Angelo NICOSIA
(Updated July 2026)
Angelo Nicosia is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor (Ricercatore in Tenure Track - RTT) in Industrial Chemistry (CHEM-04/A) at the Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania. His research activities focus on the development of advanced polymer sensors, photocatalytic nanocomposites for environmental remediation (degradation of xenobiotic pollutants in air and water phases), and graphene-derived materials for biomedical and space applications.
He is the author of 42 peer-reviewed international publications (H-index: 13, over 370 citations) and actively participates in national and international research projects.
CURRENT POSITION AND ACADEMIC CAREER
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2026 – Present: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor (RTT) – Academic Field CHEM-04/A, University of Catania.
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2022 – 2026: Fixed-Term Assistant Professor (RTD-A) – Academic Field CHIM/04, University of Catania.
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2021: Postdoctoral / Research Fellow – Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania.
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2019: Visiting PhD Student – Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry Group, TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands).
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
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2021: Ph.D. in Materials Science and Nanotechnology (International Doctor certification), University of Catania.
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2017: National Professional Qualification as a Certified Chemist (Senior Section A).
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2017: M.Sc. in Materials Chemistry (110/110 cum Laude), University of Catania.
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2014: B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry (110/110 cum Laude), University of Catania.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
University Courses (Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees)
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Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry and Laboratory (Module 1 and Module 2) – B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry (L-27), University of Catania (From A.Y. 2021/2022 to present).
Ph.D. Level Teaching
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Methods and Procedures in Polymers Synthesis (Course taught in English, 12-14 hours) – Ph.D. Program in Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Catania (From A.Y. 2023/2024 to present).
Thesis Supervision and Mentorship
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Advisor and Co-advisor of over 15 B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses in Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Sciences.
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Member of over 17 official Graduation Committees and Examination Boards.
INSTITUTIONAL ROLES AND GOVERNANCE
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Board Member of the Interprovincial Order of Chemists and Physicists of Catania and Ragusa (2025–2029).
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Board Member of the Sicilian Section of the Italian Chemical Society - SCI (2025–2027).
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Student Orientation Delegate for the B.Sc. in Sustainable Chemistry for Industry, Environment and Energy (Since 2025).
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Coordinator for the Chemistry Olympiad (Giochi della Chimica, 2025–2027, SCI - Sicilian Section, Catania).
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Member and Secretary of the Quality Assurance Management Group (AQ) and Steering Committee of the Degree Course in Industrial Chemistry.
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Departmental Delegate for Sharper Night – European Researchers' Night (Since 2025).
SCIENTIFIC PROFILE AND EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES
Main Research Lines
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Design and synthesis of polymer sensors for pollutant detection in fluid matrices.
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Thermoplastic and photocatalytic nanocomposites for environmental remediation.
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Polymer-functionalized graphene oxide derivatives for biomedical and sensing applications.
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Polymer materials for extraterrestrial and space environments.
Editorial Activities and Peer Review
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Guest Editor: Special Issue "Nanomaterials for Potential Uses in Extraterrestrial Environments", Nanomaterials (MDPI).
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Reviewer for International Journals: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Dyes and Pigments, RSC Advances, Journal of Liposome Research, e-Polymers.
Awards and Honors
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2025: Best Poster Award – XXIV National Catalysis Congress (GIC 2026), Turin.
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2022: Best Ph.D. Thesis Award in Industrial Chemistry – Italian Chemical Society (SCI).
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2021: National Finalist and Local Winner – FameLab Italy 2021.
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2019: Best Solution Award – EIT-Health / Oxford Biodesign Program (University of Oxford).
THIRD MISSION AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
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Lecturer and speaker for PNRR University Outreach Projects and the Scientific Degrees Plan (PLS - Chemistry).
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Speaker at national and international science communication events (Pint of Science, European Researchers' Night - SHARPER).
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Author of science communication articles for the journal La Chimica e l'Industria.
The scientific research activity is focused on the design, synthesis, and structural and functional characterization of advanced polymeric and nanostructured materials for applications in the environmental, space, and biomedical fields.
The current research line is predominantly aimed at the development of polymeric sensors for the detection of pollutants in fluid matrices. Specifically, within the SAMOTHRACE innovation ecosystem funded by the NRRP (PNRR), the research aims to engineer multi-array systems for the online detection of gaseous pollutant species using optical fiber spectroscopy, also thanks to the design of polymers functionalized with chromophores and porphyrin derivatives suitable for gas-phase sensing.
In the environmental field, activities have involved the development of polymeric nanocomposites suitable for air and water remediation via solar photocatalysis. Through in-situ polymerization approaches, polymer-based materials containing inorganic nanoparticles were obtained, showing enhanced efficiency in the abatement of xenobiotic pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The ability to process these systems into thin films has enabled both the realization of high surface area photoreactors for gas streams and the development of eco-friendly photocatalysts based exclusively on carbon structures. Furthermore, these studies led to the filing of a patent related to a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer coupled with a titanium dioxide and magnetite-based photocatalyst.
Recently, scientific interest has expanded to the study of the behavior and stability of polymeric matrices and functional materials subjected to extraterrestrial environmental conditions, with a view to their employment in future long-term space missions.
Concurrently, research has focused on the biomedical sector through the engineering of multifunctional polymeric and nanostructured nanosystems. These include high-efficiency antibacterial surface agents based on graphene oxide—whose project concept was awarded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Health (EIT Health) at the University of Oxford—as well as nanosystems applicable in theranostics, drug delivery, and cellular differentiation support.