CV

Education

• Ph.D in Biology, University of Luxembourg, Esch sur Alzette (Luxembourg), 2015-2019
• M.S. in Molecular and Celluar Biology, University of Florence, Florence (Italy), 2013-2015
• B.S. in Biological Science, University of Florence, Florence (Italy), 2010-2013

Work experience

• 02/2020 – present: Postdoctoral scientist Korem Lab Columbia University in the city of New York, New York City (NY)

  The focus of my postdoc is the study of how l factors.

  • Current research includes:
    • Item 1
    • Item 2
    • Metagenomic analysis
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Tal Korem
• 12/2019 – 01/2020: Postdoctoral researcher / Research associate Clinical & Experimental Neurosciences Group University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg center for Systems Biology), Esch sur Alzette (Luxembourg).
  • Principal Investigator: Prof. Rejko Krüger

• 12/2015 – 11/2019: PhD student & Visiting PhD student Molecular Systems Physiology Group University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg center for Systems Biology), Esch sur Alzette (Luxembourg) & National University Of Ireland, Galway (Ireland).

  The focus of my PhD was the study of how environmental factors such as nutrition and the human gut microbiota composition, impact human health. These factors are crucial to understanding the pathogenesis of complex diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease. The integration of a systems biology computational modeling approach termed constraint-based modeling with experimental data (metagenomics), together with the deployment of advanced statistical techniques (machine learning), helps to elucidate the role played by these environmental factors.

  • The work during my PhD included:
    • Studying the influence of the human gut microbiota in Parkinson’s Disease
    • Constraint-based modeling of microbial gut communities
    • Metagenomic analysis
    • Development of the MATLAB Microbiome Modeling Toolbox
    • Machine learning analysis applied to biological datasets
    • Teaching experience at the university
    • Scientific dissertation (poster presentation in international conferences, talks, paper submission)
  • Supervisor: Prof. Ines Thiele
• 02/2015–10/2015: Trainee Molecular Systems Physiology Group University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg center for Systems Biology), Esch sur Alzette (Luxembourg).
  • The work during my internship included:
    • Constraint-based metabolic modeling
    • Agent-based modeling
    • Gut Physiology
    • Microbial ecology
    • Programming (R and MATLAB)
  • Supervisors: Prof. Ines Thiele

• 07/2013 – 09/2013: Trainee Laboratorio Di Evoluzione Microbica E Molecolare University of Florence, Florence (Italy).

  The focus of my bachelor thesis was to model the microbial metabolism of organisms important for bioremediation and experimentally test in silico predictions. The final aim was the in silico study of possible strategies for microbial engineering.

  • The work during my internship included:
    • Constraint-based modeling applied to microbial metabolism (Flux Balance Analysis)
    • Basic microbiological wet lab techniques
    • Microbiology applied to bioremediation
  • Supervisors: Prof. Renato Fani & Dr. Marco Fondi

Skills

• Languages
  • Italian: Mother tongue
  • English: Proficent C1 level, (CAE, Cambridge University ESOL)
  • French: Proficient C1 level, (DALF C1, Ministère de l’Éducation nationale français)
• Digital skills
  • Programming (R programming, MATLAB, Pyhton)
  • Operating systems: Linux (terminal), and Windows
  • MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, One Note)
  • Vector graphics editor (Inkscape)
  • Web browsers
• Communication skills
  • Communication skills acquired interfacing colleagues coming from different backgrounds (biology, chemistry, computer science, maths, and statistics).
  • Capability of conveying and explain abstract and complex concepts in simple words
  • Excellent presentation skills
  • Social skills gained having interactions with people from different countries and cultures
• Organisational / managerial skills
  • Project planning
  • Independence in leading in scientific projects

Publications

Paper Title Number 1

Your Name, You. (2009). "Paper Title Number 1." Journal 1. 1(1).

Paper Title Number 2

Your Name, You. (2010). "Paper Title Number 2." Journal 1. 1(2).

Paper Title Number 3

Your Name, You. (2015). "Paper Title Number 3." Journal 1. 1(3).

Conferences & Presentations

• Attendance at the 3rd Conference on Constraint-Based Reconstruction and Analysis (COBRA 2015), Heidelberg
• Poster and oral presentation at the 6th Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit 2017, Paris
• Poster presentation at the 7th International Human Microbiome Consortium 2018 meeting, Killarney
• Poster presentation at the 5th Conference on Constraint-Based Reconstruction and Analysis (COBRA 2018), Seattle
• Oral presentation at the 9th International Human Microbiome Consortium 2021 meeting, Barcelona

Teaching & Mentoring

Teaching experience 1

Teaching experience 2

Courses

• IGS Metagenome Analysis Workshop 2017, Baltimore
• BioSB Pattern Recognition Course 2017, Amsterdam
• EMBO Young Investigator Ph.D. Course 2017, Heidelberg
• Qiime 2 Workshop at ISME 2018, 2018, Leipzig

Memberships

• Treasurer and board member of RSG International Society for Computational Biology, Luxembourg (2017-2018 Team)
• Board member of RSG International Society for Computational Biology, Luxembourg (2018-2019 Team) http://rsg-luxembourg.iscbsc.org/