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Claudio TostoC. Tosto is an assistant professor in Materials Science and Technology at University of Catania (Italy), where he serves as a Tenure-Track Researcher at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture. He earned a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in 2014 from University of Catania (Italy), presenting a thesis on the fatigue behavior of high-strength steel components. He then specialized with an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in 2017, focusing on an experimental thesis involving engineering polymers for additive manufacturing. In 2022, he completed an International and Europaeus Ph.D. in Materials Science and Technology, with a dissertation titled “Advanced materials for additive manufacturing”. This doctoral program was conducted in collaboration with an industrial partner in the racing sector in Italy and included an international exchange with University of Limerick (Ireland). In 2022, he took on a postdoctoral researcher position to work on the project “Development of innovative additive technologies for composites”, with a visiting research period at the Institute for Polymer Materials and Plastics Technology (PuK) at the Clausthal University of Technology (Germany). Between 2021 and 2022, he served as a research fellow carrying out a project titled “Composite materials based on natural fibers and bioepoxy matrices” at the University of Catania. His research focuses on the preparation and thermomechanical characterization of thermoset/thermoplastic blends, functional nanocomposites, eco-composite materials, and advanced materials for additive manufacturing. He serves as assistant editor of Thermal Advances (Elsevier). He has also been guest editor for two special issues: “Thermal conductivity & thermal diffusivity of hybrid materials” in Hybrid Advances (Elsevier) and “Resins for additive manufacturing” in Polymers (MDPI). He is the author of 49 Scopus-indexed publications with 640 citations and an h-index of 12.
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Lorena SaittaL. Saitta was born in Basel (Switzerland) in 1993. She received the master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2019 and the Ph.D. degree in Systems, Energy, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering in 2022 from University of Catania, Italy. She is currently a postdoctoral at University of Catania. Her research interests include the multi-functional additive manufacturing relying on 3D printing, polymer and composite materials. Lorena Saitta has authored and/or co-authored 40 papers indexed on Scopus, which have received more than 250 citations and his h-index is equal to 11.
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Raffaele BarbagalloR. Barbagallo is a fixed-term assistant professor (RTDA) at University of Catania. He has a multidisciplinary background, combining academic research with corporate experience in mechanical design, experimental characterization, and research project management. During his master’s studies, he completed an internship at Ducati Motor Holding Spa, focusing on the design of motorcycle components. He further developed his expertise during his Ph.D. and subsequent research periods at Ghent University in Belgium, where he enhanced his skills in material behavior modeling and expanded his research network. His work focuses on experimental and numerical modeling of materials, elastoplasticity and damage, high-strain rate characterization, reliability of power electronics, and the characterization of 3D-printed materials. Dr. Barbagallo has authored 27 peer-reviewed articles, accumulating 302 citations with an h-index of 12 (Scopus, December 3, 2024).
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Giuseppe MironeG. Mirone earned his Ph.D. in Structural Mechanics from University of Catania on April 28, 1999, after completing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with full marks (110/110) in 1994. From 1994 to 1996, he worked in the R&D Department of N.T.ET., developing GFRP accessories for telecommunication networks. He joined University of Catania as a contract professor in 1999, later becoming an associate professor in 2006, and a full professor of Machine Design in 2018. Since 2022, he serves as the Department Director’s Delegate to the laboratories of DICAR. He teaches courses on Machine Design, Dynamics and Design of Mechanical Structures, and Equipment Design for the Chemical Industry. His research focuses on elastoplasticity, advanced material characterization, additive manufacturing, structural design with composites, and smart materials like shape memory alloys. He has contributed to numerous funded research projects and authored significant publications in his field.
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Ignazio BlancoI. Blanco got his Ph.D. in Polymeric Materials for Special Uses @ University of Catania. Since 2018, he is a full professor of Chemical Foundations of Technologies at Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Catania. His research activity is mainly focused on the physic-chemical characterization of materials to unveil their properties-structure correlation. Prof. Blanco is Elected General Secretary of the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ICTAC); Elected Coordinator of the Interdivisional Group of Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis (GICAT) of the Italian Society of Chemistry; Elected Coordinator of the bachelor’s degree in Civil, Environmental and Management Engineering, Editor in Chief of Hybrid Advances (Elsevier).
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Gianluca CicalaG. Cicala received the Ph.D. title in “Polymeric materials for special uses” from University of Catania on February 25, 2004 being advised by Prof. A. Recca. The title of the thesis was “Study and development of novel technologies for the production of advanced composites by RTM”. He received the Laurea Degree Summa cum laude in Mechanical Engineering on July 20, 2000. Since November 2017, he was appointed as full professor of Materials Science and Technology at University of Catania. Since November 2023, he serves as vice director of Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture at University of Catania. Prof. Cicala has received funding within national funded research program and through grants funded by private industries raising approximately 4 Ml Euros overall. Prof. Cicala has authored and/or co-authored 166 papers indexed on Scopus, 5 papers on national journals with editorial board, 6 chapters on books, 115 proceedings on national and international conferences, 1 national patent and 1 international patent. The papers published by the Prof. Cicala have received more than 3 600 citations and his h-index is equal to 34.
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