Maria Peressi

Maria Peressi is a Full Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Trieste, holding significant leadership roles including Delegato per la Didattica in the Head's Office, and serving as a member of the Department's Board, Departmental team for Quality Assurance, Boards of Studies, and Doctoral Studies Boards for Physics cycles XXIX through XXXIII.

Her primary research focus lies in Theoretical and Computational Condensed-Matter Physics, specifically leading the "Electronic Structure of Materials: Theory and Simulation" research group. Her work involves theoretical modeling and computational approaches to understand and predict properties of low-dimensional systems, liquids, colloids, semiconductors, and semi-metals. Professor Peressi's research demonstrates a strong integration of computational methods with experimental validation through collaborations with the TASC Laboratory of the Istituto Officina dei Materiali (CNR) and the ELETTRA Laboratory.

Analysis of her recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a dual research trajectory: fundamental materials science focused on graphene and 2D materials, single-atom catalysts, and metal-organic frameworks; and physics education research examining teaching methodologies and teacher development. Her materials science work shows particular expertise in electronic structure calculations, surface science, and the physics of metal-organic interfaces, while her educational research contributes significantly to understanding physics pedagogy and teacher improvement metrics.

• National Centre for HPC, Big Data and Quantum Computing (Active)
• finanziamento assegno di ricerca annuale Fondazione Carigo (Active)
• Simultaneous electrical control of spin and valley polarization in van der Waals magnetic materials (SECSY) (Active)
• QUBOP - QUest for BOron Phosphide (Active)
• Assegnazione 2021 a progetto MAECI SERBIA (Completed, where she served as Principal Investigator)

Professor Peressi actively contributes to doctoral education and curriculum development within the Physics Department. Her research group employs advanced computational resources for materials modeling, working at the intersection of theoretical physics, materials science, and computational science. She maintains strong collaborative relationships with experimental groups, enabling the practical application of theoretical predictions and the explanation of complex experimental results through computational modeling.

Her laboratory work focuses on theoretical modeling of materials properties at the atomic and electronic levels, with particular emphasis on surface phenomena, 2D materials, and single-atom systems. This research has implications for catalysis, nanotechnology, and advanced materials design, bridging fundamental science with potential technological applications.