Main research interest: application of molecular tools for studying patterns and processes of biodiversity – gene level- with particular emphasis on mountain areas.

Study organisms range from plant, mainly forest tree, invertebrates to reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals.

My background is in evolutionary biology with emphasis on phylogeography, population genetics and genomics, conservation genetics. 

I’m skilled in ancientDNA (aDNA) analysis, with detailed knowledge of the main limitations related to molecular analysis of ancient specimens, regardless the starting biological tissue where aDNA is extracted from.

I've been appointed Chair of a COST Action called G-BiKE, whose main aim is promoting the measure and monitoring of genetic diversity in any new recommendations and regulations at the EU level.

This latter experience gave me the opportunity to be increasingly involved in the science-policy interface. In particular, with many other colleagues from around the worlds, we founded the Coalition for Conservation Genetics; this has allowed us to play a pivotal role in advancing the role of genetic diversity in the recently approved Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

I'm currently involved in two Biodiversa + projects, Wolfness and GINAMO, and in the new COST Action CA 23121 GENOA (Genetic Nature Observations and Applications). 

I'm very recently to the Institutoe of Biosciences and Bioresources of the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy