Short biosketch

Roberto (born 1975, Italy) is Professor of Experimental Soft Matter Physics at the University of Vienna, where he leads the SoMeX (Soft Matter Experiments) laboratory. He obtained his PhD in Physics from the University of Milan in 2004, following earlier work on convective instabilities in complex fluids. He subsequently held a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Intra-European Fellowship at the University of Fribourg (2006–2007), where he further developed experimental approaches to non-equilibrium soft matter systems.  

He pursued his academic career at the University of Milan, where he served as Ricercatore (2007–2015) and Associate Professor (2015–2021) in the field of applied and medical physics, before moving to Vienna in 2021. His international profile has been strengthened through visiting appointments and research stays at leading institutions, including the University of Ottawa (2010), ENS Lyon (2018), and ESPCI Paris (2025).  

Roberto's research combines experimental innovation with quantitative analysis to investigate soft and biological matter. He is recognized for contributions to optical methods for probing dynamics and transport in complex systems, including the development of Differential Dynamic Microscopy (DDM), which has become a broadly adopted technique for extracting multi-scale dynamical information from microscopy data.  His work spans non-equilibrium soft materials, active matter, and living systems, with applications ranging from complex fluids to cellular and tissue-scale phenomena.

In addition to his research activities, he plays an active role in the scientific community. He is an Associate Editor of Soft Matter and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He contributes to European space science through his membership in the Human Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC) and the European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC). Since October 2024, he serves as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Physics at the University of Vienna.  

Roberto's work is characterized by a strongly interdisciplinary approach, bridging physics, biology, and engineering, and by sustained engagement in international collaborations and large-scale research initiatives, including experiments conducted under microgravity conditions.