Find Academic Supervisors

• Plant Biotechnology
• Metabolomics
• Functional Foods
• +7 more

Vincenzo D’Amelia is a Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR-CNR), National Research Council of Italy, based in the Portici division. He is affiliated with the Department of Agricultural Sciences – Division of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology at the University of Naples Federico II, where he has held various research roles including Principal Investigator and Postdoctoral researcher. Education: PhD in Agrobiology and Agrochemistry, University of Naples Federico II (2016) Master Degree in Science and Technology for Agricultural Production, Summa cum laude (2012) Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Sciences, Summa cum laude (2009) His research focuses on the molecular regulation of plant metabolites , especially anthocyanins , with applications in crop improvement , functional foods , and human health . He employs genetic, omic, and biotechnological tools to understand how plants respond to environmental stresses and how their natural biodiversity can be exploited for enhanced bioactive compound production. His recent publications highlight a strong trend in plant secondary metabolism , particularly in potato and tobacco , with emphasis on genetic engineering for anthocyanin stabilization, stress tolerance mechanisms , and gene network analysis in cold-adapted species. His work bridges fundamental plant science with practical applications in agriculture and nutrition. Scientific Awards: No formal awards listed in the provided text. Dr. D’Amelia has served as Principal Investigator on the ExPoPe project funded by UNINA-Star Line 1, aimed at enhancing potato phenolic content for plant protection and human health. He has also contributed as a reviewer on Publons and participated in international research exchanges with institutions in the USA, UK, and Spain. These collaborations reflect his active engagement in the global plant science community. He has been involved with research teams at the University of Naples Federico II, John Innes Centre (UK), North Carolina State University (USA), and the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (Spain). His work is conducted within collaborative labs focused on plant genetics, metabolic engineering, and functional genomics.

Simona PoloView profile

Associate Professor

• Ubiquitin signaling
• Cellular signal transduction
• Endocytosis
• +5 more

Simona Polo is an Associate Professor at the Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, and Director of the Molecular Machines in Signaling Pathways research program at IFOM since 2005. Her work focuses on deciphering ubiquitin's role in cellular communication systems, particularly in cancer and neurodegenerative disease contexts. University of Milan (Biology, 1991) San Raffaele Hospital (Molecular Virology, 1996-1999) European Institute of Oncology (Endocytosis research, 1999-2005) IFOM (Signaling pathways, 2005-present) Her research revealed ubiquitin as a multifaceted signaling device governing processes like EGFR internalization, lysosomal damage response, and neuronal integrity in ALS. She has trained over 20 researchers, including Elena Maspero and Carlos Alberto Niño Suarez. Key awards include EMBO Young Investigator (2009), EMBO Membership (2016), and Milan's Ambrogino d'Oro (2018). Scientific Trends : Polo's publications show sustained focus on ubiquitin's role in endocytosis, cancer signaling, and neurodegenerative disorders. Her structural biology work (X-ray crystallography) and proteomic analyses of ubiquitin networks underpin therapeutic target identification in EGFR-dependent tumors. Honors : EMBO Young Investigator Award (2009) EMBO Membership (2016) Ambrogino d'Oro Civic Medal (2018) Research Impact : Her lab has produced 40+ papers in top journals like Nature and Cell. The team's discovery of ubiquitin's role in lysophagy and identification of novel ubiquitin-binding domains (e.g., CoCUN) have advanced understanding of protein homeostasis in health and disease.

• Genomics
• Metagenomics
• Microbiology
• +7 more

Francesca Turroni is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences at the University of Parma. Her research focuses on the genomics and metagenomics of intestinal bacteria, particularly bifidobacteria, with emphasis on probiogenomics, gut microbiota analysis, and molecular biology of bacteriophages infecting lactic acid bacteria. Co-founder of the academic spin-off GenProbio srl , dedicated to next-generation probiotics for food and pharmaceutical industries Active participant in public research projects funded by the Ministry of Education, University and Research, Research Council of Ireland, and FEMS Research Interests Her research spans: Probiogenomics —genomic characterization of probiotic bacteria Metagenomic analysis of human intestinal microbiota Functional genomics of stress response in bacteria Article Trends Francesca Turroni's recent publications highlight interdisciplinary work in gut microbiota, including genomic profiling , microbial interactions , and functional analysis of bifidobacteria. Her studies often bridge bioinformatics with experimental microbiology to address host-microbiota relationships and probiotic applications. Scientific Awards 2014 : FEMS-ASM Mäkelä-Cassell Grant 2013 : FEMS Jensen Award 2009 : CIB Short-Term Fellowship (UC Davis, USA) 2008 : ASM Student Travel Grant Labs & Teams She leads research in the Probiogenomics Laboratory at the University of Parma and collaborates with her spin-off GenProbio srl to translate findings into industrial applications.

• Analytical Chemistry
• Separation Sciences
• Mass Spectrometry
• +6 more

BIANCHI Federica is a Full Professor in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Parma's Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences. She earned her PhD in Chemical Sciences from the University of Parma in 2003, following her Chemistry degree with honors in 1999. Her career progression includes positions as Tenured University Researcher (since 2002), Associate Professor (2014-2023), and Full Professor (since October 2023). Her research spans separation sciences, mass spectrometry instrumentation, chemometrics, and quality assurance, with applications in environmental analysis, food safety, and materials science. She leads multiple national and international projects including METROFOOD-IT (agrifood metrology), PlasticTrace (microplastics analysis), and RE.MO.PACK (sustainable packaging). Professor Bianchi teaches courses across undergraduate and graduate programs including Analytical Chemistry II and Chemometries, Statistical Process Control, and Environmental Analytical Chemistry. She has supervised numerous PhD theses through international collaborations with institutions in Sweden, India, and Lithuania. As departmental job placement delegate, she organizes career development events and manages transition-to-work programs. Organizational roles include: Director of Advanced Training Course in Quality Systems (since 2014) Member of Editorial Board for Separations journal Vice-Chair of Unified Council of Chemistry Degree Courses Councilor of Forensic Analytical Chemistry Group (Italian Chemical Society) Scientific committee member for METROFOOD-RI infrastructure Her laboratory focuses on developing novel analytical methods using hyphenated techniques like LC-ion mobility-HRMS and advanced materials for sample preparation. Recent work explores MOF-based sensors, microplastic detection, and sustainable packaging solutions. With 107 publications, 2 patents, and an h-index of 34, her research emphasizes metrological traceability and quality control in analytical measurements.

• Cannabinoid Chemistry
• Phytocannabinoids
• Bioactivity
• +5 more

Diego Caprioglio is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro. His research focuses on cannabinoid chemistry, phytocannabinoids, and their bioactivity, with applications in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. He has contributed to studies on Alzheimer’s disease treatments, cancer therapeutics, and fluorescent probes for precision surgery. Key research interests include cannabinoid synthesis, natural product characterization, and the development of bioactive compounds targeting neurodegenerative and oncological disorders. His work spans from synthetic methodologies to in vivo/in vitro testing, with a strong emphasis on translational medicine. Notable projects include the development of fluorescent probes targeting gliomas and studies on cannabidiolic acids as enzyme inhibitors. He collaborates on initiatives funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, such as the 2023–2025 project on cancer stem cells and oncosurgery tools. His publications highlight advancements in cannabinoid pharmacology, including Δ8-THC’s neuroprotective effects and curcumin-based theranostics. He has also explored minor cannabinoids’ biomedical potential and optimized synthetic pathways for complex natural products like ophiopogonol.

Craig A. GlastonburyView profile

Researcher

• Computational Biology
• Machine Learning
• Genetic Epidemiology
• +4 more

Craig A. Glastonbury is a Researcher and Research Group Leader at Human Technopole (since 2022), leading the Glastonbury Group. He holds a PhD in computational biology from King’s College London (2013-2017) and previously served as a machine learning researcher at BenevolentAI (2019-2022) and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford (2017-2019). His work focuses on integrating machine learning with genetic and imaging data to uncover disease mechanisms, particularly in histopathology and cardiovascular phenotypes. He currently advises BenevolentAI and serves as a guest associate editor for AHA Circulation. Research interests include computational biology, histopathology imaging, GWAS, and single-cell RNA-seq. The Glastonbury Group develops methods to extract phenotypic traits from imaging modalities like whole slide imaging (WSI) and links these to genetic data to study disease pathways. Current projects involve analyzing large-scale biobank data to identify genetic contributions to complex diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and oncology. Group members include PhD students Francesco Cisternino, Giuditta Clerici, Emma Esther Didelon, and Emanuel Soda, along with postdoctoral researchers and bioinformaticians. The team actively recruits for positions in machine learning, phenotyping, and genetic discovery. Craig’s work emphasizes scalable pipelines for GWAS and unsupervised phenotype discovery, with applications in cardiovascular and metabolic research. Contact: craig.glastonbury@fht.org

• Olive Genomics
• Plant Genetics
• Crop Breeding
• +4 more

Luciana Baldoni is a Research Director at the National Research Council of Italy's Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR-CNR), leading the Perugia Division. She specializes in olive tree biology with extensive research in genomics, genetic resource evaluation, and breeding programs. Her laboratory maintains over 4,000 olive genotypes and develops molecular databases for cultivar identification. Her research focuses on: Olive genomics and functional gene characterization in metabolic pathways Stress response mechanisms to drought, salinity and pathogens Development of molecular markers (SNP, SSR) for breeding Olive oil authentication through DNA analysis Conservation of ancient cultivars and wild olive populations Publication analysis reveals strong emphasis on olive genetics, stress physiology, and quality trait improvement, with international collaborations across Mediterranean and South American growing regions. Research consistently integrates field studies with molecular approaches. She leads multiple projects including: BIOMEnext (2022-2025): Biodiversity-based Mediterranean farming systems LIVINGAGRO (2019-2022): Cross-border agroforestry laboratories OLIVE HUB (2022-2023): Alternative cultivar development Supervises PhD/Master's students and postdoctoral researchers while collaborating with international institutions on olive research and conservation initiatives.

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Plant Biodiversity
• +4 more

Emanuela Blanco is a Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR-CNR), part of the National Research Council of Italy. She holds a permanent position in the Department of Plant Genetics and focuses on plant biochemistry, molecular biology, and biodiversity. Her work integrates genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches to study plant responses to environmental stresses, metabolic pathways, and the genetic basis of agronomic traits in crops like wheat, artichoke, and legumes. Education: Ph.D. in Cellular Biochemistry and Pharmacology (2004), University of Bari. Postdoc (2004–2008) in molecular characterization of plant transport systems and neurodegenerative biomarkers. Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms of plant stress responses (heat, biotic stress). Flavonoid and antioxidant biosynthesis regulation. Genetic mapping of agronomic traits in durum wheat and artichoke. cAMP signaling in plant immunity and development. Metabolomic analysis of crop biodiversity. Selected Projects: FIRB 2010: Cyclic Nucleotides in Biotic Stress Signaling in Plants. BioDruBa: Biodiversity of Drupaceae in Basilicata. Biodiversità delle specie orticole (BIODiverSO). Labs/Teams: Active in the IBBR-CNR labs specializing in plant genomics, metabolomics, and stress biology.

• Metabolomics
• NMR Spectroscopy
• Multivariate Statistics
• +3 more

Alessia Vignoli is a Research Fellow at the Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, affiliated with the Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM). She holds a M.Sc. in Chemical Sciences (cum laude) and a PhD in Structural Biology from the University of Florence. Her research focuses on NMR-based metabolomics for disease diagnosis and prognosis, particularly in cardiovascular, neurological, and oncological contexts. She has been awarded the GIDRM Under 35 award (2022) and the Airalzh Grant for Young Researchers (2022). Education: M.Sc. in Chemical Sciences (cum laude) - University of Florence (2014) PhD in Structural Biology (cum laude) - University of Florence (2017) Research interests emphasize metabolic profiling of biofluids using NMR spectroscopy, with applications in precision medicine. Key areas include biomarker discovery for diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions. She has contributed to projects analyzing metabolomic signatures in breast cancer recurrence, myocardial infarction outcomes, and drug response monitoring. Awards and grants include the AIRC fellowship (2019-2020), CERM/CIRMMP institutional support, and collaborations with clinical teams to develop diagnostic tools. Her work bridges analytical chemistry, computational statistics, and clinical translation, leveraging multivariate data analysis and metabolic network modeling. Her research has been applied to diverse fields, including veterinary medicine (e.g., dairy calf health) and space-related physiology (e.g., skeletal muscle adaptation in microgravity).

Elena SEMENZINView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental Risk Assessment
• Sustainability Assessment
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• +5 more

Elena SEMENZIN is an Associate Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics (DAIS) and the Interdepartmental School of Economics, Languages and Entrepreneurship. She holds dual roles as Coordinator of the University Board for Sustainability and Rector's Delegate for Sustainability. Her research focuses on environmental risk assessment, sustainability evaluation (including LCA and Environmental Footprints), and the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach for nano-enabled products. She leads projects such as BioSusTex and SurfToGreen, funded by the European Commission. She is also a member of the editorial boards of Environmental Sciences Europe and Toxics, and a founding partner of GreenDecision s.r.l. Education: Master's and PhD in Environmental Sciences from Ca' Foscari University, with a Marie Curie fellowship at Wageningen University (Netherlands). Her expertise includes contaminated site management, bioaccumulation modeling, and decision support systems (DSS) for environmental risk. She directs the Data-centric Environmental Studies Center (DESC) and serves as Vice President of the UN Global Compact Network Italy Foundation. Teaching includes courses on environmental sustainability, risk assessment, and circular economy, such as 'Life Cycle Assessment of Products and Processes' and 'Environmental Risk Management.' Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to address global challenges, emphasizing the link between science, policy, and sustainable innovation. Key Projects: BioSusTex (biobased textiles), SurfToGreen (bio-based surfactants), GREENART (art restoration). Grants: HorizonEurope, H2020, and national grants (e.g., Venezia 2021). Awards: ASN Full Professor qualification (2025). Labs/Teams: DESC and GreenDecision s.r.l. Her research bridges environmental science and policy, with a focus on sustainable technologies and risk governance, contributing to both academic and industrial sectors.

• Plant Genetics
• Plant Biotechnology
• Functional Genomics
• +5 more

Maria Stefania Grillo is a Research Director at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), Portici. She heads the IBBR UOS Portici unit and has extensive experience in plant genetics and biotechnology research. Previously, she served as Head of IGV UOS Portici (2002-2010) and Senior Scientist at the CNR-Plant Genetics Institute (2002 onwards). Her research focuses on plant genetics and biotechnologies applied to breeding of vegetable crops and sustainable agriculture systems. Dr. Grillo coordinates a research group that identifies and characterizes genes involved in plant stress responses using functional genomics and advanced phenotyping in Solanaceae (tomato, pepper, potato) and Arabidopsis. Her work has particularly emphasized RNA regulatory mechanisms in osmotic stress response pathways. She has contributed significantly to understanding how traditional crop varieties respond to environmental stresses. Dr. Grillo's extensive publication record demonstrates consistent research themes in plant stress physiology, particularly drought and salinity responses in tomato and pepper. Her recent work has increasingly incorporated advanced genomic and phenotyping technologies to understand the molecular basis of stress tolerance in traditional crop varieties. She has been actively involved in multiple EU and national research projects related to sustainable agriculture and crop improvement. She serves on the Scientific Committee of the Portici Camps Foundation and has been a member of various academic committees including the Doctorate School Committee 'Biologia dei Sistemi' at the University of Salerno (2010-2017). Dr. Grillo has tutored and supervised numerous undergraduate and PhD students as well as post-doctoral researchers. Her research group has been involved in significant projects including Genome Editing in Plants (PlantED), E-crops for Sustainable Digital Agriculture, AgroBiodiversità Campana, and the EU H2020 TOMRES project focused on stress tolerance in tomato. She serves as PI for IBBR Portici in several major initiatives including the National Research Centre for Agricultural Technologies (Agritech) under the PNRR program.

• Plant Genetics
• Bioinformatics
• Genetic Diversity
• +6 more

Francesco Mercati is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR-CNR) in Palermo, Italy. His work focuses on plant genetics, bioinformatics, and biodiversity conservation, leveraging next-generation sequencing (NGS) and molecular markers to study species like grapevine, citrus, and asparagus. He has collaborated internationally, including work at the University of Georgia (USA), and contributed to advancements in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and DNA barcoding. Education: PhD in Biology Applied to Agri-Food and Forest Systems (2012), University of Reggio Calabria Bachelor’s Degree in Cell Biology and Development (2003), University of Pisa Research Interests: NGS applications in plant genetics DNA barcoding for species identification Genetic diversity and population structure analysis Transcriptomics of stress responses NUE in crops like eggplant and durum wheat Somatic embryogenesis in citrus Collaborations and Projects: LIMSEED Asparagus project (sex determination genes) Italian wine database development European Community-funded genetic polymorphism studies Publications: Recent work spans grapevine domestication, caper genomics, and Citrus somatic regeneration Key themes: stress adaptation, symbiotic interactions, gene family evolution

• Plant Genetics
• Epigenetics
• Functional Genomics
• +6 more

Pasquale Termolino is a permanent Researcher at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) within the Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR) at Portici, Italy. He holds a PhD in Plant Biotechnology from the University of Naples Federico II (2006) and has dedicated his career to plant genetics, epigenetics, and environmental interactions. Research Interests include the genetics and epigenetics of plant sexual reproduction using Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanaceae crops; functional genomics of plant quality traits ; transcriptome analysis in tomatoes; and the toxic effects of natural/synthetic substances on plants and ecosystems. His recent work focuses on extracellular self-DNA inhibition in plant-soil feedback, microalgae growth, and yeast cultures. Scientific Contributions span 15+ recent publications on self-DNA mechanisms, plant stress responses, and bioactive compounds. His multi-omics studies on tomato shelf-life and Arabidopsis DNA responses highlight innovative approaches. Collaborations include institutions like the University of Naples, Ghent University, and international consortia (EPITOM, MEIOSYS). Key Projects include EU-funded MEIOSYS (meiotic recombination in plants) and GenoPOM-pro (tomato post-genomics). He has no documented awards but contributes actively to agricultural and pharmacological research.

Ivano LegniniView profile

Researcher

• Gene Regulation
• RNA Metabolism
• Post-transcriptional Regulation
• +7 more

Ivano Legnini is a Research Group Leader at Human Technopole in Milan, Italy, where he leads the Legnini Group within the Genomics center. He established his independent laboratory at Human Technopole in March 2023 after completing an EMBO fellowship at the Max Delbrück Center – Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology. Legnini earned his degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Sapienza University of Rome in 2012 and completed his PhD there in 2016, working on non-coding RNA and post-transcriptional regulation in Irene Bozzoni's laboratory. His research focuses on gene regulation, particularly RNA metabolism and processing, using innovative approaches that combine optogenetics with spatial transcriptomics in organoid models. His group has developed technologies such as FLAM-seq for studying poly(A) tail regulation. Current research areas include understanding mRNA isoform selection, spatial regulation of gene expression in neurodevelopment, and viral encephalitis modeling. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on developing and applying cutting-edge genomic technologies to understand RNA regulation in three-dimensional biological systems. His work spans from fundamental RNA biology to disease modeling, with particular emphasis on neurodevelopment and cancer. EMBO fellowship recipient Legnini mentors several students and postdocs in his lab, including PhD students and postdoctoral researchers working on RNA dynamics and spatiotemporal gene regulation. His group actively develops genomic technologies for gene expression perturbation and profiling. The Legnini Group combines molecular and systems biology approaches, using synthetic biology and optogenetics to engineer cells and organoids to reproduce complex regulatory cascades, then applying integrative transcriptomics techniques to understand gene regulation principles.

• Plant Pathology
• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• +6 more

Giulio Dimaria is a Research Fellow at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) , University of Catania. His work focuses on plant microbiome interactions, particularly in biocontrol strategies for Citrus Mal Secco and tomato pith necrosis diseases. Education: PhD in Biotechnology (XXXV cycle, University of Catania, 2023), Master's in Agricultural Biotechnology (University of Catania, 2019), Bachelor's in Agricultural Sciences (University of Catania, 2017). Research areas: Plant pathology, microbial genomics, biocontrol, microbiome engineering, and bacterial interactions in Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas systems. His recent publications analyze genomic insights into tomato microbiomes, biocontrol mechanisms of Pseudomonas mediterranea , and lipopeptide regulation in Pseudomonas corrugata . Key collaborations include Prof. Vittoria Catara (scientific director) and Prof. Jesús Murillo (co-supervisor). Contributions to conferences like SIPaV and ICPPB highlight his work on microbial solutions for agricultural sustainability. Scientific Awards : FEMS Grant (2022), Young Researchers in Training Grant (2021). Editorial Roles : Review Editor for Frontiers in Plant Science (2024), Young Editorial Board member of Journal of Plant Pathology (2024). Affiliations : Full member of Italian Association for Plant Protection (AIPP) and Italian Society of Plant Pathology (SIPaV).