He graduated in Biology and Computer Science from the University of Pisa (Italy) and then completed his PhD in Biophysics at the same university. He has been a visiting professor in many different research institutes around the world (Max Plank Institute for Biophysical Chemistry of Gottingen, Max Plank Institute for Biochemistry of Martinsried, CNRS Marine Station of Villefranche sur Mer, NIH Bethesda, University of Marburg, University of Regensburg, Computer Science Center of the University of Maryland, University of Tennessee, and Purdue University). At present, he is a senior scientist at the Biophysics Institute of the National Council of Research (CNR) in Pisa (Italy) and an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and University College (College Park, Ma, USA). He has given over 30 keynote international lectures, authored 3 books and edited 3 more, published about 200 papers and patents, and served on many international boards. Paolo also used to be a tennis teacher; now, he just plays. He has a Conservatory of Music diploma in piano and another one in trumpet, and he enjoys playing both.