One of the things I love most about research is that it brings together many different activities: from conducting experiments in the laboratory and analysing complex datasets, to presenting results to both specialized and non-specialized audiences through different formats, (oral presentations or posters) and public outreach. It also involves teaching, mentoring, supervising, grant writing and project management.
In this section, I present the different dimensions of my professional profile and the activities that have shaped my career so far.
My CV is available for download here.
Scientific research
My main research domain is ice-core science. I am fascinated by the chemical information preserved in ice, which allows us to reconstruct past climate and environmental conditions, potentially extending back as far as 1.5 million years.
My research interests have evolved from inorganic to organic chemistry. During my PhD and early research career, I developed strong expertise in ICP-MS and spectrophotometric methods, including absorption and chemiluminescence techniques. More recently, my work has increasingly focused on organic compounds in the cryosphere. I find the organic chemical space particularly exciting: while inorganic chemistry is constrained by a finite number of elements, the diversity of organic molecules is virtually unlimited.
This curiosity was one of the main reasons why I approached high-resolution mass spectrometry, and in particular Orbitrap-based non-target screening analyses. During my postdoctoral work at the Paul Scherrer Institute, I developed and applied a novel non-target screening method for ice-core samples, enabling the identification of an unprecedented number of organic compounds compared with routine targeted methodologies. This opened a new perspective on what can be discovered in ice cores: a largely unexplored archive of organic molecules that can provide new insights into the chemical composition of the past atmosphere and its links with climate.
Non-target screening also requires a substantial work for data reduction and subsequent analysis. In doing so, I independently developed multiple MATLAB scripts performing multivariate statistical analyses on the raw data, pre-processed and pre-filtered using Compound Discoverer.
In a nutshell, my current research interests are:
- Development and application of non-target screening methods for the identification of natural compounds, such as secondary organic aerosol tracers, in snow and ice;
- Investigation of environmental pollutants in the cryosphere;
- Application of non-target screening methods to atmospheric aerosol samples
I published 25+ peer-reviewed articles (h-index = 10) and presented my research as either oral or poster contribution at 20+ conferences (including 1 keynote and 3 invited presentations). I am also actively involved in peer-reviewing both scientific manuscripts (8) and grant proposals (1, for the US National Science Foundation).
Project management
During my career, I was awarded four competitive research grants, for a total amount of approximately CHF 130.000. These grants allowed me to develop substantial experience in both proposal writing and project management, from transforming scientific ideas into structured research plans to coordinating their practical implementation.
The projects I led involved the organization of complex field campaigns in remote environments, including the Svalbard Archipelago, as well as the coordination of different stakeholders, collaborators and institutional partners. My responsibilities included planning field logistics, the development of safety plans, dealing with foreign regulations and shipping constrains, managing budgets, ordering consumables and equipment, organizing business trips, and preparing both scientific and financial reports.
During my postdoctoral work within the Organics in Ice project, I also actively contributed to the coordination of activities among different research groups at the Paul Scherrer Institute. This included scheduling meetings, ensuring smooth communication among the eight team members, preparing meeting minutes, coordinating analytical work, and supporting the overall progress of the project.
These experiences strengthened my ability to manage multidisciplinary research activities, align scientific objectives with operational constraints, and support effective collaboration within international research teams.
Science Communication
I strongly believe that science must move beyond the ivory tower. Throughout my career, I have dedicated time and energy to communicating science effectively to the general public, with a particular focus on environmental and climate sciences.
My science communication activities have included interactions with national and international media, seven public talks for non-specialized audiences, and the production of the science podcast Climax – Storie da un Pianeta più caldo, available on Spotify. As part of this podcast, I also produced environmental reportages from places I visited specifically for this purpose, including Chernobyl and the Aral Sea.
Through these activities, my goal has been to make complex scientific topics more accessible, engaging and relevant, while fostering a broader public understanding of climate and environmental change.
Other activities
I love science, but not only science. Outside my professional life, I enjoy sport and outdoor activities, especially multi-day trekking, bikepacking, running and strength training. Among my most memorable experiences is the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland, a journey that combined my passion for remote landscapes, physical endurance and exploration.
This passion for adventure also shapes the way I travel. I am particularly drawn to countries and regions that are still relatively untouched by mass tourism, with a special interest in Central Asia. I often prefer travelling by public transport, including night trains, buses and marshrutkas, as I believe they offer a more authentic way to experience places and people.
One of my greatest fascinations is borders. I dislike them because they artificially divide people, yet I am also deeply intrigued by them for the same reason: borders mark the transition between different worlds, cultures, histories and social realities. Crossing a border often feels like entering a new dimension. In much of Europe, this feeling has partly disappeared, but I still look for it elsewhere. Borders also remind me of how fragile geography can be. A single line on a map can separate peace from war, democracy from authoritarianism, or the protection of human rights from their denial. This is one of the reasons why travelling, for me, is not only about discovery, but also about understanding how places, people and histories are connected.
And, of course, I also love the people who make these experiences, and everyday life, more meaningful.
