I am a theoretical and computational astrophysicist working on star and planet formation. My research combines analytical modelling, hydrodynamical (SPH) simulations, the interpretation of high-resolution ALMA observations and Bayesian methods, with the goal of understanding the physical processes that drive planet formation in the earliest phases of protostellar evolution, and how the natal environment shapes the diversity of planetary systems.

I developed the analytical GI Wiggle, a kinematic diagnostic of gravitational instability now widely used in observations, and contributed to rotation curve models that allow us to weigh protoplanetary discs. Within the exoALMA ALMA Large Programme I led the disc mass work package, delivering dynamical masses for 15 protoplanetary discs.

• Publications (ADS)
• ORCID

Positions & Education

• 2024 – present — Postdoctoral Associate, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge (UK), working with Prof. Cathie Clarke
• 2020 – 2024 — PhD in Physics, Astrophysics and Applied Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano (Italy), cum laude
  Thesis: Kinematics and dynamics of self-gravitating protostellar discs — supervisor Prof. Giuseppe Lodato
• 2022 — Fulbright Visiting Research Student, Stony Brook University and Flatiron Institute, New York (USA), with Prof. Philip Armitage
• 2018 – 2020 — MSc in Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano, 110/110 cum laude
• 2015 – 2018 — BSc in Physics, Università degli Studi di Milano

Awards

• 2026 — IoA Community Service Award, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
• 2022 — Fulbright Visiting Research Student Award, Fulbright Commission Italy–USA

Teaching, Supervision & Community

• Teaching assistant at the University of Cambridge (Stellar Structure and Evolution, Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics) and at the University of Milan (General Physics).
• Co-supervisor of one PhD student at Cambridge; supervisor of 6 MSc and 4 BSc students in Cambridge and Milan.
• Chair of the Postdoc Committee and organiser of the Wednesday Seminars at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge.

Codes & Data

• DySc — MCMC rotation curve fitting of multiple disc tracers to measure dynamical masses.
• Giggle — implementation of the analytical GI Wiggle model.
• Discfusion — 1D viscous disc evolution with gravitational instability and infall.
• exoALMA rotation curve dataset — best-fit models and data products for 15 exoALMA discs.