PhD students (R1, First stage Researchers)

PhD programme in Life, Environmental and Drug Sciences

Cycle XL (Academic Year 2024/25)

• Federica Frau (Supervisor: Elisabetta Marini; Co-supervisor: Myosotis Massidda) – Research topic: Development of a prototype multi-frequency bioimpedance device for body composition measurement;
• Alessio Pittiu (Supervisor: Michele Schlich; Co-supervisor: Francesco Lai) – Research topic: Production of functionalized lipid nanoparticles trough microfluidic mixing for the controlled delivery of chemotherapeutic agents;
• Sara Piras (Supervisor: Angela Corona; Co-supervisor: Nicole Grandi) – Research topic: Impact of the West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in the human cell, focusing on mitochondria metabolism;
• Alessandra Schirru (Supervisor: Tiziana Cabras; Co-supervisor: Barbara Manconi) – Research topic: Characterization of the Human Biofluid Proteome to Identify Disease-Specific Biomarkers and Bioactive Peptides in Neuro- and Autoinflammatory Conditions;
• Lorenzo Chiacchio (Supervisor: Alessandro Cau; Co-supervisor: Antonio Pusceddu) – Research topic: Impacts of microplastic pollution on the functioning of marine benthic ecosystems;
• Laura Demuru (Supervisor: Rita Meleddu; Co-supervisor: Simona Distinto) – Research topic: Design, synthesis and characterization of new potential allosteric Flavivirus NS3pro inhibitors with broad-spectrum activity;
• Ilaria Di Lauro (Supervisor: Maria Cristina Follesa; Co-supervisor: Massimiliano Bottaro) – Research topic: Study of the reproductive dynamics of key elasmobranch species in the Mediterranean Sea for management and conservation.

Cycle XXXIX (Academic Year 2023/24)

• Laura Fancello (Supervisor: Maria Letizia Manca; Co-supervisor: Maria Manconi) – Research topic: New strategies for treating chronic myeloid leukemia using therapeutic nucleic acids delivered in lipid and/or polymeric nanocarriers;
• Giulia D'Ascanio (Supervisor: Alessandro Cau; Co-supervisor: Pierluigi Carbonara) – Research topic: Analysis of the Well-being of Farmed Fish Species in the Mediterranean to Improve Risk Management and Aquaculture Sustainability;
• Claudia Cabiddu (Supervisor: Nicole Grandi; Co-supervisor: Enzo Tramontano) – Research topic: Evaluation of the effect of Human Endogenous Retrovirus (HERV) Envelope proteins in a Drosophila Melanogaster model;
• Salvatore Nieddu (Supervisor: Francesca Esposito; Co-supervisor: Angela Corona) – Research topic: Identification and evaluation of novel inhibitors against Flaviviral proteases;
• Nicola Arru (Supervisor: Pierantonio Addis) – Research topic: Ecotoxicological Study of Behavioral, Biochemical, and Physiological Responses of Marine and Lagoon Species from Sardinia in Model Aquarium Systems;
• Greca Lai (Supervisor: Tiziana Cabras; Co-supervisor: Barbara Manconi) – Research topic: Identification and characterization of potential peripheral diagnostic biomarkers of Alzheimer’s diseases and of potential therapeutic targets, through top-down/shot-gun integrated proteomic and immuno-detection approaches;
• Manfredi Madia (Supervisor: Maria Cristina Follesa; Co-supervisor: Mauro Sinopoli) – Research topic: Impact of fishing on the growth and trophic levels of demersal elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea.

Cycle XXXVIII (Academic Year 2022/23)

• Simone Pani (Supervisor Carla Caddeo; Co-supervisor: Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso) – Research topic: Application of nanotechnology to improve the use of natural compounds in therapy;
• Roberta Emmolo (Supervisor: Angela Corona; Co-supervisor: Enzo Tramontano) – Research topic: Exploitation of viral targets to identify and characterize new inhibitors of viral replication;
• Marianna Camasta (Supervisor: Enzo Tramontano; Co-supervisor: Angela Corona) – Research topic: Molecular Characterization of Interactions Between Ebola Virus VP35 Protein and Innate Immune Response Using Super-Resolution Microscopy;
• Eleonora Metta (Supervisor: Antonio Pusceddu; Co-supervisor: Nicole Grandi) – Research topic: Analysis of microbial and viral communities in estuarine and hypersaline ecosystems;
• Adeela Yasmin (Supervisor: Chiara Sinico; Co-supervisor: Prof. Francesco Lai, Michele Schlich) – Research topic: Electrospun nanofibers as topical delivery system for diabetic wound healing;
• Elisa Serra (Supervisor: Antonio Pusceddu) – Research topic: Climate change impacts on coastal wetlands ecosystem services;
• Francesca Cariccia (Supervisor: Antonio Pusceddu; Co-supervisor: Alessandro Cau) – Research topic: Effects of warming and heat waves on lagoons and/or marine coastal ecosystems;
• Laura Flore (Supervisor: Carla Maria Calò; Co-supervisor: Paolo Francalacci) – Research topic: Analysis of ancient and modern human genomes to study the evolutionary dynamics of Sardinia and Corsica;
• Valentina Masala (Supervisor: Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso; Co-supervisor Carla Caddeo) – Research topic: Exploitation of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity from agro-food industry waste;
• Riccardo Porceddu (Supervisor: Maria Cristina Follesa; Co-supervisor: Saturnino Spiga) – Research topic: Neuroecology of cartilaginous fish, with particular interest on the brain pituitary gonadal system;
• Roberta Puliga (Supervisor: Elio Acquas, Co-supervisor: Bassareo Valentina, Laura Dazzi) – Research topic: Study of the neurobiology of alcohol addiction.