collaboration with Prof. Patrizia Mussini and the Group of Prof. Gennaro of the University of Padua). From 1 September 2006 to 28 February 2015 he was Researcher in Analytical Chemistry of the University of Milano at the Department of Chemistry. In 2012 he obtained the national scientific qualification to perform the functions of second level professor in the scientific disciplinary sectors CHIM / 01 (Analytical Chemistry) and CHIM / 02 (Physical Chemistry).

From 1 March 2015 he is Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Milano in the Department of Chemistry. In this context, in addition to continuing the electrochemical and thermodynamic studies, he began to take interest in the physico-chemical and electroanalytical characterization of innovative organic and inorganic materials.
In April 2017 he obtained the national scientific qualification to perform the functions of Full Professor in the scientific disciplinary sector CHIM/01 (Analytical Chemistry).

Currently, the research group he directs is interested in the development, characterization and application of chemical analysis methods that mainly use electrochemical techniques, with the aim of developing new electroanalytical methods and new electrode materials (screen-printed electrodes and electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal nanoparticles or titania based composite materials) to be used in the fields of sensors, environmental analysis and quality control. In particular, in the field of sensors and environmental monitoring, the group is dealing with the detection of organic and inorganic pollutants (in particular trace emerging contaminants), with the aid of analytical, electroanalytical and electrochemical techniques. Considering the strong interdisciplinary nature of research themes and skills acquired in the analytical and physico-chemical characterization of materials, the group collaborates with other Research Groups both within and outside the Department of Chemistry of the University of Milano, in order to solve, with the aid of electrochemical techniques, analytical problems of various kinds.

The entire scientific course and the results obtained are documented in the 87 scientific publications in international indexed journals (H-index: 18, citations: 1215), the 2 technical manuals and 2 scientific reports for the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), as well as from over 100 Communications (also INVITED and KEYNOTE) to National and International Congresses.

Teaching activity
Prof. Falciola has lectured in several Courses for the Degree in Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry and Applied and Environmental Chemistry of the University of Milano, as well as in seminars for PhD Courses in Chemical Sciences and Chemical and Industrial Technologies .

In particular, he was a lecturer of the following courses at the University of Milano:
- Electroanalytical Chemistry with Laboratory (6 CFU, from the Academic Year 2006-2007 to the Academic Year 2010-2011, 5 years) for the Three-year Degree Course in Applied and Environmental Chemistry
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry I (6 CFU, A.A. 2008-2009, 1 year) for the Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry
- Analytical Technique Laboratory (3 CFU, from the 2009-2010 academic year, 4 years) for the Three-year Degree Course in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology
- Sensors for Environmental Monitoring (3 ECTS, from the academic year 2011-2012, 4 years) for the Master's Degree Program in Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Currently he teaches the following courses at the University of Milano:
- Advanced Electroanalytical Chemistry (3 CFU, from the academic year 2011-2012, 7 years) for the Master's Degree Program in Chemical Sciences
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry I (6 CFU, from the academic year 2013-2014, 5 years) for the Three-year Degree Courses in Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry

He collaborated with the organization and gave regular assistance to numerous educational laboratories (also of new institution) carried out at the Department of Chemistry [Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry I, Laboratory of Electrochemistry, Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry I and II, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Dispersed Systems and Interfaces (for the Master in "Chemistry of Composite Materials and Industrial Formulations")].

He is a supervisor of 2 Doctoral Theses, 64 Bachelor Theses and 41 Master's Theses.
In collaboration with the teachers of the Primary and Secondary Schools, he organized and held scientific seminars and guidance for different classes, on the following topics: "Energy and sustainable development", with construction and practical demonstration of the functioning of a fuel cell and Grätzel photovoltaic cells; "Water analysis: hardness", with practical demonstration guided in the laboratory; "pH: what it is and how it is measured", with practical demonstration guided in the laboratory.

Furthermore, for the Italian Chemical Society:
- he was a lecturer-trainer in the Chemical-Analytical field for high school students who participated in the 2011 Chemistry Olympics (Turkey), 2012 (USA), 2013 (Russia), 2014 (Vietnam);
- as part of the "Diversa ... mente Chimica" initiative, he organized some interactive workshops for mentally disabled people to discover Chemistry.

Institutional activities
He was part of the Board and the Teaching Commission of the Department of Chemistry of the University of Milano.
He is part of several Organizational Commissions within the Department of Chemistry: Teaching Evaluation, Educational Workshops, Website, Entrance Test for Students.

Associations and other activities
Since 2000 he has been a member of the Italian Chemical Society (Divisions of Analytical and Electrochemical Chemistry) and of the Interdivisional Sensors Group.
For the three-year periods 2011-2013 and 2014-2016 he was an elected member of the Board of the Electrochemical Division of the Italian Chemical Society with the task of Secretary/Treasurer and curator of the website.
For the three-year periods 2013-2015 and 2016-2018 he is an elected member of the Board of the Sensors Group of the Italian Chemical Society and editor of the website of this Group.
Since 2003 he has been a member of the ISE (International Society of Electrochemistry) and since 2017 he has been a member of the Publication Committee of the Society.
Since 2013 he is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) and since 2015 he is Treasurer of the Italian International Section.
He is member of the National Interuniversity Consortium for Materials Science and Technology (INSTM) with which he collaborates for research commissions.
He is Referee (103 referrals since 2005) of international scientific journals.

Technology transfer
Considering the strong interdisciplinary nature and the great applicative potentiality of the skills acquired in the field of analytical and electroanalytical techniques and of physico-chemical characterization of materials, Prof. Falciola's group has under way several collaborations and/or contracts with different industrial companies and research laboratories.