He holds a PhD in Geophysics and Geodynamics in 1997. His main research areas are: Mechanics of earthquakes and faulting, Structure and rheology of the lithosphere and physics of the crust-mantle interactions in earthquake and volcanic regions, Physics of transient deformation and space geodesy, Physics-based Earthquake hazard assessment. In 2006 he founded the ICTP Earth System Physics pre-PhD Diploma, a 1-year educational programme for students from developing countries. He has supervised and co-supervised more than 20 PhD students and has organised more than 40 International summer schools, conferences and advanced workshops at ICTP and in developing countries. He is/was the ICTP focal point for a number of international associations and funding agencies such as: IUGG, IASPEI, AGU, KFAS, OFID, Arab Fund, EU-Interreg, Insurance companies (Generali & Zurich) and national development agencies. He actually oversees the Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and the ICTP to promote advanced studies and research across the African continent.