Francesco has been a Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Glasgow since 2019, with a primary focus on mathematics education and interests in mathematical physics. Prior to this, he was a Teaching Fellow at Newcastle University and an Associate Lecturer at Northumbria University. He obtained a PhD in Mathematics at Northumbria University, where he contributed to the development of a novel mathematical framework for understanding and describing phase transitions in statistical mechanics models.

Francesco is committed to enhancing learning and engagement in the mathematical sciences. His interests include active learning, student engagement, and the meaningful and equitable integration of GenAI into learning and teaching.

Francesco is also actively involved in outreach. He co-chairs the Small Grant Fund for Maths Week Scotland, delivers RI Masterclasses, has co-organised sessions at the Glasgow Science Festival, and contributes to a range of other initiatives aimed at fostering enthusiasm for mathematics and widening participation in the mathematical sciences.


My current research lies primarily in mathematics education, with a focus on evaluating teaching and learning practices within our School and beyond through an evidence‑based approach. I am particularly interested in the development of effective teaching strategies that enhance student engagement and learning, as well as in the coordination of large teaching teams to promote positive experiences for both staff and students.

My recent and ongoing projects focus mainly on active learning, with a particular emphasis on:

• embedding play in pre‑honours mathematics education; 
• understanding patterns and drivers of student engagement during the transition into Higher Education; 
• integrating generative AI into learning and teaching in ways that support equity of access;

I am also interested in outreach and widening participation, and I am keen to develop workshops for public engagement, such as for the Glasgow Science Festival, as well as initiatives aimed at reaching and enthusing pupils in primary and secondary mathematics education, such as the Royal Institution Masterclasses and ad-hoc school workshops.

Alongside my work in education, I am also interested in integrable systems and mathematical physics. I have ongoing research projects on the application of integrable nonlinear PDEs of hydrodynamic type in statistical physics. These range from theoretical and mathematical studies of the derivation and behaviour of exact solutions to applications involving isotropic fluids, nematic liquid crystals, and nuclear matter. My contributions in this area aim towards the development of a framework for the thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of mean‑field models, based on the theory of integrable conservation laws.

Research groups

• Integrable systems & mathematical physics
• Mathematics & Statistics Education

List by: Type | Date

• LMS Collaborative Teaching & Scholarship Project Grant – Beyond attendance: Patterns and drivers of student engagement in first-year university mathematics;
  
  
• University Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Fund – Embedding diverse perspectives and Generative AI into student‑centred Mathematics tutorials.

Projects may be offered in the areas of Mathematics Education and Mathematical Physics. 

Prospected PhD applicants are welcome to contact me to identify possible projects. 

Courses

Current 

• Mathematical Physics (MATHS4107, MATHS5073)
• Mathematics 1C: Introduction to Calculus (MATHS1015)
• Mathematics 1G: Introduction to Algebra, Geometry & Networks (MATHS1016)

Past 

I have taught and coordinated a broad range of courses across different degree programmes. Exampels are Mathematical Biology (Glasgow, 2019-22), Writing and Presenting Mathematics (Glasgow, 2020-23), Fluid Dynamics (Newcastle, 2018-19) and Introductory Algebra (Newcastle, 2018-19).

Supervision 

I am keen on supervising Projects in Applied Mathematics and Mathematics Education. I am also interested in offering Level 5 MSc projects.

Awards & Recognition

• Recognising Excellence in Teaching – Fellow
• Jon Nimmo Prize 2020 for Teaching Excellence

School coordination roles

Learning & Teaching administration

• Head of 1CG Mathematics
• School STACK coordinator
• Coordinator of the MSci in Mathematics with Work Placement
  

Academic Policy & Governance

• School Quality & Enhancement Officer