He is a full professor at the Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua. He has founded the Larios Laboratory (Laboratory for Research and Intervention in Vocational Designing and Career Counseling) and the University Centre for Research and Services on Disability, Rehabilitation and Inclusion of the University of Padova. He is also a founder member of the Italian Society of Vocational Guidance (SIO), of which he was the President for 8 years (and now member of the Executive Board), and of the European Society of Vocational Designing and Career Counseling.
He is the Editor of the Italian Journal of Vocational Psychology and the Director of the series ‘Percorsi di orientamento [Vocational Guidance Pathways]’ (Giunti-OS, Firenze) and of the series ‘Disability, treatment and inclusion' (Ed. Junior, Bergamo).
In 2008 he received an award for his “Distinguished Contribution to the International Advancement of the Counseling Profession” from the Society of Counseling Psychology (Division 17 of the American Psychological Association). In 2000 he has received the ‘High patronage of the President of the Italian Republic’ for the Magellano Project.
He is the founder and the coordinator of the Italian Network University Training in Vocational Guidance (from 2010) and of the International Hope Research Team -- IHRT (from 2011), that involve numerous Italian Universities.
He is a trainer and supervisor of the Italian Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy.
He is member of the Life Design International Research Group (from 2006), of the Career Adaptability International Collaborative Group (from 2008) and is the Italian representative in the European project University Network for Innovation in Guidance - Lifelong Learning Programme. For the latter is member of the Sterring Commettee (2009-2012/2013-2015). He is member of the Special Task Group 'Globalization' of Division 17 - American Psychological Association (from 2011).
He is the author of about two hundred and fifty publications, more than twenty books, and a number of important assessment instruments, among which the portfolios Optimist and Clipper, and the Magellano Project (Giunti-OS, Firenze).
As regards vocational psychology and career counseling, research efforts are directed toward the study of variables involved in Life Design model and toward the planning of preventive intervention programs (for indecisive persons, persons with disabilities, immigrants, ecc.). In recent years, within the SIO, Nice and Italian network, he has studied the theme of the career counselors competencies and has proposed specific competencies repertories and specific training courses.