Francesco Zambonin holds a PhD in History from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. He served as a teaching assistant in early modern history at the same university between 2022 and 2024. After completing his studies in Italy, he pursued visiting research opportunities in India, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. These experiences abroad strengthened his belief in the importance of the international dimension of progressive values. His PhD dissertation examines the legal mechanisms employed by the Venetian Republic to combat forgery and perjury. Alongside his doctoral research, he has also explored how Venice grappled with urban abandonment and unsanitary housing.

These academic interests have led him to engage with present-day challenges. A member of the Progressive Historians Network, Francesco believes that historical knowledge has a direct role to play in shaping policies. He joined the Young Academics Network (YAN) to contribute to initiatives on sustainable housing renovation and just transition. Moreover, he is currently investigating how deepfakes pose new challenges to authenticity, evidence, and institutional trust in today’s AI era. He has also published on a wide range of topics including overtourism, gender parity in education, and French elections.