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What do you teach at Ca’ Foscari? What are your main research interests?
I am a theoretical matter physicist and I study the microscopic behaviour of many-particle systems using statistical theories and numerical simulations. A key example is biological systems, where many molecules of different types self-assemble into a biologically active system. In line with this research, I teach a course in Mathematical Methods for Physics, one in Condensed Matter Physics, and one in Advanced Physical Methods, all in English, in two different Master degrees.

Tell us about your academic path.
After graduating in Physics at the University of Padua, I went to the USA to earn my PhD and then to Germany as one of the first Marie Curie Fellows. I then returned to Italy to SISSA in Trieste as a postdoc until I won a researcher position at Ca' Foscari.

What are you most passionate about in your research?
Researching is a bit like being a detective: putting all the pieces of a puzzle together to get a consistent picture. If all the pieces are not in place, something is wrong.

Can you offer any advice to researchers in the early stages of their career?
Always keep enthusiasm for this job high. Despite all the downsides of the external world in general, and the Italian one specifically, it is still the most beautiful job in the world.