Andrea Capozzi

Expertise Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP)Hyperpolarization TechniquesCryogenics Open PhD positions Open PhD position on the Physics of Xenon hyperpolarizationA PhD student position is available on the Physics of Xenon hyperpolarization: Spin Exchange Optical Pumping (SEOP) and Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP)The project builds on a well-established and long-standing collaboration between the Laboratory for Functional and Metabolic Imaging at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) and the School of Health Science (Geneva, Switzerland).The involved research lays across nuclear spin dynamics and biomedical imaging. The main goal of the project is to answer fundamental questions on the spin order transfer mechanisms to enhance the Xenon polarization.The successful candidate will have a strong interest in nuclear spin Physics and Chemical Physics, be able to work independently in a multidisciplinary team and get acquainted quickly with new methods. We expect him/her to be comfortable in an experimental environment as well as for theoretical developments.The candidate will have access to a top-notch hyperpolarization laboratory equipped with two DNP polarizers/ESR spectrometers (3.35 T and 5 T), one SEOP polarizer, a multi-nuclei 1 T benchtop NMR spectrometer, a low-field MRI scanner and a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. Active external collaborations also provide access to clinical and pre-clinical MRI platforms.With a master degree preferably in Physics or Chemical Physics, the candidate should have good communication skills, experience with programming (MATLAB, Python, C/C++) and experimental Physics.French speaking proficiency and experience with NMR/ESR is a plus.The project involves regular travels between Lausanne and Geneva.Applicants should send by email a CV, cover letter, master final marks, publications on scientific journals if any and three references (with email address) to:andrea.capozzi@epfl.chjean-noel.hyacinthe@hesge.ch Education PhD | Physics 2016 – 2016 EPFL MSc | Physics 2011 – 2011 University of Pavia BSc | Physics 2009 – 2009 University of Pavia ResearchPhD Thesis: Methods to hyperpolarize nuclear spins Link to manuscript: https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/217164New methods in hyperpolarization My research field deals with hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) via Dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (dDNP). Driven since the beginning by interdisciplinary scientific interests, I achieved the master's degree following a university curriculum across Condensed Matter Physics and Bio-Physics (Pavia, Italy). Afterwards, I moved to EPFL to start a PhD thesis in dDNP under the supervision of Prof Arnaud Comment. Among other projects, I focused on the development and implementation of non-persistent UV-induced radicals for dDNP. I delivered the most impressive result demonstrating that non-persistent radicals can be scavenged in-situ. Since then, I pursues the way towards making hyperpolarization transportable and available to everybody. Afterwards, I moved to DTU in Prof Ardenkjaer-Larsen group (the dDNP inventor) to improve my knowledge and push the UV-radicals technique to the next level. Moreover, I have been investigating the physics of the DNP process at high magnetic field in order to understand how to improve the properties/performances of the UV-radicals. Teaching & PhDBSc course: General Physics I Exercises (2019)BSc course: TP de Physique NMR laboratory module (2012 - 2015)PhD course: Advanced biomedical imaging methods an Hyperpolarization module (2019 - present) Awards Hyperpolarization media study group award 2020, ISMRM conference 1st place 2020 Hyperpolarization methods & equipment study group award 2019, ISMRM conference 1st place 2020