CV aggiornato il 03/09/2024
Associate Professor in General Botany at the University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences.
My research activity mostly concerns the biology and ecology of algae. Studies are aimed to:
i) identify the algal species involved in toxic effects towards human health and ecosystem, focusing mostly on the environmental conditions which promote the growth and the toxin production;
ii) investigate the toxic effects towards several organisms through eco-toxicological assays, and understand the toxic mechanism of algal toxins;
iii) characterize the dynamics of growth and production of the main cellular compounds and toxins, at different growth conditions;
iv) study interactions among microalgae and the production of allelopathic compounds or infochemicals;
v) study the algal toxin biosynthesis, in particular palytoxins/ovatoxins biosynthesis, through the gene expression evaluation of the polyketide synthases (PKS);
vi) characterize microalgal strains for bioremediation and industrial application through growth study in photobioreactors or open ponds;
vii) analyse the distribution and biology of populations of marine coralline algae, in particular Lithophyllum spp., in the Mediterranean Sea, through morphological observations and molecular investigations.
Education
2008-2011: PhD in Environmental Science, University of Bologna.
2004-2006: MSc in Environmental Science, University of Bologna.
2001-2004: BSc in Environmental Science, University of Bologna.
Main research experience
09/2024-today: Associate Professor in General Botany at the University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences
09/2021-08/2024: Senior fixed term researcher (RTD B) of General Botany at the University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences
12/2018-09/2021: Junior fixed term researcher (RTD A) of General Botany at the University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences
02/2017-09/2018: Post-doc fellow at the Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research- Energy and Environment, University of Bologna. Research project: Growth of microalgae with the supply of CO2 obtained by the upgrading of methane produced through anaerobic digestion (POR FESR 14-20)
05/2015-02/2017: Post-doc fellow at the at Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna. Research project: Germination and identification of dinoflagellate cysts (BALMAS project)
10/2014-05/2015: scientific assistant at the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna. Research project: Large-scale cultures of diatoms in photobioreactors
10/2013-09/2014: Post-doc fellow at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (DISVA), Marche Polytechnic University. Research project: Analysis of the distribution and population biology of calcareous marine algae of the Mediterranean (PRIN 2010-2011 project “Coastal bioconstructions: structure, function, and management”)
09/2013: Research assistant at the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna. Research project: Algal biotoxins in the Italian coastal waters
07/2011-09/2013: Post-doc fellow at the Center for Industrial Research- Energy and Environment, University of Bologna. Research project: Development of methods for cultivation, screening and harvesting of algal biomasses (POR FESR 07-13)
06/2007-09/2007: Collaboration contract at the Department of Marine Sciences (DiSMar) - University of Ancona. Research project: Study of the interactions between the effluent of the IGCC central belonging to APIEnergia and the presence, growth and toxicity of the microalgae Fibrocapsa japonica along the Marchigian coasts
01/2007-06/2007: Collaboration contract at the Interdepartmental Center for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRSA) - University of Bologna. Research project: Study of ichthyotoxic compounds in microalgae
International research experience
01/2010-06/2010: Visiting Scientist (Marco Polo project) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Charleston, South Carolina (USA) – Tutor: Dr. Frances Van Dolah. Research project: Study of the role of Polyketide Synthases in the toxins biosynthesis
04/2009-06/2009: Visiting Scientist at the National Research Council Canada (NRC-CNRC) – Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) – Tutor: Dr. Michael Quilliam. Research project: Development of LC-MS methods for the toxins analysis
09/2007-01/2008: Fellowship (Leonardo da Vinci Programme) at Plant Research International (PRI) – Wageningen, The Netherlands – Tutor: Dr. Ric de Vos. Research project: Study of melon metabolites (EU project Melon Metabolomics)
Teaching activity
2023-2024: Lecturer of the course "Biologia vegetale", Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science, University of Bologna (3 CFU). Lecturer of the course "Harmful Algal Blooms and Biotoxins", Marine Biology Master Degree, University of Bologna (3 CFU)
2022-2023: Lecturer of the course "Biologia vegetale", Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science, University of Bologna (3 CFU). Lecturer of the course "Fioriture algali e biotossine", Marine Biology Master Degree, University of Bologna (3 CFU)
2021-2022: Lecturer of the course "Biologia vegetale", Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science, University of Bologna (3 CFU). Lecturer of the course "Fioriture algali e biotossine", Marine Biology Master Degree, University of Bologna (3 CFU)
2020-2021: Lecturer of the course "Biologia vegetale", Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science, University of Bologna (3 CFU). Lecturer of the course "Fioriture algali e biotossine", Marine Biology Master Degree, University of Bologna (3 CFU)
2019-2020: Lecturer of the course "Biologia vegetale", Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science, University of Bologna (3 CFU).
2018-2019: Lecturer of the course "Biotecnologie marine vegetali e tossine algali", Marine Biology Master Degree, University of Bologna (3 CFU).
2011-today: Supervisor of 4 MSc Thesis (course of Marine Biology, University of Bologna) and 1 BSc Thesis (course of Environmental Science, University of Bologna); (Co)-supervisor of 11 MSc Thesis (courses of Environmental Science and course of Marine Biology, University of Bologna); (Co)-supervisor of 5 BSc Thesis (courses of Environmental Science and Biological Sciences, University of Bologna)
Scientific activity
First and Co-author of 49 papers published on international peer-reviewed journals
H-index: 20; total number of citations: 1624 (source Scopus)
ORCID: 0000-0002-6260-2715
Institutional activities and academic assignments
Since 2021, member of the Research Commission of the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences of the University of Bologna.
Since 2023, member of the Board of Directors of "Gruppo Algologia della Società Botanica Italiana".
Since 2022, member of the "Gruppo Tematico D’Ateneo (GTA) Bioeconomy, Cluster 6".
Since 2021, member of the Commission "PIANO LAUREE SCIENTIFICHE (PLS) of the Dep. BiGeA, Università di Bologna, Area di Scienze Naturali e Ambientali".
Since 2019, member of "Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale (CIRI) FRAME (Fonti Rinnovabili, Ambiente e Mare)", University of Bologna.
Since 2019, member of "Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA)", University of Bologna.
Fellowships and prizes
06/2016: Best poster award for Plancton Group - 47°Congress of the Italian Marine Biology Society (SIBM), Torino.
09/2015: Travel Award of the Italian Botanical Society (SBI) to attend the 110° Congress SBI 2015 - II° International Plant Science Conference (IPSC) “Not only food: sustainable development, agro-biodiversity conservation & human well being”, Pavia.
09/2014: Scientific Prize at the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna for the “Study of toxic microalgae: environmental factors which promote their blooms”
11/2010: Travel Awards of the ISSHA (International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae) to attend the 14° International Conference on Harmful Algae in Crete.
2010: Marco Polo fellowship for a 6-months secondment at the NOAA – Charleston (South Carolina, USA).
2007: Leonardo da Vinci Programme fellowship for a 5-months secondment at Plant Research International (PRI) – Wageningen (The Netherlands).
Projects
- 04/2023-03/2026: Partecipazione al Progetto Interreg Central Europe “Circular BioEconomy Market Uptake and Policy Support in Central Europe - BIOECO-UP”.
- 07/2023-06/2027: Partecipazione al Progetto "NatuReef- Nature-based reef solution for coastal protection and marine biodiversity enhancement" Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) Project: 101113742 - LIFE22-NAT-IT-LIFE. 2023 - 2027.
- 05/10/2023-05/10/2025: Substitute PI del progetto PRIN 2022 projects "Impact of nutrients availability on resources allocation and photosynthesis of marine microalgae in view of climate changes – INPHOMARE" CUP: J53D23006610001
- 30/11/2023-29/11/2025: Associated PI del progetto PRIN 2022 PNRR "Sustainable Antioxidants for Microalgae Exploitation – SAME" CUP: J53D23018590001
- 12/2022-11/2024: Secondment supervisor della Dott.ssa Elisabetta Manea nel progetto HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF “REd coral Settlement and post-settlement survival: multi-scale implications for its resTOration and conseRvation through an advanced understanding and modElling approaches (RESTORE)”.
- ALMA IDEA 2022 – Principal investigator del progetto: Microalghe verdi per la produzione del biopolimero poliidrossibutirrato (BIOpolGREEN)
- ALMA ATTREZZATURE 2023 – Finanziamento per manutenzione di attrezzatura di ricerca (Thermostatic growth chamber-walk in)
- 09/2022-08/2025: Membro del Progetto finanziato dall’Unione Europea - NextGenerationEU – Piano Nazionale Resistenza eResilienza (PNRR) - Missione 4 Componente 2 Investimento 1.4 – Avviso N. 3138 del 16 dicembre 2021 rettificato con D.D. n.3175 del 18 dicembre 2021 del Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca; Codice progetto CN_00000033, Decreto Direttoriale MUR n.1034 del 17 giugno 2022 di concessione del finanziamento, CUP D33C22000960007, titolo progetto “National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC”. Spoke 2.
- 12/2022-11/2025: Membro del "Partenariato Esteso" of the "RETURN" project "Bando PNRR PE3 - Rischi Naturali e Antropici" - Italian "Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca"
- 01/2020-06/2023: Partecipazione al Progetto 2014-2020 Interreg V-A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme – Project: CASCADE CoAStal and marine waters integrated monitoring systems for ecosystems proteCtion AnD managemEnt.
- 05/2019-12/2021: Partecipazione al Progetto 2019-2021: Interreg MISTRAL Mediterranean Innovation STRAtegy for transnational activity of clusters and networks of the Blue Growth.
