PLM obtained his Degree with Laude in Physics at the Bologna
University in 1997, discussing a thesis on "The predicion of
foldons in proteins". He obtained the PhD in Physics in 2001 at the
same University, discussing a thesis on "Hybrid systems of hidden
Markov models and Neural Networks for the prediction of protein
structure". He received different fellowships from the CNR (target
project on "Molecular Genetics) and from the Consortium INBB. He
had a contract researcher position at the Biocomputing Group of the
University of Bologna granted by the FIRB2001 project on
"Bioinformatics for genomics and proteomics". He then won a "Young
researcher" position granted by the FIRB2003 project on "LIBI:
International Laboratory of Bioinformatics". Since October 2001 he
is enrolled at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural
Sciences of the University of Bologna as a Researcher in the
Biochemistry class (BIO/10). On February 2015 he is appointed as
Associatr Professor. PLM lectured at the Universities of Ferrara
and Trento. He is now teaching at the International Bologna Master
Course in Bioinformatics. His research activity focuses on
the development of systems based on Neural Networks, Hidden Markov
Models and Support Vector Machines for the prediction of functional
and structural features in proteins. In particular he developed
systems for the prediction of the secondary structure of proteins,
of the topology and topography of membrane proteins (both from
inner and outer membranes), of the bonding state of cysteines, of
the subcellular localization. Moreover he studied and simulated the
protein folding process, he modelled the structure of different
proteins, integrating computational and experimental
information, he analysed the interaction between proteins and
ligands by means of docking procedures and molecular dynamics
simulations. PLM authored more than 150 peer reviewed papers
published in international journals and presented his results to
more than 100 national and international meetings. He obtained the
best paper award at the ISMB 2002 meeting (Edmonton, Canada).
Website of the Bologna Biocomputing Group: www.biocomp.unibo.it
