I was awarded the BSc and MSc degrees in Physics from University of Burgundy (Dijon, France) in 1998. I joined the Photonics Research Group (PRG) at Aston University in 1999, where I received a PhD degree for studies on optical solitons and nonlinear solitary waves in 2002. Since then, I have been working with the PRG (Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, AiPT, since 2012), where I am a Principal Senior Research Fellow. I was appointed to the position of Affiliate Professorial Researcher by the National Institute for Nuclear Physics, National Laboratories of the South (INFN-LNS; Catania, Italy) in February 2025. Over the past fifteen years, I have been a Senior Lecturer with the Electrical, Electronic and Power Engineering (EEPE) subject group and the Programme Director and Director of Studies for the BSc and MPhys programmes in Applied Physics and for the MSc degree programme in Communication Systems and Wireless Networking at Aston University.

I have broad mathematical and numerical modelling expertise in nonlinear optics and photonics, specialised in bridging the methods of mathematics and nonlinear science theories with their application in the context of optical communications, optical signal processing and laser systems, and to the engineering of novel optical devices and subsystems. This distinctive aspect of my research has led to works that are useful to a wide community, spanning optical telecommunications and applied mathematics.  I have recently expanded my activities to the application of machine learning (ML) methods to the design and operation of photonic devices and systems and the optimisation and control of ultrafast dynamics, alongside with the development of ML-enabled digital signal processing (DSP) for high-capacity optical networks.

I have published >80 papers in international peer-reviewed academic journals (7 invited, 2 editorials), 5 book chapters, and >190 papers in refereed international conference proceedings (59 invited conferences in the areas of photonics, optical engineering, applied physics and applied mathematics). I have co-edited a book on 'Shaping Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers' (Wiley).

I have been the Principal Investigator in 3 research projects funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and The Leverhulme Trust, and 2 British Council-supported collaborative research projects with French and Italian institutions. I have led an Erasmus+ Mobility programme with the Russian Federation  and I have been the UK Project Leader and Coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Partnership programme NANOPHI: Europe-Asia-Pacific Exchange Programme in Nanophotonics between European, Australian and New Zealand institutions, funded by the European Commission. I have been the Academic in charge and Supervisor of a Marie S.-Curie Fellowship project, and I have established at Aston the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) programme EMIMEP – European Master for Industry in Microwave Electronics and Photonics (formerly EMIMEO),  a collaborative postgraduate programme delivered by an international consortium of top-level higher education institutions, of which I am the UK Academic Leader. 

I am currently the UK Project Leader of the project MELITE – MaritimE sea Laser Instrumentation for Tectonic dynamics Exploration, which is a collaborative effort with researchers from France, Italy, Poland, and Israel, supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme. I am also the Project Leader on an Royal Society International Exchanges Cost Share grant to collaborate with the National Research Council, National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO) in Italy.   

I have brought 2 PhD students to successful completion of their studies as the primary supervisor and 2 as the associate supervisor, and I have been the line manager and supervisor of 3 Research Assistants employed on my research grants. 

My areas of interest and expertise include:

• Nonlinear wave theory and dissipative nonlinear waves
• Nonlinear optical pulse shaping and waveform generation
• Optical signal processing fibre-optics transmission lines and optical regeneration
• Design and nonlinear dynamics of ultrafast fibre lasers
• Ultralong fibre laser-based communication links
• Application of ML in ultrafast photonics
• ML-enabled DSP for optical communications

• • Italian Qualification (ASN) as a Professor (class 2) in the Telecommuncations section, 2025
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2013
• PhD in Engineering and Applied Science (Photonics)  - “Mathematical and numerical modelling of dispersion-managed solitons, autosolitons and self-similar optical pulses”, Aston University, 2002
• BSc and MSc with First Class Honours in Physics, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France, 1998

• 2020 - present: Principal Senior Research Fellow, Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (former School of Engineering and Applied Science), Aston University.
• 2009 – 2020: Lecturer, then Senior Lecturer in Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University.
• 2002 – 2009: Research Fellow, then Senior Research Fellow, Photonics Research Group, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University.

Research, cooperation and mobility grants

• “Erasmus Mundus on Innovative Microwave Electronics and Optics (EMIMEO)”. Erasmus+: Higher Education – Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (Call EAC-A05-2017) –Ref: 599060-EPP-1-2018-1-FR-EPPKA1-JMD-MOB. My role: Coordinator & Programme Director at Aston. Partners: Université de Limoges (Limoges, France); Università degli Studi di Brescia (Brescia, Italy); Aston University; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU; Leioa, Spain). Funding body: European Commission. Value: €3,568,000 (total). Duration: 2019–2023

• “Processing systems with optical delay (ProDelSys)”. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Individual Fellowships (Call H2020-MSCA-IF-2017)–Ref: 792421. Supervisor: Dr. Sonia Boscolo. Funding body: European Commission. Value: €183,454.80. Duration: 2018–2020

• “Europe-Asia-Pacific Exchange Programme in Nanophotonics (NANOPHI)”. Erasmus Mundus Action 2 – Erasmus Mundus Partnerships – Strand II (Call EACEA/18/13) – Ref: 552066-EM-1-2014-1-IT-ERA MUNDUS-EMA22. My role: Coordinator & Principal Investigator at Aston. Partners: Università degli Studi di Brescia (Brescia, Italy); Université Paris Diderot – Paris 7 (Paris, France); King’s College London (London, UK); Aston University; University of Crete (Heraklion, Greece); Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (Sofia, Bulgaria); Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (Jena, Germany); Australian National University (Canberra, Australia); Massey University (Auckland, New Zealand). Funding body: European Commission. Value: £111,607.14 (Aston University). Duration: 2014–2018

• Erasmus+ KA107, Mobility with partner countries – Ref: 2015-1-UK01-KA107-012618. Principal Investigator: Dr. Sonia Boscolo. Partner Country: The Russian Federation (Novosibirsk State University). Funding body: European Commission. Value: €72,940 (Aston University). Duration: Academic year 2015/16

• “Nonlinear waveguide-based all-optical waveform generators”. Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant – Ref: RPG-278. Principal Investigator: Dr. Sonia Boscolo. Funding body: The Leverhulme Trust. Value: 221,415. Duration: 2011–2015

• “Nonlinear pulse transformations in fibre optics”. Collaborative Research Grant – Alliance: Franco-British Research Partnership Programme – Ref: 10.002. My role: British Project Leader. Partners: Aston University, Université de Bourgogne (Dijon, France). Funding body: British Council (UK) & Ministère de la Recherche (France). Value: £4,400 (Aston University). Duration: 2010–2011

•  “Modelling of carbon nanotube based nonlinear saturable absorbers for all-optical processing applications”. Collaborative Research Grant – British-Italian Partnership Programme for Early Career Researchers – Ref: PP10/15. My role: British Project Leader. Partners: Aston University, Università degli Studi Brescia (Italy). Funding body: British Council (UK) & Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (Italy). Value: £3,000 (Aston University). Duration: 2010

• “Dissipative nonlinear structures for digital photonic technologies”. EPSRC First Grant – Ref: EP/F02956X/1. Principal Investigator: Dr. Sonia Boscolo. Funding body: The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Value: £313,339 (EPSRC contribution). Duration: 2008–2011

•  “Dissipative localized nonlinear optical structures”. Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship – Ref: ECF/2005/0400. Principal Investigator: Dr. Sonia Boscolo. Funding body: The Leverhulme Trust. Value: £40,383. Duration: 2005–2007

Travel grants

• Royal Society Conference Grant (2005)
• Royal Society Conference Grant (2004)
• Royal Academy of Engineering Travel Grant (2004)

Research students

• PhD project on “Surface nanoscale axial photonics”. Student: Sajid Zaki. Supervisory role: Co-supervisor. Start date: 1 April 2019.

• PhD project on “Femtosecond laser inscription of integrated optical devices for nonlinear optics”. Student: Teerawat Piromjitpong. Supervisory role: Main supervisor. Start date: 1 January 2016; Completion date: 31 July 2019.

• PhD project on “Design and optimisation of micro-structured waveguides in nonlinear crystals” (Leverhulme Trust funded). Student: Huseyin Karakuzu. Supervisory role: Main supervisor. Start date: 1 October 2012; Completion date: 31 December 2016.

• PhD project on “Numerical and statistical analysis of long-haul undersea optical communication systems”. Student: Terence Broderick. Supervisory role: Co-supervisor. Year of completion: 2009

• Supervision/Co-supervision of Master projects in telecommunications, wireless communications and networking, and electrical and electronic engineering (15 since 2010).

Research assistants

• Supervision of the work of the Marie S. Curie Research Fellow deployed on the funded project on “Processing systems with optical delay (ProDelSys)”. Research fellow: Dr. Marina Zajnulina. Duration: 2018–2020

• Supervision of the work of the PDRA deployed on the Leverhulme Trust funded project on “Nonlinear waveguide-based all-optical waveform generators”. Research assistant: Dr. Mykhaylo Dubov. Duration: 2011–2013

• Supervision of the work of the PDRA deployed on the EPSRC funded project on “Dissipative nonlinear structures for digital photonic technologies”. Research assistant: Dr. Brandon Bale. Duration: 2008–2011

My current administrative roles include:

• Project Coordinator and Programme Director for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree programme EMIMEO (2019-2020).

The following are the leadership and management roles that I have had at Aston University:

• REF Reviewer within EAS (2019).
• Programme Director for the BSc (Hons) and fast-track MPhys (Hons) Degree Programmes Applied Physics in EAS (2013–2020).
• Member of the EEPE Management Team (2018–2020).
• Leader of the Applied Physics Working Team (2015–2020).
• Member of the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AiPT) Management Team (from 2016).
• Laboratory Manager for the AiPT labs on high repetition rate femtosecond laser inscription (2017–2019) and waveguide characterisation (2018-2019).
• Member of the Athena Swan Self-assessment Team (2013/14).
• President of the AiPT Women’s Chapter (from 2013).
• Internal Examiner for two PhD theses (2013 & 2018). 

My contributions to external engagement include:

• Local Project Coordinator of an European Commission funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees Project involving academic institutions from France, Italy and Spain (2019-2023).
• Local Project Leader of an European Commission funded Erasmus Mundus Action 2 – Partnerships Project involving academic institutions from Italy, France, Germany, UK, Bulgaria, Greece, Australia, and New Zealand (2014-2018).
• Project Leader of an European Commission funded Erasmus+ KA107 – Mobility with partner countries Project with the Russian Federation (2015/16).
• Symposium Organiser at the SIAM Conference on Nonlinear Waves and Coherent Structures (2008 & 2014).
• Technical Programme Committee Member of the OSA Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (2021), the OSA Nonlinear Optics Topical Meeting (2019), the OSA Nonlin- ear Photonics Conference (2012 & 2018), the Photonics North 2014 Conference (2014) and the International Conference on Photonics, Optics and Laser Technology (2018).
• Technical session Chair at the Conference on Partial Differential Equations in Analysis and Mathematical Physics (2019), the 17th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (2015), the 2014 Advanced Photonics Congress (2014) and the Conference on Lasers and Electro- Optics Europe (2011 & 2015).
• Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Modern Optics (from 2019). 
• Co-editor of a scientific book (contemporary overview of selected topics in fibre optics) published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd in April 2017.
• Lead Guest Editor for a Special Issue of the International Journal of Optics (2012).
• External PhD Examiner at the University of Alcala` (Spain; 2014 & 2020), the University of Aberdeen (2017), the University of Birmingham (2018 & 2019), and the University of Southampton (2019). 

Room:  NW318
Phone:  0121 204 3495 
Email:  [email protected]