Academics
2020 -- 2023
Princeton U. Collaborating Researcher
Dept. Astrophysical Sciences (USA)
Sponsor: Prof. James Stone
2020 -- 2022
INAF OAS Staff Researcher
Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (ITA)
2018 -- 2020
Lyman Spitzer Jr. Associate Researcher
Princeton University (USA)
2015 -- 2018
NASA Einstein Fellow
Princeton University (USA)
Host: Prof. James Stone
2012 -- 2015
Max Planck Fellow
Max Planck for Astrophysics (GER)
Host: Prof. Rashid A. Sunyaev
2008 -- 2012
Teaching Assistant
University of Bologna
Advisor: Prof. Fabrizio Brighenti
Education
2009 -- 2012
Ph.D., Astronomy
University of Bologna (Italy)
with distinction, Committee: "His research is extremely original using very innovative methodologies and strong critical thinking. The committee unanimously evaluates his Thesis as excellent."
2006 -- 2008
M.S., Astrophysics & Cosmology
University of Bologna (Italy)
110/110 summa cum laude
2003 -- 2006
B.S., Astronomy
University of Bologna (Italy)
110/110 summa cum laude
1998 -- 2003
Scientific High School Diploma
Liceo Scientifico E. Torricelli (BZ, Italy)
100/100 with distinction
Research Portfolio
• 150 publications: 6800+ citations; h-index 49; 21 articles cited 100+ times
• $6.9 million funding + 128 million CPU-hrs ($2.7 million) allocated
• 62 invited talks and colloquia (100+ presentations)
• 105 accepted observing programs (~300 proposals)
• 8 competitive (300+ candidates) Prize Fellowships won
Awards & Honors
• European Research Council COG -- Excellence Science (2M€; 2000+ applicants)
• Nature Astronomy best cover article (2022)
• Lyman Spitzer Jr. Prize Fellowship
• Alto Adige's top 10 people who mattered in 2018
• NASA Einstein Prize Fellowship
• Four Prize Fellowships (declined for the Einstein): Yale, JSI, DARK, McLaughlin
• Livio Gratton Prize winner for best Ph.D. Thesis (2010-2012, Italy).
• Max Planck Society Fellowship
• Marco Polo mobility grant award (ITA-USA exchange)
• Ph.D. Scholarship: full Ph.D. program support (U. Bologna)
• Award for "Particular merits (Italian graduates)" (Research Dep., BZ).
• RCDC award for innovative research on black holes (Bologna).
• Merit-based award: "Competent and worthy students" (U. Bologna).
• All graduations with Highest Honors: Grad, Undergrad, Secondary schools