Hello everyone and welcome! I am Filippo Nicolini, a Research Associate at the University of Leicester (UK) in the Feuda Lab. Previously, I was a PhD student at the University of Bologna (Italy) working with people from the EVO · COM research group .

My main scientific interest regards evolutionary zoology, with particular attention to evolutionary genomics, evo-devo, and the molecular basis of phenotypic diversity.

During my PhD, I mainly focused on comparative genomics of bivalves and of genes involved in sex determination. The rationale was to understand patterns of molecular evolution and genome dynamics of sex-determination– related genes, along with their transcription and expression localization during early embryogenesis of the Mediterranean mussel. I also worked on crustacean comparative genomics, particularly within Branchiopoda, to explore how variation in genome size affects genome structure and life-history traits.

My current postdoctoral research focuses on the evolution of vision in early metazoans, integrating bioinformatics and wet-lab approaches. In particular, I leverage cutting-edge single-cell transcriptomics to understand how cell types evolved during the early phases of animal evolution.

Alongside my academic work, I am deeply committed to science outreach. I firmly believe that doing good science also means communicating it effectively. Engaging with broader audiences helps make science more accessible and understandable, not only for the general public but also for scientists themselves. Clear science communication shapes how people perceive the surrounding world—and how we academics understand our own research.

Enjoy my page and feel free to get in touch!