Francesca was born in Italy. She has studied Psychology (BSc), Neuro-Cognitive Psychology (MSc) and Neuroscience (PhD). She has been teaching at IOU since 2014, where she now holds the post of Head of Department of Psychology. Her research interests include Islamic Psychology and the relationship between Islamic and Western thought, especially in modernity. She is the author of many books about Islam in Italian. In Italy, she works as a University professor of Islamic Studies.