Principal Investigator

Research

Stefano's research focuses on the development of mathematical models and computational tools to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of complex cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension. The overall goal of his research is to identify therapeutic targets, inform treatment strategies, and predict the outcome of pharmacological treatment.

Service

Stefano is a faculty member active in three UC Davis graduate groups: Biophysics (BPH), Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCP), and Biomedical Engineering (BME). He is the Chair of the BPH Recruitment & Outreach Committee, a co-Instructor of Record of MCP298, and a co-instructor of BPH200B. Stefano is a member of the I-DARE (Inclusion, Diversity, Anti-Racism, and Equity) Taskforce in the Department of Pharmacology, and serves as a faculty advisor for the UC Davis Academic Work Life Program. 

Professional experience

• Associate Professor in Residence @ UC Davis, Department of Pharmacology (07/2024-present)

• Assistant Professor in Residence @ UC Davis, Department of Pharmacology (07/2020-06/2024)

• Assistant Project Scientist @ UC Davis, Department of Pharmacology, Grandi Lab (09/2017-06/2020)

• Postdoctoral Scholar @ UC Davis, Department of Pharmacology, Bers Lab (08/2013-12/2014) & Grandi Lab (01/2015-08/2017)

Education

• Ph.D. in Bioengineering (2013) @ University of Bologna, Italy - Dissertation

• Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering (2009) @ University of Bologna, Italy

• Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Engineering (2006) @ University of Bologna, Italy

Professional memberships

• Cardiac Muscle Society (2016-18, 2024-present)

• Heart Rhythm Society (2016-18)

• International Society for Heart Research (2015-16)

• American Heart Association (2013-16)

• Cardiac Physiome Society (2012-present)

• Biophysical Society (2011-present)

• European Society of Cardiology - Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology (2010-present)

• Italian National Bioengineering Group (2010-present)

Awards and recognitions

• Graduate Program Advising and Mentoring Award 2023, UC Davis (08/2023)

• Biophysics Graduate Program Advising and Mentoring Award 2022-23, UC Davis (05/2023)

• UC Davis School of Medicine Early Career Faculty Funding Opportunity “Novel Program to Identify, Support and Retain Biomedical Researchers Impacted by Pandemic Caregiving Challenges” (04/2022)

• Junior Faculty Networking Cohort 2020 Member, Journal of General Physiology (10/2020)

• Travel Award, UC Davis Academic Federation (02/2019)

• NIH/NHLBI Pathway to Independence Award - Project title: “Modeling of subcellular signaling crosstalk in failing myocytes” (04/2018)

• Heart Rhythm Society Postdoctoral Fellowship - Project title: “Small-conductance Ca-activated K current in atrial fibrillation: friend or foe?” (07/2016)

• Early Career Investigator Travel Award, International Society for Heart Research – North American Section Meeting, Seattle, WA (06/2015) 

• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship - Project title: “Intracellular [Na] in cardiomyocytes – Consequences for APD and its rate-dependency” (01/2014)

• Ph.D. Fellowship, Italian Ministry of Education, University, and Research (01/2010)

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

Click here for publications' list

*** Updated on December 2024 ***