ABOUT ME

 

After obtaining a PhD in Physical Chemistry from University of Sassari (Italy) in 2000, I held postdoctoral positions at University of Insubria@Como (Italy), Princeton University, and UCL, where I was awarded and held a Royal Society University Research Fellowship.

My research involves applying classical and ab-initio simulations to model structure, dynamics, and reactivity of materials with applications in biomedicine. In this field, my original simulations of structural descriptors of bioactivity beyond network connectivity, ion migration, and surface reactivity in bioglasses have triggered many investigations of closely-related materials, using similar approaches.
I am also interested in modelling reactivity at titanium oxide surfaces and Maya Blue hybrid nanostructures.

I have authored >70 papers in peer-reviewed journals in the physical chemistry/surface science/material chemistry areas ~3000 citations, h-index=34), including three invited reviews on simulations of glasses for biomedical applications.

My research is supported by Royal Society and EPSRC grants.


Main Awards & Honors

​

• Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2006-2016)
   

• EPSRC grant Tailoring the atomic structure of advanced sol-gel materials for regenerative medicine through high-performance computing (PI, 2015-16, £202,522)
   

• EPSRC grant Alumino- and bioactive-silicate glasses as effective yttrium carriers for in situ radiotherapeutic applications (PI, 2008-12, £265,573)
   

• Member of the EPSRC Associate College of Peer Reviewers
   

• Panel Member of Royal Society Newton International Fellowships Committee (Physical Sciences) 2008-13
   

• Member of the Chemistry expert panel for the 2004-10 Italy's Research Evaluation Framework, 2012-13
   

• Guest Editor, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A Theme Issue "Structure and Biological Activity of Glasses and Ceramics", 2011
   

• Member of the Organizing Committee of the Ceramics and Glasses for Healthcare session of the European Ceramic Society (ECerS) 2017 conference.
   

• Peer Reviewer for > 40 high-impact scientific journals.

 

 

List of Publications