RESEARCH ACTIVITY
My main scientific interest regards evolutionary zoology and, within my PhD, I would really love to improve my ability to study the reciprocal interplay between the evolution of genomes and the evolution of complex traits in order to understand how the two processes influence each other.
My PhD is mainly focused on bivalve comparative genomics with a particular interest for genes involved in sex determination, in the attempt to understand their patterns of molecular evolution and genome dynamics. Besides bioinformatics, I am also trying to make use of wet lab techniques (such as karyology and mRNA in-situ hybridization) in order to gain a more comprehensive investigation of bivalves sex determination.
In the meanwhile, I am also engaged in other research lines, consisting on comparative genomics analyses in branchiopod crustaceans and walking sticks to unravel the genomic bases of morphological stasis and re-evolution of wings, respectively.
EDUCATION
- Ph.D in “Innovative technologies and sustainable use of Mediterranean Sea fishery and biological resources” (FishMed-PhD), University of Bologna, 2025 (expected)
Subject: Comparative genomics of bivalve sex-determination realted genes
Supervisor: prof. Andrea Luchetti
- M.Sc in “Biodiversity and evolution”, University of Bologna, 2021
Thesis: Identification of Hox and ParaHox genes in tadpole shrimp genomes (Pancrustacea, Branchiopoda, Notostraca)
Supervisor: prof. Andrea Luchetti
- B.Sc in “Biological Sciences”, University of Bologna, 2019
Thesis: Species delimitation and phylogenetic analysis of the Australian genus Candovia (Insecta, Phasmida)
Supervisor: prof. Barbara Mantovani
PRESENTATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES
- Nicolini, F., Ghiselli, F., Milani, L., Luchetti, A. (2023). Sex-determination related genes in bivalves: novel acquisitions and high rates of sequence evolution. Evolution 2023 (Ernst Mayr Award symposium), online, 2nd-3rd June.
TEACHING ACTIVITY
- Practical invertebrate zoology class
Sept 2022 – Jan 2023
OUTREACH ACTIVITY
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Editor and web writer, BioPills [https://www.biopills.net/]
Jul 2017 – ongoing
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BiGeA Day 2023, University of Bologna
May 27, 2023
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University of Bologna opening days
Nov 18, 2022
ADDITIONAL COURSES
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Introduction to Python for biologists (by Physalia Courses)
Sept 25 – 28, 2023
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ITA*PHY phylogenetics workshop
Jun 6 – 9, 2023
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Sex chromosome evolution (by Physalia Courses)
Jan 23 – 27, 2023
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Science communication (by Feltrinelli Education)
May 12 – Jun 3, 2021
