People

Prof. Stefano Carretta
Full Professor
0521 905215
Biography
Prof. Paolo Santini
Full Professor
0521 905211
Biography
Prof. Giuseppe Allodi
Associate Professor
0521 906311
Biography
Prof. Alessandro Chiesa
Assistant Professor (RTD)
0521 905214
Research interests
- Theoretical modeling of Molecular Nanomagnets to investigate fundamental quantum phenomena (also from first principles)
- Development of schemes for Quantum Information Processing (Quantum Simulation, Quantum Error Correction, Quantum Computation) with Molecular Spin Qudits and other physical systems (e.g. photons)
- Understanding coherence and relaxation in Molecular Spin systems
- Theoretical modeling and understanding of the CISS effect
- Exploiting CISS for quantum technologies, e.g. for high-T initialization and readout of individual spins
- Characterization of Molecular Spins with experimental techniques, in particular magnetic resonances (EPR, NMR, time resolved EPR on radical pairs) and inelastic neutron scattering
Biography
I studied at the University of Parma, where I got the Master Degree in Physics (2012) and PhD in Physics (2016). In 2017 I was Visiting Scientist at Jülich Forschungszentrum (Germany), with Angelo Della Riccia fellowship. I worked as post-DOC in the Molecolar Magnetism group at the University of Parma and from 2020 I am Research Associate at the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences.
I teach Quantum Computing at the Master Degree in Computer Sciences and Condensed Matter Physics at the Master Degree in Physics.
Prof. Elena Garlatti
Assistant Professor (RTD)
0521 905209
Biography
Prof. Francesco Albarelli
Research interests
• Theoretical quantum metrology and sensing. My main interests in this area include fundamental precision bounds in the presence of noise, multiparameter metrology and incompatibility in metrological protocols, quantum spectroscopy of single emitters from an estimation-theoretic perspective, and Bayesian parameter estimation.
• Continuously monitored quantum systems described by stochastic master equations, also known as quantum trajectories or unravellings of Markovian master equations, especially in applications to quantum sensing.
• Quantum information processing with continuous-variable quantum systems, in both the Gaussian and non-Gaussian regimes, including the quantification and characterization of non-classical states.
• Quantum thermodynamics in the nonperturbative regime, beyond the standard treatment based on Markovian master equations.
Biography
I studied at the University of Bologna and obtained my PhD from the University of Milan in 2018, under the supervision of Prof. Matteo G. A. Paris. I subsequently held postdoctoral positions at the University of Warwick (United Kingdom), the University of Warsaw (Poland), and the University of Milan. From 2023 to 2025, I was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellow at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, where I worked on a project titled "Quantum Estimation and Control for Advanced Noisy Metrology". I joined the University of Parma in 2025.
Prof. Ifeanyi John Onourah
Research Associate (RTD)
0521 905274
Biography
Research Interests
- theoretical models and ab-initio approaches for chirality-induced spin selectivity
- excited state dynamics in molecular systems
- modelling photophysical phenomena in condensed phase (thermally activated delayed fluorescence, symmetry breaking, singlet fission)
Biography
I obtained my PhD in Chemical Sciences at the University of Parma in 2023, developing theoretical models and computational approaches for the photophysics of organic molecules in condensed media. I worked as a PostDoc with prof. Anna Painelli in the Chemistry Department at the University of Parma. Since 2025, I joined the Molecular magnetism group at the University of Parma as a Research Associate.
Dr. Luca Lepori
Research interests (not meaningful order)
• quantum simulations on cold atoms/condensed matter devices, with application both to condensed matter physics (unconventional superconductivity/superfluidity, topological phases of matter) and to high-energy physics (relativistic systems and QFT models, gauge fields dynamics included).
• methods and ideas from quantum computation applied to condensed matter physics and to quantum simulation on condensed matter devices. Entanglement (entanglement entropy, entanglement spectrum, multipartite entanglement) and its role in the study of phase transitions, unconventional phases of matter, and quantum simulation.
• physics of (multi-)Weyl and Dirac semimetals, topological and anomalous superfluid properties.
• low-dimensional physics, low dimensional field theories, integrable models, with applications to the study of quantum spin chains and generally of condensed matter systems.
• long-range interacting 1D and 2D quantum systems: effects from nonlocality, appearance of new phases, universality classes and topologies, breakdown of conformal symmetry, new entanglement properties.
• quantum control, simulation, sensing, and (fault-tolerant) information by q-dits, possibly exploiting molecular nanomagnets. Error correction issues.
Biography
I graduated in theoretical physics at Università di Pisa and I obtained my PhD in statistical physics at the Institute for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste. As a post-doc researcher, I worked at Universat Autonoma de Barcelona, Université de Strasbourg, Università di Padova, Università dell’Aquila, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Unical, QSTAR (Quantum Science and Technology in Arcetri, Firenze). In 2023, I moved to Università di Parma, joining the spin-based quantum science group.
Dr. Simone Chicco
Post DOC Researcher
0521 905281
Research interests
- Experimental characterization of Molecular spins with magnetic resonances (NMR, EPR)
- Radiofrequency to Microwave manipulation of prototypical Molecular qudit for implementing quantum simulation and quantum computation algorithms
- Inelastic Neutron and X-rays scattering for studying magnetic and phonon excitation in molecular magnets
Biography
I studied at the University of Parma, where I graduated in Physics in 2019 with a Master Degree thesis dedicated to the Magneto-structural characterization of Heusler alloys, and performed at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (Didcot, Oxford, UK). In 2022 I received my PhD at the University of Parma with a thesis entitled “Coherent and incoherent dynamics of molecular nanomagnets investigated by magnetic resonances and inelastic neutron and x-ray scattering”. I am currently working as a post-DOC in molecular Magnetism group at the University of Parma.
Research Interests
My research interests lie at the crossing point between quantum information and condensed matter physics.
Biography
I graduated in Nanotechnology engineering at the Sapienza University of Rome with a Master thesis on the application of the density functional theory to the study of the superconductive properties of the chromium hydrides. Then I received my PhD in mathematics and models at University of L'Aquila with a thesis entitled "Exploiting symmetries to improve variational quantum algorithms".
Currently, I work as a post-doc researcher at the University of Parma, developing theoretical models that describe the decoherence incurred by spin qudits embedded in spin baths, within the NQSTI project.
Biography
I graduated in Physics in 2018 at the University of Zaragoza, in Spain. The following year I obtained a master’s degree in Molecular Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from the University of Valencia. I did my PhD back at the University of Zaragoza, with a thesis entitled Pump-probe experiments on superconducting resonators coupled to molecular spins. I joined the SqS group at the University of Parma in December 2024 to perform experiments on molecular spin qudits.
Biography
I studied Physics at the University of Parma, where I received both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, specializing in Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. My master’s thesis work was carried out at Politecnico di Milano, in the Ultrafast Spectroscopy Group. My activity focused on the study of the ultrafast optical response of 2D materials and their strong interaction with light when confined inside optical microcavities.
In January 2023, I became a member of the Spin-based Quantum Science Group in Parma as a PhD student within the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute (NQSTI). My research project is supervised by Prof. Paolo Santini and Prof. Elena Garlatti.
Currently, I am working on the development of theoretical models to understand the decoherence process occurring in molecular spin qudits interacting with their surrounding environment.
Biography
I graduated from the University of Pavia, where I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees, specializing in Physics of Quantum Technologies. My thesis, titled "Qudit noise deconvolution," focuses on noise mitigation in qudits.
I currently work on quantum technologies (quantum sensing, quantum information processing) based on molecular spin qudits within NQSTI project.
Biography
I studied at the University of Parma where I received my master's degree in theoretical physics with a thesis titled "Holography and Digital Quantum Simulations". During my studies I delved into quantum field theory, differential geometry, physics of complex systems and quantum computing. Now in my Ph.D. I am working on the development of theoretical models for the study of the CISS effect within the CASTLE project and for possible applications in the world of quantum computing.
Biography
I have a background in Condensed Matter Physics, holding a degree from the University of Parma. Currently, my research is centered around first-principles calculations to unravel the electronic structures of organic compounds. This work contributes to the characterization of chiral molecules, a key aspect within the CASTLE project.
Biography
I studied at the University of Parma, where I received my bachelor's and my master's degree in physics. In my master thesis I worked on “Coherent control of molecular qudits with unconventional NMR techniques and implementation of quantum algorithms”, focusing on the practical implementation of a 3-level Quantum Fourier Transform algorithm.
Currently, I am working on experimental characterization and control of molecular qudits for quantum algorithms by NMR.
Dott. Rocco Bellusci
Biography
I have a background in Condensed Matter Physics and Quantum Technologies, with Master Degree at the University of Parma on schemes for Quantum Simulation with molecular spin qudits. My research is now focused on models for Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity in Electron Transfer and on its exploitation for Quantum Applications. I work within the CASTLE project.
Former Members
- Prof. Roberto De Renzi
- Prof. Emilio Macaluso
- Dr. Luca Crippa
- Dr. Mario Chizzini
- Dr. Matteo Mezzadri



stefano.carretta@unipr.it