Rossano PIAZZA

Rossano Piazza
Current Position: Associate Professor, Scientific Disciplinary Sector CHIM-01 (Analytical Chemistry), Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics (DAIS), Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Education and Professional Qualification
Degree in Chemistry, University of Ferrara, March 1990.
Professional qualification for the practice of the profession of Chemist, November 26, 1990.
Since March 4, 1996, affiliated with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences.

Teaching Activity
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Chemometrics (Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 1998–2001.
Environmental Chemometrics (Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2001–2008.
Environmental Quality Control and Monitoring (Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2001–2004.
Validation of Environmental Data (Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2002–2007.
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2001–2010.
Environmental Chemometrics (Degree in Chemistry), 2008–2011.
Chemometrics (Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences for Conservation and Restoration), 2005–2008.
Diagnostics, Chemometrics and Laboratory (Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences for Conservation and Restoration), 2008–2010.
Diagnostics and Chemometrics (Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences for Conservation and Restoration), 2011–2016.
Chemical-Analytical Methodologies for Environmental Control and Chemometrics (Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2008–2010.
Multidisciplinary Field Training (Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2005–present.
Analytical Chemistry and Laboratory – Laboratory Module (Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2011–present.
Chemometrics (Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences), 2011–present.
Since 2021: Multivariate Analysis of Environmental Matrix Data.
Chemometrics (Master’s Degree in Biotechnology), 2021–present.
Safety and Health in Teaching and Research Activities (SIC001), 2014–present.
Restoration Laboratory 2 / Module 2 (Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Sciences for Restoration), 2017–2020.
University of Padua
Pharmaceutical Analysis I (Analytical Chemistry), Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, 2010–2012.
Postgraduate and Professional Master Programs
Statistics, Second-Level Master’s Program: Methods and Techniques for Environmental Prevention and Control, ARPAV – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 2010 (24-hour module).
The Role of Chemometrics in the Study and Characterization of Contaminated Sites, Second-Level Master’s Program: Characterization and Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Ca’ Foscari Challenge School, 2013, 2015–2019 (9-hour module), 2021–2022 (8-hour module).
First-Level Master’s Program: Science and Techniques for Prevention, Safety and Environment (STEPS-HSE), 2021–2022 (8-hour module).
Teaching Evaluation
Average student evaluation score (scale 1–4): 3.61
(Department average: 3.18)

Average value calculated over 38 courses evaluated between academic years 2006/07 and 2017/18.

In 2019, awarded the Ca’ Foscari University Teaching Excellence Award for the year 2018.

Supervision Activity
Bachelor’s and Master’s Theses
Supervisor of 70 degree theses:

37 Bachelor’s theses
33 Master’s/Specialist/Five-year degree theses
Breakdown by degree program:

Environmental Sciences: 54 theses
Chemical Sciences for Restoration/Conservation of Cultural Heritage: 10 theses
Chemistry/Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies: 6 theses
Second-Level Master’s Theses
Supervisor of 3 theses within the Second-Level Master’s Program Methods and Techniques for Environmental Prevention and Control (ARPAV – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice), academic years 2009/10 and 2010/11.

PhD Supervision
Tutor, PhD in Environmental Sciences, 33rd Cycle, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
Co-Tutor, PhD in Earth, Environmental and Polar Sciences, Polar Sciences Curriculum, 27th Cycle, University of Siena.
Co-Tutor, PhD in Environmental Sciences, 16th Cycle, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

Research Interests
Chemometrics
Multivariate characterization of complex systems, particularly environmental systems (water, sediments, air), through chemometric methods. Development and validation of multivariate regression models for environmentally relevant endpoints (tropospheric persistence times of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, toxicity and physicochemical properties of pollutants and organic contaminants). Development of QSAR (Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship) strategies.

Analytical and Environmental Analytical Chemistry
Analysis of microcontaminants and environmentally relevant organic pollutants in different matrices (sediments, pore waters, water, microlayer, biota). Study and characterization of pollution levels in aquatic environments, identification of contamination sources, distribution mechanisms, pollutant accumulation sites, and reconstruction of pollution history through sediment core vertical profiles.

Current Research Activity
Development, validation and application of analytical methodologies for determining organic microcontaminants in environmental matrices, particularly in coastal environments (lagoon, marine and lake systems). Extraction, purification and instrumental analysis using gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Innovative analytical methodologies for the determination of organic contaminants in air.

Interpretation of analytical results through chemometric and multivariate statistical methods to investigate contamination trends, source contributions, and environmental transport and distribution mechanisms. Atmospheric inputs of contaminants.

Study areas include:

Venice Lagoon
Antarctica (Ross Sea)
Vietnam
Morocco
Mexico
Turkey
Environmental matrices investigated:

Surface water
Microlayer
Snow
Ice
Suspended particulate matter
Sediments
Atmospheric aerosol
Biota
Research also includes the analysis of organic compounds in artistic and architectural materials, with the development of methodologies for the chemical characterization of artworks and artifacts.

Publications and Scientific Impact
Author of:

172 research products (Google Scholar)
81 publications indexed in Scopus
23 book chapters/extended abstracts
46 conference abstracts
3 research reports
Citations
Google Scholar: 2770
Scopus: 2075
h-index: 26 (Scopus)

Invited Lectures
University of Tetouan (Morocco), February 17, 2005
“Organic Pollutants Analysis in Environmental Matrices: Methodology, Quality Control and Validation”

Participation in Research Projects
(Selection)

Seismic Events as Natural Forcings of Anthropogenic Environmental Impacts: The 1999 Mw 7.4 Izmit Earthquake on the Marmara Sea as a Case Study — Italy/Turkey Bilateral Cooperation Program, 2012–2013.
Q-ALiVe – Quality of the Veneto Coastal Environment, Veneto Region – CNR IDPA, 2011–2012.
Characterizing the Quality of Lagoon Environments in Central Vietnam, High Relevance Project funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2010.
PRIN 2010–2011: Chemical Sensors and Coupled Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Food Safety Control.
GMOS – Global Mercury Observation System, EU Project No. 265113, 2010–2014.
Italy–Mexico Bilateral Cooperation Project on coastal and lake pollution in Mexico, 2005–2007.
Several Italy–Morocco bilateral cooperation projects (CNR–CNRST), 2004–2013.
PNRA Antarctica Project: Processes Controlling the Presence and Distribution of Pollutants in the Ross Sea Area, 2019–2021.
CORILA Research Program for a “Regulated” Venice Lagoon, 2019–2021.
PNRR Project: iNEST Mountain Innovation Ecosystems – Air Quality, 2022–2025.
Interreg Italy–Austria Project BREATHING – Best pRacticEs to Adapt to climaTe cHange, 2025–2027.
Project Urban Aerosol 2025, 2025–2026.

Funded Research Responsibilities
(Selection)

Scientific Coordinator, CNR/IDPA Venice Unit, research project on environmental exposure characterization of fish products (2008–2010).
Principal Investigator, Ca’ Foscari University Unit, PNRA Antarctica Project on persistent organic pollutants (2009–2011).
Principal Investigator, PNRA2013 Project on environmental impacts related to snow/ice melting in Antarctica.
Scientific Coordinator of research fellowships funded by SESA SpA on analytical methodologies for persistent organic pollutants and hydrocarbons in soils and food matrices (2016–2019).
Recipient of MIUR FFABR funding for Basic Research Activities (2017).
Scientific Coordinator of DAIS research grant on PFAS and anthropogenic contaminants in polar climate archives (2019).

Academic Service and Institutional Responsibilities
Member of the Teaching Board in Chemical Sciences for Conservation and Restoration, 2009–2016.
Member of the Teaching Board in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, 2015–2019.
Member of the Scientific Area Library Council (BAS), 2012–2016.
Head of Orientation Activities for DAIS degree programs, 2014–2019.
Deputy Coordinator of the Environmental Sciences Teaching Board (CT5, CM5), November 2018 – March 26, 2024.
Current Positions
Member of the Teaching Board in Biotechnology for Environment and Sustainable Development (CM10).
Member of the PhD Board in Environmental Sciences since March 19, 2013.

Updated: May 22, 2026