Professional Experience
2006-today Associate Professor Bio/01-General Botany at the Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria (Rende, Italy)
1992-2006 Full time Researcher Bio/01-General Botany at the Department of Ecology Università della Calabria Italy.
1991-1992 Attends as voluntary researcher at the Laboratory of Botany- Department of Ecology, Università della Calabria Italy.
1989-1991 CNR (Italian National Research Council) fellowship at the Institute of Ecosystem Study (CNR-ISE-Verbania Italy): skills for the phytoplankton ecology.
1991 Scientific training at the University of Saragoza (Spain):skills for the main methodologies in the field hydrobiology and limnology of the reservoirs.
1995 Scientific training at University of Viterbo (Italy):skills for the molecular methodologies to studying methylation model of nucleic acids.
1990 Qualification to the Profession of Biologist at the University of Calabria
1989 Qualification to the Profession of Teaching in Mathematics and Natural Sciences for the Secondary Schools
1989 Scientific Training in Plant Biotechnology- Catania-Italy:skills for the molecular technique applied to plant organism.
1988 Degree in Biological Sciences -110/110 Cum Laude- University of Calabria.
Teaching activity
From 2006-today Courses on: Plant Biology (Bachelor's Degree in Biological Science and Technology); Biotechnologies for environmental management (Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences and Technologies); Marine Botany (Master's Degree in Natural Sciences). She also held courses on "Didactics for life Sciences” for specialization in Secondary Education (SiSS) and in Active Training Traineeships (TFA) for teaching qualification (class A060- Natural Sciences, Chemistry, Geography and Microbiology).
Other professional experiences
2013-2021 Delegate of the Head of Department for Dibest Educational Guidance Activities
2018-2021 Member of the DiBEST Quality Committee
2017-2019 Member of the Joint Committee Teachers-Students at the DiBEST
2018-2021 Delegate for the Degree course in Natural Sciences in the Educational Guidance Activities
2001- today Member of PhD School in “LIFE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY” (former “Plant Biology”, “Life Science”) at University of Calabria.
2009-2011 Thesis supervisor PhD in Plant Science, XXIII Cycle, BIO/01- area 5 Title " Prima indagine sui popolamenti fitoplanctonici in un'area del Parco Marino" Riviera dei Cedri"(Alto Tirreno-Calabro)-Italy.
2012-2015 Thesis supervisor PhD in Plant Science Life sciences, XXVI CICLO- BIO/01- area 5 Title: ”Identification of Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae)
species using Whole-Cell Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization: from cultured sample to field test”.
2013-2016 Thesis supervisor PhD in Plant Science Life sciences, XXVII CICLO- BIO/01- area 5. Title ”Studio del meccanismo della metallotolleranza nell’organismo modello Scenedesmus acutus (Chlorophyta-Alghe verdi)”
2015-2017 Member of Teaching Committee for PhD School in “LIFE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY”
2013-2015 President of the Committee of TFA (Training Course for teaching qualification class A060
2013-2015 President of the Committee of final examination for teaching qualification- class A060
2011-2014 President of the Committee for admission to the Master's Degree in Natural Sciences
2009-2011 Member of the Committee BATS - Technical-Scientific library Unical
2010 Referent member at the Technical-scientific Committee “Parco Riviera dei Cedri”
2008 Referent member at the INFEA Technical Group (Information, Training and Environmental Education)
2006 Member of scientific Committee for Master of first level "Microscopia applicata alle Scienze Biologiche, Mediche e Ambientali" dell'Università della Calabria
2002-2005 Thesis supervisor PhD in Plant Biology XX CICLO- BIO/01- area 5, Title “Studio della variabilità spaziale e dell'incidenza di alcuni fattori ambientali sulle variabili strutturali delle praterie di Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile: analisi sulla morfometria della pianta e dei suoi epifiti lungo un tratto di costa calabra”.
Activities of Third Mission-Public Engagement
From 2013-today Partecipation to numerous public events- Researchers' Night, Open day, Orientation’s Salons, Orientation’s Days- and various actions for interaction with the higher school, initiatives of seminars for scientific dissemination, research sharing and others activities carried out in the context of PLS (Piano Lauree Scientifiche)
Scientific relevant projects
2021-2024 DIRCA “Exploring DIatom Resting stages in Calabrian marine waters: biological diversity, chemical cues and biotechnological potential “Progetto di Ricerca CRIMAC “Centro ricerche ed infrastrutture marine avanzate in Calabria”. Local PI
2021-2024 PRoDIA “Droplet digital PCR to assess the occurrence and infer the ROle of prostaglandin in natural DIatom Assemblage in the Ionian coastal waters” Progetto di Ricerca CRIMAC “Centro ricerche ed infrastrutture marine avanzate in Calabria”. Local PI
2018-2021 Food Social Sensor Network (FOOD NET). POR Lombardia 2014-2020. Azione I.1.b.1.3 2018. Local coordinator
2014-2020PON Ricerca e Innovazione -DEMETRA (DEvelopment of MatErial and TRAcking technologies for the safety of food) - Sviluppo di tecnologie di materiali e di tracciabilità per la sicurezza e la qualità dei cibi “Agrifood” identificative code ARS01_00401. Member of local research unit
2014‐2020POR Calabria FESR‐ESF -Monitoring of marine habitats and species of marine SICs. Collaboration Agreement between Arpacal-DiBEST Unical Scientific referent of the Project
2017-2019MIUR–FIRST: Agricultural Systems and Sustainable Development (SASS- Project). Agro‐biological aspects of plants of alimentary and nutraceutical interest" Collaboration Agreement between Milano Bicocca University-DiBest-Unical Scientific referent of the Project
2007‐2013 Project PON01_02651_SIGIEC. Integrated Management System for Coastal Erosion. OR 2. Evaluation of the relationship between environmental stress and effect. Activity A 2.5 Biological Studies. Member of local research unit
2007/2013 POR FESR -MUSMAP PROJECT "Multiscale mapping in pilot sites of Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa grasslands- CALABRIA REGION ‐ Convention Rep. N. 1730 of 15/12/2014 ‐ Environment ‐ Intervention Line 3.5.21 - DDSN 14246 OF 27.11.2014. Scientific referent of the Project
2007/2013 PON Ricerca e Competitivitá - PROGETTO SILA (Sistema Integrato di Laboratori per L'Ambiente) ASSE I Sostegno ai mutamenti strutturali OB. OPERATIVO 4.1.1.4-Potenziamento delle strutture e delle dotazioni scientifiche e tecnologiche. Azione 1 Rafforzamento strutturale. Member of local research unit
2007‐2013 APQ -PON Project 07‐13 Action 2‐ Mission research laboratories Oriented "AGRIBIOTECH" Member of local research unit
2007‐2013POR Calabria FESR - Coastal Monitoring of the stretch of coast south of the T.te Fiumarella of the Municipality of Calopezzati-Integrated interventions for the restoration of the hydraulic profligacy of the torrents of the lower Ionian coast of Cosenza included among the Malfrancato streams and Acquaniti‐ intervention line 3.2.2.2. Scientific referent of the Project
2007/2013-PO-FEP. Study on phytoplankton in the Lago di Tarsia Reserve. Preservation, protection and monitoring of fauna and aquatic flora and their habitats in the Regional Natural Reserve Mouth of the River Crati". Scientific referent of the Project
2007/2013 PO-FEP "Conservation, protection and monitoring of aquatic fauna and flora species and their habitats in the Foce del Fiume Crati regional nature reserve‐ Measure 3.2. Member of local research unit
2010 -2012 Regional funds n ° 22410 4.12 .2009 "First study of the phytoplankton algal communities present in the Marine Park Riviera dei Cedri" Regional Strategic Project "Protection of biodiversity of marine regional parks" Scientific referent of the Project
2000‐2006 POR CALABRIA-Protection of marine flora and fauna in the "Capo Rizzuto" Marine Protected Area MEASURE 4.20. "Surveillance network at Posidonia oceanica and monitoring of erosion phenomena on different types of sea bed in the Capo Rizzuto Marine Protected Area" Integrated Project for the Ecological Network POR CALABRIA 2000‐2006. Scientific referent of the Project
2007‐2009 Agreement with Ente Provincia di CS- Project “Natural requalification of the coastal areas of the province of Cosenza against the risk of erosion and desertification. Member of local research unit
2000/03 MIUR Project MEMOBIOMAR project task W1.A1 «Marine Ecotoxicology and Aquacolture “Molecular and Cellular Methodologies for the Ecophysiology, Ecotoxicology and Biomonitoring of the Marine Environment”. Member of local research unit.
Interest and present fields work
•Molecular aspect and epigenetic studies of the metal tolerance in the green algae S. acutus;
•Functional food from algal and xerophytic organism;
•Monitoring of environmental conditions by studying plant response to environmental stress using classical and innovative methods (expression pattern of stress-related genes, genes methylation pattern);
•Characterization of the coastal phytoplankton communities of the Thyrrenian Sea;
•Development and application of the Whole-Cell-FISH methods for the molecular detection of toxic micro-algae.
The techniques applied were mainly -omic approach, PCR, in situ hybridisation, FISH tecnique, immuno-cytochemestry and image analyses.
