About Me
I am a postdoctoral scientist in the Atmospheric Physics group of Prof. Ulrike Lohmann at ETH Zurich, where I am investigating the role of ice-nucleating particles in mixed-phase clouds using global climate models.
I completed my PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the Institute for Atmospheric Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Under the supervision of Prof. Jos Lelieveld and Prof. Holger Tost, my doctoral research focused on vegetation–climate interactions, specifically the role of biogenic volatile organic compound emissions in the Earth system.
Before my PhD, I completed a fellowship in Earth Observation at the European Space Agency (ESA) in Frascati, Italy. I hold a BSc in Physics & Mathematics and an MSc in Geosciences from the University of Malta.
Research
My work sits at the intersection of atmospheric physics and chemistry, climate science and Earth-system modelling — with a particular interest in the processes that shape clouds, and the part they play in the climate system.
Earth-system modelling
Coupled global models, used to follow how a change in one part of the system propagates through the rest.
Aerosol–cloud interactions
How particles seed droplets and ice crystals — still the largest single uncertainty in the climate forcing record.
Cloud physics
The microphysics inside a cloud: nucleation, growth, freezing, and the step from droplet to precipitation.
Aerosol–climate interactions
The response of the climate system to aerosol, from direct scattering of sunlight through to circulation change.
Vegetation–atmosphere interactions
Biogenic volatile organic compounds, and the chemistry that couples the land biosphere to aerosol and cloud.
Convection
How convection organises, carries moisture and aerosol upward, and drives extreme rainfall.
Also
- Earth observation
- Satellite remote sensing
- Shipping emissions
- Light pollution
Beyond Research
I co-founded and managed the environmental NGO Għaqda Siġar Maltin in Malta, dedicating several years to promoting ecological sustainability. I am passionate about trees, birds, and the natural environment. I enjoy working with satellite data and also operate several personal environmental sensors in Malta. As part of my conservation work, I help to raise awareness about light pollution and advocate for the preservation of Malta’s remaining Dark Sky Heritage Areas. Beyond these projects, I enjoy biking, hiking, and capturing the beauty of nature through photography.