Postdoctoral researcher
University of Milan, Italy
My main research interest is the evolution of ecosystems in recently deglaciated areas. I use the environmental DNA metabarcoding technique and bioinformatic tools to reconstruct the composition and function of soil communities, and I combine this information with analyses of soil, landscape and climate to identify the drivers of community changes. I investigate colonization patterns of multiple taxonomic groups (from microorganisms to animals and plants) in several glacier forelands from 5 continents, with the final aim of understanding and predicting community dynamics and ecosystem functioning after the retreat of glaciers.