Work experience
October 2020- October 2023
Senior Researcher at the Department Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM) of the University of Bologna. The research activity consists of genetic and biological aspect analysis of intellectual disability in Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) to identify biological targets susceptible of possible applications in therapy. The use or development of molecular genetics and computational biology tools is also envisaged.
August 2019 - September 2020
Post doctoral fellow in " Genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics in Down syndrome".
EMBO visiting fellow at the University College of Cork, Ireland (Settembre 2017 - Dicembre 2017) to develop the "Highly restricted Down syndrome critical region (HR-DSCR) editing by CRISPR/Cas9 system in trisomy 21 cell lines" project.
March 2016 - July 2019
Post doctoral fellow in "Integrated approach to identify new therapeutic target fot trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)".
February 2015 - February 2016
Post doctoral fellow in "Molecular pathogenetic mechanisms in trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)".
March 2013 - December 2015
PhD student in Human Movement Development, Toxicological and Pharmacological Sciences at Genomic Laboratory (group leader: Prof. Pierluigi Strippoli), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Molecular Biology, DIMES, University of Bologna. I worked to study the whole gene expression profiles in human tissues in relation to the pathogenesis of Down syndrome, and to identify new genetic determinants in the HR-DSCR (Highly Restricted Down Syndrome Critical Region) using computational and molecular biology techniques.
May 2012 - November 2012
Postgraduate training at Genomic Laboratory (group leader: Prof. Pierluigi Strippoli), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Molecular Biology, DIMES, University of Bologna. I analyzed human chromosome 21 genes using computational and molecular biology methods.
March 2011 - February 2012
Master's degree thesis at Biotechnologies and Development of Catalytic Processes Laboratory (group leader: Prof. Alejandro Hochkoeppler) - Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, carrying out cloning techniques in E. coli, in vivo production of sub-assemblies of the protein DNA pol III, protein purification by anion exchange, affinity and molecular exclusion chromatographies, in vitro characterization using polymerase and exonuclease activity assays.
April 2009 - September 2009
Postgraduate training at Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, hospital agency "A.O. Ospedali riuniti Villa Sofia - Cervello", Palermo, carrying out DNA extraction from peripheral blood, amniotic fluid and chorionic villi; karyotyping by electronic microscope.
April 2008 - June 2008
Thesis training at BMB (Dept. of Biopathology and Biomedical Methodologies), University of Palermo, carrying out stratification of the peripheral blood, cell cultures (stimulation with cytokines) and examining cellular phenotype by flow cytometry.
Education and training
September 2019 - September 2028
Qualified for the role of Associate Professor, sector BIO/13 (Applied Biology), National Scientific Qualification, The Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and research (MIUR).
January 2013 - December 2015
PhD in Human Movement Development, Toxicological and Pharmacological Sciences at University of Bologna.
July 2015
Qualification as a professional Biologist, Senior Biologist, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
November 2009 - March 2012
Master's degree in Industrial and Molecular Biotechnologies with a final grade of 110/110 with honors.
July 2009
Biologist qualification, Junior Biologist, University of Palermo.
September 2004 - March 2009
Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology with a final grade of 110/110 with honors.
September 1999 - July 2004
Scientific high school diploma from Liceo Scientifico “G. P. Ballatore” in Mazara del Vallo (TP), with a final grade of 100/100.
Publications
33 scientific papers on peer-reviewed journals.
https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/maria.caracausi2/pubblicazioni
