PhD candidate in Biomedical and Neuromotor Science at Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna. His research focuses on the integrated bioinformatic analysis of post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms mediated by small non-coding RNAs, with particular emphasis on tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), miRNAs and isomiRs in osteoarthritis and heart failure models. His work combines small RNA-seq, RNA-seq, computational analysis and molecular validations to understand the role of non-coding RNAs in degenerative diseases.
Personal details Born on 05/12/1995 in Taranto (TA)
Education
Since 2022, he has been a PhD Fellow funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) at the University of Bologna. PhD thesis title: “Integrative Bioinformatic Analysis of Post-Transcriptional Regulation by Small Non-Coding RNAs in Osteoarthritis and Heart Failure Models”.
Graduated in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from the University of Bologna in 2020. He obtained the professional qualification to practise as a Biologist at the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" in the first session of 2022.
Scientific and training activities
2024–2025 – Visiting PhD Student at the Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Lausanne (CH), in the group of Prof. Romano Regazzi. The research project focused on the role of tRNA-derived small RNAs in the regulation of homeostasis and pancreatic islets and their cross-talk with macrophages in models of obesity and diabetes.
2020–2021 – Research fellow at the Laboratory of Functional Biology, KU Leuven (BE), where he studied mechanisms of inter-organelle communication and their implications in proteotoxicity in models of neurodegeneration. Project title: “Deciphering the mechanisms for organellar crosstalk and repercussions on proteotoxicity in yeast models for neurodegeneration”.
2019–2020 – Research trainee, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Bologna
Research project on molecular mechanisms mediated by the transcription factor PPARγ in cellular models of medulloblastoma. Project title: “Analysis of transcription factors and pro-apoptotic pathways mediating the effects of ω-3 PUFAs in medulloblastoma-derived DAOY cell line”.
2017 – Research trainee, Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna
Project title: “Study of the effect of Coenzyme Q depletion on metabolic dynamics in cancer cell lines”.
Teaching activities
2023 – present – Academic tutor for the Single-cycle Master’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Bologna, within the Integrated Course of Biochemistry.
2022 – 2023 – Co-supervisor of the Bachelor’s thesis in Biotechnology of Dr Sara Zanni.
Awards and honours
Winner of the 25th FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF 2026) – Wageningen, Netherlands.
Winner of the SIB Fellowship 2024 for a research stay at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Winner of the Marco Polo Fellowship 2024 for an international research stay at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
2023 – Winner of the SIB Fellowship 2023 for participation in the FEBS Congress 2023 in Tours, France.
Memberships
Member of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIB).
Member of the RNA Society.
Member of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI).
Peer-review activity
Referee for the following scientific journal: Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology.
