Francesca Santoro

Francesca Santoro is a Professor jointly appointed at RWTH Aachen University (where she heads the Neuroelectronic Interfaces Lab) and Forschungszentrum Jülich (IBI-3 research group). She specializes in neuroelectronic interfaces, bioelectronics, and tissue engineering, with a focus on treating neurodegenerative diseases using chip-based technologies.

Education:

• PhD in Electrical Engineering & Information Technology, RWTH Aachen/Forschungszentrum Jülich (2014)
• Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, University of Naples Federico II (2010)
• Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering, University of Naples Federico II (2008)

Research: Her work bridges bioelectronics and regenerative medicine, emphasizing neural interface design, neuromorphic devices, and nanotechnology for brain repair. Recent innovations include light-mediated bioelectronics and organic electrochemical neurons that mimic biological systems.

Publications: Her 15 most recent articles (2020–2025) cluster around neurohybrid systems, nanotechnology-driven neural interfaces, and organic neuromorphic devices, reflecting a consistent focus on bioelectronic solutions for neurological disorders.

Awards:

• ERC Starting Grant (2020)
• Falling Walls Science Breakthrough in Engineering (2021)
• MIT Innovator Under 35 Europe/Italy (2018)
• Leopoldina Early Career Award (2022)
• Heart Rhythm Society Fellowship (2016)

Leadership: She founded the Tissue Electronics Lab at the Italian Institute of Technology (2017–2021), co-founded BRYLA, and leads interdisciplinary teams developing next-generation neural interfaces.