*University of Pisa staff contact information can be found on the Unimap portal.

*Publications can be accessed at: Arpi, Google Scholar, ORCID, Pub Med.

ACTIVE CYCLES

PhD students cycle XL (2024-2027)

• ALLOTTA MARGHERITA
  Prof. Giulio Petroni - Dott.ssa Valentina Serra
  Exploring long-term evolution dynamics in the ciliate model system Euplotes: how conjugation may shape mitochondrial and nuclear genes evolution
• BIANCHI BENEDETTA
  Prof. Paolo Luschi - Dott.ssa Sandra Hochscheid
  Behavioural responses of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles to warm temperatures
• CAPASSO GIULIAN
  Dott. Francesco Caruso - Prof. Paolo Luschi
  Foraging performance and strategies among different cetacean species using bio-logging technology
• DA PALMATA LORENZO
  Prof.ssa Vittoria Raffa - Prof. Ranieri Bizzarri
  Exploring the Role of Microtubules in Neuronal Mechanotransduction
• FUSCO ALESSANDRO
  Dott.ssa Mariagrazia Di Luca - Prof.ssa Laura Rindi
  Characterisation of Phages for Treating Antibiotic-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium abscessus Infections
• GALOTTI ALICE
  Prof.ssa Elisabetta Palagi - Dott. Paolo Baragli
  Exploring Social Living and Sleeping Dynamics in Wild and Domestic Equids: From Physiology to Cognition
• LACORTE ROBERTA
  Prof.ssa Elena Maggi - Dott.ssa Francesca Rossi
  ALEX ‒ the impact of Artificial Light at night on coastal marine resources: an EXperimental approach in natural and farming systems
• LI TIANSHI
  Prof. Gianni Bedini - Prof. Giulio Petroni
  Towards Open Biodiversity: Unlocking Data through Advanced Databases and Integrative Methods
• NATUCCI LUCA
  Prof. Alessandro Massolo - Dott. Dimitri Giunchi
  Interactions within large mammal communities across spatial and temporal scales in anthropogenic landscapes
• NERI GIUSEPPE
  Prof.ssa Chiara Gabellini - Prof.ssa Vittoria Raffa
  Sheding lights on Sotos syndrome exploiting multiple CRISPR/Cas approaches in zebrafish
• OLATOYE DOLAPO SALIM
  Prof. Lisandro Benedetti Cecchi - Prof. Iacopo Bertocci
  Evaluating Ecosystem Resilience in Complex Habitat Networks Using Emerging Imaging Technology
• OMETTO SARA
  Prof. Iacopo Bertocci - Prof. Lisandro Benedetti Cecchi
  Microthermal mosaics maintained by habitat-forming species and effects on associated biodiversity
• REA FILOMENA
  Prof. Fabio Beltram - Dott.ssa Marianna Vitiello
  Advancing Treatment in Acute Leukemia: Development of Bone Marrow 3D Model to Test New Therapies Against Chemoresistance
• REMONDINO FRANCESCA
  Prof.ssa Michela Ori - Prof. Massimiliano Andreazzoli
  Decoding Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome with zebrafish: mechanisms and therapeutic approaches
• SCHIANINI VIRGINIA
  Dott. Alessandro Cini - Prof.ssa Elisabetta Palagi
  Uncovering the effects of social perturbations in animal societies: a network approach
• SMITH TAMARA
  Prof. Fabio Bulleri - Dott. Ulisse Cardini
  Nested microbial interactions in seagrass ecosystems
• TERENZI ALESSIO
  Prof. Riccardo Di Mambro - Dott.ssa Elena Salvi
  Dissecting the molecular circuit triggering Programmed cell death events during root development
• VICARI GIORGIO
  Dott. Alessandro Cini - Dott. Leonardo Dapporto
  Exploring the difficult relationship between social wasps and human society: an eco-ethological approach
• MANCONI FRANCESCA
  Prof. Lorenzo Peruzzi - Prof. Gianni Bedini
  Biosystematics and integrated taxonomy of Polygala nicaeensis (Polygalaceae)

PhD students cycle XXXIX (2023-2026)

• CAPITANINI ELENA
  Prof. Vittoria Raffa - Prof. Chiara Gabellini
  Nano-pulling: a tool to guide axon growth in vivo by modulating neuron mechanotransduction
• CRAPANZANO ERICA LUCIA
  Prof. Ugo Borello - Prof. Chiara Gabellini
  Deciphering the molecular code of telencephalon development to get insights into vertebrate brain evolution
• DAGHINI ELEONORA
  Prof. Maurizio Cammalleri - Dr. Rosario Amato
  Gene therapy approach for the treatment of retinal neurodegeneration associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• FRANCESCONI MARTINA
  Prof. Elisabetta Palagi - Dr. Alessandro Cini
  Play as window on behavioral variability and social cognition: a comparative approach
• PICCHI MARTA
  Prof. Massimo Pasqualetti - Dr. Noemi Barsotti
  Study of an animal model of psychiatric disorders with a neurodevelopmental origin
• SALVADORI TIZIANO
  Prof. Fabio Beltram - Prof. Marco Onorati
  The interaction of CGAS-STING and the DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE PATHWAY in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells: significance for chemotherapy resistance and innovative therapeutic approaches
• ZANELLI ALESSIO
  Prof. Marco Onorati - Prof. Ugo Borello
  Tackling motor neuron dysfunctions with 3D human systems
• OREFICE MARTINA
  Prof. Michela Ori - Prof. Chiara Gabellini
  Zebrafish for Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome: complementary approaches toward therapeutic strategies
• DE SIMONE GIAMPIERO
  Prof. Riccardo Di Mambro - Dr. Simona Di Gregorio
  Fungal metabolism for the degradation of halogenated organic compounds (HOCs)
• TATINI IRENE
  Prof. Giulio Petroni - Dr. Valentina Serra
  Biodiversity and public engagement: activities for assessing and raising biodiversity awareness
• CABRERA SAN MILLAN EVA
  Prof. Massimiliano Andreazzoli - Dr. Elena Levantini
  Investigating mechanisms of resistance in EGFR-mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) through high resolution transcriptomics
• BELLUOMINI FLAVIA
  Prof. Arianna Tavanti - Prof. Daniele Campa
  Integrative Analysis of Salivary Microbiota in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMNs) and Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Patients
• TROPEA CLAUDIA
  Prof. Alberto Castelli - Dr. Chiara Santinelli
  Dissolved organic matter dynamics and carbon fluxes in European coastal waters

PhD students cycle XXXVIII (2022-2025)

•  ALESSANDRA PAGANI
  Prof. Annalaura Carducci - Prof. Marco Verani
  Characterization and identification of viruses causing Acute Respiratory Infections in environmental matrices
• CAMILLA VULLO
  Prof. Daria Bottai - Prof. Arianna Tavanti
  Exploring the role of the mycobacterial ESX-2 secretion system in physiology and host-pathogen interaction
• IRENE PEROTTI
  Dr. Andrea Cerase - Prof. Chiara Gabellini
  X chromosome inactivation and reactivation as a new therapeutic approach to treat X-linked genetic disorders
• GERHARD DE JAGER
  Prof. Giulio Petroni - Dr. Valentina Serra
  Symbionts and their symbionts: multidisciplinary description of ciliates from aquatic and terrestrial hosts and their microbiome
• GIULIA PROSERPIO
  Prof. Lisandro Benedetti Cecchi - Prof. Iacopo Bertocci
  Resilience of foundation marine species to global warming and human impacts
• MARTA SCALERA
  Prof. Massimo Pasqualetti - Prof. Mario Costa
  Interacting with peritumoral inhibitory neurons to counteract Glioblastoma growth
• SARA VITOLO
  Prof. Elisabetta Ferraro - Prof. Chiara Gabellini
  Metabolic reprogramming and modulation of microglia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• GIULIA LENCIONI
  Prof. Fabio Beltram - Prof. Ugo Borello
  Three-dimensional tumour cell and microenvironment models to unravel key molecular mechanisms driving pancreatic cancer metastatic behaviour
• LUCA PEDRUZZI
  Prof. Elisabetta Palagi - Prof. Alban Lemasson
  Exploring the origins of empathy in primates with an ethological approach
• FEDERICA DI VETTA
  Prof. Massimo Pasqualetti - Prof. Laura Baroncelli
  Creatine transporter deficiency: a journey on the road to gene therapy
• MARISTELLA CANOVAI
  Prof. Roberto Giovannoni - Prof. Chiara Gabellini
  Mutations of the RAS family as target for innovative anti-tumoral RNA-based therapeutics
• FABIOLA TROISI
  Prof. Roberto Giovannoni - Prof. Lucia Guidi
  Development of an organ-on-chip integrated platform to evaluate intestinal transit and absorption of newly designed foods
• NEBIYU TARIKU ATOMSA
  Prof. Annalaura Carducci - Prof. Marco Verani
  Integration of environmental and clinical surveillance data for Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) in closed settings and vulnerable communities

PhD students cycle XXXVII (2021-2024)

• FARINELLA RICCARDO
  Prof. Daniele Campa
  The metagenome impact on the first 1000 days of life
• CAMPOBASSO CLAUDIA
  Dr. Mariagrazia Di Luca
  Characterisation of staphylococcal bacteriophages and their interaction with biofilm-embedded bacteria
• FRANZONI JACOPO
  Prof. Lorenzo Peruzzi
  Biosystematics and integrative taxonomy of the Dianthus virgineus complex (Caryophyllaceae) in Central Mediterranean
• DI CINTIO ANTONIO
  Prof. Fabio Bulleri
  The interplay between ecological benefits and socio-economic forces in regulating the establishment and functioning of marine protected areas
• ESCOLANO MOLTO' ANA
  Prof. Lisandro Benedetti Cecchi
  The constructive role of environmental stochasticity in ecological systems
• COPPINI ALLEGRA
  Prof. Vittoria Raffa
  Structural and functional axonal plasticity following chemical/mechanical stimulation
• STORARI ANNALISA
  Prof. Iacopo Bertocci
  Tube-worm bioconstructions: exploring novel ecological aspects, biotechnological applications and use for habitat amelioration
• VERNI SARA
  Prof. Alberto Castelli
  Integrative taxonomy and biogeography of Mediterranean deep-sea polychaetes
• DIGREGORIO MATTEO
  Prof. Massimiliano Andreazzoli
  Analysis and correction of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by the loss-of-function of Setd5 in a zebrafish model
• PETRONI LUCA
  Prof. Alessandro Massolo
  Top-down effects mediated by wolves in a Mediterranean ecosystem
• CIOCCARELLI SARA
  Dr. Anna Gagliardo
  Spatial cognition and neural basis of familiar landmarks-based navigation in birds
• SCINTU DARIA
  Prof. Riccardo Di Mambro - Dr. Raffaele dello Ioio
  The molecular mechanisms generating differences in root patterning between Arabidopsis thaliana and its close relative Cardamine hirsuta
• TIBURTINI MANUEL
  Prof. Lorenzo Peruzzi
  Biosystematics and integrative taxonomy of the genus Armeria (Plumbaginaceae) in Central Mediterranean
• CONSTANTINESCU VLAD
  Prof. Massimo Pasqualetti
  Neuroanatomical and functional characterization of wiring-transmitting serotonin neurons

PhD students cycle XXXVII (2021-2024): PON

• BERNABEI GIACOMO
  Prof. Riccardo Di Mambro - Dr. Simona Di Gregorio
  Environmental microbiomes for the degradation of chlorinated pesticides in soils
• CRUZ TEJADA DIANA MARIA
  Prof. Angelino Carta
  Selecting regionally adapted native plant species for Mediterranean ecosystem restoration under a climate change scenario
• AGABITI CHIARA
  Prof. Paolo Casale
  Distribution of sea turtles and their anthropogenic threats: innovative approaches to improve conservation actions
• FERRETTI MIRIAM
  Prof. Elena Maggi - Dr. Francesca Rossi - Prof. Lisandro Benedetti Cecchi
  Ecosystem assessment of the environmental impact of light pollution and urbanisation on Mediterranean coastal habitats
• GALEOTTI ALICE ALESSANDRA
  Prof. Vittora Raffa - Prof. Ugo Borello
  Novel neuroprotective strategies in Alzheimer's disease based on combinatorial approaches of computational biology, mechanical stimulation, and antioxidant compounds
• FELICI ALESSIO
  Prof. Daniele Campa - Dr. Federico Canzian - Dr. Marco Calderisi
  Artificial Inteligence approaches to determine gene enviroment interaction in complex diseases.
• CAFIERO SALVATORE ANDREA
  Prof. Alessandro Massolo - Dr. Adriano Casulli
  Trophic cascades and pathogen transmission in an ever changing environment: complexity explains distribution of parasites
• SPINA FEDERICA
  Prof. Paolo Luschi - Dr. Paolo Domenici - Prof. Alessandro Massolo
  Positional preferences of Southern Resident killer whales: insights on formation swimming
• DE GIORGI PAOLA
  Prof Gianni Bedini - Prof. Daniela Ciccarelli
  Development of integrated models of native flora migrations by advanced geostatistical and biodiversity informatics techniques

PhD students cycle XXXVI (2020-2023)

• ALLEVI ALESSANDRO
  Tutor: Prof. Sergey Fokin - Dr. Valentina Serra
  Next Generation Taxonomy of Ciliophora and their symbionts, with special attention to ciliates from Pistoia province and Orbetello lagoon (Tuscany, Italy)
• ANGULO MARILYN
  Tutor: Prof. Marco Onorati
  Neuronal reprogramming to comprehend psychiatric disorders
• BALDI GIULIA
  Tutor: Prof. Paolo Casale
  Biology and conservation of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Gulf of Manfredonia
• CANANZI GABRIELE
  Tutor: Prof. Giulio Petroni
  Barcoding and environmental DNA metabarcoding as novel tools for monitoring the biodiversity of the Serchio River, Tuscany
• CORRADI CHIARA
  Tutor: Prof. Daniele Campa
  Genetic and genomic susceptibility of pancreatic cancer and of its pre-neoplastic lesions
• MAGLIERI VERONICA
  Prof. Elisabetta Palagi
  Intra- and inter-specific communication in dogs (Canis familiaris): signal expression, perception and decoding
• PEDICINI LUDOVICA
  Tutor: Prof. Fabio Bulleri - Dr. Iacopo Bertocci
  Nature-based solutions for the conservation of marine biodiversity in future climate change scenarios
• PEDUZZI GIULIA
  Tutor: Prof. Daniele Campa
  Big data analysis to discover genetic and environmental cancer risk factors
• ROMBONI MARCO
  Tutor: Prof. Sergio Tofanelli - Prof. Damiano Marchi - Prof. Giovanni Boschian
  Neanderthal extinction: evaluation of evolutionary hypothesis
• SANCHEZ CHERYL
  Tutor: Prof. Paolo Casale
  Abundance and ecology of marine megaherbivores at Aldabra Atoll
• SCHMIDT TIZIANA
  Tutor: Prof. Vittoria Raffa
  Nanogenetics: Nanostructures for programming molecular mechanisms
• WENXIN XU
  Tutor: Prof Giulio Petroni
  Ecology and Integrative taxonomy of Ciliophora from wastewater treatment plants
• HONGRUI ZHAO
  Tutor: Prof. Annalaura Carducci
  Impact of coastal contamination from litter and microplastics on environmental and human health: proposal for a global risk assessment

PhD students cycle XXXVI (2020-2023): PON

• MERIGHI FRANCESCA
  Prof. Marco Onorati - Prof. Vittoria Raffa
  Neural regeneration in spinal cord injury

COMPLETED CYCLES

PhD students cycle XXXV (2019-2022)

• DELL'AMICO CLAUDIA
  Tutor: Prof. Marco Onorati
  Neural stem cells to understand human brain disorder
• GIACCHERINI MATTEO
  Tutor: Prof. Daniele Campa
  Genetic and genomic susceptibility of pancreatic cancer
• GIACÒ ANTONIO
  Tutor: Prof. Lorenzo Peruzzi - Dr. Giovanni Astuti
  Biosystematics and integrated taxonomy of the Santolina chamaecyparissus complex (Asteraceae)
• GIOVANNINI MICHELE
  Tutor: Prof. Giulio Petroni
  Evolutionary and functional genome analyses of Holosporales bacteria
• KONSTANTINIDOU SOULTANA
  Tutor: Prof. Vittoria Raffa
  Nanotransducer as a novel tool in genome editing: a new approach in gene therapy
• MINETTI ANTEA
  Tutor: Prof. Massimo Pasqualetti - Dr. Alessandro Gozzi Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems (Rovereto, TN)
  Viral vectors for the manipulation of neural circuits
• PINZANI LORENZO
  Tutor: Prof. Gianni Bedini - Dr. Angelino Carta
  Comparative niche modelling and early life cycle stages in related Aquilegia species
• TOMASSINI ORLANDO
  Tutor: Prof. Alessandro Massolo
  Recolonization of biocoenosis in Mediterranean mountain-hilly environments affected by fire: the case of Monte Pisano as a study model