Beatrice Bellini

I received my Bachelor's Degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from the University of Bologna (UniBo) in June 2017. My undergraduate thesis, "Comparative Study of Polymeric Matrix Composite Materials to Create Freediving Fins", which I completed under the supervision of Prof. Martino Colonna and Prof. Andrea Zucchelli, allowed me to investigate innovative hybrid materials that have the potential to revolutionize the field of freediving. Fueling my desire to contribute to sustainable materials and advancements, I pursued a Master's Degree in Chemical and Process Engineering (July 2021), specializing in sustainable technologies and biotechnologies for energy and materials. The course was taught entirely in English at the University of Bologna. For my master's thesis, I delved into the world of cation exchange membranes for lithium ion transport, investigating their potential applications under the guidance of advisors, Prof. Sanat K. Kumar, Prof. Alan C. West, and Prof. Ferruccio Doghieri, I carried out my master's thesis at Columbia Unan opportunity that I had by winning a competitive grant from the University of Bologna My journey led me to an exciting and unconventional PhD experience. I now splits my time between Columbia University and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). Under the supervision of Dr. Gregory Doerk at BNL's Center for Functional Nanomaterials, I investigate the ultrasonic spray technique for fabricating hybrid isoporous membranes. When I’m not in the lab, you can catch me soaring through the air as a neophyte aerialist or gliding beneath the waves as a licensed scuba diver and freediver.