I am a plasma astrophysicist investigating some of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe by performing supercomputer simulations and analytic calculations. I am currently working in New York City as an associate research scientist in the Department of Astronomy and the Department of Physics at Columbia University, where I’m exploring the plasma processes underpinning the generation of high energy particles from various astrophysical sources such as the Sun, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes. Prior to moving to NYC, I was a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences of Princeton University and a long term visitor in the Theory Department of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
I grew up and had my early education in Meduno (Italy), a small town of about 1500 inhabitants right at the foot of the Dolomites (lower Alps). After completing high school in the close town (about 50 km away) of Udine, I enrolled at the Polytechnic University of Milan, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s degree in space engineering. Eventually, after working on controlled thermonuclear fusion at CNR (National Research Council) and on cosmic rays at the INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics), I enrolled at the Polytechnic University of Turin, where I obtained my PhD in plasma physics.
I have been fortunate to work in the dynamic fields of plasma physics and astrophysics, where I have tackled a broad range of scientific problems that span various spatiotemporal scales, from the microcosmic realm of nuclear fusion experiments to the macrocosmic universe of astrophysical plasmas. Through my research, I have had the opportunity to contribute to our understanding of some of the most fascinating and complex phenomena in the universe, such as particle acceleration, magnetic reconnection, plasma turbulence, and relativistic plasmas around black holes (if you would like to learn more about my research, please feel free to browse through my publications).
I love sharing new ideas and working together with colleagues and students. I believe that science is a collaborative enterprise, and that by encouraging participation and contribution from everyone, we can achieve the best results. I am also passionate about communicating the latest scientific developments to the general public and engaging them in the excitement of discovery. By doing so, I hope to inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around us, and to help people appreciate the beauty and importance of science in our lives.
If you’re interested in learning more about my work, feel free to reach out to me through the channels indicated here.