WORK HISTORY
2023
Expert
EUROPEAN URBAN INITIATIVE, EUROPEAN COMMISSION
- Expert in the transfer of innovative urban and architectural projects across European cities.
2016
Expert
EUROPEAN RESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY, EUROPEAN COMMISSION
- Validated Expert Evaluator of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe project proposals.
2021
Expert
D-G RESEARCH & INNOVATION, EUROPEAN COMMISSION
- High-level Expert in citizen science, project MLE on Citizen Science, Topic 5 ‘Scaling up citizen science’.
2010
Scientific Advisor
FREELANCE
- Thematic areas: sustainable urban development, especially urban regeneration, health and well-being, social inclusion/citizen science.
- Operational topics: research and horizon scanning, project ideation/management, qualitative and comparative analysis using digital/qualitative/arts-based methods, knowledge transfer and scaling up, participation and communication.
2017
Inventor & Founder
HUSH CITY
- Hush City is a free mobile app & and platform to find, map and assess quiet places supporting EU/regional/local environmental policies.
2023
Researcher RTD
NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY FUTURE CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF SIENA, ITALY
- Member of the scientific unit of the EU-funded CS4RIVERS project with research and leadership responsibilities.
2022
Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Sustainability
Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Sustainability
DEPARTMENT FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY, UK
- Full-time Faculty Member with teaching, research and leadership responsibilities.
2020
Senior Research Associate
SOCIETY AND NATURE PROGRAMME, MUSEUM FUER NATURKUNDE BERLIN, GERMANY
- European Project Manager, EU-Citizen.Science, the European platform of citizen science.
2016
Senior Research Associate
INSTITUTE OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BERLIN, GERMANY
- Most notable roles: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (2016-2018), HEAD-Genuit Foundation Senior Research Fellow (2018-2020).
2010
Architect and Urbanist
FREELANCE
- 2010 – 2016: working on architecture and urban regeneration projects (as a freelancer and with architecture and urban design firms).
- 2010 – 2014: teaching urban design and planning modules at Italian and North American Universities (University of Ferrara, Kent State University, University of RomaTre, University of Firenze).
EDUCATION
2010
PhD in Urban Design and Territorial Planning
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (USA) / UNIVERSITY OF FIRENZE (ITALY)
Dissertation awards: the 2010 National Institute of Urbanism Award for the best Italian dissertation in Territorial Planning and the 2012 City of Firenze Research Award
2005
BArch & MArch Architecture
UNIVERSITY OF FIRENZE (ITALY)
Awarded a degree in Architecture (Summa Cum Laude/Full marks with honours). Master thesis in Urban Design and Planning.