Current position
Fixed-term Researcher (RTD-A) – General Pathology, research on age-related chronic diseases and cancer.
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC)
University of Bologna
Current Academic Discipline: MEDS-02/A General Pathology
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-conte-7a84aa47/
Institutional websites:
https://site.unibo.it/alma-aging/en
National Scientific Qualifications
2025 - Italian National Scientific Qualification (ASN) for Associate Professor
Academic Recruitment Field 05/E3 – Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology
2025 - Italian National Scientific Qualification (ASN) for Associate Professor
Academic Recruitment Field 06/N1 – Health Professions Sciences
2022 - Italian National Scientific Qualification (ASN) for Associate Professor
Academic Recruitment Field 06/A2 – General Pathology and Clinical Pathology
Current Academic Discipline: MEDS-02/A – General Pathology
Education and Training
2009 - PhD in Molecular Biotechnology, University of Pisa. Thesis: Molecular mechanisms of stress response in planarian stem cells. Supervisors: Prof. Renata Batistoni and Prof. Paolo Deri.
2007 - Professional Qualification as a Biologist, University of Pisa.
2005 - Master's Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Pisa – 110/110 cum laude.
Additional training courses
2026 Advanced Training Course in “Science Communication and Public Engagement”, University of Ferrara.
2025 MOOC training programme – Innovation in Teaching, University of Bologna.
2024 Advanced training course on specific workplace safety – chemical/biological risk, University of Bologna.
2023 Advanced training course “Droplet Digital PCR Conference – ddPCR for a Multiplex of Reasons”, Florence.
2023 Training course “Personal Data Protection – training programme for professors, researchers, PhD students, research fellows and collaborators”, University of Bologna.
2021 “Worker Training – Modules 1 and 2: Specific Training”.
2013 Training course on the use of the ESAOTE ultrasound system for structural and qualitative assessment of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and ultrasound image analysis using ImageJ, at the MRC-ARUK Centre of Excellence for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Derby Royal Hospital, Nottingham (UK).
2009 Advanced training course “Real-Time PCR and High-Resolution Melting: advanced technologies for genotyping and functional genomics”, Bologna.
2006 3rd Confocal Microscopy Course: theoretical and practical foundations, Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
Professional Experience
2023-2026 Researcher within the PNRR PE8 project: Age-It (A novel public-private alliance to generate socioeconomic, biomedical and technological solutions for an inclusive Italian ageing society – 01/01/2023–28/02/2026). Principal Investigator: Prof. Stefano Salvioli. Research project: “The role of biomarkers in age-related diseases, multimorbidity and frailty”.
2018-2023 Independent research collaborator at the Interdepartmental Centre “Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate)”, University of Bologna. Supervisor: Prof. Stefano Salvioli.
2017-2018 Research Collaboration Contract (CO.CO.CO.) at the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna. Supervisor: Prof. Stefano Salvioli.
2015-2017 Research Fellow at the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna. Supervisor: Prof. Stefano Salvioli.
2014-2015 Research Fellow at the Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna. Supervisor: Prof. Stefania Rapino.
2009-2014 Research Fellow at the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna. Supervisor: Prof. Claudio Franceschi.
Personal Skills
Communication, organizational and management skills
- Excellent presentation and scientific communication skills in national and international settings, as demonstrated by participation in 35 national and international congresses/meetings and active involvement in 6 national and international projects.
- Excellent skills in coordinating working groups and managing human and material resources, as demonstrated by the supervision of 12 Master's and PhD students since 2010.
- Excellent communication and public engagement skills, developed through the design, organization and participation in science communication and citizen engagement initiatives aimed at making scientific research accessible to diverse audiences and promoting dialogue between research, citizens and local communities.
Molecular and cellular biology techniques: cell culture; PCR and RT-PCR; RNA-seq and microarray; Western blot; ELISA; immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry; confocal microscopy.
Statistical analysis: R; SPSS; JMP.
Teaching Activities, Supplementary Teaching and Student Services
Teaching activities
- A.Y. 2025-2026 Lecturer in General Pathology and Immunology – Module 2 (24 hours) (Integrated Course in Pathological Sciences), Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing, Faenza Campus (Ravenna Campus), University of Bologna.
- A.Y. 2024-2025 Invited Lecturer at the University of Padua for an English-language professional development course delivered via e-learning, aimed at physicians and exercise professionals, entitled “Functional evaluation and physical exercise in the multidisciplinary management of inflammatory diseases”. Lecture: “Exercise-induced inflammation: applied physiology”. Course coordinator: Prof. Daniel Neunhaeuserer (Department of Medicine – DIMED – University of Padua).
- A.Y. 2024-2025 Lecturer in General Pathology and Immunology – Module 2 (24 hours) (Integrated Course in Pathological Sciences), Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing, Faenza Campus (Ravenna Campus), University of Bologna.
- A.Y. 2023-2024 Lecturer in General Pathology and Immunology – Module 2 (24 hours) (Integrated Course in Pathological Sciences), Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing, Faenza Campus (Ravenna Campus), University of Bologna.
- A.Y. 2008-2009 Teaching support contract for the course “Evolutionary Anatomy of Vertebrates”, Degree Programme in Ecological Sciences and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of Pisa.
- A.Y. 2007-2008 Teaching support contract for the course “Evolutionary Anatomy of Vertebrates”, Degree Programme in Ecological Sciences and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of Pisa.
- A.Y. 2006-2007 Teaching support contract for the course “Evolutionary Anatomy of Vertebrates”, Degree Programme in Ecological Sciences and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of Pisa.
Member of Degree and Examination Committees
A.Y. 2023-2024 Member of the Examining Committee for the final examination of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing, 2nd session, A.Y. 2023-2024, Faenza Campus, Ravenna Campus.
A.Y. 2024-2025 Member and Secretary of the Examining Committee for the final examination of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing, 1st session, A.Y. 2024-2025, Faenza Campus, Ravenna Campus.
A.Y. 2024-2025 Member and Secretary of the Examining Committee for the final examination of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Health Biology, Bologna Campus.
From 2021 to 2026 Member of Examination Committees for the following courses at the University of Bologna:
Advanced Immunology (Degree Programme 9068)
Immunology (Degree Programme 8415)
Immunology (Degree Programme 5904)
Molecular Pathology-Immunology (Degree Programme 8415)
Pathological Sciences (Degree Programme 5908)
INSTITUTIONAL ROLES
From 2026 to present Member of the Marco Polo Research Committee, aimed at promoting the international mobility of researchers and PhD students and strengthening scientific collaborations with international institutions.
From 2026 to present Delegate for Third Mission and Public Engagement for the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing, Faenza Campus.
From 2024 to present Member of the Quality Assurance Committee (QA Committee) for the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Nursing, Ravenna Campus, University of Bologna.
2025-2026 Member of a panel of experts selected to evaluate the research topics of final-year PhD students for a European internationalization competition promoted by the Coimbra Group Network – https://eventi.unibo.it/3mtcompetition
2025 Participation in the “Reunion of the Editorial Teams of Degree Programme Websites”, University of Bologna.
2024 Participation in the seminar “The Accreditation Visit – Experiences from Evaluated Universities”, University of Bologna.
Third Mission Activities
2026 Organizer and Scientific Coordinator of the Public Engagement programme of the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, within the framework of the 2026 Sports Festival, organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Sasso Marconi (12 September 2026). Coordination of science communication and public engagement activities focused on “Sport as a Universal Therapy”, with particular attention to the role of physical activity in prevention, healthy ageing and well-being promotion.
2025 Organizer of the Age-It Project dissemination event “Age-Itiamoci! Invecchiare bene in una società che invecchia” (Age-Itiamoci! Ageing well in an ageing society), held on 1 October 2025 at the Cappella Farnese, Palazzo d’Accursio, Bologna. Maria Conte also participated as a speaker with the seminar “Extreme longevity: between myth, imagination and reality”.
2025 Organizer of the European Researchers’ Night, held on 26 September 2025 in Faenza. Maria Conte also participated as a speaker with the seminar “The era of a long-lived and healthy society”.
2025 Dissemination of research activities conducted at the University of Bologna through an international webinar organized by the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) on 30 April 2025. Presentation entitled “Lipid Accumulation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Sarcopenia”.
https://geriatrie.be/event/eugms-sig-on-sarcopenia-open-online-meeting-wed-30th-april-11am-cest-60-min/
2025 Organizer of the seminar by Prof. Roberto Crea, entitled “Pronectins™, a new family of ‘silver bullets’: advantages and new opportunities compared with Monoclonal Antibodies”, held on 11 April 2025, Via San Giacomo 12, Bologna.
2024 Participation in the European Researchers’ Night at the Ravenna Campus (Faenza teaching site), University of Bologna, with the event entitled “Ageing and anti-ageing medicine: discussion and useful advice on how to slow down ageing”.
2024 Orientation activity “Scegli Faenza” (Ravenna Campus – Faenza teaching site).
2012 Research dissemination activity at the Genoa Science Festival, with a seminar entitled “Physical activity in older age against disability: European research from the MYOAGE project”.
