Chiara Canovi

Originally from Reggio Emilia (Italy), Chiara Canovi received both her Bachelor’s degree (2020) and Master’s degree (2023) in Chemistry from the University of Modena (Italy). During her studies, she specialized in the synthesis and characterization of copper-based compounds with tunable steric and electronic properties, investigated for their potential anticancer activity.

Between her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, she completed a research stay at BOKU University in Vienna (Austria), where she gained experience in molecular biology techniques, including protein cloning, expression, purification, and structural characterization under controlled conditions.

In 2023, she further expanded her expertise in organic and coordination chemistry during a four-month research internship at Curtin University in Perth (Western Australia), working on the synthesis of functional materials with optical applications.

Following this experience, she began a PhD in Materials Engineering at the University of Modena, where her research focuses on the development of sustainable technologies. In particular, she is working on innovative materials for the degradation of microplastics and nanoplastics, aiming to provide practical and efficient solutions for industrial wastewater treatment.

She is currently continuing her research at the MSRL, where she is involved in the development of advanced materials with piezo-photocatalytic properties for the efficient degradation of HDPE microplastics.

Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking, photography, and spending time with friends over a good pizza.