PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
IBB-CNR (Italy)	Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging of the National Research Council, Naples
Duration	From 30/09/2019
Position	Researcher
Principal activities	Identification and characterization of targets responsible for infective pathologies, with regards to host-pathogen interaction. The research activities in the protein engineering lab include structural and functional studies, by combining structural biology and molecular biology with biochemical and biophysical techniques.
Imperial College London (UK)	Imperial College of London, Department of Life Sciences Membrane Protein Lab at RCaH, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
Duration	05/09/2016 – 29/09/2019
Position	Postdoctoral Research Associate
Principal activities	Functional and structural characterization of membrane proteins, such as ABC-transporters and outer membrane proteins, involved in the transport of drugs across the membranes. The results highlighted the state of the art of self-immunity mechanisms as well as antibiotic-resistance.
IBB-CNR (Italy)	Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging of the Italian Research Council, Naples
Duration	25/06/15 - 24/06/16
Position	Research Fellowship “Euro-BioImaging: European Research Infrastructure for Imaging Technologies in Biological and Biomedical Sciences”
Principal activities	Structural and functional characterization of new biomarkers. The activities included optimization of recombinant proteins production for high-throughput crystallization screening and in vitro functional analyses.
IBB-CNR (Italy)	Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging of the Italian Research Council, Naples
Duration	06/06/13 - 05/06/15
Position	Research Fellowship “PON01_01426 - Study for the development, characterization and efficacy of a new recombinant factor IX highly active for the treatment of hemophilia B”
Principal activities	Structural characterization of new recombinant factor IX expressed in bacteria, including circular dichroism analysis and high throughput crystallization screening.
IBB-CNR (Italy)	Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging of the Italian Research Council, Naples
Duration	15/05/2012– 14/05/2013
Position	Research Fellowship “PRIN09 - Structural and functional studies of proteins important for the pathogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
Principal activities	Structural and functional characterization key enzymes involved in the M. tuberculosis infection. The activity included cloning, expression and purification for structural and functional analyses.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology	University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Italy (2011-2014) Award date: 15/12/2014 Thesis title: “Structural and functional characterization of proteins involved in important infective pathologies”, supervisor: Dr Rita Berisio The PhD project was mainly focused on the structural and functional characterization of RNase AS (Ribonuclease A-specific), a key virulence factor of M. tuberculosis infection. The research activities included the fully characterization of the ribonuclease activity by in vitro functional assays, and structural characterization its three dimensional structure using X-ray crystallography (Romano et. al 2014).
M.Sc. Genetic Sciences and Technologies	University of Sannio, Italy (2009-2011) Award date:  23/02/2012, Score: 110/110 cum laude Department of Science and Technology (DST) Thesis Title: “Cytoplasmic localization of Cdk inhibitor p27kip1 and its implication in tumor progression”, supervisor: Prof. Giuseppe Viglietto For my Master’s project at the Oncology lab of the Biogem Consortium, I gained excellent skills in eukaryotic cell cultures, western blot and biochemical assay in vivo and in vitro, with the aim to investigate the effect of the cytoplasmic localization of Cdk inhibitor p27kip1 in tumor progression.
B.Sc. Biotechnology	University of Sannio, Italy (2006-2009) Department of Science and Technology (DST) Award date: 21/11/2009, Score: 110/110 cum laude Thesis Title: “Preparation and characterization of important biological macromolecules for M. tuberculosis pathogenicity”, supervisor: Prof. Giuseppe Graziano The undergraduate project aimed to express, purify and crystallize RipA, a protein involved in the M. tuberculosis cell division and resuscitation.
SKILLS AND EXPERTICES
Recombinant protein production (soluble proteins and membrane proteins) -         Cloning strategy design (expression vectors: pETM, pET, pBAD, pWALDO GFP); -         Small and large scale expression in bacteria (Escherichia coli) and in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae); -         Protein purification using chromatographic methods (affinity chromatography, size-exclusion chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography). Functional and structural protein characterization in solution: -         Sample characterization by SDS-PAGE and Western blot; -         Structural characterization in solution by CD (Circular Dichroism) and MALS (Multiple Angle Light Scattering); -         Detergent screening for membrane proteins for structural (FSEC: Fluorescence size exclusion chromatography) and functional analyses; -         Membrane proteins reconstitution in liposome (proteo-liposome) for functional analysis; -         Biochemical analyses for in vitro interaction such as ITC (Isothermal Titration Calorimetry) and MST (Microscale thermophoresis). Enzymatic characterization by spectrophotometric assays, zymograms, and RP-HPLC (Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Structural characterization of proteins: -         Protein crystallization using vapour diffusion techniques (hanging drop e sitting drop); -         Automated high-throughput protein crystallization screening at nanoliter scale (Hamilton STARlet NanoJet 8+1, TTP Labtech Mosquito) -         Crystals optimization using additive screening e detergent screening (Hampton Research e Molecular Dimensions) an nanoliter and microliter scale. -         Data collection using GDA software (i24, i03, i04 beamlines - Diamond light source synchrotron facility). Plate screening (tray mode on i24 beamline, VMXi: high-flux in situ macromolecular crystallography beamline). -         Data analyses (Mosfilm software and ISPyB - Information System for Protein Crystallography Beamline) for data collection strategy and data analyses. Molecular Replacement and refinement using CCP4 and Phenix program suites.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES