Pioneering Ultrafast Optics and Quantum Platforms with 2D Materials.

Born and raised in Siracusa, Italy, Chiara Trovatello moved to Milan, Italy, at the age of 18 for her studies at Politecnico di Milano (Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering Physics, and Ph.D. in Physics). During her doctoral studies, CT visited the University of Wurzburg. Additionally, she was awarded a Marie Curie RISE Fellowship to visit Columbia University. After her Ph.D., CT returned to Columbia as a Postdoc, and was awarded the Couillaud Prize by the Optica Foundation and Coherent for her contributions in the field of ultrafast optics with 2D materials. This year, CT received the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship to conduct independent research at Columbia University, with the goal of developing and characterizing ultracompact platforms for quantum optics based on layered semiconductors.

CT has delivered >30 invited and contributed talks at leading conferences and institutions, has published >25 scientific papers including several in the highest-impact journals in the field, and she has been part of the organizing committee of international conferences, e.g., MRS, CLEO. CT is the Founder and the former President of the Optica Chapter of Milan. Within the Chapter and beyond, CT passionately advocates for open science, ethical research, equal representation and opportunities in STEM.