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Laureata con lode in Scienze Biologiche a Bologna dopo aver frequentato un corso di laurea quinquennale con esami di indirizzo biomolecolare, nel 2004 ha conseguito il Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienze Antropologiche presso l’Università di Firenze con una tesi dal titolo “Analisi genetica di reperti Neolitici italiani”. L’argomento della sua attività di ricerca riguarda principalmente lo studio dell’evoluzione umana, l’analisi della struttura biologica e dell’evoluzione delle popolazioni umane del passato, e la ricostruzione dei processi di domesticazione di animali e piante. L’attività sperimentale condotta in questi anni, che ha riguardato la caratterizzazione genetica di reperti antichi, principalmente umani, attraverso tecniche di antropologia molecolare tradizionali e di nuova generazione (Next Genereation Sequencing – NGS), le ha permesso di maturare una grande esperienza nell’applicazione e nello sviluppo delle tecnologie riguardanti l’estrazione e la caratterizzazione molecolare del DNA estratto da campioni antichi e degradati di varia origine e natura (umani, animali, vegetali; ossa, denti, capelli, semi). Negli ultimi anni si è occupata dell’applicazione in ambito antropologico-molecolare delle metodiche NGS grazie anche alle numerose collaborazioni instaurate con diversi gruppi di ricerca attivi nel campo della paleogenetica a livello internazionale. Recentemente si è interessata alla messa a punto di nuove metodologie per la conservazione del materiale osteologico antico. Ha preso parte a numerosi progetti di ricerca cofinanziati dal MIUR (PRIN, FIRB) volti ad approfondire la storia genetica ed evolutiva delle popolazioni umane. Recentemente ha ricevuto finanziamenti dall’Università di Firenze nell’ambito dei progetti “Evoluzione della dieta e del microbioma orale in popolazioni preistoriche della Toscana” e “Nanoforbones - Application of nanostructured materials for the conservation and preservation of ancient bone remains”. E’ cultore della Materia per il SSD BIO/08 - Antropologia dal 2004 e ha svolto attività didattica, sia frontale che integrativa con continuità, principalmente nell’ambito dell’antropologia molecolare. È segretario per la Presidenza dei corsi di studio in Scienze Naturale e in Scienze della Natura e dell’Uomo presso la Scuola di Scienze, e delegato Erasmus per gli stessi CdS. E’ inoltre membro del gruppo di riesame dei CdS in Diagnostica e Materiali per la Conservazione e il Restauro e in Scienze e Materiali per la Conservazione e il Restauro, e Delegato all’Orientamento per i CdS in Scienze Biologiche e in Biologia. Dal 2018 è membro del Comitato Scientifico del Sistema Museale di Ateneo dell’Università di Firenze. È co-autrice di 45 pubblicazioni su importanti riviste scientifiche internazionali (h-index 22) oltre che di numerosi contributi pubblicati in volumi o riviste italiane.

PRESENT POSITION:

2019, September - today: Associate Professor in Anthropology, Dept. of Biology, University of Firenze

ACADEMIC FORMATION:

2015: National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica nazionale) as Associate Professor in Zoology and Anthropology (05/B1)

2001-2004: Ph.D. in Anthropological Sciences, University of Firenze. Research project: Genetic analysis of Neolithic Italian remains.

1994-1999: Master degree cum laude in Biological Sciences, University of Bologna, majoring in Molecular Anthropology

RESEARCH EXPERIENCES:

2012-2019: Assistant Professor in Anthropology, Dept. of Biology, University of Firenze

2011-2012: Post-doc research at University of Firenze, Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Laboratory of Anthropology. Research project:Genomic Selection by Oligo-capture and Next Generation Sequencing for genetic characterization of ancient human remains from Italy.

2010, September: internship at Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig (Germany); application of target capture enrichment methods and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to ancient human samples.

2010-2011: Research collaborator in the project: Ultradeep sequencing of ancient genomes, University of Firenze, Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Laboratory of Anthropology

2009-2010: Research collaborator in the project: Palaeogenomic of Neanderthal Man from Altamura, University of Firenze, Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Laboratory of Anthropology

2004-2009: Post-doc research at University of Firenze, Dept. of Evolutionary Biology, Laboratory of Anthropology. Research project: Genetic analysis of ancient remains by molecular anthropology techniques.

PARTECIPATION TO RESEARCH PROGRAM AND FUNDING:

RU Responsible in research program founded by Italian Ministry of Education and Research PRIN 2017. A multi-species genomic approach to assess pre- and post-Columbian population dynamics in South America. (20174BTC4R_002)

Co-PI of the Strategic Research Project 2016 “Nanoforbones - Application of nanostructured materials for the conservation and preservation of ancient bone remains” (University of Firenze n. 37726 del 13/03/2017)

PI of the Strategic Research Project 2014, Diet and microbiome evolution in prehistoric populations of Tuscany (University of Firenze n. 129323 del 05/10/2015)

Participation to research program founded by Italian Ministry of Education and Research PRIN 2015, Rediscovering Altamura: advanced multidisciplinary investigations on the skeleton from the Lamalunga cave, Italy. The KARST project (Knowing the Altamura man thRough Science & Technology). (2015WPHSCJ_002)

Participation to research program founded by Italian Ministry of Education and Research PRIN 2010-2011, Biological and cultural heritage along 30 thousand years in populations of southern Italy. (2010EL8TXP_003)

Participation to research program founded by Italian Ministry of Education and Research PRIN 2008, Human population history and adaptation: comparison between ancient and modern DNA (ref. 2008TE2B8S_002)

Participation to research program founded by Italian Ministry of Education and Research FIRB — Futuro in Ricerca 2008, The parallel genetic history of humans and domesticated animals (ref. RBFR08U07M_003)

Participation to research program founded by Italian Ministry of Education and Research PRIN 2006, Italians DNA from 8000 B.C. to 2000 A.D. (ref. 2006051091_002)

TEACHING AND SUPERVISOR ACTIVITY:

Since 2015: Lecturer of Laboratory of Anthropology (Master Degree in Science and Materials for Cultural Heritage Conservation, School of Sciences, University of Firenze)

Since 2014: Lecturer of Laboratory of Anthropology and Human Biology (Master Degree in Natural Science, School of Sciences, University of Firenze)

Since 2013: Lecturer of Molecular Anthropology (Master Degree in Natural Science, School of Sciences, University of Firenze)

2007-2008: Lecturer of Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology (Master in Biological Anthropology of Mediterranean Region, Faculty of Sciences, University of Firenze)

2006-2007:  Lecturer of Ancient DNA and the study of human natural history (Master Degree in Prehistoric Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ferrara)

2019-today: Supervisor of a Ph.D. student, Doctoral School of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology”. University of Ferrara, University of Parma, University of Firenze (32th cycle). Argument of the research project: Genomic characterization of historical human samples.

2013-2015: Supervisor of a Ph.D. student, Doctoral School of  Ethology, Ecology, Anthropology and Biosystematics, University of Firenze, Dept. of Biology, (28th cycle). Argument of the research project: Genomic characterization of Upper Palaeolithic human samples.

Since 2008 tutors or co-tutors in 22 bachelor and master degree thesis in both Natural Science and Biological Science.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL DUTIES:

Since 2018: Member of the Scientific Committee of the Museum of Natural History, University of Firenze

Since 2015: Faculty Member of the PhD program in “Evolutionary Biology and Ecology”. University of Ferrara, University of Parma, University of Firenze.

2013-2015: Faculty Member of the PhD program in“Ethology, Ecology, Anthropology and Biosystematics”. University of Firenze.

Since 2013: Academic Secretary of the Natural Science Degree, School of Sciences, University of Firenze

Since 2013: Erasmus Delegate of the Natural Science Degree, School of Sciences, University of Firenze

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Main research focus: molecular anthropology and paleogenetics. Recovering and analysis of ancient and degraded DNA extracted from human, animal and plant ancient remains, to reconstruct evolution and demographic history of past populations. Other research interest: molecular and genetic methodologies applied to the preservation and valorization of Cultural Heritage

PUBLICATIONS:

Co-authors of several scientific papers between 2003 and 2020.

Scopus Total documents: 54, Number of citations: 2084, H-index: 23.

ISI-Web of Knowledge Total documents: 45; Number of citations: 1911; H-index: 23.