Nicola Pugno

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Nicola Maria Pugno
Born	January 4, 1972 (1972-01-04) (age 39) Pavia, Italy
Residence	Turin, Italy
Citizenship	Italy
Fields	Bio-inspired Nanomechanics
Institutions	Politecnico di Torino
Alma mater	Politecnico di Torino

Nicola Maria Pugno (born January 4, 1972 in Pavia, Italy) is an Italian scientist working in the area of bio-inspired nanomechanics. He is currently a Professor of Solid and Structural Mechanics at the Politecnico di Torino in Turin, Italy, where in addition he is the founder and head of the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Nanomechanics “Giuseppe Maria Pugno” and leader of the Bio-inspired Nanomechanics Research Group (BIONANOMECH Group).^[1]

After completing a Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1995, Prof. Pugno went on to pursue his Ph.D. in Solid and Structural Mechanics, which he received in 1998, and a second Degree in Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, completed in 2004 and is currently following a Ph.D. in Biology. Beyond Turin, Prof. Pugno has spent a significant amount of time as a visiting scholar or professor in foreign institutions, including Northwestern University, the Max Planck Institute, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Florida State University, Brown University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Cambridge University.

His recent research has focused on nanoelectromechanical systems, ultra-strong nanotube bundles (e.g. space elevator cables), graphene nanoscrolls and on bio-inspired nanomechanics, for example the study of the gecko adhesion and of the related super-adhesive materials or of the super-hydrophobicity of the lotus leaf and of the related self-cleaning materials, the super-toughness of the spider silk, etc.

In addition to his professorship, Prof. Pugno is an Adjunct Scientist at the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), and the Italian National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM), and is a Vice-President and the Country Director for Italy for the European Spaceward Association (EuroSpaceward). He is on the editorial board of more than 15 International Journals and is a scientific collaborator for the Italian newspapers La Stampa and Il Sole 24 Ore.

Awards and Publications

Prof. Pugno has received several awards, including the Menzione Optime in 1995, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering in 2003, Leading Scientists of the World in 2005, and Who’s Who in Computational Science and Engineering in 2005. In 2011 he has received for his scientific excellence the StG Ideas Award of 1 milion of euros from the European Research Council.

Prof. Pugno has had more than 160 papers published in international journals on the topics of structural-, fracture-, bio-, and especially nano-mechanics. His prodigious publication level was recognized by Sir Harry Kroto, a father of nanoscience and one of three recipients to share the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerene.^[2]

References

1. ^ Laboratory of Bio-inspired Nanomechanics "Giuseppe Maria Pugno"
2. ^ Nicola M. Pugno Short Curriculum Vitae

Persondata
Name	Pugno, Nicola
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1972-01-04
Place of birth	Pavia, Italy
Date of death
Place of death