Elvira Brunelli

Elvira Brunelli is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences at the University of Calabria (UNICAL), where she has been a faculty member since 2001. She holds the National Scientific Qualification as a Full Professor in Zoology and Anthropology and leads research in morphological, ultrastructural, and ecotoxicological studies of vertebrates, particularly amphibians and fish. She is affiliated with several national and international scientific consortia, including CoNISMa and the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, and serves as the responsible for the Laboratory of Analysis and Research on Oxidative Stress (LARSO).

Research Interests: Her work spans zoology, ecotoxicology, and functional morphology, focusing on environmental impacts on aquatic organisms. She employs advanced microscopy and molecular techniques to assess pollutant effects, contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable marine practices.

Publication Trends: Her recent research emphasizes the morpho-functional impacts of pesticides and heavy metals on zebrafish and amphibians, chromosomal evolution in reptiles, and benthic trophic dynamics. These studies reflect a strong trend toward integrated ecotoxicological and evolutionary biological assessments using model organisms.

• Scientific Awards:
• National Academic Qualification as Full Professor (2018–2024)
• Recipient of Ministerial Incentive for Basic Research (2017)
• Recipient of Ministerial Incentive for Scientific Merit (2013)

Advising and Grants: She has supervised 10 PhD students and over 70 master’s theses. She has led numerous funded projects, including PNRR’s Tech4You ecosystem, MIPAAF marine conservation initiatives, and regional projects on pesticide risk assessment and sustainable aquaculture. Her role as Principal Investigator highlights her leadership in securing competitive research funding.

Labs and Teams: She leads the LARSO laboratory and coordinates the Zoology research group at UNICAL, which includes sections on ecotoxicology, marine biology, parasitology, and forensic entomology. Her interdisciplinary collaborations span institutions in Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Singapore, and the USA.