CARBONERA DONATELLA

Affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova
Current Position: Full Professor of Physical Chemistry (CHIM/02) since 2017

Education and academic career:
1987 Degree in Chemistry, summa cum laude, University of Padova, Italy
1988 Scholarship from CNR (Centre for the Study of the physiology of mitochondria, Padova)
1989 Scholarship from CNR (Centre for the Study of radicals and Excited States, CSSRE, Padova
1989-1992 PhD in Chemistry
3/1991-1/1992 Research Fellow at the "Department of Biophysics", University of Leiden, Nederlands,
7/1992-8/1992 Short-term fellowship at the" Physikalishes Institut, Universität Stuttgart, Germany”
1993-2000 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Padova
1998 Visiting Scientist, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory - Tallahassee, Florida
2009 Visiting Scientist, Short Term Scientific Mission from European project COST-P15 at the "Max-Planck-Institut fuer Chemie Bioanorganische, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
2000-2017 Associate Professor of Biochemistry (BIO/10), Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova
2014 National Scientific Qualification for Full Professorship in Biochemistry (05/E1) and in Physical Chemistry (03/A2)

Awards:
2003: Cannizzaro Award for Physical Chemistry from " Accademia dei Lincei”

Professional memberships and Correlated Activity:
President of GIRSE (Italian Group of Electron Magnetic Resonance (2015-2019).
Vice-President of the EF-EPR (European Federation of EPR groups (2016-2019)
Member of the Executive Board of the “Interdepartmental Centre Giorgio Levi Cases for Energy Economics and Technology”, Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131
Member of the Technical-Scientific Committee (CTS) of the “University library System” in Padua (2015-2018)
Member of the International EPR (ESR) Society (IES)
Member of the Italian “Divisione di Chimica Fisica”
Member of Italian Society for Pure and Applied Biophysics (SIBPA) Society
Member of the Committee “Collegio dei docenti” of the PhD School in Molecular Sciences, University of Padova

Publications:
Co-author of 123 peer-reviewed papers. Author of two book chapters
WoS Bibliometric Profile Total citation: 2414; h-index: 29

Editorship
Editor of Applied Magnetic Resonance (Springer)
Associate Editor of Scientific Reports (Nature group)
Invited Editor of a Special Issue of Applied Magnetic Resonance 2015
Referee Activity
Referee for many peer review International Journals (Nature, JPC, JPC B, PCCP, JACS, BBA-Bioenergetics, Phots. Res, Inorg. Chem., Biophys. J, PLOS One)
Reviewer Activity
Reviewer for many Research Projects (for ERC, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (USA), (NWO) Nederlands and FWO (Fiandre), (CEA) France national agencies, FONDECYT Program (Chile))
Main research topics.
The research interests have included, since the beginning of activity, the "Biophysics of Photosynthesis", as co-founder of this research topic at the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Padova. The main interest and expertise is on the application of advanced electron spin resonance (FT-EPR, pulse-ENDOR, time-resolved EPR, DEER, ODMR) techniques to the study of the processes of energy and electron transfer, in natural and artificial systems. In particular, the development and application of the non-conventional "Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance" (ODMR) technique, which in Italy is present only in Padova, resulted in numerous publications, an invited review ("Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) of photoexcited triplet states" Photosynth Res (2009 ) 102, 403) and in International Schools of Advanced Methods of Electron Spin Resonance (European Federation of EPR Groups Summer School 12-19 September 1999 Caorle, Venice Italy; EURO-Summer School, 1-7 December, 2002, Retie, Belgium).
ODMR and advanced EPR techniques have been dedicated to the study of triplet states in Photosynthesis, a topic related to the photo-inhibition and to the function played by carotenoids in the mechanisms of photo-protection. Collaboration with international laboratories on bio-mimetic systems were also established. In the last years, from the participation to the project: “Innovative methodologies for hydrogen production by biological processes” (2005, FISR from MIUR) the research d has been extended to the structural and functional characterization of [FeFe]-hydrogenases, in relation to the biotechnological applications in the field of renewable energy sources in combination with photosynthesis.
Organisation of Conferences and Schools
XII Convegno GIRSE 2019, September 23-25 Padova, Chiarperson
SPIN2017, September 2017 Padova Co- Chiarperson
EFEPR2016 Torino 4-8 September 2016 (Scientific Committee)
XXXI Congresso Nazionale di Chimica Fisica Padova, 19-23 Giugno 2001
7°Convegno Nazionale GIRSE, Gruppo Italiano di Risonanza di Spin Elettronico Padova, 25-27 Settembre 2005
Summer School: “Advanced methods in electronic paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy” European federation of EPR Groups Summer School 12-19 September 1999 Caorle, Venice Italy
National and international projects (coordination/participation)
As PI or Unit leader:
-Starting Grants 2015 CARIPARO Foundation. PI
-Grant from the CARIPARO Foundation (Progetti di Eccellenza 2011-2012). Coordinator of Research Unit
-PRIN 2010, prot.2010FM38P_004. Coordinator of Research Unit
-PRAT University of Padova Grants (PRAT 2009) PI
As component of Research Unit:
FISR 2004 “ Metodi Innovativi per la Produzione di Idrogeno da Processi Biologici”
COST P15 “Advanced Paramagnetic Resonance Methods in Molecular Biophysics” 2005-2010
TMR (1998-2003) Photosynthetic Energy Conversion
PRIN 1999, 2002, 2005,2007
FIRB2001
Invited Lectures and Seminars (since 2007):
2022 RCS ESR 2022,6th-10th June, St Andrews, UK
2017 Workshop: Light-harvesting and photoprotection: role of the pigments Carbonera Tricks adopted by natural systems to avoid photobleaching of chlorophylls 23-3-2017 Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam
2016 Carbonera: Unravelling electronic and structural requisites for efficient Chlorophyll triplet quenching by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance. Insights into natural photoprotective processes 27-6-2016 Institut für Allgemeine Botanik Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
2015- GIRSE Workshop & NIS Colloquium: EPR in Catalysis: from Models to Real Systems 3 Torino, November 26th-27th Carbonera: “Probing the environment of the [4Fe4S] cluster of the hydrogenase maturation protein HydF from Thermotoga neapolitana by advanced EPR spectroscopies: insights into the catalytic mechanism”
2015-Modern Development of Magnetic Resonance, 22–26 September 2015. Kazan, Russian Federation, Carbonera: “Distance measurements by PELDOR spectroscopy in systems containing photo-excited triplet states and nitroxides”
2014-IXth EF-EPR Conference (European Federation) 7-11 September, Marseille, France keynote Carbonera: “Unravelling electronic and structural requisites of triplet-triplet energy transfer by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance. Insights into natural photoprotective processes”
2013-Biophysics of Photosynthesis (BIOPHROME2013) 28th-30th October, Rome, Italy Carbonera: “Chlorophyll triplet quenching by protein-bound carotenoids”
2012-Congresso annuale. Società italiana di Fotobiologia Padova, 14-16 giugno 2012, Carbonera: “Light harvesting and photoprotection in natural photosystems”
2011-Journees de la societè francaise de photosynthese, Paris 16-17 May Carbonera: “Chlorophyll Triplet Quenching in Photosynthetic the light-harvesting Proteins”
2009- Invited Seminar Max-Planck-Institut fuer Bioanorganische Chemie, Stiftstr. 34-36 D-45470 Muelheim an der Ruhr, 8th December, Carbonera: “Chlorophyll Triplet Quenching in Photosynthetic Antenna Proteins”
2007- Spin Chemistry Meeting 10th International symposium on spin and magnetic field effects in chemistry and related phenomena S. Servolo, Venice 18-21 June 2007 Carbonera: “Triplet-triplet transfer in photosynthetic antenna systems”
2007- Molecular response to electronic excitation Symposium in Bad-Muenstereifel, Germany 16-18 April 2007 Carbonera: “Carotenoid and chlorophyll triplet states associated with the light-harvesting complexes of the photosynthetic apparatus of plants”
Dissemination
1) XX School of Pure And Applied Biophysics on MOLECULAR AND BIOPHYSICAL ASPECTS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS Carbonera: EPR in PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Venice, January 25th-29th, 2016
2) IN PIENA LUCE- Auditorium LICEO BERTO Mogliano Veneto – Via Barbiero 82
Dal 23 ottobre 2015 al 29 gennaio 2016 D. Carbonera – Università di Padova
Conversione dell’energia luminosa in energia chimica: una lezione dalla Natura. 15/01/2016
3) XVII School Of Pure And Applied Biophysics-Ist School Of Plant Biology On RENEWABLE ENERGY AND BIOFUELS: A BIOPHYSICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL APPROACH D.Carbonera and Paola Costantini “ Exploring the maturation of [FeFe]-hydrogenases Venice January 28th - February 1st, 2013
4) Conferenza in occasione di “Non è magia è chimica” NEMEC Padova, Settembre 2012, Carbonera “Energia dal sole. Fotosintesi ed Energie rinnovabili”
5) Carbonera: “Energia dal sole. Fotosintesi ed energie rinnovabili” Conegliano 22-02-2009.
Tutoring
- Tutor of about 20 MSc thesis in Chemistry and Biotechnology
- Tutor of PhD thesis in in “Chemical Sciences” (6 students)
- Post-doc supervisor (4 Post-doc)