Filippo Nicolini

Filippo Nicolini

Reasearch Associate dealing (struggling) with invertebrate evolutionary genomics 🧬🦗🦪🧽🧬

Last updated: Dec 2, 2024

Find the extended version of my CV in this link.

1. Professional experience

  • Research Associate
    Subject: Evolution of vision in early metazoans.
    Supervisor: prof. Roberto Feuda
    University of Leicester, Leicester (UK). Nov 2024 - ongoing

2. Education

  • Ph.D in “Innovative technologies and sustainable use of Mediterranean Sea fishery and biological resources” (FishMed-PhD)
    Thesis: Integrative perspectives on bivalve sex determination: A comparative and evolutionary analysis across phylogeny
    Supervisor: prof. Andrea Luchetti
    University of Bologna, Bologna (IT). Nov 2021 - Oct 2024

  • M.Sc in “Biodiversity and evolution”
    Thesis: Identification of Hox and ParaHox genes in tadpole shrimp genomes (Pancrustacea, Branchiopoda, Notostraca)
    Supervisor: prof. Andrea Luchetti
    University of Bologna, Bologna (IT). Sep 2019 - Jul 2021

  • B.Sc in “Biological Sciences”
    Thesis: Species delimitation and phylogenetic analysis of the Australian genus Candovia (Insecta, Phasmida)
    Supervisor: prof. Barbara Mantovani
    University of Bologna, Bologna (IT). Sep 2016 - Oct 2019

3. Publications

  • Nicolini F, Ghiselli F, Luchetti A, & Milani L. (2023). Bivalves as emerging model systems to study the mechanisms and evolution of sex determination: a genomic point of view. Genome Biology and Evolution, 15(10), evad181. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evad181

  • Martelossi J, Nicolini F, Subacchi S, Pasquale D, Ghiselli F, & Luchetti A. (2023). Multiple and diversified transposon lineages contribute to early and recent bivalve genome evolution. BMC Biology, 21(1), 1-23. doi: 10.1186/s12915-023-01632-z

  • Nicolini F, Martelossi J, Forni G, Savojardo C, Mantovani B, & Luchetti A. (2023). Comparative genomics of Hox and ParaHox genes among major lineages of Branchiopoda with emphasis on tadpole shrimps. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, 23. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1046960

  • Forni G, Cussigh A, Brock PD, Jones BR, Nicolini F, Martelossi J, … & Mantovani B. (2023). Taxonomic revision of the Australian stick insect genus Candovia (Phasmida: Necrosciinae): insight from molecular systematics and species-delimitation approaches. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 197(1), 189-210. doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac074

4. Outreach activity

For a more detailed description of my outreach commitment, please have a look also at the Outreach section in this website.

  • Editor and web writer
    BioPills. Jul 2017 – ongoing

  • BiGeA Day 2023
    University of Bologna, Bologna (IT). May 27, 2023

  • University of Bologna opening days
    University of Bologna, Bologna (IT). Nov 18, 2022

5. Professional skills

5.1. Bioinformatics

5.2. Wet-lab

  • Metaphase-plate chromosome preparation
    More
    • Experience with bivalves and ants
  • Total DNA extraction
    More
    • Experience with insects
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
    More
    • Experience with insect mitochondrial and nuclear markers
  • Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) embryology
    More
    • Spawning induction by thermal shock
    • Gamete collection and concentration
    • Sperm mitochondria staining with <a href=https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/M7512)>MitoTracker</a>
    • In-vitro fertilization of eggs
    • Embryo rearing in flasks or multi-well plates
    • Estimation of survival rates
  • mRNA in-situ Hybridization Chain Reaction (mRNA in-situ HCR)
    More
    • Experience with whole-mount embryos of the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)
    • Probe design
    • Multiplex experiments (up to four target genes), paired with DAPI and MitoTracker stainings
    • Confocal imaging (main experience with Leica DMi8 paired with Stellaris 5 systems)

5.3. Others

  • Field scientific sampling
    More
    • Experience with termites, ants, and freshwater crustaceans
    • Experience with mussels and oysters
    • Field sample storing for subsequent DNA extraction (pure methanol) or mRNA extraction (RNAlater or Trizol)
  • Scientific illustration
    See the <a href=/resources/>Resources</a> section of this website

6. Teaching experience

  • Practical class “CAFE: estimating gene family turover across a phylogenetic tree”
    Master degree in Bioinformatics
    University of Bologna, Bologna (IT). Apr 23, 2024
  • Practical invertebrate zoology class
    Bachelor degree in Biological Sciences
    University of Bologna, Bologna (IT). Sep 2022 – Jan 2023

7. Oral presentations at congresses

For a report of poster presentations, please have a look also at the Resources section in this website.

  • Nicolini F, Iannello M, Piccinini G, Ghiselli F, Luchetti A, Milani L. (2024). Advancing the study of bivalve sex determination in the light of comparative genomics. Establishing state-of-the-art mollusc genomics (EMBO workshop). Namur (BE). May 27 – 30, 2024.

  • Nicolini F, Ghiselli F, Milani L, Luchetti A. (2023). Contrasting patterns of amino acid evolution and shared ancestry between putative sex-determining genes in bivalve molluscs. EVOLMAR 2023. Online. Nov 14 – 17, 2023.
  • Nicolini F, Ghiselli F, Milani L, Luchetti A. (2023). Sex-determination related genes in bivalves: novel acquisitions and high rates of sequence evolution. Evolution 2023 (Ernst Mayr Award symposium). Online. Jun 2 – 3, 2023.

8. Courses and workshops

  • Establishing state-of-the-art mollusc genomics.
    EMBO Workshop. Awarded with a travel grant.
    Namur, Belgium. May 28 – 31, 2024.

  • Art (Science) Attack.
    Physalia Courses.
    Online. May 20 – 23, 2024.

  • Introduction to Python for biologists.
    Physalia Courses.
    Online. Sep 25 – 28, 2023

  • ITA*PHY phylogenetics workshop.
    Trento (IT). Jun 6 – 9, 2023

  • Sex chromosome evolution.
    Physalia Courses.
    Online. Jan 23 – 27, 2023

  • Identification of butterflies from the Eastern Alps.
    Dolimiti National Park.
    Online. Mar 12 – Apr 2, 2022

  • Science communication.
    Feltrinelli Education.
    Online. May 12 – Jun 3, 2021

  • Nature illustration.
    Associazione ARDEA.
    Online. Feb 6 – Mar 20, 2021

  • Advanced Open Water Diver (PADI Education).
    Scientific Diving School (SDS).
    Bologna (IT). Oct 18, 2020

9. Awards and scholarships

  • Travel grant to attend the EMBO workshop “Establishing state-of-the-art mollusc genomics” in Namur (Belgium).
    EMBO.
    May 28 – 31, 2024
  • Laura Bassi scholarship for editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics.
    Editing Press.
    Apr 13, 2023

10. Visiting scholar

  • Nuzhdin’s Lab.
    University of Southern California, Los Angeles (CA, USA). Aug 2023 – Feb 2024

  • Pasantes’ Lab.
    University of Vigo, Vigo (ES). Jan 12 – 22, 2023

11. Society memberships

  • Italian Society for Evolutionary Biology (SIBE/ISEB)
    Sep 2022 – ongoing

  • Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE)
    Jul 2023 – ongoing

  • Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE)
    Jan 2023 – ongoing

  • European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED)
    Apr 2022 – ongoing