March 21, 2024 | News | New Faces at MPIDR
Welcome, Alessandro Di Nallo!
Alessandro Di Nallo joins the Team Laboratory of Fertility and Well-Being at MPIDR. © MPIDR/Schulz
The Laboratory of Fertility and Well-Being welcomes Alessandro Di Nallo as a new team member. Alessandro comes from Bocconi University in Milan, where he contributed to the ERC-funded project 'DisCont' and the Cariplo-funded project 'FAST'. He holds a Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences, with a specialization in Sociodemography, from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. His thesis, entitled "The Diversity of Union and Fertility Trajectories in the UK", explored complex patterns of family formation and childbearing.
What’s your job at MPIDR and how long will you be working here?
For the next four years, I will be working as a research scientist in the new project BIOSFER. My focus will be on understanding the causes and consequences of pregnancy loss, subfertility, and other reproductive health-related issues.
What is your motivation to work in this field of research?
Understanding the causes of pregnancy loss and subfertility is exceptionally challenging, also in high-income countries, due to the lack of accurate data. Estimating the consequences of these phenomena is crucial, particularly in societies where childbearing age is increasing. This is a major concern as one of the significant causes of reduced fecundity is associated with health issues. For instance, it is estimated that about 15 to 20% of all conceptions do not lead to a live birth. The implications of this for women, their partners, and their families are largely underexplored, and I am motivated to contribute to this area of research.
Why did you choose MPIDR as your new employer?
MPIDR is renowned for fostering the development of research ideas and facilitating insightful inputs from leading researchers. It is more than a research institution; it is a vibrant community that nurtures both professional and personal growth.
Where are you from? What do you miss most about home (and maybe: what don’t you miss at all)?
I am from Southern Italy, and besides missing the “usual suspects” like family, friends, and food, I miss exploring the hidden gems of my country during weekends. I appreciate the variable weather in Rostock as it contrasts with the stagnant, polluted atmosphere of the Northern Italian flatlands, where I lived before moving to Germany.
What is your favorite and what is your least favorite part about work?
My least favorite part of my work involves the paperwork required for data or grant applications and travel logistics. However, I understand its necessity to facilitate the aspects of my job that I enjoy the most, such as engaging in intellectually stimulating research, interacting with people from different backgrounds, and exploring new places during conferences.