Pietro Strobbia

The research in the Optical Sensors Group is largely directed towards bridging the gap between current state-of-the-art sensing technologies and the actual requirements for their application in clinical settings or in the field. Our group works on multidisciplinary projects leveraging expertise in optical systems and sensing technologies development, as well as on plasmonics and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We apply this expertise to current relevant issues in clinical diagnostics and environmental analysis, with a particular focus on the development deployable technologies. Our long-term goal is to benefit the developing and developed world through the dissemination of new cost-effective and practical analytical tools.

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Pietro Strobbia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry since August 2020. Pietro received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Sapienza University of Rome (2011) and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (2016). Prior to his appointmet at UC, Pietro was a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. His sensing research has received both federal and industry funding, from National Institute of Health and Procter and Gamble.

BS: Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, 2011 (Chemistry)

PhD: University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, MD, 2016 (Chemistry)

2016 -2020 Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC

2020 -To Present Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Investigators:P. Strobbia 03-01-2021 -03-31-2023 UC URC-Faculty Scholars Res Awd-Strobbia Role:PI 25,000 Completed

Investigators:P. Strobbia 08-07-2022 -12-10-2022 P&G Developing new SERS detection methods Role:PI 10,000 Completed Type:Grant

Investigators:P. Strobbia 08-01-2023 -07-30-2024 Procter & Gamble Digital Accelerator at UC SERS Characterization of Bacteria Role:PI 25,000 Completed

Grant: #1R01EB035594 Investigators:Dima, Ruxandra; Stan, George; Strobbia, Pietro 09-01-2024 -08-31-2029 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Designing a deployable and adaptable plasmonic sensing platform for infectious disease surveillance Role:PI 1,375,789 Active

Investigators:Strobbia, Pietro 11-04-2024 -07-31-2025 Procter & Gamble Digital Accelerator at UC P&G Digital Accelerator@UC: SERS Sensing of Bacteria Role:PI 25,000 Active

Investigators:P. Strobbia, A. Steckl 2025 UC Nanobiosciences Research Institute (NBSRI) SERS Nanoparticle-Enhanced Lateral Flow Assay for Oral Health Point-of-Care Diagnostics Role:co-PI 30,000 Active

Peer Reviewed Publications

A. L. Keller, S. M. Quarin, P. Strobbia, A. E. Ross (2022. ) Platinum Nanoparticle Size and Density Impacts Purine Electrochemistry with Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry.Journal of The Electrochemical Society, , 169 (4 ) ,046514 More Information

C. Conti, M. Catrambone, C. Colombo, E. Possenti, K. M. Rectenwald, M. Realini, P. Strobbia (2022. ) Scientific investigation to look into the conservation history of a Tang Dynasty terracotta Dancing Horse.Heritage Science, , 10 ,128 More Information

D. Vang, P. Strobbia (2023. ) Analysis of Nanostar Reshaping Kinetics for Optimal Substrate Fabrication.Applied Spectroscopy, , 77 (3 ) ,270 More Information

S. M. Quarin, A. C. Macke, L. N. Kissell, M. S. Kelly, A. Dayananda, J. Ungvary, G. Stan, R. I. Dima, P. Strobbia (2023. ) Design, Rationalization, and Automation of a Catalytic Sensing Mechanism for Homogeneous SERS Biosensors.ACS Sensors, , 8 (5 ) ,2000 More Information

S. Confederat, S. Lee, D. Vang, D. Soulias, F. Marcuccio, T. I. Peace, M. Andrew Edwards, P. Strobbia, D. Samanta, C. Wälti, P. Actis (2024. ) Next-Generation Nanopore Sensors Based on Conductive Pulse Sensing for Enhanced Detection of Nanoparticles.Small, , 20 ,2305186 More Information

T. J. McKenzie, T. Brunet, L. N. Kissell, P. Strobbia, N. Ayres (2023. ) Polydimethylsiloxane Polymerized Emulsions for Acoustic Materials Prepared Using Reactive Triblock Copolymer Surfactants.ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, , 15 (50 ) ,58917 More Information

L. N. Kissell, H. Liu, M. Sheokand, D. Vang, P. Kachroo, P. Strobbia (2024. ) Direct Detection of Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Infected Plants with SERS-Sensing Hydrogels.ACS Sensors, , 9 (1 ) ,514 More Information

A. Lux, M. Realini, A. Botteon, M. Maiwald, A. Müller, B. Sumpf, C. Miliani, P. Matousek, P. Strobbia, C. Conti (2024. ) Advanced portable micro-SORS prototype coupled with SERDS for heritage science.Analyst, , 149 (8 ) ,2317 More Information

L. N. Kissell, D. Han, D. Vang, A. W. Cikanek, A. Steckl, P. Strobbia (2024. ) Improved Point-of-Care Detection of P. gingivalis Using Optimized Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Lateral Flow Assays.Sensors & Diagnostics, , 3 ,839 More Information

L. Naher, S. Quarin, D. Vang, P. Strobbia (2024. ) Lyophilizing SERS Biosensors to Enable Translation into Easy-to-Use Assay.Analytical Methods, , 16 (44 ) ,7613 More Information

D. Vang, J. Pahren, E. Duderstadt, F. J. Alvarez, M. Sheokand, J. Caserta, T. Cambron, P. Strobbia (2025. ) Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and Multivariate Analysis for Elucidating Mechanisms of Action in Antibacterial Agents.ACS Sensors, , More Information

Invited Publications

S. Quarin, P. Strobbia (2021. ) Recent Advances Towards Point-Of-Care Applications of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensing.Frontiers in Chemistry, 9 ,714113 More Information

L. N. Kissell, M. Sheokand, P. Strobbia (2023. ) Rational design enabling aptamer-based sensors for surface-enhanced Raman detection of small molecules.Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 54 (9 ) ,966 More Information

S. M. Quarin, D. Vang, R. I. Dima, G. Stan, P. Strobbia (2025. ) AI in SERS sensing moving from discriminative to generative.npj Biosensing, 2 , More Information

Book Chapter

P. Strobbia, A. Fales (2022 ) SERS probes and tags for biomedical applications SERS for Point-Of-care and Clinical Applications .(pp. 89).Amsterdam NL, Elsevier

Invited Presentations

Pietro Strobbia (02-19-2021. ) Translation of Biomedical and Bioanalytical Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) to Real-World Settings through the Combination with SERDS .Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Berlin (DE). Other Institution. . Level:International

Pietro Strobbia (03-18-2022. ) Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering for Advanced Optical Sensing Applications .Illinois State University. Other Institution. . Level:University

P. Strobbia, C. Conti, R. Odion, T. Vo-Dinh, P. Matousek, M. Realini (10-04-2022. ) Design of SORS Systems for Biomedical and Art Conservation Applications .SciX. Conference. . Level:International

P. Strobbia (10-04-2022. ) Advancing SERS Biosensors for Diagnostic Applications .SciX. Conference. . Level:International

P. Strobbia (03-20-2023. ) Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering for Advanced Optical Sensing Applications .Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute IN. Other Institution. .

P. Strobbia (05-01-2023. ) Developing SERS-based biosensors for in-situ detection of plant diseases .SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, Orlando FL. Conference. . Level:International

P. Strobbia (10-11-2023. ) SERS Biosensors for Early Diagnosis and Treatment Guidance in Plants .SCIX, Reno NV. Conference. . Level:International

P. Strobbia (10-24-2023. ) Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering for Advanced Optical Sensing Applications .Denison University, Granville OH. Other Institution. . Level:University

P. Strobbia (11-09-2023. ) Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering for Advanced Optical Sensing Applications .Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans LA. Other Institution. . Level:University

P. Strobbia (11-29-2023. ) Raman in Heritage Science Applications .ACS Cincinnati Chapter, Cincinnati OH. Professional Meeting. . Level:Local

P. Strobbia (05-10-2024. ) Advancing SERS biosensing through adaptable sensor design and field-ready applications .Air Force Research Lab, Dayton OH. Other Institution. . Level:National

P. Strobbia (06-26-2024. ) Advancing SERS Biosensors: From Translational Applications to New Design Mechanisms .Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Bioanalytical Sensors, Newport RI. Conference. . Level:International

P. Strobbia (10-21-2024. ) Advancing the Design of Reagentless SERS Biosensors .SCIentific eXchange 2024, Raleigh NC. Conference. . Level:International

P. Strobbia (10-22-2024. ) Advancing SERS biosensing through adaptable sensor design and field-ready applications .University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC. Other Institution. . Level:National

P. Strobbia (10-25-2024. ) Advancing SERS biosensing through adaptable sensor design .iCANX, virtual. Conference. . Level:International

2021 Research Launch Award Level:University

2023 Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship Level:University

2024 A&S Faculty Development Fund Award Level:College

2021 A&S Faculty Development Fund Award Level:College

Sensors (Topic Editor ) Type:Editorial Service

(Graduate Admission Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service

(Recruiting Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service

(Admission Committee ) Committee Member Type:Departmental Service

National Science Foundation (SBIR/STTR ) Review Board/Panel Type:Grant Panel

Society of Applied Spectroscopy - Cincinnati Tristate Chapter Co-Chair Type:Other Educational Service 2023 -2025

National Institute of Health (Molecular Cancer Diagnosis and Classification (MCDC) ) Review Board/Panel Type:Grant Panel 2024

The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) (Smart Biomedical and Physiological Sensor Technology ) Co-Chair Type:Service to Professional Associations 2024

National Institute of Justice Review Board/Panel Type:Grant Panel 2024

Office of Research Review Board/Panel Type:University/College Service 2023 -2025

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Level:Undergraduate

-CHEM-2030 SURVEY BIOCHEM I Level:Undergraduate

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Level:Undergraduate

-CHEM-2030 SURVEY BIOCHEM I Level:Undergraduate

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Level:Undergraduate

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II Level:Undergraduate

301 Clifton Ct.
Cincinnati  Ohio, 45219
Phone: 5135565883
strobbpo@ucmail.uc.edu