Education and training
Academic year 2018-2019: Achievement of PhD title in Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences and Technologies (Curriculum Zootechnical Sciences, Cycle XXXI) at Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna. Dissertation title: Application of traditional and innovative techniques to investigate productive efficiency and related molecular traits in broiler chickens. Supervisor: Prof. Federico Sirri. PhD coordinator: Prof. Massimiliano Petracci.
Academic year 2014-2015: Achievement of the Master's Degree in Safety and Quality of Animal Production at Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna. Thesis title: Evaluation of the dietary utilization of an emulsifier on nutrient digestibility, production performance of broiler chickens and qualitative aspects of the carcass. Supervisor: Prof. Federico Sirri. Final evaluation: 110/110 cum laude.
Academic year 2012-2013: Achievement of the Bachelor's Degree in Animal Production and Wildlife Control at Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna. Thesis title: Effect of different electrical stunning conditions on the main qualitative characteristics of chicken meat. Supervisor: Prof. Federico Sirri. Co-supervisor: Prof. Massimiliano Petracci. Final evaluation: 110/110 cum laude.
Research activities (Italian and foreign institutions)
1/11/2018 - 17/5/2020: Research fellow at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna. Supervisor: Prof. Federico Sirri. Research grant title: “Identification of nutritional strategies to improve digestive efficiency, health and welfare of poultry species through traditional and innovative approaches”.
28/08 / 2017- 31/1/2018: Visiting PhD student at "Center of Excellence for Poultry Science" - University of Arkansas (USA). Supervisor: Prof. Sami Dridi. Main research activity: application of molecular biology techniques to investigate nutritional and physiological aspects that influence feed efficiency in broilers (e.g. evaluation of the effects of neuropeptide Y on the energy metabolism of muscle tissue through in-vivo and in-vitro approaches).
Training activities (Italian and foreign institutions)
Academic year 2019-2020, I semester: Participation in the ACES-Academic English Skills course (24 hours) level B2+/ C1 at the University Language Center (CLA), University of Bologna.
07/22/2019 - 07/24/2019: Participation in "MANNA Summer School in Omics" at the University of Milan (Lodi, Italy). Main topics: application of transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics for the investigations of traits related to animal health and nutrition.
06/02/2017 - 10/02/2017: Participation in the “Advanced statistical analysis course for animal sciences” organized by “ASPA - Association for Animal Science and Production” at the University of Pisa (Italy). Main topics: complex experimental designs, mixed models, linear models, covariance models, analysis of variance, linear and non-linear regression, application to R software.
22/02/2016 - 26/02/2016: Participation in "2nd Training School of COST Action FA 1401 (PiGutNet) - Contemporary feed production: technological and nutritional aspects" at Institute of Food Technology - Novi Sad (Serbia). Main topics: feed mill technique, technological and nutritional aspects of feed, effect of chemical and physical treatments on the composition and quality of feed, practical training at the experimental feed mill.
09/21/2016 - 09/23/2016: Participation in the “multivariate statistics course for animal sciences” organized by "ASPA - Association for Science and Animal Production" at the University of Sassari (Italy). Main topics: matrix algebra, principal component analysis, discriminant analysis, clusters analysis, application to the R software
09/14/2015 - 09/18/2015: Participation in the “basic statistical analysis course for animal sciences” organized by “ASPA - Association for Animal Science and Production” at the University of Pisa (Italy). Main topics: descriptive statistics, probability concept, analysis of variance, non-parametric statistics, experimental design, correlation, regression, covariance.
1/05/2014 - 10/05/2014: Participation in training activities at Novus International Inc. (Missouri, USA). Main topics: study of bacterial chondronecrosis and osteomyelitis (BCO) in broilers, techniques for assessing its incidence and severity, study of experimental models to induce this condition and nutritional strategies to limit it in commercial farms.
Main research topics
- Identification of nutritional strategies aimed at improving feed efficiency and production sustainability in broiler chickens and turkeys
- Use of alternative protein sources to soybean in diets for broiler chickens and turkeys
- Investigation of the interaction between animal genotype and environmental factors (e.g. diet, microclimatic conditions, farming systems, etc.) to improve production sustainability of the poultry sector
- Study of the molecular mechanisms involved in feed efficiency of poultry species through the use of omics technologies
- Use of innovative technologies for the early administration (in-ovo feeding and early-life nutrition) of nutritional compounds aimed at improving health and feed efficiency in broiler chickens and turkeys
- Characterization of chemical composition and technological properties of poultry meat and eggs
Scientific production (last update 19/09/2022; Source Scopus - https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57192275221 )
- H-index or Hirsch index = 12
- 31 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals with Impact Factor
- > 25 contributions in the form of abstracts for national and international conferences and symposiums
Speaker at international and national congresses and conferences
Invited speaker
- X 'Hafez' International Symposium on Turkey Production (Berlin, Germany; 6-8 June 2019). Presentation title: Emergent muscle abnormalities and meat quality consequences in modern turkey hybrids.
- I° National Meeting of FIDSPA (Italian Federation of Doctors in Animal Production Sciences) "Food4 Animal Science: challenges and opportunities of an evolving sector" (Bologna, Italy; 14 September 2019). Presentation title: Productive efficiency in broiler chicken: traditional and innovative approaches.
Oral/poster communications
- XXVI World’s Poultry Congress (Paris, France, 7-11 August 2022)
- VII Mediterranean Poultry Summit (Cordoba, Spain, 8-10 June 2022)
- XIV Congress of the Association for Animal Science and Production - ASPA (Padua, Italy, 21-24 September 2021)
- XXIII Congress of the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (Turin, Italy, 18-20 September 2019)
- XIII Congress of the Association for Animal Science and Production - ASPA (Sorrento, Italy, 11-14 June 2019)
- XV European Poultry Conference (Dubrovnik, Croatia, 17-21 September 2018)
- VI Mediterranean Poultry Summit (Turin, Italy, 18-20 June 2018)
- International Poultry Scientific Forum IPPE expo (Atlanta, USA, 29-30 January 2018)
- XII Congress of the Association for Animal Science and Production - ASPA (Perugia, Italy, 13-16 June 2017)
- XXV World’s Poultry Congress (Beijing, China, 5-9 September 2016)
Awards and acknowledgments
- Award for the best scientific communication (oral presentation) for young researchers with the work “Plasma and muscle metabolomics profiling of modern broiler chickens exposed to chronic heat stress” at 7th Mediterranean Poultry Summit of the WPSA (Cordoba, Spain, 8-10 June 2022)
- "Prof. Giulia Giordani award " for the best scientific contribution in the field of poultry nutrition at the XXIII Congress of the European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (Turin, Italy, 18-20 September 2019)
- "Best PhD dissertation in Animal Production Sciences" from the Italian Association of the Agricultural Science Societies (AISSA; Reggio Calabria, Italy, February 2020)
- Winner of the selection for "Youth Program - Young Researcher Program" at the European Poultry Conference 2018 (Dubrovnik, Croatia) and World Poultry Congress 2016-2022 (Beijing, China; Paris, France)
- Recipient of the “Marco Polo” scholarship supporting the research period as visiting PhD student at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science - University of Arkansas (USA)
- "Merit Award" from the University of Bologna. Academic year 2012/13.
Teaching/didactic activities (for more information please see the “Teaching” section)
Since A.Y. 2021-2022
- Lecturer of “Livestock Farms and Environmental Impact – Module 2: Poultry production and environmental impact” (3 CFU - 30 hours; part of the course “Environmental impact of animal husbandry and food industry”). First cycle degree in “Land and agro-forestry Sciences” at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (University of Bologna, Italy)
- Lecturer of “Sustainable Poultry, Rabbit and Aquaculture Management – Module 1: Sustainable Poultry Management”. Second cycle degree (Master) in “Precise and Sustainable Agriculture” at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (University of Bologna, Italy)
A.Y. 2020-2021
- Lecturer of “Professional Practical Training in Special Animal Production and Husbandry – Module 5: Poultry”. Single cycle degree in Veterinary Medicine at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (University of Bologna, Italy)
Other teaching/didactical activities
- A.Y. 2019/2020: Tutoring of 20 hours to support the teaching activities in the course "Poultry science" (first cycle degree in Animal Production at University of Bologna)
- Member of the examination committee for the courses "Poultry Science" and "Aquaculture" from the A. Y. 2016/2017 (first cycle degree in Animal Production at University of Bologna) being acknowledged as “expert in the field” of “Poultry, Rabbit and Aquaculture Science” since 2016.
- Co-supervisor of n. 11 theses
- Lecturer of different theoretical/practical seminars in Animal Production course (first cycle degree), as well as in Food Animal Metabolism and Management in the Circular Economy, Safety and Quality of Animal Production, and Food Science and Technology courses (second cycle degree) at University of Bologna.
