My scientific research is focused on the analysis of images and spectra in the visible and near infrared of small bodies of the Solar System: comets and asteroids. In particular:
1. Characterization and taxonomic classification of Near Earth Asteroids (NEA) and objects potentially dangerous (Potentially Hazardous Asteroids, PHA) within the project
European NEOROCKS (Near Earth Object Rapid Observation, Characterization and Key Simulations)
2. Spectroscopic observations from Earth at medium resolution in the visible and near infrared (TNG, VLT, JWST) of Dynamically New Comets (DNC) as part of the mission
Space Comet Interceptor (CI) of ESA as Co-Investigator of the mission and leader of the ISSI team for the study of DNC.
3. Photometric and Spectroscopic Observations from the Earth of the binary asteroid NEA (65803) Didymos and other NEAs and PHAs as part of and in support of ESA's HERA space missions and NASA DART as a Science Team Member and as a WG2 member
4. Study of photodissociation and gas emission processes and physical characterization of dust in comets, in particular 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko as Associate Scientist of the OSIRIS instrument of the ESA / Rosetta mission.

2021 - today RUA - Researcher with a fixed-term contract of type A.
2021 Research fellowship (PostDoc) at UniParthenope University of Naples
2020 Research Scholarship (PostDoce) at UNIPD
2019 Visiting Scientist - Max Planck for Solar Systema Research Goettingen, Germany
2018 Research Grant at CISAS / UNIPD (PostDoc)
2017 Visiting Astronomer - Galileo National Telescope (TNG) La Palma, Canary Islands
2016-2018 Research Grant at UNIPD (PostDoc)
2014 Visiting Scientist at University of Marylan, USA
2014-2016 Junior Research Grant at UNIPD (PostDoc)
2012 Faculty Research Assistant at University of Maryland (10 months)
2011-2014 PhD in Astronomy
2008 Visiting Scientist - Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) Germany
2008 ESAC Faculy Trainee at European Space Astronomy Center, Madrid (3 months)

AWARDS
30/09/2016 Award: Rosetta Mission Certificate - European Space Agency, ESA Certificate of Recognition "In recognition of the outstanding contribution of Dr. Fiorangela La Forgia"
1/31/2012 Award: University of Maryland, Small Bodies Group Funding $ 7,500
01/06/2008 Award: ESAC, Faculty Award ESAC-047 Research Grant

INVITED TALKS
07/30/2020 Invited Talk at Shangai Tech International PhD School 2020. Virtual Meeting (for COVID). Invited by prof. Ernesto Carafoli, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the Zurich Polytechnic. Talk title: "Oceans from the Stars"
08/27/2019 Invited Talkpresso Shangai Tech International PhD School 2019, Asiago (VI), Italy. Invited by prof. Ernesto Carafoli, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the Zurich Polytechnic. Title: “Oceans from the Stars“.
12/06/2018 Invited Talk at International PhD School: Stable and Chaotic Motions in the Planetary Problem, Asiago Astrophysical Observatory, Vicenza, Italy. Invited by Prof. Gabriella Pinzari, Principal Investigator of the European project H2020 "Stable and Chaotic Motions in the Planetary Problem".
Title: “Gas analysis in coma of comet 67P through OSIRIS images“.

Notices