CV

Senior management roles

  • Head of Group of Astrophysics, University College London, June 2020 - present.

  • Director UCL Centre for Space Exo-chemistry Data (CSED)

  • Principal Investigator Ariel - Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, European Space Agency M4 mission, 2015-present.

  • Co-founder, co-director, chief scientist Blue Skies Space Ltd, 2014-present.

  • Principal Investigator, European Research Council Consolidator program Exo-Lights - Decoding the light from other worlds, 2014-2019.

  • Co-I H2020 COMPET grant ExoplANETS A, JWST data analysis and interpretation, 2018-2021.

  • Principal Investigator EChO - Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory (European Space Agency M3 mission candidate) Phase A payload consortium, 2011-2014.

Academic experience

  • Professor of Astrophysics, University College London, Sep. 2013-present.

  • Reader, University College London, Sep. 2010-Aug. 2013

  • Lecturer, University College London, Dec. 2008-Aug. 2010

  • Royal Society University Research Fellow, 2009-2017.

  • Science & Technology Facilities Council Aurora Fellow, 2007-2008.

  • European Space Agency external Fellow, France and UK, 2005-2007

  • NASA Astrobiology Institute/National Research Council Fellow, Caltech, USA, 2003-2005.

  • Predoc/postdoc at NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory/University of Southern California, Los Angeles, US, 2001-2003.

Academic teaching experience

Complete list here

Awards

  • Sir Arthur Clarke Award, Space Achievement -- Academic/Research, Individual, British Interplanetary Society, UK, 2023.

  • Special Monte-Carlo Prize, May 2022, Principality of Monaco

  • Cavaliere dell'Ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana (Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic), March 2020.

  • Moseley Medal & Prize, IOP Institute of Physics, UK, 2011

  • NASA Group Achievement Award, with Mark Swain and Gautam Vasisht (US, 2009)

  • Edward Stone Award, with Mark Swain and Gautam Vasisht (JPL US, 2009)

  • SIF Award for best young Italian physicist, Italian Society of Physics (Pavia, Oct. 1999).

  • ENEA Award for best MSc thesis, Italian National Agency for Energy & Environment (Turin, 1998).

Select Grants & Fellowships

  • European Research Council-Consolidator Grant Exo-Lights (8.7% of applications awarded in Europe across all the research fields), 2014-2019.

  • Co-I H2020 COMPET grant ExoplANETS A, 2018-2021.

  • Royal Society University Research Fellowship, Exploring Extrasolar Worlds (less than 5% of applications awarded across all the research fields), UK, 2009-2017.

  • Science & Technology Facilities Council Aurora Fellowship (1 out 3 fellowships awarded in the UK), 2007-2008.

  • European Space Agency fellowship, Modelling transmission Spectra of Extrasolar Planets (1 out 3 external fellowships awarded in Europe), France and UK, 2005-2007

  • NASA Astrobiology Institute/National Research Council fellowship, Disk-averaged spectra and Light-curves for Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets (1 out 3 fellowships awarded in US), USA, 2003-2005.

  • MURST (Italian Ministry of University and Research) PhD scholarship, research program Energy and Entropy for extraterrestrial life, Italy, 1999.

Education

  • PhD in Theoretical Physics, University of Torino, advisor: Prof. Luigi Sertorio (VIVA Jan. 2003).

  • MSc in Energetics, Engineering Faculty of Torino, Italy (1999).

  • Advanced school in High Energy Astrophysics, Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Torino (1998).

  • Laurea in Theoretical Physics, Summa cum Laude & published thesis, University of Torino, 1997.

Panels, observational programs and service

  • Monaco Women Forum, May 2022-present.

  • Science Committee International Space Science Institute member, Bern, June 2020-2022

  • ERC Starting Grant Panel member 2019

  • Royal Astronomical Society Council member, 2016-2019.

  • Associate-editor Experimental Astronomy, Springer.

  • Co-editor Icarus, Elsevier, 2011-2018.

  • ESA-Ariel Science Study Team member, 2015-present.

  • Panel chair and member of Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer TAC.

  • STFC UK Exoplanet roadmap panel, 2015.

  • ESA-EChO Science Study Team, 2011-2013

  • Member selection committee Astrofit fellowship program, Italy, 2013.

  • Member of ESO Espresso Instrument Science Team, 2011-2013.

  • Member selection committee Sagan fellowship program, US, 2010.

  • Member of the European Space Agency Exo-Planet Roadmap Advisory Team (2008-2010).

  • Coordinator of the exoplanet atmospheres group, Blue Dot Team (chaired by Vincent Coude du Foresto, 2008-2010).

  • PI approved Spitzer program Water world, 2007-2008.

  • PI/Co-I to select programs for exoplanet observations with VLT, Spitzer and HST.

  • Referee for Nature, Science, ApJ, A&A, MNRAS, Experimental Astronomy.

Languages

Native Italian, proficient in English, fluent in French, good understanding of Spanish.