Architect, PhD in Urban Planning and researcher at the CNR since 2001, she is Senior Researcher (2010) and member of the Scientific Board of IRISS since 2015.

She developed research activities since 1994 in national and international universities and in 2000 started coordinating research groups and projects regarding heritage-led urban regeneration, multicultural city, urban safety and security, cohesion policies for territorial balancing.

She is visiting scholar in European and USA universities and collaborates with several international research institutions. Since 2010 she is member of the AESOP TG Public Space and Urban Culture in which she has been coordinator (2015-2019) and is currently member of the Advisory Board.

Dissemination and exploitation activities have been developed through: books and journal articles, editor and reviewer activities, conferences: as organizer, chair, scientific committee and keynote. She is member of the Managing Board of the Italian Scientific Society of Urban Planners (SIU) in which she coordinates the Thematic Group on Marginalized and In-between areas.

Among others teaching activities, she is developing academic courses in Italian universities since 1996 and internationally, since 2012, within IRSES Marie Curie projects, PhD courses and international summer schools. She is member of the Academic Board of the International Doctorate Programme Urban Regeneration and Economic Development. In 2013 she obtained the National Scientific Qualification in the field of Urban and Regional Planning and Design (Second Tier) and in 2023 the National Scientific Qualification in the field of Urban and Regional Planning and Design (First Tier)