Maurizio Casiraghi is Researcher in Zoology at University of Milano-Bicocca, Department Biotechnologies and Biosciences. There he also teaches Biological and Molecular Evolution courses. Maurizio Casiraghi began his scientific activity studying behavioral ecology and population genetic of social Hymenoptera. Then Maurizio Casiraghi focused his interests on symbiosis and, in particular on the relationships between animals and intracellular bacteria; in this contest he studied the model filarial nematodes - Wolbachia pipientis (a Gram-negative bacteria). Nowadays the research area of Maurizio Casiraghi concerns: Biological and molecular evolution; DNA barcoding (both for base researcher in biological systematics and tool for diagnostic and food traceability); phylogeny reconstruction.
Maurizio Casiraghi is also the author of several contributions for books and scientific articles published on national and international journals.
Massimo Labra is Researcher in General Botany at University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences. He also teach Plant Biology I (General Botany) and Plant Biology II (Botanical Systematics) in the course of Biological Sciences. His research activities are focused on the evaluation and preservation of biodiversity through the analysis of genetic diversity od several plant species and populations.
Then he achieved the PhD in Plant Biology whit a project about the study oh the parentage relationship between different wine-grape cultivar (Vitis vinifera L.). He then improved his skills about molecular markers of DNA used both for the analysis and study of agroeconomical and spontaneous plants (phylogenetic studies, population genetics, conservation plans). Nowadays his research is mainly focused on the comprehension of the mechanisms involved in wine-grape domestication process. He also collaborates in several research programs for the safeguard of endangered species (e.g.: aquatic plants).
Massimo Labra is the author of more than 50 publication on national and international journal, several contribution in book and he is also the co-author of a text-book about Plant Bioversity.
Michela Barbuto is a Postdoctoral Researcher working with the Biotechnology and Biosciences Department, University of Milano Bicocca. Graduated in Biology, she took her PhD degree in Animal biology. Her research interests in freshwater biomonitoring and in particular about nematodes, with emphasis on the ecological and systematics of free-living nematodes.
The main focus of current research is the use of DNA barcoding approach for the molecular identification of animal species, in particular for parasitic nematodes. She apply this technique also for food traceability.
She acquire knowledge about the principal techniques of DNA amplification and sequencing. She works on different animal taxa: from invertebrates such as nematodes, isopoda, and insects to vertebrates (birds, fishes and others). She learns theoretical information to perform different bioinformatical analyses on the data collected.
Fabrizio De Mattia took his degree in Environmental Sciences in July 2004. From September 2004 to September 2005 he was fellowship of University of Milano-Bicocca and was involved in different projects about the conservation of plant species biodiversity through DNA molecular markers. In January 2009 he achieved PhD in Plant Biology and Cultivated Plant Productivity in Plant Production Department, University of Milan. His PhD project concerned about “Study of the origin of vine cultivar Through DNA molecular markers”.
He is now joining several projects in plant field and the most important concerns the identification and development of molecular marker for genes involved in wine grape flower development. The aim of his research is the identification of genes involved in the domestication process in order to explain the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and its evolution. He improved in plant genome analysis through both the application of restriction markers and the sequencing of genes iper-variable spacer regions. He has great skilled in the use of capillary sequencer for DNA sequences reading and dominant and co-dominant marker analysis.
Now Fabrizio is Postdoctoral Researcher; he is involved in the project “Integrated taxonomy (morphology and DNA barcoding) for conservation of Sardinian plant biodiversity” with Dr. Pierluigi Cortis. In this is based on the identification of Sardinian endemic species through an integrated taxonomy approach.
Emanuele Ferri is a PostDoc at Polyclinic San Matteo, Pavia, Italy, where he studies microbial communities associated to pathologies.
His interests encompass bioinformatics in the study of genetic relationships between organisms.
Ilaria Bruni took her master degree in Biological Sciences in 2005 at University of Pavia with the thesis “Study of Rhopalocera population in Ticino Park (Mezzanino – PV). Since February 2007 to May 2010 she was PhD student in Environmental Sciences at InterDepartmental Research Center for Environmental Sciences (CIRSA), University of Bologna, in collaboration whit the Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca. The research project concerned the use of DNA molecular markers to study Rhododendron ferrugineum L. genetic diversity and hybridization events. Since November 2009 Ilaria is Postdoctoral Researcher at ZooPlantLab, University of Milano-Bicocca where she is involved in the development of molecular characterization programs for plant species through the DNA barcoding. Dr. Bruni is involved both in the study of plant species for safeguard and conservation of plant species and in projects concerning cultivated, ornamental and officinal plants. Ilaria Bruni also participate to environmental education programs, in particular in the drinkable water, soil preservation and the protection of consumer interest.
Since October 2010 Ilaria is Reasearch Assistant of the Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience of Milano-Bicocca. She is now in charge of different department instruments: Real Time PCR and genetic Analyzer 3130.
Andrea Galimberti has started his scientific career in the ornithology field, being interested in catching, ringing and counting birds in the context of several national and international projects. He worked as field assistant and coordinator of many birds ringing stations.
During his studies in Biology, Andrea Galimberti extended his interest and knowledge in molecular biology, defending in 2011 his Ph.D. on the integration of molecular techniques (i.e. DNA barcoding) with classical approaches to species identification. In his Ph.D. research, he used molecular techniques in the fields of food traceability, diagnosis of endoparasites of medical and veterinary interest, identification of poisonous plants and other applicative aspects.
Currently, Andrea Galimberti obtained a position as temporary research fellow at ZooPlantLab laboratory, Università of Milan-Bicocca, Italy, in molecular biology and zoology.
Nowadays, the main interests of Andrea Galimberti are: Connectivity and habitat fragmentation in mammals (especially bats) and birds; biodiversity; DNA barcoding and Molecular sexing.
Andrea Galimberti is author and co-author of book chapters and papers published in peer-reviewed journals.
Sara Baccei took her master degree in Biology in April 2010 at University of Milano-Bicocca with a thesis in evolutionary-developmental biology entitled “Hox genes in free living nematode species. A preliminary study”. Then with fellowship at ZooPlantLab she dealt with different project about the evaluation of ecological connectivity between parks in the Lombardy region and the use of DNA barcoding for conservation and protection of ecological functionality. The study and communication of biological evolution are her main interests. Therefore she collaborates with the web-site Pikaia. Sara is now PhD student at the Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca. Her PhD project concerns a study of the evolution of epigenetics in animal cells.
Silvia Federici is a Master's graduate in Biology. She earned her degree in April 2009 at the University of Milano-Bicocca, with a thesis entitled: phylogeography of Pelobates fuscus (Amphibia: Pelobatidae) and molecular identification of a pathogen in wild amphibian populations.
Then, with a fellowship at the ZooPlantLab, she dealt with the cataloguing of biological material fragments, both animal and vegetal and the management of a computerized filing system for biological samples.
Recipient of the mobility grant Leonardo Da Vinci, part of the Life Learning Programme, she did an internship at the Zoology Department of the Trinity College of Dublin (Ireland) from April to September 2010.
Silvia Federici is now a PhD Student in Biology at the Biosciences and Biotechnologies Department of the University of Milano-Bicocca, and her research focuses on the study of epigenetic modifications in plant evolution.
Alessia Losa is a Postdoctoral Researcher working with the Biotechnology and Biosciences Department, University of Milano Bicocca, from 2011 year. Graduated in Biology, she took her PhD degree in Plant Biology, nearby State University of Milano. Her present research interests in interacting between plant and bacteria, in particular about induction and modulation of plant defense responses by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSS). The main focus of current research is to understand the action of bacterial lipopolysaccharides in the induction of plant defense responses and to identify the binding receptor. Another aim is to find the plant lipopolysaccharides.
In the past she studied the Asparagus officinalis flower development, isolated and characterized four MADS-box genes, homologous to Arabidopsis SEPALLATA gene class. In Arabidopsis thaliana she studied the target genes of STK, involved in ovule development. Then in grape and wheat Alessia applied Laser Microdissection (LDM), a new technique used in plants, to study the early stages, involved in mechanism of interaction between pathogen and plant. Finally She did a brief experience about maize breeding.
Anna Sandionigi took her Master degree in Biodiversity and Evolution at Pisa University with the thesis: Paleogenetic analysis conducted on human remains found in Roman necropolis of Frizzone (Lucca, Italy).
During in 2010 she conducted a study on human remains of a new Etruscan necropolis, in Paleogenetic Laboratory of the University of Florence.
She is mainly interested in the application of informatics tools to bio-molecular studies.
Currently she is PhD student at Biotechnology and Bioscience Department of Milan Bicocca University. The PhD project aims to the development of new analysis techniques for DNA barcoding study.
Antonella Bruno si è laureata in Biologia nel marzo del 2012 presso l’Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, con una tesi di biologia molecolare dal titolo “Tecniche di sessaggio molecolare di erpetofauna di interesse commerciale”. Successivamente è stata borsista presso lo ZooPlantLab ed ha collaborato per lo spin-off dell’università Milano-Bicocca Fem2 – Ambiente, occupandosi della messa a punto di diagnosi molecolare di patologie della fauna aviaria.
Attualmente è dottoranda presso il Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze dell'Università di Milano-Bicocca. Nell’ambito del suo progetto di dottorato di ricerca si occupa della caratterizzazione e dell’analisi della struttura delle comunità microbiche associate ai bacini idrici.
He is now joining several projects in plant field and the most important concerns the identification and development of molecular marker for genes involved in wine grape flower development. The aim of his research is the identification of genes involved in the domestication process in order to explain the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and its evolution. He improved in plant genome analysis through both the application of restriction markers and the sequencing of genes iper-variable spacer regions. He has great skilled in the use of capillary sequencer for DNA sequences reading and dominant and co-dominant marker analysis.
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Silvia Federici is a Master's graduate in Biology. She earned her degree in April 2009 at the University of Milano-Bicocca, with a thesis entitled: phylogeography of Pelobates fuscus (Amphibia: Pelobatidae) and molecular identification of a pathogen in wild amphibian populations.
Antonella Bruno si è laureata in Biologia nel marzo del 2012 presso l’Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, con una tesi di biologia molecolare dal titolo “Tecniche di sessaggio molecolare di erpetofauna di interesse commerciale”. Successivamente è stata borsista presso lo ZooPlantLab ed ha collaborato per lo spin-off dell’università Milano-Bicocca Fem2 – Ambiente, occupandosi della messa a punto di diagnosi molecolare di patologie della fauna aviaria.