Members

Prof. Francesco Haardt

Full Professor, University of Insubria
Member of CLAP Scientific Committee

francesco.haardt@uninsubria.it

I am an astrophysicist and cosmologist. My research spans a wide range of fields, from high energy astrophysics, the cosmic evolution of black holes and the dynamics of gravitational wave sources, the physics of the intergalactic medium, to exoplanetary science. I graduated from the University of Milan, earned my PhD at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste, and subsequently worked in the United States and Sweden before returning to Italy at the University of Insubria. 

Prof. Mattia Sormani

Associate Professor, University of Insubria
CLAP Scientific Director

mattia.sormani@uninsubria.it

My research focuses on understanding the structure, dynamics, and evolution of galaxies, in particular our own, the Milky Way. I am the PI of the ERC StG 2023 project “GalFlow” to study the inward transport of matter in the Galactic centre.

Prof. Sergio Cacciatori

Associate Professor, University of Insubria

sergio.cacciatori@uninsubria.it

Prof. Alessandro Lupi

Associate Professor, University of Insubria
Member of CLAP Scientific Committee

alessandro.lupi@uninsubria.it

My research mainly focuses on the formation and evolution of massive black holes, in the aim at understanding how they gain their mass, how they affect their galaxy hosts, how binary systems form and evolve, from galactic scales down to the gravitational-wave driven coalescence.
In addition, I am also interested in the evolution of chemical tracers during the process of star formation and their role in the origin of life. I graduated at Insubria University in 2015, and then worked in Paris and at Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa before returning to University of Insubria.

Prof. Oliver F. Piattella

Associate Professor, University of Insubria
Member of CLAP Scientific Committee

of.piattella@uninsubria.it

I am a theoretical physicist with research interests in cosmology. I got my PhD in 2010 at Insubria University, where I am now associate professor of Physics. My research focuses on alternative explanations for dark matter, dark energy, modified gravity, and tensions in the determinations of the cosmological parameters. 

Prof. Stefano Serra Capizzano

Full Professor, University of Insubria

s.serracapizzano@uninsubria.it

I am full professor in Numerical Analysis, with interest in applications, asymptotic linear algebra, matrix theory, approximation theory, asymptotic functional analysis. I published around 300 papers most of them in international journals. I had so far 22 PhD students, who already successfully defended their Thesis in three continents and six counties, most of them with Faculty positions. From 2006 to 2024 I served in top management positions in my university (head of Department, Dean of Faculty, president PhD program, Deputy Rector) and in the Italian Mathematical Community (GNCS – INdAM board).

Dr. Stefano Covino

Senior Researcher, INAF OAB
Member of CLAP Scientific Committee

stefano.covino@inaf.it

Senior researcher for the INAF / Brera Astronomical Observatory. His main scientific interests are in the field of astrophysics of transient or highly variable phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts, counterparts of gravitational wave events and AGN/blazars. He is also interested in advanced statistical tools applied to astrophysical phenomena. He is also the principal investigator of the CUBES project, a highly optimized ultraviolet spectrograph for the ESO Very Large Telescope.

Dr. Gabriele Ponti

Senior Researcher, INAF OAB

gabriele.ponti@inaf.it

Gabriele Ponti is an X-ray astronomer whose research addresses key processes in high-energy astrophysics. He studies the Galactic centre, the hot interstellar and circumgalactic medium, and the role of feedback in shaping galaxies. His work also focuses on accretion and variability in compact objects, using X-ray observations to probe matter and energy flows in extreme environments.

Dr. Marco Landoni

Staff Technologist, INAF OAB

marco.landoni@inaf.it

Dr. Luigi Foschini

Senior Researcher, INAF OAB

luigi.foschini@inaf.it

My research focuses on two main areas: relativistic astrophysics and fundamental physics. In the first area, I’m trying to understand how relativistic jets emitted by supermassive black holes in galaxies work, how they relate to accretion phenomena, winds, and absorbers, and how they interact with their host galaxy. In the second area, I’d like to understand whether there’s a single physical theory underlying the Universe—a theory of quantum gravity. If so, I think the key is understanding time. I’m also trying to identify some effects of current quantum gravity theories on an astrophysical scale.

Dr. Alessandro Trinca

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

alessandro.trinca@uninsubria.it

I am a postdoctoral researcher investigating the formation and evolution of the first galaxies and massive black holes in the early Universe. My work combines theoretical modeling and cosmological simulations to uncover their growth, interactions, and observable signatures across cosmic time. When I’m not chasing black holes, you’ll probably find me chasing mountain peaks!

Dr. Stefano Bondani

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

stefano.bondani@uninsubria.it

I am research fellow at University of Insubria working under Prof. Sergio Cacciatori. My main research focus is into the detectability of the time oscillations induced by gravitational waves. I also work on the nature and description of gravitational radiation in theories of emergent gravity. My side interests span cosmology, nuclear physics and black hole theory.

Dr. Karl Fiteni

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

karl.fiteni@uninsubria.it

I’m a postdoc studying the dynamical structure and evolution of the Milky Way’s nuclear stellar disc. My research also focuses on spiral structure and the assembly of disc outskirts, which I investigate using N-body+SPH simulations.

Dr. Zixuan Feng

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

zixuan.feng@uninsubria.it

I am a postdoctoral researcher investigating the radial inflow from the central molecular zone of the Milky Way to the Galactic center. My work uses hydrodynamical simulations of gas inflow to provide pictures of radial inflow rates.

Dr. Xingchen Li

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

xingchen.li@uninsubria.it

I’m studying the evolution the dynamics of nuclear disks. I’m also interested in barred dynamics, interaction between barred disk and dark matter halo and wandering in the wild.

Dr. Arianna Vasini

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

arianna.vasini@uninsubria.it

I’ve worked on chemical evolution of galaxies but my main interest now is the molecular cloud structure in the central molecular zone. I spend my free time making pizza, drawing portraits and dancing.

Dr. Federico Biassoni

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

federico.biassoni@uninsubria.it

My research focuses on the characterisation of exoplanetary atmospheres. In particular, I analyse high-resolution observations of exoplanetary atmospheres exploiting the cutting edge technique transmission spectroscopy. Furthermore, I study the atmospheric escape effect, simulating the mass-loss rate and the transmission probability of the metastable helium triplet.

Dr. Fabio Rigamonti

Postdoctoral researcher, INAF OAB

fabio.rigamonti@inaf.it

I got my PhD from the University of Insubria in 2024 and I am currently working as a post-doctoral researcher at the INAF Observatory of Brera. My PhD research focused primarily on galactic decomposition through dynamical modeling, with a parallel line of research into dual AGNs and electromagnetic observations of massive black hole binaries. I am also particularly interested in Bayesian statistics, machine learning, and HPC; tools that I have used extensively in my research work. Apart from that, I enjoy traveling and I am a committed amateur cyclist.

Dr. Riccardo Spinelli

Postdoctoral researcher, INAF OAPa

riccardo.spinelli@uninsubria.it

Riccardo Spinelli is a postdoctoral researcher at the INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo. He graduated in Astrophysics at the University of Milano-Bicocca and obtained his PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Insubria with a thesis focused on the effects of high-energy radiation on exoplanets. His research focuses on star-planet interactions and the habitability of exoplanets.

Dr. Daniele Spinoso

Postdoctoral researcher, University of Insubria

dp.spinoso@uninsubria.it

I am a postdoctoral researcher focusing on theoretical models for the formation and evolution of massive black holes. My work makes use of numerical tools, known as semi-analytic models, in order to study the conditions and cosmological environments which favored the formation of the first massive black holes, which assembled hundreds of millions of solar masses when the Universe was yet in its infantry. My main focus is to combine theoretical results with current observations to understand how these “early monsters” came into existence. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, cycling and playing board games.

Dr. Tong Bao

Postdoctoral researcher, INAF OAB

tong.bao@inaf.it

I am a postdoctoral researcher at INAF-OAB, focusing on Galactic X-ray populations. My research primarily centers on X-ray sources within globular clusters and the Galactic Center. I specialize in the time-domain analysis of X-ray data, with particular expertise in periodic signals across a wide range of objects, from accreting binaries to active galactic nuclei.

Dr. Pietro Benedusi

Postdoctoral researcher, Istituto ricerche solari Aldo e Cele Daccò (IRSOL)

pietro.benedusi@usi.ch

I am a computational physicist working on PDE-based modeling through large-scale simulations, with applications in solar physics. My research also focuses on numerical analysis and the development of algorithms for high-performance computing. In particular, I work on radiative transfer simulations of polarized radiation, using large 3D models of stellar atmospheres to better understand stellar magnetism, with a specific focus on the Sun.

Dr. Nicola Locatelli

Postdoctoral researcher, INAF OAB

nicola.locatelli@inaf.it

Dr. Heshou Zhang

Postdoctoral researcher, INAF OAB

heshou.zhang@inaf.it

Marco Donati

PhD student, University of Insubria

mdonati1@uninsubria.it

I’m a PhD student working on the “Galflow” project under the supervision of Mattia Sormani. Passionate about computational physics, I have conducted analyses in the field of globular clusters formation and now I’m developing simulations to explore the dynamics of gas at the center of the Milky Way. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, hiking, and, above all, baking.

Elisa Lentini

PhD student, University of Insubria – INAF OAB

elentini@uninsubria.it

I am a PhD student of Insubria University and a member of the Hot Milk project of Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera (OAB). I study the diffuse emission of the Milky Way Galactic Center in the X-ray band; in particular, for my phD project, I will analyse data of XMM and eROSITA telescopes.

Giovanni Stel

PhD student, INAF OAB

giovanni.stel@inaf.it

Galactic center storyteller, Sgr A* flare chaser, and X-ray echoes enthusiast. Passionate about cosmology and climbing alpine peaks, where the stars feel just a little closer.

Federico Pozzoli

PhD student, University of Insubria

fpozzoli@uninsubria.it

Andrea Caldiroli

PhD student, University of Insubria

a.caldiroli@uninsubria.it

My research explores the impact of high-energy irradiation on exoplanetary atmospheres. To do this, I run numerical simulations using ATES, an open-source code I originally developed for my Master’s thesis at the University of Insubria under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Haardt, and which I continue to actively maintain.

Caterina Tresoldi

PhD student, University of Insubria – INAF OAB

ctresoldi@uninsubria.it

I graduated from the University of Milan, where I carried out my thesis research projects at INAF- IASF MIlano supervised by Dr. Sandro Mereghetti and Dr. Michela Rigoselli. My research focused on the X-ray emission from isolated neutron stars and neutron stars in binary systems. I am currently pursuing a PhD at the INAF – OAB (Merate site), joining the research group led by Dr. Gabriele Ponti. I’m working on the X-ray counterparts of gamma-ray sources. Besides research, I’m passionate about science outreach.

Giacomo Fedrigo

PhD student, University of Insubria

gfedrigo@uninsubria.it

Interested in Massive Black Hole Binary accretion physics and computational astrophysics. Currently working with a GRMHD implementation to the GIZMO code. Metal drummer, calisthenics athlete and fantasy book enthusiast in free time.

Francesco Nobili

PhD student, University of Insubria

fnobili@uninsubria.it

LISA pipeline developer, ringdown modeler, and gravitational-wave enthusiast. Works on low-latency data analysis for massive black-hole binaries, modeling ringdown signals, and exploring machine learning and Bayesian methods. Finds joy in hiking, low-cost trips in nature, and connecting with diverse cultures—always fueled by pizza, coffee, and biscuits.

Francesco Guidolin

PhD student, University of Insubria – INAF OAB

fguidolin@uninsubria.it

Micol Rossati

PhD student, University of Insubria – INAF-IASF Milano

mrossati@uninsubria.it

I am a PhD student in astrophysics, working within the context of the preparatory work for the ESO-VLT next generation spectrograph MOONS.
As part of my research activities, I am developing (using Python) both some tools for the optimization of future observations with this instrument, and some novel spectroscopic data analysis
tool, taking advantage of Machine Learning techniques, handling big input dataset, consisting of more than 100,000 observed targets.

Simone Piscitelli

PhD student, University of Insubria

spiscitelli@uninsubria.it

My name is Simone and I am PhD student working on the X-ray radiation coming from the Galactic Center. My main interests regard the X-ray emission of the M-Dwarfs, their variability and the impact  of this activity on exoplanets. In addition I am black holes enthusiast, mainly focusing on formation mechanism of supermassive black holes. Sports, playing music and photography are my main personal interests.

Luca Iachelini

PhD student, University of Insubria

liachelini@uninsubria.it

I am studying the gravitational interaction between protoplanetary discs and embedded planets, specifically the gap opening process. Passionate about the night sky, I dedicate my free time to astrophotography and hiking. You may find me stargazing at the Sormano Astronomical Observatory with the local amateur astronomers group (Gruppo Astrofili Brianza), of which I am a member.

Emanuele Valli

Public outreach, University of Insubria

emanuele.valli@uninsubria.it

I collaborate on the ‘Galflow’ project under the supervision of Mattia Sormani, focusing specifically on public outreach and scientific dissemination.
A lifelong enthusiast of the night sky, I am an active member of the Gruppo Astrofili Brianza at the Sormano Astronomical Observatory: this renowned facility has become the primary hub for my professional and educational activities.
I also apply my expertise as a licensed hiking guide, offering people the chance to experience the night sky in the mountains through excursions that combine trekking with guided stargazing, often after a traditional dinner at a mountain hut.