Doctoral & master's research lines
Two research lines, one question underneath both: how does biological structure hold up under stress , mechanical, physiological, or otherwise , and what does that resilience reveal about the system itself.
Mechanobiology of Extra-Embryonic Tissues
Keratin intermediate filaments in early mammalian development
IRIBHM, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
This doctoral project investigates the cellular and developmental biology of early mammalian embryogenesis, with an emphasis on how Keratin intermediate filaments (KRT8/KRT18) confer mechanical integrity to extra-embryonic lineages.
Extra-embryonic membranes, including the amnion and yolk sac, are essential for fetal protection and survival. The project examines the biological mechanisms that protect these tissues against continuous mechanical forces, providing insight into early lineage morphogenesis and structural membrane stability.
The work is hosted at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Human and Molecular Biology (IRIBHM) at Université libre de Bruxelles, combining developmental biology, cell mechanics, and molecular imaging.
AI-Based Biosignal Phenotyping of Meditation
Central & autonomic nervous system adaptations to analytical meditation
Research Center "E. Piaggio" & Dept. of Genetics, University of Pisa
This research investigated physiological adaptations during mental training by analyzing synchronized electroencephalographic (EEG) and autonomic signals, including heart rate variability, respiration dynamics, and electrodermal activity.
Computational workflows were structured to isolate neurophysiological signatures from high-dimensional time-series recordings, enabling reproducible cross-cohort statistical evaluation of expert meditation practitioners.
The work characterized central and peripheral biomarkers associated with expert meditation, providing empirical physiological correlates of sustained mental well-being , bridging biosignal engineering with contemplative neuroscience.
Academic mentors
Dr. Alejandro Luis Callara, Prof. Roberto Giovannoni, Prof. Laura Sebastiani, Prof. Nicola Vanello, Prof. Enzo Pasquale Scilingo