Gaetano Assanto

Gaetano Assanto is a Full Professor in the Department of Engineering at the University of Rome "Roma Tre", where he has been a faculty member since 1992. He teaches Optoelectronics, Integrated Optics, and Nonlinear Optics, and has also delivered courses at Sapienza University of Rome and Tor Vergata University. He holds a PhD from the University of Arizona and has held research positions in Italy and the U.S.

• PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona (1986)
• MSc, Electrical Engineering (with honors), University of Palermo (1981)

His research lies at the intersection of nonlinear photonics and soft matter, with a focus on spatial solitons in nematic liquid crystals—commonly known as nematicons. His work explores nonlocal nonlinearities, beam self-confinement, soliton interactions, and all-optical signal processing using liquid crystals. He has made significant contributions to quasi-phase-matching, harmonic generation, and photonic applications of reorientational nonlinearities. His experimental and theoretical studies have advanced the understanding of light propagation in nonlocal media, including vortex solitons, dark solitons, and beam steering mechanisms.

The trend in his recent publications shows a strong emphasis on the interplay between thermal and reorientational effects in nematicons, direction-dependent and nonreciprocal soliton propagation, and structured beam interactions in soft and plasmonic media. His work increasingly bridges fundamental nonlinear wave physics with practical photonic devices such as optical isolators, switches, and random lasers.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of The Optical Society (OSA)
• Fellow of IEEE Photonics Society
• IEEE Distinguished Lecturer (2009–2011)

He has served on the editorial boards of journals including Optics Letters, IEEE Photonics Journal, Journal of the Optical Society of America B, and Nature Scientific Reports. He actively contributes to international conferences such as CLEO, SPIE, and ICTON as a committee member and invited speaker. He has supervised numerous researchers and students, contributing to the training of the next generation of photonics scientists.

His laboratory work involves the development of photonic devices based on liquid crystals and hybrid materials, including light-guided random lasers, optically induced waveguides, and soliton-based optical routing systems. His earlier work also includes pioneering contributions to Germanium-on-Silicon photodetectors for near-infrared applications.