RAFFAELE DELLO IOIO

RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests involve several aspects of plant root development. In particular I focus my studies on the role of miRNAs in the regulation of asymmetric cell division during root development and on the activity of those molecules in the formation of diverse root patterning among species. I also study the molecular mechanisms through which root development adapt and respond to external stresses such as soil compaction, heavy metal contamination and high salinity.

EDUCATION
2009 PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology , Supervisor: Prof.Sabrina Sabatini, University of Rome “ Sapienza”, Italy
2005 Laurea (Italian degree, M.Sc. equivalent) in Biology, major in Biotechnology. Final mark: 110 /110 cum laude

POSITIONS
2022-present Associate Professor, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, IT
2019-2022 RTDB, Researcher Type B, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, IT
2017-2018 Research Fellow, University of Rome“Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
2014-2017 RTDA, Researcher Type A, Young Principal Investigator Italian Equivalent, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, IT
2013-2014 Post-doc position in the Lab of Prof. Tsiantis, Dept. of Comparative Development and Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
2009-2013 Post-doc Fellow in the Lab of Prof. Tsiantis, Dept. of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
2008-2009 Post-Doc position in the Lab of Prof. Sabrina Sabatini, Dept. of Genetics and Mol. Biology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
2005-2008 PhD student in the Lab of Prof. Sabrina Sabatini, Dept. of Genetics and Mol. Biology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
2003-2005 Undergraduate student research experience in Prof. Sabrina Sabatini Lab, department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2019 Premio Feltrinelli giovani- Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei
2009-2012 FEBS - Federation of European Biochemical Societies, Long Term fellowship 2009 Human Frontier Science Program Short term Fellowship
2009 Travel Grant Development 2008-2009 Fellowship for excellence, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
2008 Award to attend to the EPSO conference, Toulon, France 2004-2005 Fellowship for excellence in academic performance, Dept. of Cell &Dev. Biology, University of Rome “ Sapienza”, Italy
2003-2004 Fellowship for excellence in academic performance, Dept. of Animal and Human Biology, University of Rome “ Sapienza”, Italy
2002-2003 Fellowship for excellence in academic performance, Dept. of Animal and Human Biology, University of Rome “ Sapienza”, Italy

GRANTS AND FUNDINGS
2025-2027 MAECI, Unit Coordinator
2024-2028 HORIZON-CL6-2023-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 (Clean environment and zero pollution), unit coordinator
2024-2028 AGREEMENT SAPIENZA-ASI (Italian Space Agency), Prime, Scientific Coordinator
2021-2025 PNRR CN3 Spoke 3, participant
2023-2025 PRINN 2022, Unit coordinator
2022-2025 Progetto Ateneo, coordinator
2019-2021 Progetto Ateneo, coordinator
2013-2017 FIRB (Futuro in Ricerca), MIUR- Coordinator

TEACHING ACTIVITIES
2019 – now Professor, “Molecular techniques for food control and improvement”, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2019 - now Professor, “Plant Stem Cells”, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2019 – now Professor, “Molecular Mechanisms in Plant Development” University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2021 Lecture at the Stem Cells Master School, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2021 Lecture at the Genetic and Molecular Biology PhD School, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2017 Lectures in Animal and Plant Stem Cells, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2017 Lectures in Cell Differentiation, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2017 Lectures in Molecular Biology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy
2016 Lectures in Model Systems Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Italy

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
2024-2026 Organizer of the XI Rooting: International Symposium on Root Development
2024-Now Permanent Guest at the Research Committee of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei
2023-Now Councilor of the Centro Interdisciplinare Lincei Giovani, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei
2023-Now Member of PNRR CN3 SPOKE 3
2022-Now Coordinator of the Plant model systems part of the PCTO “Pillole di Scienza”
2019-Now Member of the Advisory committee of the Genetic and Molecular Biology PhD school, University of Rome “Sapienza”.
2017-2021 Member of the PhD Thesis Advisory Committees (TAC) at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany.
2010 – 2011 Organiser of the Internal Seminar, Post Doc Seminar, Department of Plant Science, Oxford University, Oxford, UK

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES
09/04/2024 Mendel Centre Seminars at Masaryk University, Brno, CZ- invited speaker
28/06/2023 Auxin and Cytokinin in Plant Development, Prague, CZ- invited speaker
15-17/02/2017 1st COST iPLANTA Conference, Rome, IT -invited speaker
14-15/11/2016 Mechanism of Asymmetric Cell Division Symposium-Royal Society. Kavli Royal Society Centre, Chicheley Hall, UK-invited speaker
23/10/2015 Minisymposium on plant form and modulation-Anfiteatro Admar Cervellini – Piracicaba, Brasil-invited speaker
8-10/05/2012 Signals and Regulatory Networks in Early Plant Embryogenesis (SIREN) symposium, Haigerloch, Germany -invited speaker
24/06/2008 4th EPSO conference, Toulon, France-selected for oral presentation

EDITORIAL ASSIGMENT
Editor - Plants
Associate Editor- Frontiers in Plant Science

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
2023-now Member of the Italian Society of Plant Physiology (SIBV)
2023-now Member of Centro Interdisciplinare Giovani Lincei (CILG), Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei
2010-now Member of the “Faculty of 1000 biologist”

10 MOST RELEVANT PUBBLICATIONS:
• Scintu D, Scacchi E, Cazzaniga F, Vinciarelli F, De Vivo M, Shtin M, Svolacchia N, Bertolotti G, Unterholzner SJ, Del Bianco M, Timmermans M, Di Mambro R, Vittorioso P, Sabatini S, Costantino P, Dello Ioio R. (2023) microRNA165 and 166 modulate response of the Arabidopsis root apical meristem to salt stress. Commun Biol.11;6(1):834.
• Bertolotti G, Unterholzner S.J , Scintu D , Salvi E., Svolacchia N , Di Mambro R, Ruta V , Linhares Scaglia F , Vittorioso P , Sabatini S, Costantino P, Dello Ioio R. (2021) A PHABULOSA-Controlled Genetic Pathway Regulates Ground Tissue Patterning in the Arabidopsis Root. Curr Biol. 31, 420–426
• Cesarino I*, Dello Ioio R*, Kirschner GK*, Ogden MS*, Picard KL*, Rast-Somssich MI*, Somssich M. (2020) Plant Science’s Next Top Models. Ann Bot. 2020: 10.1093/aob/mcaa063.
• Kierzkowski D, Runions A, Vuolo F, Strauss S, Lymbouridou R, Routier-Kierzkowska AR, Wilson-Sánchez D, Jenke H, Galinha C, Mosca G, Zhang Z, Canales C, Dello Ioio R, Huijser P, Smith RS, Tsiantis M (2019) A Growth-Based Framework for Leaf Shape Development and Diversity. Cell. 177(6): 1405–1418
• Di Ruocco G, Bertolotti G, Pacifici E, Polverari L, Tsiantis M, Sabatini S, Costantino P, Dello Ioio R. (2018). Differential spatial distribution of miR165/6 determines variability in plant root anatomy. Development.. 145(1)
• Vlad D, Kierzkowski D, Rast MI, Vuolo F, Dello Ioio R, Galinha C, Gan X, Hajheidari M, Hay A, Smith RS, Huijser P, Bailey DB, Tsiantis M. (2014) Leaf shape evolution through duplication, regulatory diversification and loss of a growth-repressing homeobox gene. Science. 343:780-3.
• Dello Ioio R, Galinha C, Fletcher AG, Grigg SP, Molnar A, Willemsen V, Scheres B, Sabatini S, Baulcombe D, Maini PK, Tsiantis M. (2012) A PHABULOSA/Cytokinin Feedback Loop Controls Root Growth in Arabidopsis. Cur Bio, 22:1699-704
• Dello Ioio R*, Moubayidin L*, Perilli S*, Di Mambro R, Costantino P, Sabatini S. (2010) The rate of cell differentiation controls the Arabidopsis root meristem growth phase. Cur Bio, 20:1138-43. * Joint authors
• Dello Ioio R, Nakamura K, Moubayidin L, Perilli S, Taniguchi M, Morita MT, Aoyama T, Costantino P, Sabatini S. (2008) A genetic framework for the control of cell division and differentiation in the root meristem. Science 28;322:1380-4.
• Dello Ioio R, Linhares FS, Scacchi E, Casamitjana-Martinez E, Heidstra R, Costantino P, Sabatini S. (2007) Cytokinins determine Arabidopsis root-meristem size by controlling cell differentiation. Curr Biol. 17;17:678-82.