We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Marco Rossi has been appointed founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Analyses (JETA, ISSN: 2813-4648).

Name: Prof. Dr. Marco Rossi
Affiliation: Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa 16, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: nanocharacterizations; electron microscopies and diffractions; tomography; nanotechnology; scanning probe microscopies; nanometrology; failure analysis in industrial processes
Homepage: https://corsidilaurea.uniroma1.it/en/users/marcorossiuniroma1it

Prof. Dr. Marco Rossi is a Full Professor of experimental physics of matter at the Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, and has taught the course “Microscopies and Nanocharacterization Techniques” since the academic year 2008-09 for the MS Program in Nanotechnology Engineering, and the course “General Physics I” since the academic year 1991-92 for the first level degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He is the coordinator of the EMINA (Electron MIcroscopy and NAnoscopies) Lab, a member of the executive scientific board of the Research Center for Nanotechnology of Sapienza (CNIS) since its foundation (2006), and Rector’s Delegate (from 2021) for Industrial Ph.D. programs at Sapienza University of Rome.

In 2009, he cofounded Nanoshare Srl, an academic spin-off devoted to the technological transfer of nanotechnologies. He is also one of the founders of the NanoItaly Association (Vice-president, since its foundation in 2015, until 2020), a non-profit scientific association, aimed at promoting and enhancing the role of nano-biotechnologies and nanosciences in the Italian, European, and international society. Since 2016, the association has organized annually the international conference NanoInnovation, dedicated to technology transfer in the field of micro-nano technologies. In this context, he has been the Chair of the Organizing Committee for the past editions.

His research interests mainly concern nanoscience and nanotechnology problems, directing the acquired knowledge to the development of innovative multiscale and multi-technical characterization approaches. In recent years, a part of his research activity has also been devoted to defining new methodologies and strategies for soft matter imaging (from polymers to bacteria) through a combined and synergistic use of electron microscopies, diffraction techniques, tomography, and scanning probe microscopies with related spectroscopies.

He is currently the coordinator of numerous national and international research projects. Since 1 April 2020, he has been the Project Coordinator for the European project CHALLENGES, funded by the European Commission as part of Horizon2020 (www.challenges2020.eu). Since 1 November 2022, he has been the Sapienza PI of the Research Infrastructure Project iENTRANCE@ENL, funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and University with more than EUR 75 M in the framework of Next Generation EU actions (https://www.ientrance.eu/home/).

He has published more than 210 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals (Bibliometric Profiles on: ORCID: 0000-0001-7603-1805; ResearcherID (WoS): G-1689-2012; SCOPUS Author ID: 55819540100; PUBLONS: www.publons.com/a/515474).

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Marco Rossi, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views of the research area and Open Access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Editor-in-Chief?

I was contacted by the MDPI staff, and after some consideration, I accepted this role because it provides both a challenge and an opportunity to contribute to the launch of a new journal, which is based on an innovative approach and adopts the Open Access publishing policy. I strongly believe that research outputs should be always shared openly to boost knowledge. MDPI's Open Access policy guarantees this fundamental requirement, combining reasonable publication fees and a variety of opportunities to reduce APC (such as IOAP, reviewer vouchers, etc.).
I also evaluated that the chance to work in a dynamic environment, like I experienced at MDPI, is an opportunity that is worth taking.
Over the past decade, I have experienced different editorial roles, from Editorial Board Membership/Associate status of various research journals to editor of Special Issues, books, and proceedings, but this will be my first time as Editor-in-Chief. I am sure that all of this will make my new job quite interesting.

2. What is your vision for the journal?

JETA is a new journal with a wide landscape of potential authors and an even wider audience of possible readers. Its main attraction, which must be properly disclosed and disseminated, is that JETA is, in my opinion, the first scientific journal explicitly devoted to combining perspectives of technological applications and deep technology, publishing papers on the methods and applications of analysis science on both the experimental and theoretical aspects of engineering, which advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, properties, functions, and applications using methods of analysis.
JETA will have to guarantee a high standard of publication and a fast but accurate editorial process, fully respecting and preserving the integrity and ethics of scholarly publishing.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?

As illustrated previously, the field of interest for JETA is fascinatingly broad, involving all sectors of engineering, and seeking continuous advancement in a more accurate in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure, properties, functions, and applications in the various fields, from bioengineering to engineering of materials, affecting practically all aspects of life.
The future of this field is very bright and will positively impact the development of new products and services that ultimately enhance society, the environment, and the quality of life.
Regarding the future of the field, it is also worth mentioning that, globally, the number of research infrastructures devoted to developing and carrying out experimental analyses to support theoretical findings and innovation toward market applications is rapidly and continuously increasing.

4. What do you think of the development of Open Access in the publishing field?

Open Access should be the “standard” way to make research findings freely available to access and view. Its policies must be properly implemented in order to make information available in our present and future society (everywhere, at any time and to anyone, without any limitations and/or discrimination). Open Access research must be of high quality and carefully peer-reviewed, but independent of any political/religious constraints.
Many countries and supranational institutions (as European Community) are currently requesting that their funded research be disclosed in this form.
Hard work and vigilance will be needed so that the further development of Open Access will mandatorily provide equal opportunities to all researchers to disseminate their findings and achieve their full potential.
It is necessary to support and promote all forms of Open Access that are financially sustainable. The publishing houses, and above all, the multimedia providers, have to implement proper policies to cover the cost of management of Open Access, guaranteeing the possibility of reduced/waived fees for scientists and researchers at the beginning of their careers and/or working in developing countries.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Marco Rossi in his new role as founding Editor-in-Chief of JETA and wish him every success in helping the journal achieve many milestones.