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Laureata con lode in Scienze Biologiche a Bologna, 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”. Dal 2019 è professore associato nel SSD BIO/08 - Antropologia presso il Dipartimento di Biologia dell’Università di Firenze, dove svolge attività di ricerca nel campo dell’antropologia molecolare e, in particolare, della paleogenetica. L’argomento della sua attività di ricerca riguarda principalmente lo studio dell’evoluzione umana, l’analisi della struttura biologica, dell’evoluzione e degli stili di vita delle popolazioni umane del passato, e la ricostruzione dei processi di domesticazione di animali e piante. L’attività sperimentale condotta in questi anni ha riguardato la caratterizzazione genetica di reperti antichi, principalmente umani, attraverso tecniche di antropologia molecolare tradizionali e di nuova generazione (Next Genereation Sequencing – NGS) e 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 e il restauro del materiale osteologico antico. In qualità di responsabile o partecipante, ha preso parte a numerosi progetti di ricerca cofinanziati dal MIUR (PRIN, FIRB) e dall’Università di Firenze volti ad approfondire la storia genetica ed evolutiva delle popolazioni umane. È cultore della Materia dal 2004 e ha svolto attività didattica con continuità nel SSD BIO/08 - Antropologia principalmente nell’ambito dell’antropologia molecolare. È attualmente titolare di insegnamenti in ambito antropologico attivati nei Corsi di Studio della Scuola di Scienze MFN. 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 all’orientamento per gli stessi CdS.Nell’ambito delle attività di terza missione ha preso parte a diversi eventi di divulgazione quali Darwin Day e Bright – La notte dei ricercatori. Dal 2018 è membro del Comitato Scientifico del Sistema Museale di Ateneo dell’Università di Firenze. Nel 2019-2020 fatto parte del comitato organizzativo per la celebrazione dei 150 anni del Museo di Antropologia ed Etnologia di Firenze. Partecipa a progetti di antropologia integrata, di digitalizzazione, e di valorizzazione delle collezioni antropologiche museali, svolti in collaborazione tra il Dipartimento di Biologia e il Sistema Museale di Ateneo e finanziati dalla Regione Toscana. Ha fatto parte delle segreterie organizzative dei congressi nazionali di alcune importanti associazioni scientifiche italiane (Associazione Antropologica Italiana, Società Italiana di Biologia Evoluzionistica). Inoltre ha organizzato insieme a David Caramelli e a Carles Lalueza-Fox il workshop internazionale ‘A day with Ancient DNA’ svoltosi a Firenze con il patrocinio dell’Ateneo fiorentino. È co-autrice di 75 pubblicazioni su riviste scientifiche internazionali (Scopus h-index 25) oltre che di contributi pubblicati in volumi o riviste italiane. È madre di due figli di 17 e 9 anni.
Legenda
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:
2016-2019: Assistant Professor in Anthropology (Senior), Dept. of Biology, University of Firenze
2012-2016: Assistant Professor in Anthropology (Junior), 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.
RESEARCH INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE:
Main research focus: molecular anthropology and palaeogenetics. Recovering and analysis of ancient and degraded DNA extracted from human, animal and plant ancient remains, to reconstruct evolution, demographic history, and lifestyle of past populations. Other research interest: molecular and genetic methodologies applied to the preservation and valorization of Cultural Heritage.
Expertise: molecular methods for recovering, sequencing, analyzing and authenticating DNA from ancient and museum biological materials; Next Generation Sequencing methods applied to the analysis of short and degraded DNA fragments; mapping and data validation through bioinformatics approaches; phylogenetic and metagenomic analysis.
PARTECIPATION TO RESEARCH PROGRAM AND FUNDING:
Participation to research program STAR Supporting Talent in ReSearch 2019 funded by University of Padua, Human Microbiome Evolution (Hu.M.E)
Unit Coordinator within the 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 funded by Regione Toscana (Italy) 2021: DIVINA Digital and Virtual Innovative Anthropology: tecniche avanzate di fruizione delle collezioni museali e ricadute applicative
Participation to research program funded by Regione Toscana (Italy) 2018: ANTINT Antropologia Integrata: un approccio innovativo allo studio delle collezioni Museali
Partecipation to ‘Leonardo Da Vinci DNA Project’ funded by Richard Lounsbery Foundation (USA), in collaboration with The Rockefeller University (New York), Institut de Paléontologie Humaine (Parigi), J. Craig Venter Institute (La Jolla), University of Granada, Human Longevity Inc. (San Diego) (2016-today)
Participation to research program funded 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 funded 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 funded 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 funded 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 funded 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 2020: Lecturer of Anthropology (Bachelor Degree in Natural Science, University of Firenze)
Since 2018: Lecturer of Molecular Anthropology (Master Degree in Biology, School of Sciences, University of Firenze)
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)
2019-2022: Ph.D. student Supervisor, Doctoral School of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Ferrara, University of Parma, University of Firenze (35th cycle). Argument of the research project: Genomic characterization of ancient human samples.
2013-2015: Ph.D. student Supervisor, 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 more than 30 between bachelor and master degree thesis in Natural Science, Biological Science, Biotechnology, Science and Materials for Cultural Heritage Conservation
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
SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS
David Caramelli, Emiliano Carretti, Marta Mariotti Lippi, Jacopo Moggi Cecchi, Stefania Vai, (University of Firenze, Italy); Maria Elena Martino, Andrea Quagliariello (University of Padua, Italy); Maria Giovanna Belcastro, Stefano Benazzi (University of Bologna, Italy); Alessandro Achilli (University of Pavia, Italy); Giorgio Bertorelle, Slivia Ghirotto (University of Ferrara, Italy); Francesco Boschin, Adriana Moroni, Anna Maria Ronchitelli (University of Siena, Italy); Massimo Delledonne (University of Verona, Italy); Valeria Amoretti (Parco Archeologico di Pompei, Italy); Italo Maria Muntoni (Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Barletta - Andria - Trani e Foggia, Italy) Cosimo Posth (Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany); Johannes Krause, Stephan Schiffels (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany); David Reich (Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA), Jesse Ausubel, Marguerite Mangin, Tom Sakmar (Rockfeller University, NY, USA), José Lorente (University of Granada, Spain), Armelle Gardeisen (ASM - Archéologie des Sociétés Méditerranéennes Univ Paul-Valéry, Montpellier, France)
METRICS (2003-2022):
Scopus Total documents: 75, Number of citations: 2942, H-index: 25.
ISI-Web of Knowledge Total documents: 69; Number of citations: 2717