Team

Hi! I am Maria Silvia Vaccarezza, the PI of PRACTICE.

I am an Associate Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Genova. My main research interests are in neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics, hence my long-lasting affair whit phronesis-practical wisdom.

Here you can find my personal webpage.

PostDocs

As of Feb.1, 2023, two PostDocs will join the team: Dr. Federico Bina and Dr. Skaiste Kerusauskaite.

Federico has completed in May 2023 his PhD in Philosophy at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, where he collaborates with the Centre for Ethics and Politics, the Centre for Experimental and Applied Epistemology, and the Division of Neuroscience at San Raffaele Hospital. For the years 2021-2022 he has been Visiting Fellow at the Department of Psychology at Harvard University (Greene Lab). Federico’s research focuses on moral cognition and decision-making, contemporary normative and metaethical theories, and social epistemology.

Skaiste, PhD, Psy.D. during her doctorate in Psychology and Cognitive Science focused on higher order cognitive functions, working memory and emotion-attention interactions. Afterwards, during post-doc fellowship at Sapienza University of Rome, she studied the semiotic resources (generalized worldviews, values, behavioral scripts) that mediate individual cognition and meaning making. 

External senior members

PRACTICE will see the external collaboration of four experts in virtue ethics, moral psychology, and cognitive psychology: Prof. Riccardo Brunetti (European University of Rome), Prof. Sofia Bonicalzi (Rome 3), Prof. Michel Croce (University of Genova), Prof. Mario De Caro (Rome 3 & Tufts University), Prof. Claudia Navarini (European University of Rome)

Students

In addition to the PI, the two PostDocs, and the senior external members, two junior external members will collaborate with PRACTICE.

Matilde Liberti studied Philosophy (BA) at the University of Stirling, UK, and Philosophical Methodologies (MA) at the University of Genoa. She is currently a PhD student at the University of Genoa (Northwestern Italian PhD Consortium), working on a project on Moral Conversions under the supervision of Maria Silvia Vaccarezza.

Elena Ricci is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Bari. She obtained her PhD at the European University of Rome. Her current research interests include the study of virtue in medical practice, palliative care ethics, character education, and nudging. 

Finally, from March to June 2024, Jorge Luis Villacís Nieto will collaborate with the experimental part of the project. Jorge a visiting professor from the University of Navarra (Spain).