Research specialist 

____Work Experience_____________________________________

[2011-Jan. 2012; 2010]

Research Fellow 

INAF - National Institute for Astrophysics

Via Ranzani, 1 - 40127 Bologna, Italy

Main Italian research foundation for astrophysics, with more than 1200 employees 

___________________________________________________         

Main activities and responsibilities

• Principal Investigator and Leader of two research projects aiming at acquisition of astronomical data through one of the most powerful ground-based telescopes. Both projects were recently approved with the highest priority

• Leader and coordinator of an international research group which includes researchers from seven different research institution in four different countries

• Independently learned and applied new state-of-the-art techniques for the imaging and weak lensing analysis of wide field optical data

• Designed and held tutorials to teach other group members the new analysis techniques

• Detected weak points in the analysis procedures and designed solutions to overcome them

• Wrote software (Bash shell scripts and IDL programs) to facilitate and automate the procedures

• Provided supervision and coaching to several graduate and under-graduate students

[2007 - 2010]

PhD Researcher   

University of Bologna, Italy  

Via Zamboni, 33 - 40126 Bologna

___________________________________________________    

Main activities and responsibilities

‣ Independently identified issues related to research theme and suggested new solutions

‣ Wrote an original 240-page thesis one month ahead of schedule (PhD thesis available online, see below)

‣ Effectively collaborated with international research groups, gaining in some cases a leading role

‣ Authored presentations and talks in conferences on key findings

‣ Published three refereed articles, two of which I first authored, in prestigious journals based on original findings

‣ Obtained funding for my Ph.D. at the University of Bologna from the national Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) through a competition based on qualifications and examination

[2001- 2006]

Assistant librarian & Front desk receptionist 

(fixed-term collaborations)

University of Bologna, Italy (Multiple departments)

___________________________________________________        

• Handled inquiries and telephone requests of customers; identified requested materials

•Assisted customers in finding and reserving books and journals

• Executed bibliographical and informational searches using dedicated software and on-line database sources

____Fellowships__________________________________________ 

[2008 - 2009]  (9 months)

Visiting Student fellowship  

Center for Astrophysics, Harvard-Smithsonian Institution

60 Garden Street, Cambridge, 02138 MA - USA

Prestigious research center, collaboration of Harvard University and Smithsonian Institution

___________________________________________________         

Main activities and responsibilities

• 6 months fellowship, extended of 3 additional months due to the positive results achieved, at the prestig ious Harvard-Smithsonian Institution 

• Independently learned the  operational procedures to control the complex scientific instrumentation of one of the biggest telescope in the world (Magellan telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile)

• Data acquisition through a solo 3-nights observation in Chile; reduction and analysis of the data obtained

• Feasibility study and verification of a new application of data that were personally obtained

• Development of an analysis procedure and of the technical software for a novel application of these data

[2008] (3 months)

Marie Curie fellowship  

IAP - Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris

98b boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris - France

One of the five laboratories in the European Association for Research in Astronomy  

___________________________________________________       

Main activities and responsibilities

‣ 3 months “Marie Curie” fellowship to acquire a new expertise required in the research group; after this initial training period I am now recognized as a national expert in the field

‣ Started a new profitable collaboration, which lead to the publication of an article that I first authored

____Education___________________________________________

[2007- 2010]

Ph.D., Astronomy 

University of Bologna, Italy 

___________________________________________________

[2000-2006]

Master Degree, Astronomy

University of Bologna, Italy      

Grade: 108/110

____Language Skills________________________________________

Italian            Mother tongue

English         Fluent

French           Good

____Social Skills__________________________________________

• Collaborator and coordinator of international working groups

• Supervised and coached several students and collaborators

• Resourceful and confident person with a very good problem-solving attitude

• Excellent team working ability, acquired by working in multi-cultural environments

___Organizational Skills_____________________________________

‣ Detail-oriented and optimal time management skills

‣ Proven experience in managing different projects simultaneously and with different working groups

‣ Optimal capacity to work under demanding conditions and meet deadlines 

‣ Outstanding analytical skills and extensive experience in identifying issues and finding solutions

‣ Fast and versatile learner with a strong work commitment

____Technical and Computer Skills____________________________

• Advanced computer literacy: Proven ability to become quickly a proficient user of computer softwares

• 4 years of experience in the analysis and statistical treatment of data and in information and data mining

Operative Systems

■ Excellent knowledge of: 

◦ Mac OS ◦   Windows ◦   Linux

Office and Editorial Softwares   

■ Excellent knowledge of: 

◦ iWork ◦  Microsoft Office ◦ Open Office ◦ LaTeX

Programming Languages  

■ Working knowledge of: 

◦ IDL ◦  Perl ◦  Bash, Tcsh

____Hobbies____________________________________________

Traveling - Completed a solo round the world journey in Autumn 2010

Dancing, Reading, Cooking

____References__________________________________________

References are available on request.