Alfonso Gautieri is Associate Professor of Bioengineering at Politecnico di Milano, where he coordinates the Biomolecular Engineering Laboratory within the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB). He received his MSc in Bioengineering with honours in 2005 and his PhD in Bioengineering in 2009 from Politecnico di Milano. His international research experience includes postdoctoral appointments at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and ETH Zurich.
His research combines computational modelling and experimental approaches to understand biomolecular structure, function and interactions, and to design proteins and peptides with tailored properties. His expertise includes atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics, multiscale modelling, rational protein design, molecular docking and virtual screening, complemented by experience in protein expression, purification and structural characterisation. His main research interests encompass the engineering of enzymes with improved stability and activity, the molecular mechanisms of protein glycation and their implications for ageing and diabetes, and the design of self-assembling peptides for functional biomaterials. His work addresses applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, biosensing, tissue engineering and environmental biotechnology, including enzymatic plastic degradation.
He has led and contributed to national and international research projects supported by organisations including Fondazione Cariplo, the European Union and the MIT–Italy programme. His scientific output includes peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and patents in enzyme engineering. At Politecnico di Milano, he teaches Biomolecular modelling and Bioartificial systems at the micro- and nanoscale, and contributes to doctoral training in molecular simulation and advanced modelling in biomechanics.