After receiving his PhD in 2010 at the University of Catania, he completed three post-docs abroad (University of Konstanz in Germany, Queensland University of Technology in Australia and Ecole Normale Superieure in France) before taking a permanent position in the United Kingdom (University of Portsmouth). Since September 2020 he is a CNR IRBIM researcher. His research interests are very varied, with a strong component in the field of the study of biodiversity with an eye to evolutionary biology. In particular, he deals with phenotypic evolution (including advanced methods of geometric morphometry) and its correlates (e.g., genomics and transcriptomics).
The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.
