I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano (Italy), where my studies focused on biomechanics and biomaterials. During my academic journey, I developed a strong interest in applying engineering approaches to biological systems, which led me to pursue research at the intersection of bioengineering and neuroscience.

After gaining experience in the fields of pharmacogenetics and stem cell biology, I joined the Mitochondrial Neurobiology Lab at King’s College London as part of the LIDo DTP PhD programme. My doctoral research focuses on exploring the molecular complexity of mitochondria within human iPSC-derived neurons. Specifically, I am investigating the multi-omics signatures of mitochondria at the sub-cellular level, with the goal of understanding how mitochondrial function and composition differ between neuronal compartments such as axons and somas.

To achieve this, I combine microfluidic engineering, cell culture, and multi-omics data integration (including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics). A major part of my work involves the design and fabrication of microfluidic platforms that enable the isolation of specific neuronal compartments for downstream molecular analyses. By integrating engineering design with systems biology approaches, my research aims to shed light on how local mitochondrial regulation contributes to neuronal health and disease.

Publications:

• https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.1059579

• https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071417

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14673