Elena Galoppini

Elena Galoppini is an Italian chemist and Professor at Rutgers University–Newark. Her research considers the development of redox- and photo-active molecules to modify surfaces.

Early life and education
Galoppini was born in Italy, where she studied chemistry at the University of Pisa. She moved to the University of Chicago for her graduate studies, where she studied alkynylcubanes and rigid-rod molecules. Galoppini then moved to the University of Texas at Austin to work with Marye Anne Fox.

Research and career
Galoppini started her independent career at the Rutgers University–Newark in 1996. Here she directed the Graduate Programme from 2015. Her research looks to enhance semiconductor and metal surfaces through photo-active and redox-active molecules.


 * 1) Functionally Active Linkers : These molecules serve as connectors between the photoactive segments and the surface. They typically involve dyes that are bound to the surface through anchoring groups, creating donor-acceptor systems. Not only do they attach the photoactive part, but they also possess intrinsic properties that influence electronic reactions at the interface. Galoppini showed it was possible to hold the dyes at fixed distances from the semiconductor surface through careful linker design.
 * 2) Chromophores and Host-Guest Chemistry: Chromophores within molecular hosts fosters interfacial host-guest chemistry that can demonstrate novel functional properties, including modified electron recombination dynamics.
 * 3) Nanosensors and Systematic Methodologies: By functionalizing nanosensors step by step, you aim for precise molecular control over organic/inorganic and organic/metal interfaces. This has implications in fields like solar energy conversion, sensor technology, and molecular electronics.

In 2019 she was awarded the Rutgers Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research. She was appointed Deputy Editor of American Chemical Society Applied Optical Materials in 2022.