Main Research Fields

My research sits at the intersection of accretion physics and the development of next-generation space missions. I am particularly interested in how matter interacts with compact objects and in how insights from these extreme systems can help guide the design of future X-ray observatories. 

I study the diverse behaviour of accreting neutron stars, from the structured and highly dynamic stellar winds in high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) systems to the remarkable emission of pulsating ultraluminous X-ray (PULX) sources. These systems serve as natural laboratories where radiation, magnetic fields, and extreme accretion come together in ways that continually challenge our theoretical understanding. 

My research interests are also shaped by my experience in the space industry, where I contributed to the development of the NewAthena optics. At synchrotron radiation facilities in Berlin (BESSY II) and Barcelona (ALBA), I worked with large experimental datasets and built the software tools needed to assemble and characterise mirror modules with high precision. We aligned these mirrors into their nominal and confocal configurations using X-rays, and I find it genuinely motivating to think that the modules I helped assemble may one day fly on NewAthena and reflect the photons we will use to study systems as fascinating as HMXBs and PULXs - this blend of instrumentation and observational astrophysics is what fuels my professional motivation. 

I am equally committed to scientific outreach and to motivating future generations of scientists. I give talks in high schools, supervise student research projects, and engage with classrooms to show what scientific work looks like in practice. I also discuss physics on a radio podcast, aiming to make complex ideas accessible while preserving their depth and beauty. Communicating the elegance of physics is a challenge, but it remains one of the most rewarding parts of my work.