Daniela Giordano

Daniela Giordano is a Researcher at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), specifically at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR-CNR) in Naples. She has been in this position since September 2011, following a post-doctoral fellowship at CNR from February 2007 to May 2011. Her academic background includes a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Università Sacro Cuore in Rome (2004-2007), a Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry cum laude from the Università Federico II in Naples (2002), and membership in the National Registry of Pharmacists (2003).

Dr. Giordano's research focuses on molecular adaptations in extreme environments, particularly in Antarctic organisms. Her primary research interests include the evolutionary globin adaptations to cold environments in fish and bacteria, structure/function relationships in cold-adapted hemoproteins, and the identification of novel marine bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications. She investigates how the oxygen-transport system serves as a source of information for understanding cold adaptation, moving beyond the traditional view of hemoglobin as merely an oxygen carrier.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on truncated hemoglobins in Antarctic bacteria, globin evolution in polar fish, and the biotechnological applications of marine polar organisms. She has coordinated multiple research projects funded by the Italian National Programme for Antarctic Research (PNRA), including studies on Antarctic notothenioids' response to thermal stress and cosmeceuticals/nutraceuticals from Antarctic biological resources.

Dr. Giordano serves as a Guest Editor for special issues in journals such as Marine Drugs and Biodiversity, focusing on bioactive molecules from extreme environments. She is also an active reviewer for numerous international journals including Scientific Reports, PlosOne, and Marine Genomics.

Her scientific contributions extend to educational outreach, with numerous presentations for schools on topics including extremophile biotechnologies for health and environment, and European Biotech Week events. She has been an associated researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples since 2016, further expanding her collaborative research network.