WORK HISTORY
2023
EUI Innovative Actions Transfer Expert
EUROPEAN URBAN INITIATIVE, EUROPEAN COMMISSION
- Responsible for developing the methodological framework to support European cities in the transfer of innovative architectural and urban projects on sustainable urban development across Europe (European Urban Initiative – Innovative Actions Programme/European Commission).
- Responsible for project advisory to EUI Innovative Actions projects across 16 EU cities: ImperfectCity, S4T, SOFTacademy and WATSUPS – Water As The Source of Urban Public Space.
- Responsible for developing and delivering capacity building for EUI-IA projects.
2016
Scientific Expert Evaluator
EUROPEAN RESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY, EUROPEAN COMMISSION
- Validated Expert Evaluator of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe project proposals (Pillar I Excellent Science, Marie Curie Actions, Panels ENV, SOC)
2021
High-Level Expert in citizen science
DG RESEARCH & INNOVATION, EUROPEAN COMMISSION
- High-level Expert in citizen science, project MLE on Citizen Science, Topic 5 ‘Scaling up citizen science’.
2010
Advisory and expert services
FREELANCE
- Urbanist and senior expert in public engagement, citizen science and knowledge transfer for sustainable urban development, with international work experience in academic research and expert roles for EU institutions and programmes
- Hands-on expertise as advisor to EU science policymakers and EU local governments; researcher responsible for producing scientific outcomes and disseminating them to the public; creator and coordinator of participatory digital infrastructures; project manager of EU/international projects on citizen engagement in research and innovation.
2017
Inventor & Founder
HUSH CITY
- Hush City is a citizen science initiative that leverages a free mobile app and a platform to find, map and assess quiet places supporting EU/regional/local environmental policies.
2023
Assistant Professor (Ricercatrice RTD)
NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY FUTURE CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF SIENA, ITALY
- Facukty member and researcher in the scientific unit of the EU-funded CS4RIVERS project with research and leadership responsibilities.
- Curator of the lecture series “Citizen Science for Social Sciences”.
2022
Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Sustainability
Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Sustainability
DEPARTMENT FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY, UK
- Faculty member with teaching, research and leadership responsibilities.
- Curator of the lecture series “Digital cities”.
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
Principal Investigator
INSTITUTE OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BERLIN, GERMANY
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (2016-2018).
- HEAD-Genuit Foundation Senior Research Fellow (2018-2020).
- Senior Research Associate (part-time, 2020-2022).
2010
Architect Urbanist and Adjunct Professor
FREELANCE
- Teaching at Italian and North American Universities (University of Ferrara, Kent State University, University of RomaTre, University of Firenze).
- Architecture and urban design services.
EDUCATION
2010
PhD in Urban and Environmental Planning
UNIVERSITY OF FIRENZE (ITALY) / MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (USA)
- Best Italian dissertation in Urbanism, awarded by the Italian National Institute of Urbanism (2010).
- Best Italian dissertation in Urbanism (research category), awarded by the City of Firenze (including a honorary publication as an open access book published by the FUP).
2005
BArch & MArch Architecture
UNIVERSITY OF FIRENZE (ITALY)
Awarded a degree in Architecture (Summa Cum Laude/Full marks with honours).