Full Background

Raffaella Montelli, Ph.D.

Founder & Principal · RMMR Strategies LLC

Five sectors. Four continents. One way of seeing.

Over thirty years working across disciplines, institutions, and geographies have continually refined a perspective guided by an enduring interest in understanding how knowledge, people, and institutions come together to create lasting societal and economic value.

Professional Experience

RMMR Strategies LLCFounder & Principal

2026–Present

Princeton UniversityDepartment of Geosciences Advisory Council Member

2022–Present

Page Southerland Page (acquired by Stantec)Principal · VP · Director of Research & Innovation

2023–2026

University of Houston — Hines College of ArchitectureM.Arch Candidate · Researcher · Board Advisor

2020–2023

Arm Ltd (Global semiconductor IP · Softbank)Director, Research Ecosystem

2018–2020

National Science Foundation (U.S. Federal Science Agency)Program Director — Office of the Director · Directorate for Geosciences · Directorate for Engineering

2012–2018

ExxonMobil (Fortune 500 · Global energy)Senior Exploration Geophysicist · Senior Research Specialist

2005–2011

Princeton University — Department of GeosciencesGraduate Research Assistant & Postdoctoral Associate

1999–2005

CNRS – Université de Nice (EU Marie Curie Fellowship)Ingénieur d'études · Marie Curie Research Fellow

1997–1999

Representative Impact

—Built enterprise research and innovation capability within a multidisciplinary architecture and engineering practice.

—Designed and led research ecosystems spanning industry, government, and academia.

—Stewarded more than $300 million in federal research investment portfolios and institutional partnerships.

—Designed institutional pathways connecting research, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology translation, and international collaboration.

—Produced internationally recognized scientific research that reshaped understanding of Earth's interior.

Science Diplomacy & Institutional Representation

Represented federal science programs across U.S. government and conducted bilateral science diplomacy throughout the Americas and Europe. Oversaw industry–university partnerships and represented major technology and energy companies in sector consortia, alliances, and commercial engagements across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Education

Master of ArchitectureUniversity of Houston — Gerald D. Hines College

2023

Certificate — Beyond Smart CitiesMIT Media Lab

2022

Ph.D. in GeosciencesPrinceton University

2003

Doctorat en Sciences de l'UniversUniversité de Nice Sophia Antipolis, France

2003

M.A. in Geological and Geophysical SciencePrinceton University

2000

Laurea in PhysicsUniversity of Bologna, Italy

1996

Recognition

—Medal for Academic Excellence — American Institute of Architects, 2023

—King Student Medal — Architectural Research Centers Consortium, 2023

—Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society — Inducted 2023

—Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society — Life Member, 2023

—Technical Excellence Award — ExxonMobil, 2010

—Arnold Guyot Silver Teaching Award — Princeton, 2002 & 2004

—Claire Booth Luce Fellowship — Princeton, 1999–2001

—Marie Curie Fellowship — European Commission, 1997

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed

Finite-Frequency Tomography Reveals a Variety of Plumes in the MantleMontelli R. et al. · Science, Vol. 303 · 20041,400+ citations · Ranked 2nd, Top Papers in Geosciences 2004–2006 · ISI-Thomson Hot PaperFeatured by Scientific American · New York Times · Science · La Recherche · Tages-Anzeiger · 20+ international review articles

A Catalogue of Deep Mantle Plumes: New Results from Finite-Frequency TomographyMontelli R. et al. · Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems · 2006850+ citations

Impact of Climate Change in Houston, Texas: Resilient Residential Buildings and Equitable DesignMontelli R., Kyropoulou Mili · ARCC-EAAE 2022 · Miami

Biophilic Design Interventions and Properties: A Scoping Review and Decision-Support FrameworkSedghikhanshir A., Montelli R. · Buildings 2026 · doi:10.3390/buildings16030515

Industry

Resilience by Design: An Economic Imperative for Urban DevelopmentMontelli R., Elsayed M. · Page (now Stantec) · 2025

Innovation Beyond Boundaries: A Vantage Point for the FutureMontelli R. · Page (now Stantec) · 2025

From simulation to reality: The challenge of using VR for biophilic designA. Sedghikhanshir, Montelli R., · Page (now Stantec) · 2026