Francesca Leasi

Dr. Francesca Leasi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she leads research on meiofauna biodiversity and evolutionary ecology.

She earned her PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) in 2007.

Her research integrates field studies, experimental approaches, and molecular techniques to investigate how microscopic organisms drive ecosystem processes across aquatic environments. Current projects examine salinity adaptation in rotifers, anthropogenic impacts on freshwater systems, global sandy beach biodiversity, and host-microbiome interactions. She emphasizes the ecological significance of often-overlooked meiofauna in nutrient cycling and as environmental indicators.

Dr. Leasi's publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals, with recent work increasingly utilizing DNA metabarcoding and mitogenomics to address biodiversity questions. Her research demonstrates strong international collaboration patterns across Europe and the Americas.

She actively mentors students through individual research projects and specialized courses like Meiofauna Biodiversity, and currently directs an NSF-funded project on rotifer evolution (award #2412308).

Dr. Leasi maintains an active research group focused on aquatic meiofauna, providing students with field and laboratory training in modern biodiversity assessment techniques.