About Davide

I'm an Associate Professor of Plastics Engineering at UMass Lowell. I work on the problems that make advanced manufacturing actually advanced — precision mold engineering, miniaturization, and functionalized polymer surfaces that push what injection molding can do.

I trained at the University of Padova (BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering, PhD in Industrial Engineering) and spent time as a visiting researcher at the University of Bradford's Centre for Polymer Micro and Nano Technology before joining UMass Lowell in 2018. Since then, my work has been funded by NASA, the US Army, and the Department of Energy's REMADE Institute, among others.

I teach the courses I wish I'd had as a student — engineering design, injection mold design, and computer-aided engineering — where the goal is always to connect theory to something you can actually build.

During the 2025–2026 academic year, I took a sabbatical to work with Eli Lilly's DDCS team, focusing on materials engineering and manufacturing process development for next-generation drug delivery devices. Beyond the technical work, it was a chance to learn directly from industry experts and see state-of-the-art medical device manufacturing up close — perspective I'm now bringing back into my research and teaching.

What drives me isn't any single research topic. What I really enjoy is the efficiency of manufacturing itself, how every part of a process has to work together perfectly for it to run well. I believe in good process and real efficiency, because that's what turns a good idea into something that actually works. I also care about who gets to do this work next. A big part of what I do is helping people find their way into this industry, especially people who might not have an obvious path in.

I try to stay open minded. I'd rather hear a good argument and change my mind than be right just to be right. Some of my best ideas have come from people with completely different backgrounds than mine.

Outside of work, I spend my time with my wife and two kids, staying active outdoors, and enjoying good food.