Paola holds a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of Rome La Sapienza and a PhD in Analysis and Governance of Sustainable Development from the University of Venice Ca’ Foscari. She has previous research experience at Venice Research Consortium and the US Environmental Protection Agency for the development and application of Decision Support Systems in risk assessment and management. Between 2010 and 2013 she was Scientific Project Officer at the European Commission, Directorate General for Research and Innovation, in Bruxelles, supervising projects related to climate change and natural hazards.

From November 2013 to February 2024, she worked at CMCC Ocean Predictions and Applications (OPA) Division, in activities concerned with project management, fund raising, communication and dissemination.

Since March 2024, she has joined the CMCC Fund Raising team.