Dr. Roberto Improta

B1: Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy

Expertise

Dr. Roberto Improta is a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging at CNR. He is an expert in the development and applications of QM methods to the excited state reactivity of biomacromolecules. He is a seasoned supervisor, having supervised 5 Early Stage Researchers so far. Additionally, he is the 2016 Chair D’Alambert Laureate from the University Paris-Saclay.
His research interests include:

  • Development, validation and application of theoretical models and quantum mechanical computational methods for the study of large size molecules, both in gas and in condensed phase
    Photophysics and Photochemistry of Nucleic Acids
  • Structure and dynamics of biological systems and materials, with special reference to the reactivity of the excited electronic states
  • Computational spectroscopy

Role in LightDyNAmics

Coordinator, Supervisor of ESR4, Lead WP6

Selected Publications

  1. R. Improta, F. Santoro, L.Blancafort, L. “Quantum Mechanical Studies on the Photophysics and the Photochemistry of Nucleic Acids and Nucleobases.” Chemical Reviews, 2016, 116 (6), 3540-3593.
  2. M. Sholokh, R. Improta,M. Mori, R. Sharma, C. Kenfack, D. Shin, K. Voltz, Y. Tor, Y. Mély. “Tautomers of a Fluorescent G Surrogate and Their Distinct Photophysics Provide Additional Information Channels.” Angewandte Chemie, 2016, 128(28)8106-8110.
  3. Y. Zhang, K. de La Harpe, A. A. Beckstead, R. Improta, B. Kohler. “UV-induced proton transfer between DNA strands. ” Journal of American Chemical Society, 2015, 137 (22), 7059-7062.
  4. L. Esposito, A. Banyasz, T. Douki, M. Perron, D. Markovitsi, R. Improta. “Effect of C5-Methylation of Cytosine on the Photoreactivity of DNA: A Joint Experimental and Computational Study of TCG Trinucleotides.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136 (31), 10838-10841.
  5. R. Improta, V. Santoro, V. Batone. “Ab Initio Calculations of Absorption Spectra of Large Molecules in Solution: Coumarin C153.” Angewandte Chemie, 2007, 46(3), 405-408.