The group in February 2024
There are currently 7 members of the group: Manuel, 2 Postdocs, 3 PhD students and 1 Master student:
Emanuele Azzi (Postdoctoral researcher)
Emanuele was born in Turin, Italy, in 1991. He graduated in Chemistry in 2014 and obtained the Master’s Degree in Advanced Chemical Methodologies in 2017 at the University of Turin. There, the same year, he joined Prof. Deagostino’s group, starting his research activity thanks to a CRT Foundation grant. In 2018 he started his PhD in the same group, studying visible light induced synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles and biologically active molecules. He defended his PhD thesis in 2022. In 2023 he moved to Santiago de Compostela, joining the Nappi Research Group as Postdoctoral researcher. Outside of work he is a deep lover of water sports, he loves playing waterpolo as well as swimming, he likes high fantasy fictions and indie rock.
Irene Sánchez Sordo (Postdoctoral researcher)
Irene was born in Oviedo and did her BSc and master in Chemistry and Sustainable Development in the University of Oviedo. In 2018, she obtained her PhD from the same university under the supervision of Prof. Pilar Gamasa working in the synthesis of iridium complexes bearing alkenylphosphines and the study of their reactivity towards different nucleophiles and electrophiles. During this period, she did a short stay at the group of Prof. Martin Albrecht at the University of Bern (Switzerland). In 2020 she moved to Gakushuin University (Tokyo, Japan) and joined the group of Prof. Takahiko Akiyama as a postdoctoral researcher where she was involved in the asymmetric synthesis of organic molecules catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acids. In 2021 she moved to the group of Prof. Martín Fañanás-Mastral in CiQUS working in the development of methodologies for the stereoselective carboboration of hydrocarbons and the direct functionalization of alkanes. In January 2024 she joined to the Nappi research group as postdoctoral researcher. Outside the lab, she likes doing sports such as hiking, travelling, singing and hanging out with friends.
Sai Rohini Narayanan Kolusu (3rd year PhD student)
Sai was born in 1998 at Guntur, Andhrapradesh, India. In 2019, he completed an Integrated Master degree in Science (chemistry) at the University of Hyderabad (UOH). In July 2021, he obtained a Master degree in Synthesis, Catalysis and Molecular design, jointly organized by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Spain. He joined the Nappi Research Group as PhD candidate in October 2021. Outside of work, he likes playing Badminton, Cricket, hanging out with friends and watching movies.
Carla Aira Rodríguez (2nd year PhD student, Xunta de Galicia predoctoral fellow)
Carla was born in Monforte de Lemos, Galicia, Spain, in 1998. She graduated in Chemistry in 2020 at the University of Vigo, after spending 10 months at the University of Cagliari (Italy) working in organocatalysis as a part of the Erasmus+ project. She obtained the Master’s Degree in Chemical Research and Industrial Chemistry in 2021 at the University of Vigo and the same year, she moved to Barcelona to work in photoswitchable molecules with therapeutic applications, at the Medicinal Chemistry & Synthesis Group of the Advanced Chemistry Institute of Catalonia (IQAC) thanks to a JAE Intro fellowship. In 2022 she worked in the same field at the Neurodrugs Group at Medicinal Chemistry Institute (IQM) of Madrid. In january 2023 she joined the Nappi Research Group as a PhD student. Outside of work, she loves playing the piano and the sax, fantastic literature, dancing and painting.
Laura Lago Lorenzo (1st year PhD student, coll. with Prof. Jesús A. Varela Carrete)
Laura was born in Ponteareas, Galicia, Spain, in 1999. She graduated in Chemistry from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2022. In July 2023, she obtained the Master degree in Organic Chemistry at the same institution, doing the master thesis with Carlos Saá and Jesús Varela. In October 2023, she joined the Nappi Research Group as a Ph.D. candidate under the supervision of Manuel Nappi and Jesús Varela Carrete. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys activities such as running, playing tennis, hanging out with friends, and watching TV series.
Manuel Rodríguez Martínez (Master student)
Manuel was born in Vilagarcía de Arousa, Galicia, Spain, in 2001. He graduated in Chemistry from the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2023. In September 2023, he started the Master degree in Organic Chemistry at the same institution, where he is doing the master tesis in the Nappi Research Group. Outside of his academic pursuits, he likes watching movies, hanging out with friends and practice different sports.