Daniela Vanella

Fixed-term Assistant Professor (RTDB) of Agricultural hydraulics and watershed protection [AGR/08]

Keywords

Crop water requirements, Geographycal Information System, Near surface geophysics, Precision irrigation, Remote sensing, Soil hydrology

Current position

  • Researcher (RTD-B) (Sector 07/C1 - AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY AND BIOSYSYSTEM ENGINEERING) at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment Science (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy (October 2023 – September 2026).

Previous positions:

  • Researcher (RTD-A) (Sector 07/C1 - AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY AND BIOSYSYSTEM ENGINEERING) at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment Science (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy (January 2023 – September 2023).
  • Researcher (RTD-A) (Sector 07/C1 - AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY AND BIOSYSYSTEM ENGINEERING) at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment Science (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy, within the programme Attraction and International Mobility (AIM) (August 2019 – December 2023).

Academic background

  • Italian Scientific Qualification as Full Professor for the Sector 07/C1 - AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY AND BIOSYSYSTEM ENGINEERING (2023);
  • Visiting Scholar, at the Desertification Research Center (CIDE), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (Valencia, Spain) under the supervision of Dr. Diego S. Intrigliolo (January – March and December, 2022)
  • Visiting Scholar, at the Department Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis (USA) under the supervision of prof. Isaya Kisekka (June – October 2021)
  • Italian Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor for the Sector 07/C1 - AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY AND BIOSYSYSTEM ENGINEERING (2018);
  • Ph.D. in Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science, at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environment Science (Di3A), University of Catania, Italy (12 April 2017). Research topic: “Monitoring and modelling transfer processes in the soil-plant-atmosphere system by minimally invasive techniques”. During the Ph.D course, I performed two research stays at the Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC), Lancaster University (UK) under the supervision of prof. Andrew Binley (May – July 2014 and October – December 2015)
  • Master in Monitoring, Analysis and Environmental Data Management (MAGDA), at the Department of Civil, Environmental, Aerospace, Engineering and Materials (DICAM), University of Palermo, Italy. Thesis: “Application of remote sensing techniques for study the eco-hydrological processes in orange orchards”. Final graduation mark: 100/100 cum laude (September 2013)
  • Master degree in Earth Sciences and Technologies at the Department of the Earth Science, University of Catania, Italy (18 November 2011)
  • Bachelor degree in Earth Sciences at the Department of the Earth Science, University of Catania, Italy (23 October 2009). During this period, I received a grant for studying at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens - Greece within the Erasmus program (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) (October 2007 - February 2008)

Last edit: 10/11/2023

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VIEW THE COURSES FROM THE A.Y. 2022/2023 TO THE PRESENT

Academic Year 2021/2022


Academic Year 2020/2021


Academic Year 2019/2020


Academic Year 2017/2018

RESEARCH TOPICS

- Advanced and minimally invasive methodologies (electrical resistivity tomography - ERT) for supporting irrigation and monitoring the soil-plant interactions in agricultural contexts;

- Crop water requirements estimates through micro meteorological methods (eddy covariance) and multiscale approaches based on remote sensing data;

- Water saving techniques in agriculture using deficit irrigation strategies and the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture.