University Graduation 1990 University "La Sapienza", Rome (Italy) Summa cum laude, Field: Genetics PhD 1997 University of Bari, (BA), Italy Genetics and Molecular Evolution Specialty 1997 University "La Sapienza", Rome (Italy) Specialization in Applied Genetics 1993 1995 Cornell University- Ithaca (NY) Visiting Fellow (two year fellowship - Cenci Bolognetti Foundation (Rome) 1998 1999 University "La Sapienza", Rome (Italy) Post Doctoral Fellowship -Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation (Rome) 1999 2000 University "Roma Tre", Rome (Italy) Post Doctoral Fellowship (Assegno di Ricerca) 2000 2007 University of Salento, Lecce (Italy) University Researcher/Assistant Professor of Genetics 2007 2007 Cornell University- Ithaca (NY) Visiting Faculty- EMBO Short Term Fellowship 2007 2012 University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila (Italy) University Researcher/Assistant Professor of Genetics 2010 University of Calabria, Rende (CS) Italy Associate Professor of Genetics (Habilitation) 2011 to date Temple University, Philadelphia (PA) Adjunct Associate Professor Dec 2012 to date SAPIENZA University of Rome, (RM) Italy Associate Professor of Genetics

My research focuses on the comprehension of molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of chromosome integrity in the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster. The specific aims of my research deal with two major issues: 1) The genetic and molecular regulation of telomere capping and how DNA repair activity is suppressed at chromosome ends; 2) The involvement of intra-cellular metabolites (in particular, the citrate) in the maintenance of genome stability. Owing the high level of protein homology between Drosophila and humans, these studies will be also instrumental for the identification of new players and pathways in human chromosome stability.