What is your position or role in the DESI project?
I am part of the lead author group preparing the C3 lensing mock challenge, and in particular, I am leading the effort to calibrate the source redshift distribution of the weak lensing catalogues using the technique of “clustering redshifts”.
Where were you born?
I was born in Italy, in the snowy Alps. I then moved to Milan when I was 10 years old.
Where do you live now?
In 2018 I moved to Australia, and I now live between Melbourne and Brisbane.
What do you do as part of DESI?
My research goal is to investigate possible modifications to the current theory of gravity (General Relativity). From an observational viewpoint, these modifications can be tested by measuring the relative effect of gravity on light (that is, on relativistic particles) and on matter (that is, on galaxy positions). My plan is to combine the three-dimensional distribution of galaxies mapped by DESI with the weak lensing measurements provided by surveys such as the Dark Energy Survey (DES).
What is the most interesting or exciting thing about your job?
There are different aspects I enjoy of my job. In general, I love spending time learning new skills and deepening my knowledge on various topics.
Any advice for an aspiring scientist?
Be curious and find good mentors!
What do you do for fun?
I am a very active person. I love the ocean and the mountains. I enjoy surfing, hiking, op-shopping, visiting art galleries and baking. I miss the snow very much. I started skiing when I was two years old and won my first gold medal at the age of six.
If you weren’t a scientist, what would be your dream job?
I always wanted to be a journalist or a writer. I love art and literature, especially Italian literature. When I was 17 I started working for a local newspaper, but then quit to study physics two years later.
What excites/interests you most about DESI?
At the moment, I am very excited to see what dark questions we will be answering with the upcoming DESI data!
