Hi, I’m Simone P. Roca and I work in epistemology, philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of science.

About

I’m a PhD student at IUSS Pavia and a member of the HUMATH project (2025-2028), funded by the Italian Science Fund (FIS) and led by Silvia De Toffoli.

My research centers on understanding, broadly construed. I currently pursue two lines of inquiry: the nature of understanding in science and mathematics, in particular its relation to modeling practices; and whether understanding is the crucial epistemic value to pursue in the age of AI.

I also hold the institutional position of Doctoral Student Representative of the HuME PhD Program.

AoS: Epistemology. AoC: Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Science, AI, Cognitive Science.

Education

HuME PhD · IUSS Pavia / University of Milan / Scuola Normale Superiore · 2025-present

MA Degree in Philosophical Sciences · Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna · 2021-2024 · 110/110 e Lode

BA Degree in Philosophy · Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna · 2018-2021 · 110/110 e Lode

Diploma in Classical Studies · Liceo Classico P. Colletta, Avellino · 2013-2018 · 100/100

Grants & Scholarships

PhD Scholarship, IUSS · HUMATH Project (FIS) · €17,867.30 per year

FIS Funding — Visiting Period · Archives Henri-Poincaré, Nancy · €1,000

FIS Funding — Visiting Period · University of Zurich · €1,500

FIS Funding — Conference · Sorbonne Université · €700

IUSS Funding — Courses · Scuola Normale Superiore · €500

Publications

Content coming soon.

Employment History

Visiting Student · Archives Henri-Poincaré, Nancy · 2026

Visiting Student · University of Zurich · 2026

PhD Student · IUSS Pavia · 2025-present

Talks

"Proof Understanding, Architecture and Epistemic Clues" · HuME Talks 2026 · Pavia

"Groundwork for a Model-Based Account of Proof Understanding" · PMP Masterclass 2026 · Brussels

"Understanding Proofs as Models" · SILFS 2026 · Pavia

"The Fifth Dimension. A New Dimension for Knowledge" · Philosophy International Day 2023 · Bologna

Organized Conferences

"Relations and Elements" · University of Milan · November 20, 2026

SILFS 2026 · IUSS Pavia · June 29-July 2, 2026

"Language and Reality" Seminars 2025 · Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna

Skills and Certificates

IELTS Academic · 7.5 Overall Score · 11 April 2025

LaTeX

Programming · Claude Code, GitHub, HTML, CSS, JavaScript

Creativity and Graphic Design · Suite Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Final Cut Pro, Canva

Other Digital Skills · Obsidian, Notion, Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Contact

Mail ORCID PhilPeople LinkedIn Substack Instagram

SUV Department
IUSS Pavia, Italy
Palazzo del Broletto, Piazza della Vittoria, n. 15
27100, Pavia (PV)

Updates

November 23, 2026 I will start a research visit at the Archives Henri-Poincaré in Nancy.
November 20, 2026 I am co-organizing the conference "Relations and Elements" at the University of Milan.
October 26, 2026 I've taken on the role of PhD Student Representative of the HuME PhD Program for this academic year.
October 5, 2026 I will present a talk for the HuME Talks at IUSS.
September 16, 2026 I've been invited to present a talk at the VUB Brussels University, within the Masterclass in the Philosophy of Mathematical Practice 2026.
September 9-11, 2026 I am in Bologna participating in the FilMat Conference 2026.
August 31-September 4, 2026 I am participating in the VIII edition of the Epistemology Summer School at the University of Urbino.
June 30, 2026 I've been accepted to present a talk at the SILFS Conference 2026.
May 15-30, 2026 I've been invited to visit the ZEGRa research group on rationality at the University of Zurich.
February 6, 2026 I've been elected Doctoral Student Representative to the SUV Department Council of the IUSS.
October 14-17, 2025 I've been invited to participate in the FPMW-ESPM Conference 2025 in Paris.
October 1, 2025 I've started my PhD at HUMATH.