Researchers and Professors of the University of Urbino

I am Full Professor of Zoology at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences of the University of Urbino. Scientific expertise on  biodiversity, biology and ecology of marine and freshwater meiofauna; taxonomy and biology of Gastrotricha and Placozoa; compilation of European and global faunal databases on the phylum Gastrotricha. Teaching activity: Courses of Animal Biology and Course of Biological Evolution, Bachelor’s Degree of Biological Sciences.

I have a degree in Biological Sciences and I task the role of Technician at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences of the University of Urbino since 2003. Technical responsibilities on: identification and taxonomy of marine phytoplankton with optical microscopy and epifluorescence techniques; coastal water monitoring campaigns; analytical methods by RI / HPLC and spectrometry; molecular techniques of extraction and purification of nucleic acids, molecular techniques of qPCR, cloning and sequencing of marine phytoplankton. I also carry out support activities for the teaching of Ecology courses.

Associate Professor in Ecology at Biomolecular Science Department of the University of Urbino. I have a degree in Biological Sciences and I received my Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science at the University of Urbino, in 2010. Scientific skills: molecular ecology of marine phytoplankton communities, population genetic analysis of toxic marine phytoplankton, development of molecular techniques for the quantification of toxic microalgal species, monitoring campaigns, metabarcoding molecular data analysis of marine plankton. Teaching activity: Marine Biology and Ecological Applications, Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Zoology at the University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DISB). I obtained my PhD in “Life, Health and Biotechnological Sciences” in 2022, with a thesis focused on the effects of environmental disturbances on meiofauna and free-living nematodes. My research activity mainly focuses on the study of benthic biodiversity in coastal systems, with particular attention to the taxonomic and functional characterization of benthic communities and the assessment of sediment ecological quality. I have also gained experience in the study of meiofauna in tropical and temperate environments, contributing to research on the response of benthic communities to environmental disturbances of anthropogenic or natural origin.

I am Full Professor of Biochemistry at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences of the University of Urbino. Scientific skills on: marine biotechnologies applied to biodiversity for the identification of potential candidate genes for therapeutic purposes; molecular methods for the identification of microorganisms and marine organisms of interest; molecular methods for the study of the dispersion of plasmids with drug resistant genes. Teaching activity: Courses of Biochemistry, Bachelor’s Degree of Biological Sciences and Biotechnologies.

I am full Professor of Ecology at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences of the University of Urbino. Scientific skills on: molecular ecology and population genetics of phytoplankton communities; analysis of the genetic diversity of microalgal species; molecular methods for the identification and quantification of toxic microalgal species; coastal monitoring campaigns, data analysis and development of predictive models for phytoplankton species and communities. Teaching activity: Courses of Ecology, Bachelor’s Degree of Biological Sciences, Master Degree of Science in Information Philosophy, Master Degree in Energy Engineering.

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DISB), University of Urbino. I hold a Master's degree in Marine Biology and earned my Ph.D. in Research Methods in Science and Technology from the University of Urbino in 2025.
My research focuses on the study of marine biodiversity through an integrated approach that combines traditional monitoring methods, molecular techniques (qPCR and metabarcoding), and the analysis of long-term environmental time series. My scientific interests include the structure and dynamics of marine phytoplankton communities, with particular emphasis on toxic species and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), as well as the application of innovative approaches for characterizing biodiversity across different components of marine ecosystems.
My current research is centered on the application of multi-marker eDNA metabarcoding to investigate planktonic, metazoan, and fish communities. By integrating molecular and ecological data, I aim to improve marine ecosystem monitoring and support the sustainable management of coastal resources.
Previously, I investigated marine meiobenthic communities, with a particular focus on meiofauna and nematodes associated with shallow-water hydrothermal environments, examining their community structure and relationships with key environmental drivers.
In addition to my research activities, I contribute to undergraduate teaching by supporting courses in Ecology and Marine Biology.

I have a degree in Biological Sciences and I cover the position, first as a collaborator and now as a technician at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences of Urbino University since 2003. Technical skills: marine environmental monitoring of the northernmost Marche Region coastal waters; analysis of chemical, physical and biological parameters in seawater samples; analytical methods applied to the POM and DOM marine components through HPLC/RI and spectrometry; statistical analysis of datasets. I have a boating license and I carry out activities to support the teaching of Ecology courses.

Associate Professor in Zoology at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences of the University of Urbino. I graduated in Natural Sciences and obtained my PhD in Environmental Sciences in 2007 and in “Mechanisms of cell regulation: morpho-functional and evolutionary aspects” in 2011, both at the University of Urbino. Scientific skills: analysis of marine meiofaunal biodiversity in coastal systems; taxonomic identification of marine nematodes; ecological quality assessment of sediments by means of nematode bioindicators. Teaching activity: Course in Developmental Biology, Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences.