Dr. Leonida Antonio Gizzi of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) in Pisa, Italy will join the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) as the new Director of Science. In his new role he will lead ELI’s integrated scientific user programme, working in close coordination with the management and scientific leadership of the facilities.
Dr. Gizzi is a widely respected leader in the field of laser-plasma interactions, with extensive expertise in the development and application of high-intensity laser systems, compact particle accelerators, and advanced photon sources. As Director of the Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory (ILIL) at the Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO) – CNR in Pisa, Italy, he led cutting-edge research into plasma-based radiation sources and ultrafast phenomena, bridging fundamental physics with applications in medicine, energy, and materials science.
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Dr. Gizzi has played a pivotal role in advancing the scientific capabilities of high-power laser facilities across Europe. In addition to his scientific leadership at CNR, Dr. Gizzi has contributed to numerous European research initiatives and served as a valued collaborator of ELI since the early planning and implementation stages. His work has helped shape strategic research directions in laser-driven particle acceleration, X-ray and gamma-ray sources, and plasma diagnostics, contributing to the broader international laser science community.
In his new role at ELI, Dr. Gizzi will oversee user access, coordinating scientific priorities, and promoting high-impact, multi-disciplinary research across the ELI facilities. He will also represent ELI to its partners, stakeholders, and user community, ensuring the visibility and scientific excellence of the infrastructure.
“We are entering a new era for laser science, and ELI is uniquely positioned to lead it,” says Dr. Gizzi. “This role is both an honour and an opportunity, to guide a scientific programme that is as ambitious as it is essential. My goal is to help ensure ELI delivers not just breakthroughs, but lasting value for science, industry, and society.”
Dr. Gizzi brings a strong commitment to interdisciplinary research, highlighting fields such as health, energy, and the environment as key scientific drivers for the future. He will help shape the next phase of ELI’s development, focusing not only on fundamental breakthroughs but also on delivering tangible societal and technological outcomes.
“Leonida brings a clear vision for laser science and the laser science community,” says Allen Weeks, Director General of ELI. “He understands that for ELI to reach its full potential, we must accelerate our contributions to challenges with global significance, particularly in areas like radiobiology and fusion, where contributions from ELI can shape the future of health and energy. He’s the right person to help ELI bridge that gap and make the societal relevance of our work explicit.
Dr. Gizzi will begin a transition phase into his new role starting from September to be onboard from December.
