Michele Re Fiorentin

Michele Re Fiorentin serves as a Fixed-term Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT) at the Polytechnic University of Turin, where he is affiliated with the Institute of Fundamental Physics and Materials for Nanotechnology. His academic duties encompass teaching advanced courses such as Physics of electrified interfaces at the PhD level and foundational physics courses including Physics II for Engineering Physics students across multiple academic years up to 2025/26.

His research program centers on theoretical and computational materials science, with primary interests in the electronic structure of nanomaterials, electrocatalysis for CO₂ conversion, and the optical properties of 2D materials. Employing ab initio quantum mechanical simulations and machine learning techniques, he investigates phenomena ranging from CO₂ reduction mechanisms on silver electrodes to defect engineering in tungsten disulfide monolayers, contributing to sustainable energy technologies and advanced material design.

Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a pronounced focus on computational discovery of electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide valorization and the manipulation of quantum properties in low-dimensional systems. Key themes include voltage-dependent reaction kinetics, linear dichroism in monolayers, and strain engineering in van der Waals heterostructures, demonstrating an interdisciplinary approach that integrates physics, chemistry, and data science.

Scientific Recognition:

• Learning to Teach (L2T) certification, Polytechnic University of Turin (June 2024)

As a PhD supervisor, Re Fiorentin guides doctoral candidates in the Physics and Materials Science programs, currently mentoring Wei Wang (Materials Science, 39th cycle) and Michele Giovanni Bianchi (Physics, 38th cycle), while having successfully supervised Clara Salvini to completion (Materials Science, 35th cycle). His research is supported by collaborative grants investigating nanomaterials for energy applications and theoretical physics of matter.

Within the Institute of Fundamental Physics and Materials for Nanotechnology, he actively participates in research teams focused on computational materials discovery, collaborating closely with senior scientists like Giancarlo Cicero and Francesca Risplendi on projects spanning electrocatalysis, 2D materials, and semiconductor physics.