"Mandatory in the career path of a researcher", Paolo Conci's opinion about the Mobility programme

Paolo Conci, researcher with the "MicroTechnologies Lab" (MTLab) at Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s Center for Materials and Microsystems (FBK-CMM), is one of the 18 scientists that, thanks to the first edition of FBK’sMobilityprogram, has spent a work/study period in Spain, at the IBM-CNM, the Instituto de Microelectrónica in Barcelona. 

 "Mobility", established by Trento-based Fondazione Bruno Kessler to foster the professional growth of researchers through international mobility opportunities, has recently assigned the new scholarships to the researchers that, next year, will be spending some months (from three to eleven) in national and international centers or organizations, tightening relationships with the scientific community and bringing to FBK new competences and knowledge. 

Date: 
19/11/2013

Below, in this brief interview, Paolo Conci tells us about his experience.

Dr. Conci, how would you define, with two adjectives, the work/study period you spent abroad?

Stimulating, concrete.

Which topics relating to your research could you explore in depth?

I was able to study in depth the back-end processes in the manufacturing of electronic devices on which the Barcelona-based center has years of experience. I also had the chance to deepen my study of processes of electrochemical deposition of metals applied to micro-and nano-electronics.

How is the research conducted by the researchers at the Center that hosted you relate to the studies you were conducting at FBK?

With CNM in Barcelona have been collaborating for years in the field of sensors for the CERN and they developed the integration part to improve the use of the sensors.

In Barcelona, they were testing the deposition process of a metal alloy that allowed me to develop a reliable and repeatable process for the deposition of copper and tin-silver alloy that can now be replicated here in Trento.

What research tools and interactions were you able to gain experience with?

In Barcelona, the microfabrication lab has machines that are more up-to-date than ours and they have already invested in the field of 3D printers; thus, I had the chance to use this additive manufacturing method and to use equipment that we do not have.

In addition, the contact with the many external researchers and PhD students present at the lab was really interesting.

More generally, to what extent was your research enhanced?

For me, the stay was a great personal growth. I met very scientifically speaking solid people, especially those who have worked and studied abroad.

At CMM there are many PhD students who explore many fields of advanced research and this allowed me to find out about a number of very interesting scientific topics.

This experience abroad made ​​me realize that those who work in research should spend some time outside of Italy. I would recommend it to my fellow researchers who have never moved from Trento, making it mandatory in the path of a researcher's career.

Are there any future collaborations in the pipeline with the Spanish group?

I have kept in touch with the CNM group for a possible industrial project  involving a machine for the deposition of metals for which I have found a German firma s partner.

Please tell us an anecdote or describe a person that characterized your stay.

I remember with pleasure Enric Cabruja who assisted me during my stay in Spain and tried to teach me Catalan. He provided support with my project at CNM and made me learn about the history of Catalonia.

(m.l.)