I am a Staff Research Scientist at INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri in Florence (Italy), and Professor of Astrobiology at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Florence (Italy).

For my scientific activity I was conferred the highest-ranking honour of the Italian Republic, awarded for "merit acquired by the nation", with the degree of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

My research pertains to Astrobiology, mainly focusing on: (i) origin of life studies regarding  physico-chemical interactions between organic molecules and minerals that might have played a role in  the transition from geochemistry to biochemistry in prebiotic environments on Earth or other bodies in the Solar System; (ii) laboratory studies in support of life detection exploration missions of the planet Mars, such as the ESA mission ExoMars 2022 , and the NASA missions Mars 2020 and Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). 

Specifically, I am a Mars 2020 Participating Scientist and a Co-Investigator of the Mars Organics Molecule Analyser (MOMA) instrument on board ExoMars 2022. 

Prior to joining INAF, I have been Postdoctoral Research Fellow and manager of the Mineral Organic Interaction Lab at the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC. 

In 2016 I earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry, cum laude and distinction, from the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa in Italy, specializing in computational spectroscopic studies of molecular systems relevant in Astrobiology.

Research interests: 

Astrobiology; Mars chemistry; detection of molecular biomarkers in extraterrestrial environments; molecular photochemistry in space-like conditions; prebiotic chemistry; role of minerals in the origin of life.

Personal interests and hobbies: