Your dream is waiting for you
Giulio Deangeli has built a Team of talent from all regions of Italy, covering all disciplinary areas. The mentors of A Choice For Life have trained in the best universities in the world (Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College of London, Aachen just to name a few) and in the main Italian university colleges (starting with Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa). All are animated by a strong social vocation: always engaged in volunteer work, in this project they offer their time, energy and knowledge to become those big brothers that not all young people are lucky enough to have.
Ga-There Team
Giulio Deangeli
Founder
Giulio Deangeli
Founder
Università di Pisa, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Harvard University, University of Cambridge
Giulia Iacovelli
Manager
Giulia Iacovelli
Manager
SSAS Sapienza; Georgetown University (Washington D.C.); Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano
Enzo Ferro
Manager
Enzo Ferro
Manager
Università degli studi di Padova, Università di Ferrara
Fidelius von Rehlingen-Prinz
Advisor
Fidelius von Rehlingen-Prinz
Advisor
FAU Erlangen–Nürnberg, University Hospital Hamburg, Hospital for Special Surgery / Weill Cornell Medicine, Quantic School of Business and Technology
Semir Bannour
Creative Coordinator
Semir Bannour
Creative Coordinator
Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara
Francesco Mion
Web Designer
Francesco Mion
Web Designer
IUSVE - Istituto Universitario Salesiano Venezia
Francesco Liberatore
Social Media Manager
Francesco Liberatore
Social Media Manager
Experts
Gianfranco Todaro
Law of labour
Gianfranco Todaro
Law of labour
University of Bari, Institute for the Study of Business Organisation - Rome
Elia Torrisi
Consultancy of the work
Elia Torrisi
Consultancy of the work
University Bocconi; University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Milan
Mentors
Eugenio Andreose
Statistics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence
Stefania Baldassarre
Communication design
Giulio Bascietto
Economics, Management, Sustainability
Viola Biondi
Veterinary Medicine
Luca Borgianni
Telecommunications Engineering
Rachele Catalano
Photonic Engineering
Roberta Cavalli
Pedagogy, Innovative Teaching, Coding
Federico Cheli
Telecommunications Engineering
Giuseppe Giorgio Colabufo
Mathematics, Data Science
Giovanni Cristallo
Electronic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Michela Cristofolini
Neuroscience, Venture Capital
Emilia Cuomo
Cinema, Art History, Directing, Screenwriting
Andrea Dal Zotto
Mathematics for Finance, Statistics, Actuarial Sciences
Gabriele De Canio
Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics
Cesare De Virgilio Suglia
Community Medicine, Public Health, Welfare
Filippo Di Betto
Political Science, International Relations
Marco Di Furia
Literature, Philology, Pedagogy
Anna Paola Ercolino
Law
Chunyan Fu
Film and Screen Studies, Philosophy, Art History
Giulio Lao Fumagalli Romario
Chemical and Nuclear Engineering
Carolina Grossetti
Economics and Finance
Achraf Kibir
Economics
Iryna Kozar
Psychology, Business
Dominik Krzeminski
Data Science, A.I. Specialist
Alfredo La Serra
Business Administration, Marketing
Elisabetta Leo
Biomedical Research, Anticancer Drug Development
Chiara Leopardi Dittaiuti
Aerospace Engineering
Flavia Manzo Margiotta
Medicine, Dermatology
Flavia Marconi
Civil Engineering
Edoardo Massaccesi
Economics, Management, Finance
Francesca Mazzotta
Chemistry, Microscopy, Nanomaterials
Virginia Motta
Work Psychology, Human Resources, Piano
Emmanuele Napoli
Law
Maddalena Pacelli
Biotechnology, Molecular Biology
Adele Palma
Constitutional Law, Public Law
Fabiola Palumbo
Project Manager
Cristiano Peron
Medicine, Oncology
Simone Roccoli
Economics, Finance, Consulting
Carlo Scarcia
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Francesca Sisci
Architecture
Luca Tognari
Medicine, Biology
Giovanni Maria Tomaselli
Physics
Giorgia Vendra
Legal Studies, Legal Consulting
Irene Vettiyadan
Migration, Intercultural and International Relations
Viviana Viggiano
Theoretical Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Piano
Marta Giulia Viola
Medical Neuroscience, Health Policy Sciences
Eugenio Andreose
Statistics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence
Eugenio Andreose, from Padua, born in 1995. He holds a degree in Statistical Sciences from the Università degli studi di Padova, a degree in Data Science from the Università degli studi di Milano-Bicocca, and a master’s in Management and Artificial Intelligence from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. He conducted research in Machine Learning at Prometeia, a leading company developing AI solutions for major Italian and European credit and insurance companies. He currently works in Luxembourg, managing Advanced Analytics processes for Ferrero.
University: Università degli studi di Padova, Università degli studi di Milano-Bicocca, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Stefania Baldassarre
Communication design
Stefania is a Communication Designer who graduated from the Politecnico di Milano. By chance and passion, she ended up working at one of the largest multinational tech companies: SAP. She has been there for almost 10 years, having had the opportunity to work in various teams – one of the biggest advantages of working in such a large and dynamic company. Today, she is part of the presales team, where she serves as a Presales Innovation Expert.
University: Politecnico di Milano
University: Politecnico di Milano
Giulio Bascietto
Economics, Management, Sustainability
Born in Rome in 1996, Giulio Bascietto is an entrepreneur and consultant specializing in economics, innovation, and management. He earned a Master's degree in Innovation and Sustainability Management at Università Roma Tre and actively contributes to training new generations of managers through lectures in graduate classes. In 2023, he completed a Master in Sustainability Leadership at Imperial College London, where he has lived since 2020. With a solid academic and professional background in sustainability and supply chain, Giulio started his career at Cesare Fiorucci and later moved to London, helping launch an innovative sustainable logistics model with Stuart Ltd. After three years in the company, he took on a new challenge with the French startup Vianova, working in urban mobility. Here, Giulio collaborated with government entities worldwide, promoting safety and sustainability strategies to achieve NET ZERO goals. Today, he combines his experience as a startup entrepreneur and Innovation & Growth Specialist Advisor for Newable, supporting companies in growth and international development. With a practical and strategic approach, he also mentors innovation and growth projects, helping young talents and emerging companies define their path to success. His experience spans sustainable mobility to innovation management, with a focus on the positive impact of new technologies and business models. An innovator and visionary, Giulio dedicates himself to building a more sustainable future, combining his passion for startups with a desire to drive change in the global economic landscape.
University: Roma Tre, Imperial College
Viola Biondi
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarian, born in 1992, she graduated from the University of Bologna in 2022 with a thesis on canine behavior. She initially envisioned her future as a clinical ethologist, but during an intense night shift she discovered her passion for emergency medicine—and they have been inseparable ever since. Emergency medicine is often associated with adrenaline, but for her it is above all about passion, dedication, and deep involvement in managing complex situations where every decision matters. She currently works in a veterinary hospital, focusing on emergency and intensive care, and serves as a tutor in the internship program. She also provides outpatient clinical care and collaborates with the Pistoia animal shelter. She strongly believes in scientific communication, continuous education, and personal growth as essential tools for both professional and human development. Committed to giving back, she donates blood whenever possible and is a registered bone marrow donor. In her free time, she enjoys sports and outdoor activities, spending time in nature with her dogs and sharing good food with the people she loves.
University: University of Bologna
Luca Borgianni
Telecommunications Engineering
Luca Borgianni, from Pisa, born in 1998, is a PhD student at the Department of Information Engineering at Università di Pisa. He obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Telecommunications Engineering at Università di Pisa in 2020 and 2022, respectively. His research focuses on measuring and controlling traffic in networks to ensure high Quality of Experience (QoE) in interactive multimedia applications. He also supports teaching activities in FPGA and Mininet labs. Other research interests include network traffic prediction, semantic communication, and networked musical performance. In his free time, he competes in triathlons and plays the guitar.
University: Università di Pisa
Rachele Catalano
Photonic Engineering
Rachele Catalano is an engineer with a background in Bioengineering and Photonic Engineering at Università di Pavia. During an exchange at Harvard University, through the Armenise Fellowship, she discovered her passion for the intersection of Physics and Biology, with a particular interest in microscopy and optics. During her PhD at B CUBE, Technische Universität Dresden, she studied motor proteins, nanoscale machines that convert chemical energy into motion, transporting cargo within cells. Her goal is to understand them deeply and turn them into tools for new applications, collaborating with Universities of Lund, Saarbrücken, Bologna, Strasbourg, and Oxford. Beyond the lab, she has supervised university students, collaborated on projects in German high schools to explain molecular machines, and contributed to organizing the Long Night of Science in Dresden to promote science to the public. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, photography, and scuba diving.
University: Harvard University, Università di Pavia, Universita Technologica di Dresda
Roberta Cavalli
Pedagogy, Innovative Teaching, Coding
Roberta Cavalli is a pedagogue passionate about inclusive education. After a Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and a specialization diploma in Special Educational Needs and Learning Disabilities, she earned a Master's in Psychopedagogical Sciences and became a Full Stack Developer. She firmly believes that every student deserves accessible, stimulating, and personalized education. Her interest in innovative teaching led her to explore coding as an educational tool. Integrating coding into pedagogical practices stimulates critical thinking and creativity, opening new opportunities to promote inclusivity. Her mission is to revolutionize education for students with special needs.
Areas of expertise: Pedagogy, special educational needs, innovative teaching, coding, and inclusivity.
Federico Cheli
Telecommunications Engineering
Federico Cheli, born in Livorno in 1999, is pursuing a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering – Internet & Wireless Communications and plans to continue with a PhD. He teaches as a substitute at ITIS Livorno and is founding a startup in the music sector. He is among the winners of the Samsung Innovation Campus – Smart Things Edition and reached the podium at the SeaFutureAwards – High School. In 2022, he published his first conference paper titled “Service Parameters Identification for Adaptive Networked Music Performance,” based on his Bachelor’s thesis.
University: Università di Pisa
Giuseppe Giorgio Colabufo
Mathematics, Data Science
Giuseppe Giorgio Colabufo, born in 1996 in Foggia, is a mathematician and business analytics expert at Avio Aero, part of GE Aerospace. He has solid experience in the engineering sector of oil & gas, focusing on automation and process optimization before moving to the aerospace sector. He graduated with honors in Mathematics from Università di Pisa, completing a dual degree program with École Polytechnique, Paris, gaining an excellent technical foundation. In 2019, he expanded his academic horizons with a semester at University of Melbourne, focusing on research projects in control theory. Passionate about languages, he speaks fluent French and English. Outside work, he volunteers and engages in associations, combining technical expertise with social impact, contributing to charity and science outreach initiatives.
University: Università di Pisa, Ecole Polytechnique Parigi, University of Melbourne
Giovanni Cristallo
Electronic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Giovanni Cristallo is an electronic engineer with a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Università di Pisa (2023). He currently works at a startup in Belgium, contributing to innovative projects for heart attack prevention. Since his Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering, he has stood out as a tutor and teacher of mathematics and electronics, successfully supporting numerous students in their academic path and discovery of scientific disciplines. He strongly believes in sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation in STEM fields. Outside work, he engages in social projects and pursues passions for music and sports, especially gym training.
University: Università di Pisa
Michela Cristofolini
Neuroscience, Venture Capital
Michela is a neurobiologist passionate about startups and innovation, fueled by coffee. She aims to turn science into companies and products that shape a better future for all. With a solid background in biology and neurobiology, complemented by an MBA, she transitioned from the lab to working for a Venture Capital firm, focusing on technology and product transfer from academia to market. She currently serves as Venture Manager at one of Italy’s leading research hospitals, translating advanced scientific discoveries into patient-focused solutions through strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and startup creation. Determined and curious, Michela approaches each project with energy and adaptability, finding inspiration in the mountains, where she enjoys trekking, climbing, and ski mountaineering. She also prioritizes people and relationships, having trained at the Professional Counselling School “Sintema,” bringing special attention to supporting others both professionally and personally.
University: Università degli Studi di Pavia, POLIMI Graduate School of Management
Emilia Cuomo
Cinema, Art History, Directing, Screenwriting
After completing advanced actor training at Golden Actors, she specialized in Film Directing and Screenwriting at Roma Film Academy. In parallel, she earned a degree at DAMS, Università degli Studi di Teramo. She is currently pursuing two Master’s programs, in Art History and in Cinema, Television and Multimedia Production at Università degli Studi di Roma Tre.
University: Golden Actors, Roma Film Academy, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Università degli Studi di Roma Tre
Andrea Dal Zotto
Mathematics for Finance, Statistics, Actuarial Sciences
Andrea Dal Zotto, born in Turin in 1996, studied Mathematics for Finance and Statistics at Turin. During those years, he lived at the merit college "Renato Einaudi" while completing a master’s in Natural Sciences at the Scuola di Studi Superiori "Ferdinando Rossi", Turin. In both institutions, he served as student representative. After completing a Master in Insurance Innovation at the Collegio "Carlo Alberto", he became a Junior Risk Specialist at Reale Mutua Assicurazioni, where he currently works. He is attending an advanced course in Actuarial Sciences in Bologna and serves as Curator of the Torino hub of Global Shapers, World Economic Forum. His interests led him to attend various courses, including D20Leader, OpenPMI, Scuola di Politiche, Election Days, Media Ecology & Digital Communication Summer School, and Data Analytics Camp; Green Economy Program. Passionate about volunteering, he is involved in outreach and associations including the Center for Transdisciplinary Studies Excellence, Riasissu, Unione Matematica Italiana, Chiasmo, Neos Magazine, and has taught advanced mathematics in Turin high schools. He enjoys tennis, acting, behavioral economics, and psychoanalysis. When not working with numbers, he tries to change the world starting from his beloved city, Turin.
University: Università di Torino, Collegio di merito "Renato Einaudi", Scuola di Studi Superiori "Ferdinando Rossi", Collegio "Carlo Alberto", Università di Bologna
Gabriele De Canio
Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics
Gabriele De Canio is a Transformation Officer at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), European Space Agency (ESA). In this role, he led the development of a commercially and technically grounded roadmap to further automate space operations leveraging AI, and now oversees its implementation. This involves leading the development and application of all ESOC AI projects for ongoing and future missions. Previously, he used AI to automate operations, optimize onboard satellite resources, generate scientific data, and predict satellite behavior. He also coordinates ESA_Lab@Oxford, manages collaborations with University of Oxford, mentors for Creative Destruction Lab and Karman Pioneer, and advises space and AI startups. Before joining ESA, he co-founded a startup contributing to the circular economy using satellite imagery and agricultural waste and worked in McLaren Racing Formula 1 R&D. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from University of Cambridge.
University: University of Cambridge, Imperial College of London, Politecnico di Milano
Cesare De Virgilio Suglia
Community Medicine, Public Health, Welfare
Cesare is a physician specializing in Community Medicine and Primary Care and is completing a PhD in Public Health, Clinical Medicine, and Oncology at Università di Bari. He trained at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano and SDA Bocconi, focusing on welfare organization. He continues to train in prevention, healthy lifestyle, and nutrition through courses held in Bari, both inside and outside the university. He volunteers with Medici Con l’Africa, providing medications and medical services to vulnerable populations. He has trained thousands of students preparing for scientific faculty entrance exams and has served as student and PhD representative at Università di Bari and postgraduate students’ representative at the Ministry of Education.
University: Università di Bari, SDA Bocconi, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Filippo Di Betto
Political Science, International Relations
Filippo Di Betto, from Milan, born in 1999. After completing a scientific high school at Liceo Statale Luigi Cremona, he pursued Political Science and Social Sciences at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, earning a Bachelor’s in Political Science and International Relations and a Master’s in European and International Policies, both with honors. Since high school, he studied foreign languages independently (French, Russian, and German) and deepened his knowledge in International Law, History of International Relations, Geopolitics, and International Trade. Since 2024, he works at Eni in risk management and, since 2023, is a federal football referee (A.I.A.-F.I.G.C.) pursued with passion in his free time.
University: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano
Marco Di Furia
Literature, Philology, Pedagogy
Marco di Furia, 27, lives in Foggia. He is a PhD candidate with a research project on cyberbullying, focusing primarily on teacher training and innovative teaching methodologies. He has collaborated with the IASED research group at University of Seville, exploring topics related to developmental psychology and education. Passionate about communication and digital media, he contributes as a writer for the University of Foggia’s WebTV and WebRadio. Previously, he worked as a university orientation tutor at University of Foggia and as an educational tutor for the APS “La Goccia” and SRL “ProfAdvisor.” He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Literature in 2019 and a Master’s degree in Philology, Literature, and History in 2021.
University: Università di Foggia, Aix-Marseille Université, Universidad de Sevilla
Anna Paola Ercolino
Law
Anna Paola Ercolino is enrolled in the Law Faculty at Università degli Studi di Salerno and passionately embraces her academic years, participating in the National Moot Court Competition organized by the European Law Students' Association and other campus initiatives. She graduated with honors with a Master’s degree in Criminal Procedure and completed legal practice at a law firm specializing in civil law. After completing her internship at the First Criminal Section of the Avellino Court, she passed the competition and currently works as a Process Office Officer. She now serves as a civil servant at the Council of State, pursuing her dream of becoming a judge.
University: Università degli studi di Salerno
Chunyan Fu
Film and Screen Studies, Philosophy, Art History
Chunyan (Rebecca) Fu is a PhD student in Film and Screen Studies at University of Cambridge, researching at the intersection of cinema, art, and continental philosophy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Art History from Nanjing University. Her research project focuses on the concept of spectrality and explores the installation of moving images in contemporary art and their capacity to evoke memory and the past. Beyond academia, Chunyan is active as a curator, translator, cultural product designer, and social media editor. She has organized and served on juries for numerous film festivals, including the Cambridge Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, and Watersprite Film Festival, the largest student film festival in the UK and the second largest globally.
University: Università di Nanchino, University of Cambridge
Giulio Lao Fumagalli Romario
Chemical and Nuclear Engineering
Giulio Lao Fumagalli Romario holds an MEng in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering from Imperial College London and an MBA from Collège des Ingénieurs, Paris. With international experience in the UK, France, USA, and India (where he directed the construction of an air separation unit), he currently works as Project Manager at SOL Group, focusing on the development of innovative therapeutic schemes for dialysis.
University: Imperial College London, Collège des Ingénieurs
Carolina Grossetti
Economics and Finance
Carolina (born in 2000) is a Program Officer for the Mission “Developing the Territory in a Sustainable Way” at Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo. In this role, she develops, coordinates, and supports complex projects aimed at fostering growth and enhancing the value of Northwestern Italy, designing intervention models to relaunch and capitalize on local strategic assets—both tangible and intangible—and supporting public administrations and third-sector organizations in economic planning and access to funding opportunities. She graduated with honors in Economics and later in Corporate Finance and Financial Markets from the University of Turin. In collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo, she completed a master’s thesis on the relationship between ethics and artificial intelligence in credit allocation models, for which she was awarded Dignità di Stampa and recognized by the Bank of Italy as a “particularly outstanding student” within the Donato Menichella Scholarship (2024–2025). During her university years, she co-founded a startup aimed at encouraging young people to enroll in supplementary pension plans, which was later pre-incubated at the Politecnico di Torino Incubator. Her experience in financial services digitalization was further strengthened through an internship as Risk Management Digital Strategy and Initiatives Intern at Intesa Sanpaolo. Alongside her studies in finance, she pursued an interdisciplinary track at the “Ferdinando Rossi” School of Excellence, completing with honors a second-level Master’s degree in Governance and Natural Sciences. Long active in the third sector, she has been a member of the Young Advisory Board of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo and, in 2025, served as Impact Officer of the Turin Hub of Global Shapers, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.
University: Università di Torino, Scuola di eccellenza "Ferdinando Rossi"
Achraf Kibir
Economics
Achraf Kibir is an end-to-end marketer with over 8 years of experience in B2B events, MarTech, and EventTech. He holds a degree in Economics and Management from the University of Ferrara and a double degree in Economic Sciences from the University of Nice. He began his career in London at MPG, an agency, consultancy, and training provider specializing in B2B Event Marketing, where he managed marketing activities for expos, international conferences, and professional membership programs. He later led marketing efforts at the B2B SaaS company Ivent, a hybrid agency and digital product provider for the design, management, and delivery of virtual and hybrid events, contributing to the launch of two products from scratch and supporting a £1.5 million pre-seed investment round. Today, his work focuses on the integration of education and technology (EdTech), with a particular interest in designing digital learning pathways that combine user experience, behavioral psychology, and community architecture. As a mentor for A Choice for Life, he shares this interdisciplinary expertise to help students navigate education choices, digital skills, and emerging careers.
University: University of Ferrara, University of Nice
Iryna Kozar
Psychology, Business
Iryna Kozar specializes in people development and soft skills, with a focus on professionals and technical environments where innovation and technology require adaptability, effective communication, and resource management. After introducing H2OFF nanotechnology products to Europe and holding commercial management roles in industrial companies, she gained extensive experience in market development, sales training, and managing technological transitions. She holds a degree in Psychology and Sociology, with a specialization in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, a diploma as an Electrical Technician, and an Executive MBA. Since 2025, she is also a Civil and Commercial Mediator. Through her consultancy AUROMED, she designs corporate academies, training programs, and coaching pathways, helping professionals and companies navigate complex changes in a structured and sustainable way.
University: Università Nazionale Pedagogica di Poltava-Ucraina, Università Bicocca di Milano, Università Cattolica di Milano
Dominik Krzeminski
Data Science, A.I. Specialist
Dominik Krzemiński is a Polish data scientist and Senior A.I. Specialist at Arm, Cambridge (UK), focusing on hardware-applied AI. He graduated with honors in Applied Physics at University of Warsaw. In 2016, he became a software engineer at Samsung, then joined University of Cardiff for a PhD in Computational Neuroscience, at the intersection of machine learning and psychophysics. Moving to Cambridge in 2021, he held a dual postdoctoral fellowship at University of Cambridge and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). His research focuses on human decision-making mechanisms, invertebrate connectomics, and the relationship between neural tissue structure and function. Co-author of 12+ publications, he is active in the developer community. In 2019, he co-organized the largest R conference in the UK, becoming a Fellow of the Software Sustainability Institute the following year.
University: Università di Varsavia, Cardiff University, University of Cambridge
Alfredo La Serra
Business Administration, Marketing
Alfredo La Serra, from Crotone, began his academic path at Università della Calabria, Cosenza, near his hometown. During his second year in the Bachelor’s program in Business Administration, he received a scholarship to study for a year at Fairmont State University, USA. Upon returning to Italy, he pursued a Master’s in International Business and Economics at Università di Pavia, taught in English. With a scholarship for a double degree, he simultaneously completed a Master of Arts in European Business at University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He specializes in marketing, holding roles as Trade Marketing Assistant, Product Manager, and Brand Manager in Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
University: Università della Calabria, Università di Pavia, Università di Friburgo
Elisabetta Leo
Biomedical Research, Anticancer Drug Development
Elisabetta Leo holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology and a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology from Università di Padova. In 2001, she moved to London for her PhD and later a postdoc at University College London. In 2008, she joined the Center for Cancer Research (NCI/NIH) in Bethesda, USA, studying proteins as biomarkers and drug targets in genitourinary and breast cancers, mechanisms of new anticancer drugs, and factors predicting chemotherapy response. In 2012, she moved to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, focusing on discovering and validating new targets and drugs. In 2015, she returned to the UK, joining a DDU at Cancer Research UK. Since 2016, she has been at AstraZeneca (AZ) in anticancer R&D. She currently serves as Early Development Global Asset Lead for new anticancer drug R&D in a pharmaceutical company in London. Outside work, she enjoys time with loved ones, outdoor sports, discovering new places, and hiking and via ferrata in the Dolomites.
University: Università di Padova, University College London
Chiara Leopardi Dittaiuti
Aerospace Engineering
Chiara Leopardi Dittaiuti, from Rome, born in 2001, is a student at ISAE-SUPAERO, Toulouse, completing a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering. She is concluding her studies with an internship at Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) as a Predevelopment Engineer for Future Space Technologies. She is also working on a research project in the System Engineering department, defining requirements for future human space missions. She earned her Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering with top marks at La Sapienza, Rome, with a thesis on hybrid rocket propulsion. She gained experience working six months as a System Engineer and Mission Manager Support Engineer in the Fleet area at D-Orbit, Fino Mornasco (Como, Italy). She speaks fluent Italian, English, and French.
University: Sapienza, ISAE-SUPAERO
Flavia Manzo Margiotta
Medicine, Dermatology
Flavia Manzo Margiotta, from Taranto, born in 1995, is a dermatology resident at Università di Pisa. She is also a PhD student at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, where she was a regular fellow and Medical Sciences representative during her medical studies. Her research focuses on inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, hidradenitis suppurativa, and psoriasis. She was a Visiting Fellow at Temple University and Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and Ricardo Palma University, Lima. She is a member of multiple professional societies, including the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) and the Italian Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (SIDeMaST). She has also contributed editorially, including for the magazine Il Chiasmo, published by Treccani.
University: Università di Pisa, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
Flavia Marconi
Civil Engineering
Flavia Marconi, from Rome, born in 1997, is a civil engineer and PhD student in the National Doctorate in Earth Observation, with a fellowship on the observation and modeling of spatio-temporal precipitation fields at La Sapienza University of Rome and the Scuola Superiore di Studi Avanzati. Her research focuses on extreme precipitation and drought events and hydraulic protection of territories. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering with top marks at La Sapienza University of Rome. In 2022, she completed a special program at IHE-Delft, Institute for Water Education. She is currently a Visiting Researcher at Princeton University in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department under the Fulbright-Enel Foundation Climate Change Scholarship Programme. She also tutors university students in courses including Calculus and Probability & Statistics, and serves as assistant lecturer for Hydrology and Hydraulic Infrastructures.
University: La Sapienza Università di Roma, Scuola Superiore di Studi Avanzati, IHE-Delft - Institute for Water Education
Edoardo Massaccesi
Economics, Management, Finance
Edoardo Massaccesi currently lives in London, working in the Corporate & Investment Banking division at J.P. Morgan. He is a former student of Economics and Management at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and studied Economics at the University of Pisa. He attended courses in financial subjects at HEC Paris and the London School of Economics and Political Science. During university, he gained experience in a consulting firm, the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), and the Ministry of Economic Development. In the last three years, working in both Milan and London offices of J.P. Morgan, he has developed extensive experience in the financial sector.
University: Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Università di Pisa, HEC Paris, London School of Economics and Political Sciences
Francesca Mazzotta
Chemistry, Microscopy, Nanomaterials
Francesca Mazzotta, originally from Rome, is a postdoctoral researcher in chemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research. After completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry at the University of Tor Vergata, she continued with a research experience at Lund University. She then pursued a PhD focused on microscopy. Through an internship at the Technical University of Eindhoven and the international company Covestro, she developed deep expertise in super-resolution microscopy. Her current research focuses on using cryogenic electron microscopy to study nanomaterial structures.
University: Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Max Plank Institute, Lund University, Technical University of Eindhoven
Virginia Motta
Work Psychology, Human Resources, Piano
Virginia Motta, born in 1999 in Milan and raised in Rome, is a licensed Occupational Psychologist in Italy, specializing in Learning & Development with a focus on the Tech & Data domain. She has three years of experience in Human Resources Development and Training and currently works in the Netherlands, where she is responsible for onboarding, learning program design, and the coordination of corporate workshops, adopting a people-centric approach focused on impact and personal and organizational growth. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences and Techniques from LUMSA University in Rome (2021) and a master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan (2023). She is a certified TMA (Talent Motivation Analysis) professional and serves as an internal coach within her company, supporting individuals in their development journeys. A former pianist, she graduated from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome in 2021, and is actively involved in volunteering activities as well as in a corporate mental well-being initiative (“Dentro”, AC4L, Listening Post). With strong organizational skills, a proactive mindset, and a solid work ethic, she thrives in dynamic and fast-evolving environments, contributing energy, positivity, and a strong focus on tangible results.
University: Università LUMSA di Roma, Università Cattolica di Milano, Conservatorio Santa Cecilia di Roma
Emmanuele Napoli
Law
Emmanuele Napoli, born in 1998, originally from Palermo and raised in Milan, is completing his Law studies at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. During university, he was active in student politics and represented the academic community at the Academic Senate. He is a co-founder of OneHour4Europe and was ambassador for the Megalizzi Foundation in 2021/2022. In Milan, he attended the Augustinianum College for five years. He currently works as a civil servant at the Regional Council of Lombardy.
University: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano
Maddalena Pacelli
Biotechnology, Molecular Biology
Maddalena Pacelli is Coordinator and promoter of the Biotechnology and Biomedicine Business Unit at Eupaxx S.p.A Società Benefit, where she directs the strategic vision for the development of medicinal products for advanced therapies (ATMPs). She collaborates with major research institutions including La Sapienza University, Policlinico Tor Vergata, INBB, and the Gaslini Institute. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biotechnology and Genetics & Molecular Biology from La Sapienza University of Rome with top marks. She completed PhD studies in Immunogenomics at the Weizmann Institute of Science and is currently completing a PhD in Life Sciences at La Sapienza. She also holds an International Master in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of Valencia in collaboration with Rome Business School. Maddalena has research experience in institutions such as IIT and MDC-BIMSB and contributes to scientific publications in immunogenomics, bioinformatics, machine learning, and biotechnology. She is passionate about innovation and transforming healthcare through precision medicine, establishing joint labs with universities and diagnostic labs.
University: Weizmann Institute of Science, Sapienza Università di Roma, Università di Valencia, Rome Business School, Istituto italiano di tecnologia, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology
Adele Palma
Constitutional Law, Public Law
Adele Palma, from La Spezia, born in 1996, works at the Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea, managing the ports of La Spezia and Marina di Carrara. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science – Public Administration curriculum. She served as student representative at the University of Genoa’s Higher School, earning a second-level Master’s thesis on the maritime-port sector. In 2022, she was a finalist for the Premio Italia Giovane, recognizing young talents under 35. In 2023, she joined The International Propeller Club, an international cultural association promoting networking among maritime leaders. In 2024, she completed a second-level Master in Innovation in Public Administration. She is also a mother to a daughter named Aurora Sofia.
University: Università di Genova IANUA - Scuola Superiore dell'Università di Genova
Fabiola Palumbo
Project Manager
Fabiola Palumbo is a project manager and consultant specializing in participatory policy. She collaborates with public and private organizations in the design and implementation of youth policy programs, participatory processes, and community management initiatives.
Currently, among her various roles, she coordinates the Galattica – Rete Giovani Puglia program and serves as a youth policy consultant for the Regione Puglia at ARTI Puglia. She also works as a community management consultant for the Dipartimento della Funzione Pubblica of the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri.
She carries out training and project design activities for numerous private organizations. She is co-founder of Kreact APS and a member of the Board of Directors of the national network Europiamo ETS, where she holds responsibilities for organizational development and external communication.
University: University of Padova
Cristiano Peron
Medicine, Oncology
Cristiano Peron is a medical doctor and researcher. After earning his medical degree at the University of Bologna in 2018, he moved to Oxford for a PhD in Oncology, completed in 2023. He has combined laboratory research with the design and execution of numerous clinical trials. He currently lives in Boston, USA, continuing his work to improve patient care for various diseases.
University: Università di Bologna, University of Oxford
Simone Roccoli
Economics, Finance, Consulting
Simone Roccoli, born in 1997 in the Marche region, lives in London, where he pursues an MBA at the London Business School. He has experience in management consulting at McKinsey & Company in Milan and cloud computing at Amazon Web Services in Madrid. He studied internationally in Italy, the USA, and the UK, attending Bocconi University, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
University: London Business School, Università Bocconi, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, London School of Economics and Political Science
Carlo Scarcia
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Carlo Scarcia, born in 1994, is a PhD student in Engineering at CERN through the RWTH Aachen University Physics Department. Previously a CERN Technical Student, his research focuses on ultra-high vacuum systems (accelerators and interferometers for gravitational wave detection) and metallic materials (mainly steel and aluminum). He is currently involved in designing the Einstein Telescope vacuum system and collaborates with international universities and institutions including LIGO, VIRGO, MIT, CalTech, NIST, INFN, and Nikhef. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Materials Engineering from UniMoRe.
University: UniMoRe, RWTH Aachen University
Francesca Sisci
Architecture
Francesca Sisci is an architect and Ph.D. researcher whose work explores architectural representation through a multidisciplinary lens, bridging art and architectural history and theory with photography and visual perception. Her research focuses on the theoretical legacy of Robert Venturi and includes a pioneering study, conducted under the supervision of Professor David Brownlee (University of Pennsylvania), which uncovered a substantial collection of previously unpublished graphic material related to Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966). This work later became the foundation for her book Il mondo visivo di Robert Venturi, to be published by Quodlibet in 2026. In 2025, she received the H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship from the Society of Architectural Historians (Chicago) for her project The Journey of Female Architecture & Architects, involving research travel to architectural sites connected to matrilineal societies. She has also served as national coordinator and scientific director of a series of events marking Venturi’s centennial, and taught Descriptive Geometry as an adjunct professor at the Politecnico di Bari. Her research has been presented in international journals and conferences, and in 2022 she was awarded the College Italia residency in New York City.
University: Politecnico di Bari, University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
Luca Tognari
Medicine, Biology
Born in Forte dei Marmi in 2003, Luca Tognari is a medical student at the University of Pisa and a regular student at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies. During his studies, he conducted research on the interaction between gut microbiota and nervous and cardiovascular systems at the University of Cambridge and the CNR of Pisa.
University: Università di Pisa, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
Giovanni Maria Tomaselli
Physics
Born in 1997 in Benevento, Giovanni Maria Tomaselli studied physics at the Scuola Normale Superiore and the University of Pisa. Specialized in theoretical physics, he then moved to the University of Amsterdam for his PhD. He is currently a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. His research focuses on black holes, gravitational waves, dark matter, astrophysics, and cosmology. He is part of the organizing committees for Physics and Mathematics Olympiads, which he participated in during high school.
University: Scuola Normale Superiore, University of Amsterdam, Institute for Advanced Study
Giorgia Vendra
Legal Studies, Legal Consulting
Born in central Sicily in 1996, Giorgia Vendra attended classical and linguistic high school Ruggero Settimo in Caltanissetta, graduating with honors. She won a Comenius scholarship to spend three months at Lycée Marseilleveyre in Marseille. She studied Law at Sapienza University, graduating in July 2020 with top marks. In 2017, she received an Erasmus scholarship to attend a semester at Universidade Nova de Lisboa. She has collaborated with various law firms in Rome and completed an internship at the Supreme Court of Cassation. Since 2023, she is licensed to practice law and works as a legal specialist at the legislative office of the Minister of Tourism.
University: Università Sapienza
Irene Vettiyadan
Migration, Intercultural and International Relations
Irene is a candidate in the Erasmus Mundus European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations (EMMIR), offered by the University of Oldenburg and University of Stavanger, and a representative of EMMIR in the Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA). She previously earned a Bachelor’s in International Relations at Leiden University, where she worked as a research assistant and volunteered with Amnesty Netherlands and UNICEF Netherlands. She has participated in the Warwick Economic Summit (2020, 2021), the European Youth Debate (2021), and ACTIVAL (2021, 2022) for the SAME European solidarity movement. In 2022, she was a research assistant and conference coordinator at the Centre for Public Policy Research in Kochi, India, working on India’s G20 agenda, SDGs, and the Blue Economy. She has experience in migration, non-formal education, and intercultural dialogue in France and Greece.
University: Leiden University, European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations (EMMIR)
Viviana Viggiano
Theoretical Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Piano
After completing the International Classical High School with a German option, Viviana Viggiano decided to study Physics while continuing piano studies at the Conservatory. In 2021, she earned with honors both a Previgente Ordinamento Diploma in Piano at the Conservatory of Matera and a Master’s in Theoretical Physics at the University of Bari. She won the National “Milla Baldo Ceolin” Prize from the National Institute of Nuclear Physics for the “Women in Theoretical Physics” competition, which recognized the five best master’s theses in 2021 defended by women in Theoretical Physics. She is currently a PhD student in the QUANTUM group at the University of Bari, conducting research on collective effects in radiation-matter interaction in macroscopic quantum systems under the European QuantERA PACE-IN project. She is passionate about science communication, collaborating with the international magazine Physics World.
University: Università A. Moro di Bari, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Conservatorio di Musica E. Duni di Matera
Marta Giulia Viola
Medical Neuroscience, Health Policy Sciences
Marta earned a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. Realizing that her laboratory skills were not her strongest suit, she pursued a Master’s in Health Policy Sciences at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Combining scientific and economic studies, she developed a career in healthcare consulting. As a strategic consultant, Marta supports projects helping pharmaceutical companies define their goals and investors evaluate acquisition or sale opportunities. In all companies where she worked (Analysis Group; L.E.K. Consulting), she leveraged good relationships with charitable associations to carry out non-profit projects. She also learned languages like French, German, R, and Python, which she no longer uses regularly, but values all of them as worth learning.
University: London School of Economics, University of Sussex
