Clarissa Astuto

Clarissa Astuto is an Assistant Professor (RTD-A) at the University of Catania, where she works in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Her research focuses on numerical analysis, multiscale modeling, and computational methods for partial differential equations (PDEs) with applications in biological systems.

She earned her PhD in Mathematics and Computational Sciences from the University of Catania in 2021, supervised by Professor Giovanni Russo, and received the Doctor Europaeus title for her joint doctoral program. During her PhD, she conducted research at Oxford Brookes University and the University of Rennes, focusing on numerical methods for PDEs in complex domains and fluid-structure interactions.

Clarissa’s research interests include:

• Asymptotic-preserving numerical schemes
• Multiscale modeling of biological networks
• Finite-difference and finite-element methods
• High-order approximations for PDEs
• Sorption kinetics in applied mathematics

She previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at KAUST (2021–2024) under Prof. Daniele Boffi, developing ghost-nodal finite element methods for elliptic-parabolic systems. She actively participates in international collaborations, presenting at conferences like ICIAM, HYP, and AfriComp, and co-organizing a 2025 SIAM Conference minisymposium on pattern formation in life sciences.

Her scientific awards include:

• Doctor Europaeus

Clarissa also delivers invited lectures and is involved in teaching and thesis supervision. Her office is located in Room 236 bis at the University of Catania, and she can be reached at clarissa.astuto@unict.it.