Research Interests
My research interests are in urban forest modeling and tree ecophysiology. I study the ecosystem services of urban trees to improve air quality and microclimate. The aim is to find suitable nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change and air pollution effects improving the environmental sustainability of cities.
1 | Urban Forestry - Modeling - Tree Ecophysiology - Ecosystem Services - PhytoTechnologies - Green Cities |
Research Experience
since May 2022
Postdoctoral researcher
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
GrüneLunge project 2.0 - Transformation towards resilient urban forests
https://www.projekt-gruenelunge.de/
KIT Profile: https://www.imk-ifu.kit.edu/english/staff_Rocco.Pace.php
Plant Ecophysiology Lab: https://ecophys.imk-ifu.kit.edu/May 2020 - May 2022
Research Fellow
National Research Council (CNR), Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), Porano, TR, Italy
Project EUFORICC − Establishing Urban Forest based solutions In Changing Cities
(PRIN 20173RRN2S) https://www.euforicc.it/
Implementation and validation of a model to estimate the deposition of air pollutants based on the morphological and physiological characteristics of trees as well as on microclimatic conditions considering also extreme climatic events.
Supervisor: Dr. Carlo Calfapietra
https://publications.cnr.it/authors/roccopaceMay - Jun 2019
Research visit
National Research Council (CNR), Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), Porano, TR, Italy
Comparing modeled PM2.5 flux deposition with eddy covariance technique and SEM analysis.
Supervisor: Dr. Carlo CalfapietraSep - Nov 2018
Research visit
United States Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Syracuse, NY, USA
Modeling tree transpiration to evaluate the cooling effect on air temperature.
Supervisor: Dr. David NowakNov 2016 - Feb 2020
PhD Student
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Completion of the Helmholtz Graduate School KIT-GRACE (Graduate School for Climate and Environment) qualification program
Green2clean project aimed to determine the impact of urban trees on temperature and air quality in three European cities: Munich, Berlin, and Rome. The model-based investigation includes scenario analyses regarding plant species selection and green space distribution to optimize climate and air quality under current and future conditions.
Supervisor: Dr. Rüdiger GroteApr - Aug 2016
Erasmus traineeship / Research Fellow
IASS Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany
“Green City” concept and indicators for evaluating environmental sustainability
Supervisor: Dr. Galina ChurkinaNov 2014 - Mar 2015
Internship
ARPA Umbria, Regional Environmental Protection Agency, Terni, Italy
Development of a database on phytoremediation applications to hydrocarbon contaminated soils
Supervisors: Prof. Paolo De Angelis, Ing. Andrea SconocchiaJune 2012 - Mar 2013
Internship
Università degli Studi della Basilicata, School of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy
Monitoring forest soil quality
Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Scopa