PAOLA CUSUMANO E-mail: paola.cusumano@unipd.it Education 2003: BSc completed with a thesis in the Histomorphology and Molecular Biology of the Kidney Laboratory, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Division of Nephrology, University of Padova. 2005: Degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Padova (107/100) (Tutors: Prof. R. Costa and Dr. F. Rouyer). The thesis was conducted under the joint supervision of Prof. Costa and Dr. Rouyer at the INAF, CNRS (UPR2216 Neurobiologie Génétique et Integrative), France, to which P. Cusumano was seconded within the Erasmus Programme. 2005-2008: PhD degree in Neuroscience at the INAF, CNRS (UPR2216 Neurobiologie Génétique et Integrative), France (Supervisor: Dr. Francois Rouyer). 2006: August 26 – September 2, EUCLOCK Summer School, Trest, Czech Republic Appointments 2009: Research fellow at the Dept. of Biology, University of Padova (P.I. Prof. R. Costa, EUCLOCK Project); 2010-2011: Research fellow of the Dept. Biology, University of Padova (P.I. Prof. R. Costa); 2012-2013: Research fellow of the Dept. of Biology, University of Padova (funded by a competitive grant Bando Giovani Studiosi 2010); 2014-2015: Research fellow of the Dept. Biology, University of Padova (P.I. Prof. R. Costa, Progetto Bandiera Epigenomica); 2016-2017: Research fellow (1 year contract plus maternity leave) of Dept. Biology, University of Padova (P.I. Dr. Cristiano De Pittà); October 2017-now: Ricercatore (RTDA) in Genetics-SSD BIO/18 (Dept. of Biology, University of Padova). Research Activities Over the past decade, I have developed an extensive experience in the analysis of circadian rhythms, sleep profiling and the neuroanatomy of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. I have acquired a solid background in Drosophila genetics and considerable skills on Drosophila embryonic and neuronal cell culture. I am currently exploring the role of small-RNAs and of RNA helicases in the post-transcriptional regulation of the circadian clock machinery in Drosophila melanogaster. I am also investigating the effects of chronic disruption of circadian rhythmicity on chromatin epigenetic modifications and on behavior and sleep in this model organism. I am also involved in projects aiming at characterizing the role of the blue-light circadian photoreceptor Cryptochrome and its partners. I have participated in identifying the common pathways involved in the regulation of sleep in humans and in a short-sleeping fly model. Further, I have characterized the photoreceptive pathways regulating the Drosophila morning and evening oscillators, and defined how the two oscillators control locomotor activity of the flies. Research skills Molecular techniques (cloning, PCR, DNA, RNA and protein isolation, SSCP, FISH, Western Blot, RT-PCR, Microarray, in vitro luciferase assay, DNA fingerprinting, Genotyping), Cells culture (Drosophila embryonic and neuronal cells transfections) ,Manipulation of organisms genetically modified such as Drosophila, yeast, S2 and neuronal cell lines, C. elegans and bacteria), Analisys of sleep/wake rhythms, Epifluorescent and confocal microscopy, Drosophila genetics, Micro-dissection and immunolabelings, Microsoft Office Languages: Italian (Mother tongue), French (fluent), English (fluent)

Curriculum PDF File

- Molecular mechanisms underlying the circadian rhythmicity in Drosophila melanogaster - Role of microRNAs in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycles in Drosophila melanogaster - Study of epigenetic modifications induced by a chronic perturbation of the sleep/wake rhythms

- Dissertation with drafting and discussion of a published scientific work, with short experience in the laboratory on topics / methodologies related to the scientific work presented. - Master thesis where the candidate will contribute in an autonomous and original way to the development of a hypothesis of starting scientific research, acquiring, processing and discussing the data in a critical way in the final thesis.

Last update: 21/04/2022