In Loving Memory of
Filippo Fabbri
Filippo was a highly regarded research physicist who specialised in nanotechnology, optical spectroscopy, and 2D materials. From 2018 until his untimely passing in January 2026, he served as a permanent senior research scientist at the Istituto Nanoscienze of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) within the NEST Laboratory in Pisa. He was widely respected for his prolific scientific output and authored more than 130 papers in international journals during his career.
He had earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Bologna, where his doctoral thesis focused on electrically active defects in wide band-gap semiconductors. Following his doctoral studies, Fabbri conducted key post-doctoral and collaborative research at the CNR-IMEM (Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism) and at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). He also expanded his research footprint internationally, serving as a visiting scientist at prestigious global institutions such as the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.
Dr. Fabbri’s research operated at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology at the nanoscale. His primary expertise was on characterisation techniques such as advanced electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy. He focused particularly on investigating the properties of wide band-gap semiconductors and 2D materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, while maintaining an active role in numerous national and international research frameworks, such as Perseus, where he was the leader of Work Package 2.
Dr. Fabbri passed away on 10 January 2026. The PERSEUS Consortium remembers him not only for his profound scientific contributions to condensed matter physics but also for his warm, generous, and collaborative spirit.
Remembrance by Prof. Giancarlo Salviati, PERSEUS project leader
Filippo, or rather, as I and others called him, Filo, was a cherished and sincere friend who enriched not only my life but also the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him.
He was a brilliant and respected scientist, with a lively, intuitive intellect grounded in solid scientific education. This allowed him to span various disciplines; not least the development of original, innovative solutions in the fight against cancer. His contribution was pivotal in achieving outstanding results, and both his example and his tragic fate leave a precious legacy in the battle against this terrible disease.
Yet Filo was more than just an esteemed scientist. Above all, he was a generous, tireless, cheerful, and witty person. He possessed an intelligence that extended far beyond science, enabling him to forge strong, deeply respectful human connections, as evidenced by the messages of condolences that have poured in not only from Italy, but from all over the world, including Japan, the United States, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, and Israel.
Filo had a love for life that was infectious to those around him. Generosity and passion were the hallmarks of his personality.
That is why I feel so fortunate to have worked side-by-side with him every day for so many years. Our close association helped us both grow, not just as scientists, but above all as friends, despite our age difference. It was a gap we never really felt; indeed, our similar and somewhat hot-tempered natures sometimes led to heated arguments, which would quickly give way to a drink and a laugh. All of this made Filo, to me, the younger brother I never had.
I believe it will take a long time to fully grasp just how much Filippo will be missed, but he will certainly never fade from my memory or that of his friends. Have a safe journey, Filo; I don’t know where you’re going, but I’m certain that when you arrive, you’ll make that place a happier and better one!