My main research interests can be summarized as follows: (1)
resolved stellar populations in Galactic globular clusters, (2)
effects of dynamics on stellar populations in dense stellar
systems, (3) search for intermediate-mass black holes in globular
clusters, (4) exotic stellar popluations in glibular clusters, (5)
formation and evolution of galaxies, (6) dynamical and N-body
simulations, (7) structure and dynamics of elliptical galaxies.
My research activity of is mainly focused on the effects of
dynamics on the formation and evolution mechanisms of the
cosmic structures: from stellar systems (both collisionless
and collisional, like elliptical galaxies and globular
clusters, respectively), to galaxy clusters and dark
matter halos. I principally adopted a theoretical approach,
but in the last years I am also moving toward observations.
After having developed dynamical models of elliptical galaxies
(both analytics and by means of Monte-Carlo simulations), and
having performed N-body numerical simulations and
semi-analytical models for describing the formation of dark
matter halos and galaxies, I am now mainly interested in the
effects that dynamics plays on the stellar evolution in dense
stellar systems. In particular, O am analyzing photometric and
spectroscopic data for the study of the properties of exotic
populations (like blue straggler stars and cataclysmic
variables), and compact objects (like millisecond pulsars and
intermediate-mass black holes). I am also
developing Monte-Carlo simulations with the aim of
understanding the dynamical interactions of these objects with
the normal cluster population.
Awards:
– 1997: Marie Curie Fellowship within the “Training and Mobility
of Researchers” Programme of the European Commission
– 2001-2008: 4 post-doctoral fellowships
Publications:
– 107 publications in peer-reviewed international
journals
– 15 oral contributions to international conferences
– 6 press-releases
Professional/Teaching Experience:
– member of the ESO panels for the evaluation of the observing proposals (2014-2015)
- member of the committee for the final examination of the PhD in Astrophysics at the Milano University (2014) and Padova University (2016)
- referee for the peer-reviewed international journals:
“Nature”, "The Astrophysical Journal" (ApJ), and “The
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)” and
"Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A)"
– 2006-2010: Lecturer in stellar courses (Stellar Physics,
Stellar Evolution, and Stellar Populations) for the Corso di
Laurea in Astronomia, Astrofisica e Cosmologia at the Bologna
University
– since 2006: member of the examination committee of the quoted
courses
- since 2012: teacher of the course Resolved Stellar Populations
(Laurea Magistrale in Astrofisica e Cosmologia)
- since 2014: teacher of General Physics T-A for Engineering Management, University of Bologna
– since 2005: Tutor and co-tutor of several Master Thesis and PhD students at
the Astronomy Department of the Bologna University
Successful Proposals and Observing
Experience:
– since 2007: PI of several successful observing programs: more
than 100 hours at VLT, more than 40 hr at LBT
- since 2007: Co-I of several successful observing programs with
HST, the LBT (USA), ESO (Chile), Cananea (Messico), TNG
(Spain), ATCA (Australia)
– 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012: visiting Astronomer at the ESO
Observatories in Cerro Paranal and La Silla (Chile) for observing
runs with the VLT, the NTT and the 2.2m-ESO/MPG
International Conferences, Workshops and
Schools:
– Co-author of invited talks at international conferences. The
most recent at the IAU XXVIth General Assembly, August 2006,
in Prague; at the IAU Symposium 246 in Capri (Italy) in 2007; at
“New Quests in Stellar Astrophysics. II.”, March 2007, at
Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) and “A Long Walk Through Astronomy”,
October 2008, Huatulco (Mexico)
– Oral contributions at 15 international conferences.
- 2009: Visiting Astronomer at the Kavli Institute for
Theoretical Physics(University of California, Santa Barbara - USA)
for the KITP Program on the "Formation and Evolution of
Globular Clusters”
– 2006: Cambridge N-body School (Cambridge, UK)
– 2000: “ITP Program on Galaxy Formation and Evolution”,
University of California Santa Barbara (USA). Coordinators: L.
Hernquist, A. Loeb, and S.D.M. White
– 1997: Les Houches Physics School, “Formation and Evolution of
Galaxies” (Les Houches, France). Coordinators: O. Le Fevre, S.
Charlot, P. Jablonka
Outreach:
– since 2003: outreach activity with a series of public
conferences
Other:
– experience with some of the world-wide most powerful computer
facilities (Cray T3E, at RZG, Garching, Germany; IBM SP2, at
CINES, Montpellier, France; SGI Origin 2000 and 3000, at IAP,
Paris, France)
