About Me

Hey, I'm Lucia and I'm currently navigating the labyrinth of academia as a postdoc in the Lab of Professor Vincenzo Carnevale at the Institute for Computational Molecular Science (ICMS) at Temple University.

For those who like their facts straight up, here’s my resume, my rollercoaster journey through the scientific wonderland.

Things I Can Do

I’m comfortable working in C++, Python, and even Bash scripting. Somewhere along the way, in the eternal “editor wars,” I ended up with Vim. I learned coding throughout university and research projects, experimenting with different tools, from ROOT to LAMMPS and GROMACS, driven by curiosity and a desire to solve real problems.

Over more than a decade, I've been working with data, identifying patterns, extracting insights, and communicating findings effectively. My strong background in mathematics and physics provides a solid foundation, shaping my analytical thinking and structured approach to problem-solving.

I thrive in multicultural environments where collaboration feels natural (and where sharing food is part of the fun). I enjoy creating visualizations that make data easier to understand, connecting people and ideas across three languages: English, Italian, and Spanish.

Outside of work, I love bringing people together, tinkering with crafts just for fun, and sometimes flipping my perspective, literally, because life is better when you go upside down.

Where I Am Now

Right here in the heart of the action – Philadelphia, PA, baby! The City of Brotherly Love, where the coordinates are roughly 40° 0′ 34″ N and 75° 8′ 0″ W. Yeah, that's the spot!

Picture this: biking around several Ben Franklin-related landmarks (a bridge, a museum, a parkway), two rivers, and various parks. I've turned biking into a Ben Franklin adventure.

And then there's the grand William Penn statue watching over the city, traffic lights doubling as sports climbing gear, and of course—cheesesteaks. It’s a Philly thing, and it’s glorious.

Education

My research has focused on the structure and dynamics of biopolymers such as DNA, RNA, and chromatin filaments, with particular emphasis on knotting problems. Over time, I expanded into protein systems (e.g. ion channels) and metamaterials (oxDNA).