Full Background
Raffaella Montelli, Ph.D.
Founder & Principal · RMMR Strategies LLCExperience
RMMR Strategies LLCFounder & Principal
2026–PresentPage Southerland Page (acquired by Stantec)Principal / VP · Director of Research & Innovation
2023–2026University of Houston — Hines College of ArchitectureM.Arch Candidate · Researcher · Board Advisor
2020–2023Arm Ltd (Global semiconductor IP · Softbank)Director, Research Ecosystem
2018–2020National Science Foundation (U.S. Federal Science Agency)Program Director — EPSCoR · IUCRC · Directorate for Geosciences
2012–2018ExxonMobil (Fortune 500 · Global energy)Senior Exploration Geophysicist · Senior Research Specialist
2005–2011Princeton University — Department of GeosciencesGraduate Research Assistant & Postdoctoral Associate
1999–2005CNRS – Université de Nice (EU Marie Curie Fellowship)Ingénieur d'études · Marie Curie Research Fellow
1997–1999Government & Institutional Representation
Represented federal science programs at the highest levels of U.S. government and conducted bilateral science diplomacy across the Americas and Europe. Governed industry-university partnerships and represented major technology and energy companies in sector consortia, alliances, and commercial negotiations across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Board & Advisory
Princeton University — Department of GeosciencesAdvisory Council Member · GradFutures Graduate Mentor
2022–2026EconauticsBoard Advisor · Cross-sector urban transformation, Beaumont TX
2022Education
Master of ArchitectureUniversity of Houston — Gerald D. Hines College
2023Certificate — Beyond Smart CitiesMIT Media Lab
2022Ph.D. in GeosciencesPrinceton University
2003Doctorat en Sciences de l'UniversUniversité de Nice Sophia Antipolis, France
2003M.A. in Geological and Geophysical SciencePrinceton University
2000Laurea in PhysicsUniversity of Bologna, Italy
1996Recognition
AIA Medal for Academic Excellence — 2023
King Student Medal — ARCC, 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 · 20041,340+ citations · Ranked 2nd, Top Papers in Geosciences 2004–2006 · ISI-Thomson Hot PaperScientific 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 · 2006807+ citations
Biophilic Design Interventions and Properties: A Scoping Review and Decision-Support FrameworkSedghikhanshir A., Montelli R. · Buildings 2026 · doi:10.3390/buildings16030515
Impact of Climate Change in Houston, Texas: Resilient Residential Buildings and Equitable DesignMontelli R., Kyropoulou Mili · ARCC-EAAE 2022 · Miami
Industry
Resilience by Design: An Economic Imperative for Urban DevelopmentMontelli R., Elsayed M. · PageThink / Stantec · 2025
Innovation Beyond Boundaries: A Vantage Point for the FutureMontelli R. · PageThink · June 2025