Laura Fumagalli

Laura Fumagalli is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Manchester's Department of Physics & Astronomy and a staff researcher at the National Graphene Institute. She holds a M.Sc. in Electronic Engineering (2002) from the Polytechnic University of Milan and École Supérieure d'Electricité, and a PhD in Physics (2006) from the Polytechnic University of Milan. Her research focuses on dielectric properties of nanoscale systems, including confined water, biomolecules, 2D materials, and the development of scanning dielectric microscopy (SDM). Key achievements include an ERC Consolidator Grant (2018) for the Liquid2DM project and a Royal Microscopical Society Medal (2021).

Current research positions include leadership in the ERC-funded Liquid2DM project and supervision of postdoctoral researchers like Dr. Simone Benaglia. Ongoing funding includes the UKRI-MSCA fellowship (2023-2024) and Royal Society instrumentation grants. Past positions include lecturer roles at the University of Barcelona, where she earned prestigious fellowships (Juan de la Cierva, 2009; Ramon y Cajal, 2014).

Teaching responsibilities include leading the Frontiers of Solid-State Physics course and tutoring foundational physics modules. Her lab (Schuster Building Lab 1.09 and NGI) hosts a dynamic team of PhD students and postdocs investigating confined liquids, biomolecules, and 2D heterostructures. Notable students include M. Souilamas (2020-2024) and H. Read (2019-2023), whose theses focused on confined water and biological surfaces.

Publications span topics like interfacial water dynamics, lipid membrane structures, and ferroelectricity in 2D materials. Her work bridges materials science and biophysics, addressing fundamental questions in nanoscale dielectric behavior with applications in both fields.