Elisa Molinari

Elisa Molinari is Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Associate Scientist at CNR-Nano (Modena) since 2001. She currently directs MaX – Materials design at the exascale, the European Centre of Excellence for high-performance simulation of matter headquartered at CNR-Nano. Her distinguished career spans over 30 years with prior research positions at CNR Rome and Max-Planck Institutes in Stuttgart and Grenoble.

Professor Molinari's research centers on computational simulation of nano(bio)systems and their spectroscopies, with particular expertise in quantum phenomena including charge separation in light-harvesting systems, exciton dynamics in conjugated polymers and graphene nanoribbons, and plasmonic excitations in nanostructures. She employs advanced high-performance computing methods to model complex quantum processes, bridging condensed matter physics, nanoscience, and materials engineering through close collaboration with experimental groups.

Her publication record features over 200 papers with an h-index of 49, including multiple high-impact studies in Nature Communications, Science, and ACS journals. Analysis of her recent work reveals consistent focus on excitonic effects in low-dimensional materials, quantum coherence in energy transfer processes, and computational modeling of spectroscopic responses – demonstrating sustained leadership in computational nanoscience methodology development.

While specific awards are not detailed in available materials, Professor Molinari's research impact is evidenced by her extensive publication metrics and leadership roles. She has coordinated numerous European and national projects involving joint computational-experimental approaches, and currently supervises Early Stage Researchers through MaX Work Package 4 on Training. Her group benefits from strong institutional support through CNR-Nano's interdisciplinary research environment focused on nanoscale theory, modeling, and computation.

As Director of MaX, Professor Molinari leads a major European initiative advancing exascale computing for materials science, fostering collaboration across multiple institutions. Her research group operates within CNR-Nano's vibrant ecosystem that emphasizes cutting-edge experimental-computational integration, providing students and researchers with access to advanced training and resources in nanoscience.