People

Permanent Researchers

Giorgio Bertorelle (principal investigator)

I am interested in understanding patterns of genetic and genomic variation in different species. Evolutionary biology, conservation, and population genetics are the key words of my studies. 

Email: ggb[at]unife[dot]it 

Google Scholar

Silvia Fuselli

I am a geneticist with an interest in how evolution shapes genetic variation within and between species. My current interests are in the field of conservation genetics, molecular evolution of genomes and regressive traits. 

Email: fss[at]unife[dot]it 

Google Scholar

Andrea Benazzo

My research focuses on reconstructing the evolutionary processes that shaped the genome of a species using the information contained in whole genomes and transcriptomes. I am interested in developing efficient bioinformatic pipelines to analyse NGS data and using full or approximate likelihood to study complex evolutionary histories. 

Google Scholar

Post Docs

Victor Hugo Muñoz Mora

I am interested in how evolutionary and genetic processes shape biodiversity across space and time, integrating phylogeography, population genomics, and conservation biology with an interdisciplinary approach. My current work uses genomics and forward genetic simulations to investigate genetic factors linked to extinction risk in small populations, combining empirical data with theoretical models. 

E-mail: mnzvtr@unife.it 

Google Scholar

PhD students

Beatrice Sammarco

My interests are conservation genomics and population genetics, with a focus on endangered and invasive species. Specifically, I am interested in studying the emergence of chromosomal rearrangements in individual genomes and their effects.

Email: smmbrc@unife.it 

Elisa Desiato

I am interested in population genomics, particularly in relation to the preservation of endangered species. My work focuses on investigating genetic diversity and the evolutionary processes that shape natural populations, using genomic data and bioinformatic approaches within an interdisciplinary framework to support biodiversity conservation. 

Email: dstlse@unife.it 

Google scholar

Valentina Giongo

I'm interested in integrating genetic and demographic data with phenotypic information, combining genomic tools with an ecological approach. I'm fascinated by how genetic variation is distributed in natural populations and how it relates to morphological, behavioral, or adaptive traits in an evolutionary and environmental context. 

Luigia Possemato

I am a research fellow with an interest in conservation and population genetics. My work focuses on applying genomic data to study genetic variation within populations, aiming to better understand species adaptation and the impact of invasive species.  

Marta Lago

I am fascinated by evolutionary processes and how they shape genetic and genomic variation. Above all, I am interested in how this knowledge can contribute to the conservation of endangered species as well as to the understanding and management of invasive ones.

Project Manager

Amiel Masarap

I am the project manager for a national research project this team is tackling - where I juggle timelines, budgets, and the occasional chaos, ensuring everything runs smoothly. While I leave the science to the experts, I make sure they have everything they need to keep pushing the boundaries of discovery!

Email: amiel.masarap5@gmail.com 

Master Students