Veronica Vighetto

Veronica Vighetto is a Fixed-term Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT) at the Polytechnic University of Turin. She is a key member of the Interdepartmental Center PolitoBIOMed Lab - Biomedical Engineering Lab, where she conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of nanotechnology, physics, and biomedical applications. Her position falls under the scientific disciplinary sector PHYS-03/A - Experimental Physics of Matter and Applications (Area 0002 - Physical Sciences).

Dr. Vighetto's research program focuses on leveraging nanomaterials, particularly metal oxide nanoparticles, in combination with ultrasound technologies for biomedical applications. Her work spans acoustophoresis, sonodynamic therapy, lab-on-chip technologies, nanomedicine, and theranostic applications. She has established herself as a leading researcher in zinc oxide nanocrystals and their interactions with acoustic waves, developing innovative approaches for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Her expertise is recognized through multiple ERC sector classifications including biomaterials synthesis, engineering of metal oxides, and nanomaterials engineering.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact output across nanomedicine and biomedical engineering journals. Recent work shows a clear trajectory focusing on dual-mode imaging techniques, targeted drug delivery systems activated by ultrasound, and the development of responsive nanoplatforms for precise cancer therapy. Her research has practical applications in treating cervical cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma, and other malignancies through novel nanotechnology-enabled approaches.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Lifebility Award (2025) from Lions Clubs International and Lifebility Association, Italy
• ITWIIN AWARD 2024 - Best Innovator from the Italian Association of Women Innovators and Inventors
• PhD Student Quality Award 2022 from the Polytechnic University of Turin (awarded in 2023)
• RIMINI SCHOOL 2025 certification for successfully participating in research funding calls (May 14, 2025)

Dr. Vighetto actively supervises PhD students, most notably Nicolo' Maria Percivalle in the Chemical Engineering program (38th cycle, 2022-ongoing). She contributes significantly to academic governance as a member of the College of Chemical and Materials Engineering and the College of Electronic, Telecommunications, and Physics Engineering. Her teaching responsibilities include PhD courses on physical methods for characterizing nanostructured materials and undergraduate Physics I for Aerospace Engineering students across multiple academic years (2021/22 through 2025/26).

As a core member of the PolitoBIOMed Lab, she collaborates on interdisciplinary projects developing biomedical engineering solutions with direct clinical translation potential. Her research on nanoparticle-assisted sonoluminescence contrast imaging has resulted in patent applications, demonstrating the practical impact of her work in medical diagnostics, particularly in oncology.