Faculty Profiles

• 2013: PhD in Science, ETH Zurich, Switzerland [Thesis: Water vapor in protoplanetary disks: a probe of chemistry and physics of planet formation, advisors: Prof. Michael R. Meyer, Dr. Klaus Pontoppidan]
• 2009: Master in Physics summa cum laude, University of Milan, Italy [Thesis: Evolution of protoplanetary disks: first steps toward planet formation, advisors: Dr. Leonardo Testi, Prof. Marco Bersanelli]
• 2006: Bachelor in Physics, University of Milan, Italy [Thesis: The Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect, advisor: Prof. Giuseppe Bertin]

Observations of protoplanetary disks and exoplanet formation across the wavelength spectrum (ultraviolet, optical, near- and mid-infrared, and radio), and across disk evolutionary stages (from full disks to those with inner dust cavities). Specific focus on the 0.01-10 au orbital disk region through high-resolution gas spectroscopy. The chemistry, structure, and evolution of planet-forming regions, especially in its molecular content. Monitoring of biologically relevant gas chemistry in planet-forming regions (water and organic molecules) as affected by luminosity outbursts in young stars. Observations of mm-cm dust emission, to study pebble formation in disks and the water snow line at the time of planetary assembly. Hundreds of hours of observations with infrared spectrographs mounted on telescopes in Hawaii and Chile. Development of tools for spectroscopy reduction and analysis for medium to high resolving powers (R), from R~700 of the Spitzer Space Telescope IRS, to R~3000 of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) MIRI, to R~90,000 of Very Large Telescope CRIRES and Infrared Telescope facility ISHELL. Multi-component spectral fitting techniques and interactive spectral analysis tools, including the design and development of iSLAT (available on GitHub). Design and development of the online spectral database at www.SpExoDisks.com