About
Hi, I'm Roberto. I'm an engineer working on catastrophe risk, and I live in London.
During my PhD at the Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy) I started coding, and realised I love solving engineering problems with it.
Soon I wanted to share those algorithms, especially with non-coders, so I started writing small apps. Today I'm an Associate Professor of Catastrophe Risk Modelling at University College London, where I co-direct the DE|RISC Lab, and the founder of OpenVulnerability. I also consult on risk modelling, especially fragility and vulnerability.
Short CV
Professional experience
Associate Professor of Catastrophe Risk Modelling
University College of London, London, United Kingdom. January 2024 - Present- Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction (RDR)
- Admission tutor for the MSc programs in RDR
Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Catastrophe Risk Modelling
University College of London, London, United Kingdom. January 2022 - December 2023- Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR)
- Admission tutor for the MSc programs in IRDR
Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow
University College of London, London, United Kingdom. November 2019 - December 2021- Individual fellowship "MULTIRES: MULTI-level framework to enhance seismic RESilience of RC buildings"
- €212,934 European funding
Research Fellow
University College of London, London, United Kingdom. June 2018 - October 2019- Participation in the research project "INSPIRE: INdonesia School Programme to Increase REsilience"
- Seismic risk assessment: fragility analysis and loss analysis
Research collaborator and expert of the field (design of bridges)
Polytechnic Univeristy of Bari, Bari, Italy. February 2018 - May 2018- Research related to seismic assessment of existing RC bulidings and bridges
- Lectures for the "Theory and design of bridges". 50 students, 40 hours
- Tutoring of Master theses. 13 students, to date
Visiting researcher: "SAFER & Sustainable" group
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. September 2016 - February 2017- Participation in the working group for the draft of the 2017 New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering seismic assessment guidelines (RC buildings part)
- Seismic assessment of existing RC buildings: residual capacity and real case studies
- Participation to the reconnaissance in the aftermath of the Mw 7.8 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake
Visiting researcher: "SAFER" group
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. November 2015 -- February 2016- Seismic assessment of existing RC buildings: real case studies subjected to earthquake demand
Intern
Aleandri S.p.A., Bari, Italy. September 2014 - November 2014- 3D model of a prestressed RC beam for its structural analysis during the construction stages
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, seismic engineering
Polytechnic Univeristy of Bari, January 2018, magna cum laudeThesis title
Extension, refinement and validation of the Simple Lateral Mechanism Analysis (SLaMA) for the seismic assessment of RC structures
Advisors
prof. Giuseppina Uva, prof. Domenico Raffaele, prof. Stefano Pampanin
Master's degree, building engineering
Polytechnic Univeristy of Bari, October 2014, magna cum laudeThesis title
Parametric capacity analysis of RC bridge piers with circular section
Advisor: prof. Domenico Raffaele
Erasmus
Polytechnic Univeristy of Madrid, February-July 2013Advisor: prof. Pilar Izquierdo
Bachelor's degree, building engineering
Polytechnic Univeristy of Bari, November 2012, magna cum laudeThesis title
Shear behaviour of RC beams with recycled aggregates
Advisor: prof. Mariella Diaferio
Single course
ROSE School (IUSS), Pavia, Italy.Course title
Seismic design of low damage concrete and timber structures (160 hours)
prof. Stefano Pampanin