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Le lezioni del corso di ZOOLOGIA AMBIENTALE (9 CFU) nell'A.A. 2025/2026 verranno erogate per il terzo anno del corso di Laurea triennale in Biologia Ambientale. Il corso prevede attività teoriche e pratiche. Per ulteriori info e per il materiale didattico è necessario iscriversi alla pagina e-learning ZOOLOGIA AMBIENTALE
Il corso verrà svolto nel II semestre con orario e sede da definire.
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Le lezioni del corso di BIOLOGIA EVOLUZIONISTICA (6 CFU, opzionale) nell'A.A. 2025/2026 verranno erogate nell'ambito del corso di laurea triennale in Scienze Biologiche. Il corso prevede attività teoriche e pratiche. Per ulteriori info e per il materiale didattico è necessario iscriversi su alla pagina e-learning BIOLOGIA EVOLUZIONISTICA.
Il corso verrà svolto nel II semestre con orario e sede da definire.
Receiving hours
Lunedì 12.00-13.00
Curriculum
CURRENT ACADEMIC POSITION: Associate Professor in Zoology (Sapienza)
EDUCATION
- 2002: Degree (Summa cum laude) in Biological Sciences at ‘Sapienza’, University of Rome.
– 2007: PhD in Animal Biology at ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome.
ACADEMIC CAREER
– RESEARCHER POSITIONS
– 2021-2024: RTD-B (Temporary Researcher) POSITION at Dep. Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
– 2018-2021: RTD-A (Temporary Researcher) POSITION at Dep. Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza, Rome, Italy
– 2014-2017: RTD-A (Temporary Researcher) POSITION at Dep. Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
– POST-DOCTORAL POSITIONS at Dep. Public Health and Infectious Diseases (P.H.I.D.), Institute of Parasitology, University of Rome ‘Sapienza
– 2007-2008: Project ‘ITALIAN MALARIA NETWORK’: Plasmodium falciparum malaria: interactions among parasites, vectors and humans.
– 2009-2012: Project FP7-EU MALVECBLOK: Population biology and molecular genetics of vectorial capacity in Anopheles gambiae: targeting reproductive behaviour and immunity for transmission-refractory interventions.
– 2012-2014: Project ‘YOUNG RESEARCHER F.I.R.B. 2010’: Role of reproductive barriers in an emblematic case of incipient speciation.
TEACHING EXPERIENCES
– 2004-2005: Student Lab Assistant for practical activities on zoological material for the course in ‘Zoology‘, Biological Sciences Master degree, ‘Sapienza
– 2005-2006: Contract Professor in ‘Principles of Biology‘ held for the Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Master Degree, ‘Sapienza’.
– 2007-2008: Contract Professor in ‘Zoology of Anthropized Environments‘ held for the I Faculty of Architecture, Landscape Architecture Master Degree, ‘Sapienza’.
– 2015-2016: Conservation Genetics section within the ‘Conservation Biology‘ course held for the Faculty of Biological Sciences, ROMA TRE University.
– 2015: ‘Practical Course on Molecular Phylogeny and Population Genetic’ held for the Doctoral School in “Molecular, Cell and Environmental Biology”, ROMA TRE University.
- 2016: ‘Evolutionary Parasitology’ held for the Faculty of Biological Sciences, ROMA TRE University.
– 2017-2018 Contract Professor in ‘Animal Biology‘ held for the Biotechnology Bachelor Degree, Tuscia University.
– 2018-2024: ‘Zoogeography’ held for the Faculty of Natural Sciences, ‘Sapienza’.
– 2022-ongoing: ‘Evolutionary Biology‘ held for the Faculty of Biological Sciences, ‘Sapienza’.
- 2026-ongoing: 'Environmental Zoology‘ held for the Faculty of Environmental Biology, ‘Sapienza’.
QUALIFICATIONS
– 2018-2024: National Scientific Qualification (art.16 of the law 30 Dec. 2010, n.240) of the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) to function as Associate Professor for O5/B1 scientific calls (Zoology & Antropology)
PARTICIPATION TO WORKSHOPS/COURSES
– 2010: Partecipant at the ‘European Workshop on Molecular Evolution 2010’ held in Č. Krumlov, Cech Republic (http://www.molecularevolution.org/)
– 2012: Partecipant at the training course on “NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING: technologies, applications and data analysis” held at the AVANS Hogeschoool, Breda, The Netherlands (http://www.alsavans.nl/avans-training-2542.htm)
PARTICIPATION TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
– Progetto di Ateneo 2006, cod. C26A06EAWS, ‘Sapienza’, Università di Roma, “Biogeografia molecolare delle aree afromediterranee e del Vicino Oriente.”
– EU-FP7 HEALTH-2007-2.3.2-9 Cooperation Work Programme, MALVECBLOK project, “Population biology and molecular genetics of vectorial capacity in Anopheles gambiae: targeting reproductive behaviour and immunity for transmission-refractory interventions.”
– EU-FP7 INFRASTRUCTURES-2008-1-228421, INFRAVEC project, “Research capacity for the implementation of genetic control of mosquitoes.”
– Progetto Ateneo 2009, cod. C26A097THS, ‘Sapienza’, Università di Roma, “Caratterizzazione bionomica, genetica e filogenetica delle specie del complesso Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae), vettori afrotropicali di malaria.
– “Futuro in Ricerca F.I.R.B. 2010, cod. RBFR106NTE, “Ruolo delle barriere riproduttive in un caso emblematico di speciazione incipiente.”
– EU-FP7 HEALTH.2010.2.3.2-4, AVECNET project, “African Vector Control: new tools.”
– Grandi Attrezzature 2012, cod. C26G12XTPP, ‘Sapienza’, Università di Roma, “Real Time PCR in parassitologia: dalla ricerca di base alle applicazioni diagnostiche.”
– Grant–Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti 2013, “Population genomics of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae”
– EU-LIFE MIPP 2014-2017, “Monitoring Insects with Public Participation”
– Lazio INNOVA 2018 – “CanBBio – Cantharidin: from Biodiversity to Biotechnology”
– Lazio INNOVA 2021 – “No Clot – Novel Anticoagulant Protein from Coleopteran Transcriptomes”
LABORATORY EXPERIENCE
Preparation and conservation of animal specimens for molecular analyses; nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) extraction methods from animal tissues and cells; gene amplification and genotyping by PCR techniques (long range, RFLP-PCR…); cDNA preparation and gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR (RT-PCR); genotyping via High Resolution Melting (HRM) tecnique; use of restriction enzymes; standard cloning techniques (TA cloning, directional cloning…); plasmidic DNA purification (mini- midi-prep), plasmidic vectors and competent cells preparation; ELISA assays; Western Blots; Immunofluorescence.
BIOINFORMATIC SKILLS
Win Office Package (Word, Excel, PPT); software for phylogenetic inferences, population genetics studies and gene mapping (Arlequin, Genalex, GenePop, Structure, PAUP*, Staden Package, MEGA5, DNAsp, Beast, Gene Runner, TCS, PAML, Geodis, Discovery Gene Studio, Visual Cloning and others); genomic/proteomic database mining (NCBI, PUBMED, SwissModel, IntelPro, ENSEMBLE complete genome database); basics of NGS data analysis software (NEXTGENE, CLC-BIO) and browser (GALAXY).
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
EM is mainly interested in phylogenetics and population genetics of living organisms. He is particularly experienced in: i) developing and validating novel molecular markers to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and speciation patterns of recently originated species, ii) analysing population genetics and phylogenetic data from different animal species, iii) investigating the function and molecular evolution of proteins having crucial roles in animal physiology; iv) applying the genetic tools to monitor and control natural populations. His activities are carried out through field collections and fauna surveys, morphological investigations through optical/ scan-stereomicroscopy, analysis of samples and animal tissues through molecular biology (genetics and genomics) methods.
Since 2002, EM collaborates with the Dep. of Biology and Biotechnology ‘C. Darwin’ (‘Sapienza’) (http://w3.uniroma1.it/bbcd/) on ecology, taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of insects. Research activities are mainly focused on: i) systematics of Coleoptera (Nitidulidae, Hydraenidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae and Cetoniidae), ii) conservation genetics of endangered beetles, iii) biological control of insect pests and iv) taxonomy and biology of caddisflies (Trichoptera) to be used for monitoring water quality.
In 2007, EM started to contribute to the research activities of Medical and Molecular Entomology (MME) group at the Institute of Parasitology (Sapienza University of Rome) with a Post-Doc position in the context of the Italian Malaria Network (http://www.italianmalarianetwork.it/), with the specific task to develop novel markers based on transposable elements for population genetics and phylogenetic studies of Anopheles gambiae, the most important mosquito species transmitting malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2009, he has been studying the evolution and expression of genes involved in post-mating responses and immunity in the species of the A. gambiae complex within the context of the European MALVECBLOK FP7 project. In 2012 his work has been focused on the genetic consequences of the hybridization process occurring in West Africa between the two taxonomic entities (i.e. M and S molecular forms) within A. gambiae.
From June 2014 to May 2017, EM has been working as Researcher (RTD-A) at the Department of Sciences of ‘ROMA TRE’ University in the frame of the EU-Project MIPP (Monitoring Insects with Public Partecipation) about insect conservation.
From August 2018, EM works as a researcher at the Department of Biology & Bioechnology “C. Darwin”. He is involved in various projects concerning insect conservation and evolution (e.g., saproxylic and phytophagous beetles, stingless bees in Peruvian Amazon) and malaria vector control (e.g. insecticide genetic resistance).
EM’s scientific production is documented by nearly 70 papers on International Scientific Journals, 50 Proceedings of International and National meetings and partecipation (oral or poster presentations) at more than 40 conferences and workshops.