I have completed my Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Prof. Fornara’s lab, University of Milan, followed by a short post-doc. Here I dedicated myself to investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying flowering commitment together with meristem’s transitions and determination.
My doctoral research focused on rice florigens and how they modulate the transition from the vegetative phase to the reproductive one. My main project was determining OsFT-L1 function, a third florigenic molecule, in the context of rice flowering reprogramming and panicle architecture. Since my early career, I have become passionate about how plants sense environmental signals and adjust their growth and development to suit a wide range of conditions. This remarkable adaptability is made possible by intricate gene networks to ensure plants survival.
I have joined Christa Testerink’s lab in the Demonstrator project within the frame of CropXR Institute, leading and executing the experimental part by focusing on plant responses to combined stress through physiological assessments and comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome analyses.
Exploiting molecular biology and plant physiology knowledge, I will eventually test hypotheses derived from AI-enhanced computational models. The chance to acquire a comprehensive understanding of how stresses translate into physiological responses in plants is both intellectually stimulating and crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance crop resilience.
Roots in Salt 