Her research focuses on skills, labour markets, new spaces of work, technological changes (e.g., Artificial Intelligence), knowledge processes and regional development.

Her research has been published in international journals, such as: in the Journal of Economic Geography; Work, Employment and Society, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society and International Journal of Finance and Economics.

She has been involved in and has led several research grants at the European and UK level. Her work has previously been funded by, amongst others, the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 framework (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship - H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 Proposal No. 660022). She is currently leading the working group on the policy of a COST Action (CA18214) on the geography of new working spaces and the impact on the periphery.

Mariachiara is also a member of the Editorial Board of the British Sociological Association journal 'Work, Employment and Society’.

I welcome enquiries from potential PhD students who are interested in issues with regard to regional economic development, skills, future of work, labour markets, new working spaces, and place-based industrial strategy, Artificial Intelligence.

I am particularly interested in proposals that aim to uncover new insights in these areas through empirical investigation (via quantitative approaches), aiming to provide lessons for both industrial and public policy.