Ornella Calderini

Ornella Calderini is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), part of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) in Perugia. Her work focuses on plant molecular biology, functional genomics, and bioenergy crops, with a strong emphasis on model and crop legumes such as Medicago truncatula and Paspalum simplex.

• Institution: National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
• Research Institute: Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR)
• Division: Perugia
• Role: Senior Researcher
• Email: ornella.calderini@cnr.it

Her research spans plant cell cycle regulation, meiosis, signal transduction via MAPK pathways, and functional genomics. She has contributed extensively to the understanding of apomixis, saponin biosynthesis, and triterpenoid pathways in plants. Her expertise includes molecular biology, cytogenetics, gene cloning, plant transformation, and mutant collection development.

Dr. Calderini curates a large Medicago truncatula mutant collection at CNR IBBR and has been involved in numerous international collaborations, including research visits to institutions in Germany, Spain, Norway, the USA, and France. She has served as an editor for journals such as Biologia Plantarum, Plants (MDPI), and PeerJ.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in plant secondary metabolism, particularly in olive triterpenoids and secoiridoids, as well as legume functional genomics and sustainable bioenergy crops like alfalfa. Her work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and environmental assessment, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to plant science and agricultural sustainability.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• No specific awards are listed in the provided text.

Advising and Grants:
Dr. Calderini actively mentors PhD, fellowship, and undergraduate students. She has extensive experience in grant writing for Italian and EU funding agencies and has led or participated in multiple collaborative research projects. Her editorial and peer-review activities further underscore her leadership in the scientific community.

Laboratories and Research Teams:
She leads research activities within the CNR IBBR Perugia division, where she manages a Medicago truncatula mutant collection and collaborates with national and international scientists. Her lab focuses on gene function, plant development, and metabolic engineering for agricultural improvement.