Meet the Finalists of the 2025 ISSNAF Young Investigator Embassy of Italy Award
- chiaragallo7
- 2 days ago
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Established in 2020, this year’s edition recognizes outstanding contributions from Italian researchers in the USA active in the broad field of quantum technologies, recognizing groundbreaking research that advances our understanding and application of materials, algorithms and platforms for quantum computing, sensing and imaging.
We are excited to congratulate the exceptional finalists for this year's edition:
Marco Colangelo
Gabriele Pasquale
Giovanni Scuri
Learn more about the three finalists and their research, which they will present to the jury led by Prof. Andrea Alù (CUNY) and composed by Prof. Alù, Dr. Lami (National Quantum Information Research Center) and Prof. Salleo (Stanford University).
The winner will be revealed at the ISSNAF 2025 Annual Event in Washington D.C. on November 6.
MARCO COLANGELO
Marco Colangelo is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, where he leads the Nano Structures Laboratory. He earned a B.Sc. in Physics Engineering from Politecnico di Torino; an M.Sc. in Nanotechnologies for ICTs from Politecnico di Torino and Grenoble Institute of Technology; and an M.Sc. in Electronic Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. He completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under Prof. Karl K. Berggren. Marco’s research advances superconducting nanowire-based technologies, including single-photon detectors and microwave devices, for applications in quantum computing and communication. His group is developing next-generation high-performance detectors and ultra-compact cryogenic microwave signal processors.
Research Focus
Quantum technologies for computing and communications are rapidly advancing and will be central to next-generation information processing. Regardless of the computing platform, quantum states must be transmitted and read out reliably. As protocol requirements increase, high-performance single-photon detectors, both as standalone devices and integrated on photonic and electronic platforms, are essential.
Prof. Colangelo and his group are advancing superconducting nanowire technology to deliver detectors that meet these demands and remove key bottlenecks to scaling. Their work spans novel material synthesis, innovative nanofabrication, and microwave–optical co-design for efficient, low-noise signal processing. The team is developing next-generation detectors and compact cryogenic processors whose demonstrations match or surpass the state of the art, providing practical building blocks for photonic quantum computing and communication systems.
About Him Marco is committed to the education of young scientists, and his labs host a large cohort of high-school and undergraduate students in both short-term and long-term research projects. He also actively develops research equipment in collaboration with his team.
GABRIELE PASQUALE
Gabriele Pasquale is a Postdoctoral Fellow working with Professor Philip Kim at Harvard University, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation fellowship. His work pioneers new ways of probing and controlling quantum matter with atomically thin materials, combining electronic, optical, and thermoelectric techniques to uncover exotic states of matter and engineer practical quantum functionalities. Among his key contributions, he developed a quantum tunneling method to detect flat electronic bands in quantum materials, which are central to the emergence of correlated and topological phenomena for next-generation quantum technologies. This versatile and reliable approach can be applied broadly to novel quantum materials, providing a powerful tool for both fundamental science and future technologies. Using this platform, he resolved a decade-long challenge in condensed matter physics by achieving the first experimental detection of spin polarization of carriers in a flat-band semiconductor. He also engineered record-setting solid-state cooling devices based on 2D heterostructures, offering scalable solutions to one of the main bottlenecks in quantum technologies: cryogenic thermal management. His research, recognized by international prizes and press coverage, bridges curiosity-driven discovery with real-world applications in quantum sensing, cooling, and computing. Originally from Torino, he embodies the creative spirit of Italian science, advancing bold ideas with global impact.
Research Focus
Gabriele Pasquale’s research develops new experimental platforms to reveal and control quantum matter, with the goal of addressing bottlenecks that limit the scalability of quantum technologies. He focuses on two-dimensional semiconductors and their integration with superconductors, using them both as model systems for discovery and as building blocks for future devices.
He pioneered quantum tunneling methods that provide minimally invasive access to hidden electronic states, achieving the first electrical detection of flat bands in a semiconductor and the first observation of spin polarization in such a regime. Extending this platform, he demonstrated that tunneling can detect the chirality of light in an originally achiral material, introducing a novel optoelectronic interface relevant to quantum sensing and photonics. In parallel, he engineered record-setting thermoelectric devices that achieve solid-state cooling at cryogenic temperatures, offering a compact solution to one of quantum technology’s most pressing challenges: thermal management.
He is now leveraging two-dimensional semiconductors as quantum probes of high-temperature superconductors, aiming to reveal how collective excitations and quantum effects emerge at their interfaces. By uniting quantum-sensitive detection, optoelectronic control, and solid-state cooling, his research defines versatile material platforms that advance both fundamental understanding and the implementation of quantum computing, sensing, and imaging.
About Him
Gabriele Pasquale is an Italian physicist committed to advancing quantum science and technology through materials innovation. His research develops experimental platforms based on two-dimensional semiconductors, and more recently superconductors, to reveal and harness new quantum phenomena for sensing, cooling, and information processing. These efforts have led to breakthroughs recognized with international awards, publications, and invited talks. Beyond research, he values collaboration and mentorship: he has coordinated international projects across Europe and the U.S., supported students in the lab, and engaged in outreach. He strives to contribute both scientifically and culturally, representing Italian excellence in science on the global stage.
GIOVANNI SCURI
Giovanni Scuri is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, working in the group of Professor Jelena Vučković. Giovanni’s research combines nonlinear optics and solid-state qubits with the goal of creating hybrid quantum systems for quantum sensing, networking and simulation. For this work, he was awarded the Bloch Postdoctoral Fellowship in Quantum Science and Engineering from the Stanford-SLAC Quantum Initiative (QFARM).
Giovanni received a B.A. in physics and economics from Columbia University and a PhD in physics from Harvard University. His doctoral work in the group of Professor Hongkun Park spanned the fields of condensed matter physics and quantum optics, with a focus on developing atomically thin semiconductor systems to study new physical phenomena and create ultra-thin optoelectronic devices.
Research Focus
Giovanni’s research focuses on developing novel quantum technologies capable of performing tasks beyond the reach of today’s computers, networks, and sensors. These technologies have the potential to transform fields ranging from medicine and materials science to complex optimization. A key challenge in realizing this potential is building scalable systems that can host controllable and coherent quantum bits (qubits).
To address this, Giovanni develops and fabricates integrated quantum photonic systems –on-chip platforms that use light to manipulate and read out qubits. These devices act as compact versions of bulk optical setups and can be produced using semiconductor fabrication techniques, paving the way for scalable and robust quantum hardware.
His work focuses on creating voltage-controllable photonic devices from novel materials that outperform current state-of-the-art systems. In parallel, he studies color center spin qubits in wide-bandgap semiconductors to probe their quantum properties, optimize control, and identify their most promising applications. Ultimately, Giovanni aims to integrate these solid-state qubits into nanophotonic circuits, enabling fast, compact, and scalable platforms for quantum simulation, networking, and sensing.
About Him
Giovanni was born and raised in Milan, Italy, and after finishing high school he moved to the United States to continue his studies. He earned his bachelor's degree in physics and economics at Columbia University, master’s and PhD in physics at Harvard University, and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. When he’s not doing research, Giovanni enjoys hiking through California’s mountains, traveling to new destinations, and watching Serie A games.