Scientific production (from 2013 to 2022): 36 peer reviewed articles, 6 invited book chapters:
H-index 17, Citations 1023 (Scopus)
CURRENT POSITION
Oct 2022: Senior Assistant Professor (fixed-term)
TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCES
Jan 2022: Obtainment of the National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor in Analytical Chemistry, 03/A1 Analytical Chemistry (from 31/01/2022 to 31/01/2031)
Dec 2019-Oct 2022: Junior Assistant Professor in Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna Laboratory of Bioanalytical Chemistry
Dec 2019: Research fellowship, (SSD CHIM/01) Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna. Laboratory of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Research project: "Development of multiplexed bioluminescent whole cell biosensors and integration into portable analytical devices Supervisor Prof. Elisa Michelini
Dec 2017-Nov 2019: Research fellowship, (SSD CHIM/01) Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna. Laboratory of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Research project: Development of bioluminescent 3D whole-cell biosensors", Supervisor Prof. Aldo Roda
Nov 2014-Oct 2017: PhD in Chemistry, Doctoral School of Chemistry XXX cycle obtained with Ministerial Scholarship at Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna03/A1- Analytical Chemistry. Experimental thesis: “New analytical tools and smartphone- based devices exploiting cell-based and bioluminescence detection for environmental and diagnostic applications”, Supervisor Prof. Elisa Michelini
Nov 2014-Oct 2017: Research Period abroad: Visiting PhD student at ICN2, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group, Group Leader Prof. Arben Merkoçi
Aug 2014-Oct 2014: Research contract, Department of Chemistry, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna Laboratory of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Research Project “On ground microgravity cellular models and proteomic analysis for the identification of targets involved in gastroenterical motility - GUTBRAIN” funded by Italian Space Agency (ASI), Project Coordinator Prof. Aldo Roda
Dec 2012-Jul 2014: Research contract, Department of Chemistry, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna Laboratory of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Research Project “Gametocyte Assay for Malaria (GAM) for Novel Anti-Transmission Drugs” funded by Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation, Supervisor Prof. Aldo Roda.
Dec 2012: Pharmacist registration exam passed, Bologna
Oct 2012: Master’s degree in Pharmacy
TEACHING
from 2019: BIOSENSORS AND ADVANCED BIOANALYTICAL METHODS- Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Chemistry
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (Module 2)-Cycle degree programme in Pharmacy
SCIENTIFIC AND RESEARCH ACTIVITY
- Development ultrasensitive analytical methods with bio- and chemiluminescence detection applied to biomedical and pharmaceutical screening (HTS and HCS), environmental and food
- Development of portable and new miniaturized biosensing devices for on-site multiplexed analysis
- Development of bioluminescent cell-based assays and whole-cell biosensors for the quantification of endocrine disruptors, new molecules and toxic compounds in biological, environmental and clinical samples.
- Implementation of bioluminescent 3D whole-cell biosensors into portable analytical devices for analysis of clinic samples and drug screening.
- Development of new in vitro Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) assays and Protein-Complementation Assay (PCA) for monitoring protein-protein interactions
- In vitro Bioluminescence Imaging and development of Bioluminescent 3D cell culture models.
- Cloning, random and site-directed mutagenesis of new bioluminescent proteins and photoproteins with improved emission properties and thermo- and pH-stability
PARTECIPATION TO FUNDED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
- HORIZON-CL4-2022-SPACE-01: 2023 – Role Participant to the project ALCYONE “Autonomous Living Cell analYsis ON-chip for Evaluation of space Environment Effects: low-power integrated lab-on-chip for the assessment of radiation damage on living systems in nanosatellite missions” (Project Coordinator: Prof. Augusto Nascetti)
- PRIMA PROGRAMME: 2020 -WP 10 leader and Member of the Innovation Committee "FEDKITO-Fresh food sustainable packaging in the circular economy” (Project Coordinator: Prof. Barbara Conti)
- LAV: 2017- Role: Participant to the project “Modelli multicellulari 3D e “organ-on-a-chip” come alternative alla sperimentazione animale per i test di farmaci e nuove molecole” (Project Coordinator: Prof. Aldo Roda)
- NATO-SPS: 2016- Role: Participant to the project “Cell Biosensors for Detection of Chemical and Biological Threats” (Project Coordinator: Prof. Elisa Michelini)
- PRIN: 2015- Role: Participant to the project “Securing and ensuring sustainable use of agriculture waste, co- and by-products: an integrated analytical approach combining mass spectrometry with health effect-based biosensing” (Project Coordinator: Prof. Aldo Roda)
- ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana): 2013- Role: Participant to the project “On ground microgravity cellular models and proteomic analysis for the identification of targets involved in gastroenterical motility - GUTBRAIN” (Project Coordinator: Prof. Aldo Roda
- EU (FP7 Capacities): 2013- Role: Participant to the project “Biorice BIOtechnology for the recovery of valuable peptides from industrial RICE by-products and production of added value ingredients for nutraceuticals, functional foods and cosmetics " (Project coordinator: Dr. Annalisa Tassoni)
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2011): Role: Participant to the project “Gametocyte Assay for Malaria (GAM) for Novel Anti-Transmission Drugs” (Principal Investigator: Pietro Alano, ISS, Rome)
SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS
Sept 2019: European Researchers' Night - Campus di Rimini- University of BolognaLight my fire: come si accende la natura". http://nottedeiricercatori-society.eu/
May 2019: Pint of Science Festival, Bologna. Light my fire: come si accende la natura “Bioluminescenza: come la natura ispira la tecnologia” https://pintofscience.it/event/light-my-fire-come-si-accende-la-natura
AWARDS
2023: Cover Article selected by Editors of Analytical Chemistry Journal ACS “Novel Nanozeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF-8)–Luciferase Biocomposite for Nanosensing Application Volume 95, Issue 4, pages 2540–2547. https://pubs.acs.org/toc/ancham/95/4
2022: Cover Article selected by Editors of Biosensors Journal MDPI “A Luciferase Mutant with Improved Brightness and Stability for Whole-Cell Bioluminescent Biosensors and In Vitro Biosensing”, Volume 12, Issue9. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/12/9
2022: Wiley Top Downloaded Article “Bioluminescence goes portable: recent advances in whole-cell and cell-free bioluminescence biosensors” during its first 12 months* of publication in: LUMINESCENCE: THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL LUMINESCENCE (*Among work published between 1 Jan 2019 – 31 Dec 2020)
2022: Award for the best oral communication at the 21st International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence & XIX International Symposium on Luminescence Spectrometry, sponsored by Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry for the particularly innovative research, May 31st-3rd June 2022, Gijon, Spain. "Bioluminescent microtissues: towards cancer avatar"
2019: Lions Prize "Claudio Bonivento” RICERCA SCIENTIFICA e INNOVAZIONE TECNOLOGICA for the best PhD thesis, supported by the Institute of Advanced Studies and offered by LIONS club Bologna, 26th September 2019, Bologna, Italy
2018: Award for the best spotlight poster at the 20th International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, sponsored by Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry for the particularly innovative research. May 28th-31st 2018 Nantes, France. "Bioluminescent reporter gene assays to investigate effects of simulated microgravity on Caco-2 cells"
2018: Award “Gian Piero Spada” for the best experimental thesis in the field of Analytical Chemistry (XXX cycle Doctoral School in Chemistry)
2017: Award for the best poster at the Batsheva de Rothschild Seminar on New Concepts in Biosensing, February 12th-16th, 2017, Dead Sea, Israel. "Bioluminescent 3D cell culture models: towards spheroid-based biosensor"
2016: Award for the best poster in the field of analytical chemistry at the XXVI Congresso Nazionale della Società Chimica Italiana, September 18th-22th, 2016 Giardini di Naxos.
