13.01.2010 - Two Italian American researchers, Gianluigi Ciovati e Marisa Roberto, were among the 100 researchers who received today from President Barack Obama, the prestigious Presidential Early Career for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on early-career researchers. 

Marisa Roberto is Associate Professor at the The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders.  She received her B.A from the University of Pisa, (Italy) in 1996, and her Ph.D. also University of Pisa in 2001.She received the award for her research on neuropeptides, neuronal function and synaptic communication related to alcohol and other drugs of abuse which is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA).

Gianluigi Ciovati is currently a resercher at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, VA. He received his B.A. from the University of Milano (Italy) and his Ph.D. from Old Dominion University (2005) He received the award for his work on the dependence of cavity Q-value on accelerating gradient and the causes of degradation of Q-value at higher gradients that is making a significant impact on the international superconducting accelerator applications community; and for outstanding mentoring of graduate students.

The Italian Ambassador Giulio Terzi, met with two young Italian researchers to congratulate them on their awards. The Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Technology, established in 1996 by President Clinton, and awarded this year to 100 new recipients, recognizes the extraordinary achievements of young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers in the fields of science and technology. The young Italian reserchers are Marisa Roberto and Gianluigi Ciovati.
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