Biography

I am an experienced researcher on economic, finance and policy aspects of climate change and related energy issues. Since I started my PhD, my works investigated questions related to financial barriers of low-carbon investments.

Currently, I am a Principal Research Fellow with a proleptic Academic Appointment at UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources (UCL ISR). I have recently been awarded an ERC starting grant (LINKS) focusing on the role of climate finance to meet the Paris goals (2019-2024).

I joined UCL ISR in 2016 to lead the finance work of two EU Horizon2020 projects, entitled GREEN-WIN and RIPPLES. Both projects explore the cross-cutting role of finance in overcoming barriers to climate adaptation, mitigation and sustainability action with a particular emphasis on exploring avenues for integrating climate/sustainability public policies with mainstream finance framework and system.

While at the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab, UC Berkeley together with Prof Daniel Kammen, we explored an innovative approach, namely the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), to link private funding to public financing mechanisms to facilitate citizen’s access and affordability to low-carbon projects. Demonstrating the success and novelty of this scheme, PACE was awarded #1 World Changing Idea of 2009 by Scientific America.

I am also bringing research insights into policymaking and practical experience to bear upon academic studies. I have co-organised with 2° Investing Initiative (2ii), two workshops on climate finance in London, and supported the research work at several international public policy organisations, including the OECD, the European Commission (EC) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

I completed my PhD in Business Administration at Polytechnic University of Marche and University of California, Berkeley (co-tutorship of doctoral thesis) with a focus on energy financing policy. My research interests include climate finance, financial networks, policy evaluation methods, financing schemes, low-carbon investments and energy policy.

Research Positions

Present2016

Senior Research Associate
UCL
20152013

Marie Curie fellow
OECD, Economics department
20132009

Researcher
Italian Association Energy Economics (AIEE), Italy
20122012

Researcher

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Italy
20122012

Researcher
International Centre for Climate Governance (ICCG), Italy
20112010

Visiting Researcher
University of California, Berkeley
20112009

Energy Analyst (consultant)
Loccioni Group (Italy)
20102009

Research Assistant
Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy)

Education & Training

Ph.D. 2012

PhD in Business Administration
Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy) co-tutorship with University of California, Berkeley
MSc 2008

Master in Economy and Strategic Management (with honors)
Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy)
BA 2005

Bachelor in Economics (with honors)
Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy)

Honors, Awards and Grants

2018

ERC Starting Grant (LINKS)

The fundamental activity of the ERC is to provide attractive, long-term funding to support excellent investigators and their research teams to pursue groundbreaking, high-gain/ high-risk research. Research funded by the ERC is expected to lead to advances at the frontiers of knowledge and to set a clear and inspirational target for frontier research across Europe.

I was awarded of the ERC Starting Grant in 2018 to explore the role of climate in the low-carbon transition
Aug 2014

Selected for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Economics)

The Nobel Laureate Meetings is a globally recognised forum held yearly in Lindau, inviting Nobel prize winners to present to and interact with selected researchers from all over the world. The aim of the Lindau Meetings is to foster the interactions and transfer of knowledge between Nobel laureates and the most promising researchers.

For more than 60 years, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings have brought together the world's most famous and best scientists.

I had the chance to be selected for the 5th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on Economic Sciences.
Nov 2012

Marie-Curie Fellowship

Marie Curie Actions research fellowship program is a set of mobility research grant schemes funding post-doctoral researchers in Europe and around the world. The Marie-Curie Fellowship is Europe’s most competitive and prestigious awards aimed at fostering interdisciplinary research and international collaborations.

I was awarded of the Marie-Curie Fellowship in 2012 to explore energy policies that could leverage energy investments in Europe.
Dec 2012

CleanWeb Hackaton 2012 with Pool Me Up!

This event was a part of the worldwide initiative that promotes competitions to develop and implement new ideas to reduce energy consumption. Together with a group of talented young professionals, we built a mobile app that allowed users to connect automatically to their social networks (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin) to ask for a car ride. The purpose was similar to that of the well-known app Uber but with a more social and pro-social behaviour component.
Jun 2011

International Student Energy Summit Fellowship (ISES)

The International Student Energy Summit (ISES) is a global forum that focuses on sustainable resource management and the role that students will play in defining the future of energy development. ISES is Student Energy’s pinnacle event and targets international, multidisciplinary post secondary students in undergraduate and graduate studies interested in energy.
Sep 2010

Finalist IAEE Best Student Paper Award

The Student Best Paper Award is awarded at the yearly IAEE International Conference, and awards the author of the best paper a cash prize.