EDUCATION • Degree in Biology (110/110 cum laude,University of Padova), 1992 • PhD in Genetics (University of Ferrara; Consortium among Universities of Bologna, Ferrara, Padova, Parma and Pisa), 1998 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE • Post graduate fellow of ”Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro” (AIRC) at the Department of Biology, University of Padova, 1993-1994 • PhD student in Genetics (University of Ferrara; Consortium among Universities of Bologna, Ferrara, Padova, Parma and Pisa), 1994-1997. • Erasmus PhD student at the Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, UK, 1995 • Postdoc (University Hospital, Univeristy of Padova), 1997-1999 • Assistant Professor (Genetics) (University of Padova), 1999-2011 • Associate Professor (Scientific Disciplinary Sector BIO/18-Genetics) at the University Padova, Department of Biology, 2011-present • Visiting Scientist (University of Fribourg, Fribourg (CH)), 2012-2013 RESEARCH ACTIVITY 1) Circadian control of the innate immune response in Bombyx mori and Drosophila melanogaster insects. 2) Mechanisms of action of specific antimicrobial peptides, candidates as potential drugs; 3) Generation of insects effectively reducing PET plastic waste (Project in collaboration with Prof. G. Tettamanti, University of Insubria, Varese). This project aims to generate black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens, capable of efficiently expressing PET catabolic enzymes in the midgut. It involves the study of modified microbial PET-degrading enzymes in insect cell lines, transgenic D. melanogaster flies and the generation of knock-in black soldier larvae for PET-degrading enzymes, using a CRISPR/Cas9 methodology. 4) Innate immune response after bacterial oral exposure in H. illucens (Project in collaboration with Prof. G. Tettamanti, University of Insubria, Varese). TEACHING ACTIVITY •"Genetica 1 ed Ingegneria Genetica" for the three-year degree course in Molecular Biology, Dept of Biology, University of Padova 2023-2024-present •“Genetica, Genomica ed Evoluzione Molecolare” for the three-year degree course in Natural and Environmental Sciences, Dept of Biology, University of Padova 2023-2024-present • "Genetics" for the three-year degree courses in Biotechnology and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Padova 2000-2023 “Behavioral Genetics” for the Master degrees Evolutionary Biology and Molecular Biology,Dept of Biology, University of Padova 2021-present • She acquired the Teaching4Learning Badge from University of Padova, 2018 • Tutor/supervisor of several theses for Bachelor and Master degrees • Supervisor of 4 PhD students and 8 PostDocs and "Assegnisti di Ricerca". BOARD OF PhD PROGRAMS • Member of the board of professors of the PhD School in “Biosciences”, Curriculum “Genetics Genomics and Bioinformatics”, University of Padova, 2018-present • Member of the board of professors of the PhD School of “Biosciences and Biotechnology”, Curriculum “Genetics and Developmental Molecular Biology”, University of Padova 2009-2015.

Curriculum PDF File

Main research topics: 1) Circadian control of the innate immune response in the insects Bombyx mori and Drosophila melanogaster. 2) Mechanisms of action of specific antimicrobial peptides, candidates as potential drugs; 3) Analysis of behavioral genes (circadian and non-circadian) in Drosophila melanogaster. This type of research is focused on the molecular and functional study of behavioral genes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, using strategies based on behavioral analysis, generation of transgenics, and molecular analyses.

Bachelor and Master Degree theses will be focussed on the following research topics: 1) Circadian control of the innate immune response in the insects Bombyx mori and Drosophila melanogaster. 2) Mechanisms of action of specific antimicrobial peptides, candidates as potential drugs; 3) Generation of insects effectively reducing PET plastic waste

Last update: 30/06/2025