When did you take up this position? What was your position beforehand?
I joined UCL in February 2025. I moved to London in 2023 as a Chapman Fellow at Imperial College London.
Tell us about your work at UCL – how do you spend your days, and what makes your role different from similar positions elsewhere?
My current position offers a great balance between teaching, interaction with students, and research. I teach one course per year, leaving two full terms for research. Teaching gives me energy through the interaction with students and helps dictate the rhythm of the year. At the same time, I have plenty of time to carry on with my research, which is the part of the job I love the most. This balance is hard to find elsewhere and works really well for me!
My days are always different. When I am in London, I come to the office every day. I like meeting collaborators and students in person, getting out of the house, and interacting informally with colleagues. I also travel a lot for work: I have many research collaborators abroad – mostly in France and Denmark – so I am away on average about a week per month.
What are some of your favourite things about working at UCL? How have you found it different from previous jobs?
What I really appreciate about UCL is its very open academic environment and culture. I have worked at five different institutions during my research career, and I can really say that UCL has a very free and open atmosphere. In the Department of Statistical Science I met many brilliant researchers who are at the top of their field, yet open and available for a chat, a collaboration, or to give you a hand!
Can you tell us about any upcoming research, or future projects that you’re looking forward to working on?
During the past ten years, my research has focused on defining statistical and machine learning methods for sets of networks or graphs. In March, two exciting collaborative grants have just started, focusing on two different biological applications.
The first project is in collaboration with DTU and Roskilde University. We are studying the development of pancreatic vascular, neural, and ductal networks in mouse embryos. We believe there is a relationship between how these networks develop and the number of beta cells, which produce and secrete insulin. It would be fantastic to better understand the causes of diabetes by studying these networks.
The second project is in collaboration with colleagues at INRIA and KCL. We are studying the effect of steroids on the gene expression of cells present in the lungs. The objective of the project is to estimate the causal relationships between the genes and steroid drugs. A promising mix of causal graph discovery and genetics.
How did you find adapting to living in London?
Before moving to London, I was working at INRIA and living in Antibes in the south of France. Before France, I was in Copenhagen. I am originally from Genova, on the Mediterranean Sea in Italy. Coming from the sun, the sea, and a more relaxed pace of life, adapting to London has been quite hard.
The city is very vibrant and active, but it can also feel lonely and stressful at times. I think it took me a good two years to get into the rhythm of the city, but I now have my own way of enjoying London. I think you need to find the right balance between a calm, local life and the many opportunities the city offers – exhibitions and restaurants being two of my favourites.
Finally, tell us about your non-work life. Do you have any hobbies, or favourite places to go in London?
I am part of a swim club in my local area: we swim long distances two or three times a week. I am by far the slowest in the squad, but it is so much fun and I love my teammates. I also practice Jivamukti Yoga at Love Supreme Projects – a beautiful practice! As for my favourite place in London, I would say Golborne Road, a little road close to home that is full of life.