12/2024 – present: research fellowship at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania. Project title: “Phenotype–genotype association studies for the response to biotic and abiotic stress in citrus plants”. Official decree no. 3317 of 30/07/2024. Supervisor: Prof. Stefano Giovanni La Malfa.
12/2021 – 02/2025: PhD in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Catania. Dissertation: “Development of molecular markers for traceability and breeding in sweet orange”. Supervisor: Prof. Stefano Giovanni La Malfa.
09/2022 – 12/2022 and 09/2023 – 12/2023: research mobility periods at the Institut Valencià d'Investigacions Agràries (IVIA), Valencia, Spain. Supervisor: Dr. Pablo Aleza.
10/2020 – 11/2021: research grant titled “Establishment and characterization of a segregating population for mal secco resistance”, within the project “Development of resistance inducers against vascular pathogens of citrus” (S.I.R.P.A.), measure 1.1.5 of the PO FESR Sicily 2014/2020. Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania. Supervisor: Prof. Gaetano Distefano.
06/2020 – 10/2020: molecular breeding activities on fruit tree species at the university spin-off Agriunitech s.r.l.
07/2020: professional qualification as agronomist and forestry doctor.
04/2020: Master’s degree in Agricultural Science and Technology (LM-69), curriculum: Plant Production, at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania. Final grade: 110/110 cum laude. Thesis: “Qualitative characterization of fruits from twenty-four lemon cultivars”. Supervisor: Prof. Alberto Continella.
11/2018: qualification as Plant Health Consultant (Art. 8, paragraph 3 of Legislative Decree no. 150/2012), obtained at the Plant Disease Observatory of Acireale (CT).
05/2017: Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and Technologies (L-25), University of Catania, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A). Final grade: 103/110. Thesis: “Varietal overview of Sicilian lemon cultivation”. Supervisor: Prof. Alberto Continella.
04/2016 – 07/2016: university internship at the Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops (CREA-OFA), Acireale (CT). Activities: in vitro embryo isolation (“embryo rescue”) in citrus aimed at obtaining triploid hybrids of lemon and mandarin-like genotypes. Supervisor: Dr. Marco Caruso.