Born in Firenze, 01/Feb/1959. Physics degree (Laurea) in 1982 at Universita' di Roma La Sapienza (summa cum laude). Ph.D. in 1987. Researcher in 1984. Associate Professor in 1992. Full Professor at Universita' di Roma La Sapienza (Nov.2001-now).
Author or co-author of more than 100 papers on international journals with referees, including a few renowned papers. The field of activity is Experimental Astrophysics and Cosmology, with focus on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).
Italian PI of the stratospheric balloon experiment BOOMERanG/B2K on the anisotropy and polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background. In the Antarctic flight of 1998 BOOMERanG has detected for the first time acoustic oscillations in the primeval plasma, and demonstrated the flatness of the Universe. For these results he has been awarded the Premio Feltrinelli of the Accademia dei Lincei in 2001.
In 2003 BOOMERanG/B03 has detected the polarization of the CMB.
Has been co-investigator of the international experiments Archeops and MAXIMA on the CMB; Co-investigator of the High Frequency Instrument of the Planck Satellite of the European Space Agency, and in charge for the cryogenic preamplifiers of all the Planck-HFI detectors.
Member of the Astronomy Working Group of the European Space Agency (2002-2004).
Has served as a referee for the Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Nature; he is one of the editors of the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics and of the Memorie della Societa’ Astronomica Italiana.
Teaches the classes of Experimental Astrophysics and of Cosmology for the Physics degree; Astrophysics and Experimental Astrophysics for the Physics and Astrophysics degree. He has been advisor for 30 Physics degree “laurea” thesis and 5 Ph.D. thesis.