New International Expertise to Guide Research at Elettra and FERMI: Scientific Advisory Council Appointed for 2026–2029

Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste has renewed its Scientific Advisory Council (SAC), the international advisory body that helps shape the scientific strategy and future development of the Elettra and FERMI research infrastructures. The new Council, approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 28 September, brings together twelve scientists from leading universities and research centres worldwide. Its members will provide independent assessments and recommendations on scientific activities, research opportunities and future priorities.

The appointment comes at a particularly significant time for Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste. The Elettra 2.0 project, with the new experimental capabilities it will offer, and the ongoing development of FERMI are opening up new avenues for research, making the contribution of diverse and complementary scientific expertise more valuable than ever.

The composition of the SAC reflects the multidisciplinary nature of research at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, bringing together experts whose fields span condensed matter physics, materials science, advanced spectroscopy, structural biology, imaging techniques and the investigation of ultrafast processes.

The selection process followed an internal consultation coordinated by Giorgio Paolucci, the organisation's Chief Scientific Officer, with an emphasis on both continuity and renewal. The reappointment of several members of the previous Council ensures that their accumulated experience and knowledge are retained, while the addition of new experts brings fresh perspectives and complementary expertise.

Members of the Scientific Advisory Council 2026–2029

• Miguel Ángel García Aranda (SAC Chair) – A specialist in crystallography and X-ray diffraction, with expertise in the characterisation of complex materials and the scientific leadership of research infrastructures.

• Martin Beye – An expert in soft X-ray spectroscopy and ultrafast techniques, with extensive experience in developing advanced instrumentation for synchrotrons and free-electron lasers.

• Francesca Calegari – An internationally recognised leader in attosecond science and the investigation of ultrafast electron dynamics in molecules and materials.

• Sofía Díaz-Moreno – A specialist in X-ray spectroscopy and beamline development, with particular expertise in absorption and emission techniques and in situ and operando experiments.

• Stefan Eisebitt – An expert in magnetism, condensed matter physics, and coherent X-ray imaging and scattering techniques.

• Philip Hofmann – An expert in the electronic structure of materials and photoemission spectroscopy, with a particular focus on surfaces and quantum materials.

• Hoi-Ying Holman – A specialist in synchrotron infrared microscopy and spectroscopy, with interdisciplinary applications in the biological, environmental and biomedical sciences.

• Antoine Royant – An expert in structural biology and macromolecular crystallography, with a particular interest in protein dynamics and time-resolved techniques.

• Marco Stampanoni – An internationally recognised leader in advanced X-ray imaging and tomography, including three-dimensional and dynamic applications in materials science and biomedicine.

• Amina Taleb-Ibrahimi – An expert in photoemission spectroscopy and the electronic structure of materials, with extensive experience in the scientific management of research infrastructures.

• Michele Vendruscolo – A specialist in molecular biophysics and computational methods for investigating proteins, aggregation processes and their biomedical implications.

• Philippe Wernet – An expert in X-ray spectroscopy and the investigation of electronic and structural dynamics in molecular systems using time-resolved techniques.

The Scientific Advisory Council will play a particularly important role during the transition to Elettra 2.0 and as FERMI continues to evolve. The complementary expertise of its members will be instrumental in shaping scientific priorities, making the most of the opportunities offered by new experimental capabilities and fostering innovative methodologies, while further strengthening engagement with the international scientific community.