BRIEF CV


Since 1990 I have been working on Particle, Neutrino, and Astroparticle Physics.

I had my first important experience in two charmonium experiments at Fermilab (USA) which made the basis of my undergraduate thesis (1991) and PhD thesis (1995). In these years, mostly spent at Fermilab, I got skills in data analysis, simulation, electronics and particle detectors construction. Later, I worked from 1995 to 1999 in the BaBar experiment (SLAC, California) for the study of CP violation in B meson system.

In 1998 I got a permanent research position at INFN and switched to neutrino and astroparticle physics, working for Borexino and Cuore experiments at LNGS. In Borexino I have worked on many items. Since 2005, I have been the Chairman of the Steering Committee, the internal organism that manages all experimental activities of the experiment. I have been co-spokesperson of Borexino from 2011 to 2014.

In 2007 Borexino has published the first real time observation of Be7 solar neutrinos and is recognized to be the main experiment in solar neutrino physics now running in the world. Borexino has published the first clear detection of geo-neutrinos and the first low energy measurement of the B8 solar neutrinos. More recently, has also provided a precision measurement of Be-7 neutrinos, has discovered p-e-p neutrinos, and has improved geo-neutrino detection. In 2014 we have completed the first real time detection of pp neutrinos.

Since 2004 my group has also been involved in Cuore, for the search of neutrino-less double beta decay , the measurement of the neutrino mass and of its nature. Cuore search for decay of Te130 by means of bolometric detectors at Gran Sasso. We are in charge of data taking, mechanical design and part of material cleaning. The experiment is now under construction and data taking is foreseen for 2016.

In 2013 I got an ERC Adv Grant for the realization of the SOX project, which is aimed at the search of sterile neutrinos with neutrino generators put close to the Borexino detector.

Since 2005 I have been Professor at Genova University, teaching General and Nuclear Physics, and Astroparticle Physics and Astrophysics. In June 2014 I have been elected President of INFN CSN2 until June 2018.


Last update: January 2015