Priv.-Doz. Dr.-Ing. habil. Alberto Leonardi earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Trento, Italy. Over the next 15 years, he dedicated his career to investigating nanomaterials, holding prestigious postdoctoral positions at Indiana University Bloomington (USA), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (UK). In 2022, he joined the UK Synchrotron facility Diamond Light Source, where he currently works as a research scientist for the Dual Imaging and Diffraction instrument. Finally, in 2025 he became privatdozent for the Technische Fakultät of the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. He is a member of the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD), a prestigious invitation-only scientific society. He is also a UK STEM Ambassador and a member of the UKRI EPSRC peer review college. His research focuses on the chemical-physical processes affecting the synthesis and performance of nanoarchitectured materials, integrating computational and experimental methods. Nanomaterials, with their structural disorder, offer exciting possibilities as their properties can be significantly different from bulk materials and can be tuned via their microstructure. These materials address key societal challenges, enhancing performance in medicine, aerospace, environmental remediation, electronics, and energy sectors.
Best Graduate Student, Faculty of Engineering
Universitry of Trento, Trento, Italy
University Senior Lecturer
Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
01 Jan 2025 - present
Scientists
Diamond Light Source, Didcot, UK
01 Oct 2022 - present
Research Associate
Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
01 Jan 2015 - present
University Lecturer
Friedrich-AlexanderUniversity Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
01 Nov 2019 - 01 Jan 2025
Scientist
ISIS Pulsed Neutron & Muon Source, Didcot, UK
01 Nov 2020 - 01 Oct 2022
Research Associate
Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
01 Mar 2017 - 01 Oct 2020
Research Fellow
Università degli Studi di Trento, Trento, Italy
01 Jul 2013 - 01 Jan 2015
Professor, Secondary Grade, years 11-13
Istituto di Istruzione Superiore "F. Floriani", Trento, Italy
01 Sep 2012 - 01 Jul 2013
Researcher
Universitry of Trento, Trento, Italy
01 Nov 2008 - 01 Nov 2012
Professor, Secondary Grade, years 11-13
Istituto di Istruzione Superiore "F. Floriani", Trento, Italy
01 Sep 2007 - 01 Oct 2008
Institute, Department or Faculty Head
Civil Engineering s.r.l., Trento, Italy
01 May 2007 - 01 Oct 2008