[DOTTORATO] Dottorandi GA (31)
Greetings! I am Varun Khajuria, an enthusiastic explorer of mountain ecosystems and their water resources. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geoscience and Environment at the University of Pisa, my academic journey reflects a dedicated pursuit of knowledge and hands-on experience in the realm of water resources. I initiated my career by obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from (2013-2017). During this period, my interest in Water resources took root while working on my final graduation project, which delved into the intricacies of “scour around circular compound bridge piers”. Motivated by this newfound passion, I further honed my expertise by enrolling in a Master's in Technology program in Water Resources Engineering (2019- 2021). The focal point of my thesis was the study of snowmelt runoff in a mountainous catchment, demonstrating my commitment to understanding the hydrological dynamics of challenging terrains. Subsequently, I transitioned into the role of a Research Scientist at the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO. For more than two years, I contributed significantly to the project titled "Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Geoportal with Allied Database Development for UT Ladakh Sub-Theme: Integrated Water Resources Study for the Assessment of Water Availability, Water-Ice Harvesting and Flood Hazard Mapping". Here, my responsibilities centered around investigating water availability in Himalayan catchments and conducting site suitability analyses for water ice harvesting structures in the Ladakh Himalayas. I am also a Life member of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing. As a Ph.D. candidate, my research aligns seamlessly with my passion and expertise. My project, titled "Permafrost Ice in the Southwestern Alps: A Long-term Water Reservoir," focuses on the permafrost ice present in the rock glaciers of the Southwestern Alps. Leveraging remote sensing morphometric analysis, interpretation of near-surface geophysical data (Ground-Penetrating Radar-GPR, Electrical Resistivity Tomography-ERT), and volumetric reconstructions based on Modeling techniques, I aim to contribute valuable insights to the understanding of this unique water reservoir and addressing critical challenges in water resource management.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Cryosphere
- Water Resources
- Hydrology
- Remote Sensing and GIS
- Hydrological modelling
Research project: Permafrost ice in the Southwestern Alps: a long-term water reservoir.
Supervisors:
Professor Adriano Ribolini (DST-UNIPI)
Professor Shaktiman Singh (University of Aberdeen)
Varun Khajuria
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Danis Filimon is a PhD student in Geosciences and Environment at the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Pisa. The PhD project is a multidisciplinary research study in economic geology. The objective is to characterize the metallogenesis of two epithermal gold-telluride deposits in Almalyk orefield (Uzbekistan), and above all to be able to understand the behavior of gold in association with tellurides, selenides, and several sulfides of Bi, Pb, Cu. The project involves characterizing the gold mineralization with a geological-structural survey and sampling, as well as laboratory work using different analytical methodologies from macro- to micro- and nano-scale.
BSc in Earth Sciences at the University of Pisa in 2018 with a thesis: “Silicification processes in hydrothermal alteration in southern Tuscany: the examples of Frassine, Poggio Peloso and Sassa”. MSc in Geological Sciences and Technologies at the University of Pisa in 2023, with a thesis: “Metallogenesis of As-Sb sulfides ore deposit of Matra (Alpine Corsica, France)”.
He participated in various activities in the field of georesources, such as training courses on uranium mineralization, a summer school on lithium pegmatites in Norway, and an internship to characterize a Pb-Zn-Ag sulfides mineralization.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Ore deposits
- Geochemistry
- Trace elements
- Mineralogy
- Fieldwork
Research project: Geology, geochemistry, and mineralogy of epithermal gold deposits of the Chatkal-Kurama Region in the Tian-Shan Metallogenic Belt (Uzbekistan, Central Asia).
Supervisors:
Professor Anna Gioncada (DST-UNIPI)
Professor Rustam Khalmatov (UGS-UZB)
Danis Filimon
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Serena Da Mommio is a Ph.D. candidate in Geosciences and Environment at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa. After obtaining a BSc in Geological Sciences, she chose to pursue her career by focusing on geochemistry and volcanology. During her master's degree program at the University of Pisa, she gained practical laboratory experience in morphological, textural and geochemical characterization of fine-grained volcanic particles. His main area of study has been La Palma (Canary Islands). Her research project is based on the multidisciplinary study of volcanic tephra with the objective of investigating the conduit processes (dissolution of volatiles, fragmentation and magma ascent) in order to reconstruct the eruptive dynamics, in addition to the analysis on ash precipitates by leaching processes that will allow to assess the potential environmental impact of ash related to the release of toxic and potentially toxic elements into the environment. The study will also focus on the analysis of tephra and cryptotephra in marine cores and will allow reconstructing the chronology of volcanic events and investigating the dynamics of turbidite formation and tsunamigenic landslides that occurred along the coast of Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands). Combining these results, the study will provide advances in understanding eruption dynamics and tephrostratigraphic reconstructions by comparing variable types of material and including the use of innovative analytical techniques.
-M.Sc. in Geological Sciences and Technologies at the University of Pisa Thesis: Textural and compositional characterization of volcanic ash from the eruption of Tajogaite volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands): implications for fragmentation mechanisms and eruptive dynamics.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Vulcanology
- Geochemistry
- Volcanic ash leaching
- Geo-environmental risk
- La Palma (Canary Islands)
Research project: Multidisciplinary investigations of volcanic ash: from eruptive dynamics to environmental impact.
Supervisors:
Professor Marco Pistolesi (DST-UNIPI)
Dr Alessio Di Roberto (INGV Pisa)
Serena Da Mommio
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Owen McCluskey is a Ph.D. student of the Earth Science Department at the University of Pisa and Early Stage Researcher on the EU funded, Marie Curie-Sklodowska IMPROVE (Innovative Multi-disciplinary European Research training network on VolcanoEs) training project. His research project will focus on generating numerical simulations of magma and rock dynamics at Mount Etna, as well as, defining ground deformation and gravity patterns diagnostic of deep magmatic movements.
Particular attention will be trained on deformation across various time scales, from seconds to ultra-long period events. Time-dependent 2D/3D models of magma and rock dynamics during multicomponent magma convection and mixing in geometrically complex magma chamber-dyke systems will allow for the generation of a synthetic space-time series of gravity anomalies and ground deformation. Analysis of these synthetic signals, in comparison with experimental and real signals, can identify sets of geophysical signals diagnostic of magma movements at depth.
Previous academic experiences include a BSc. (Hons) in Geography at Queen’s University Belfast where he primarily studied GIS and the glacial geomorphology of Northern Ireland, as well as, studying a MSc. In Geological and Environmental Hazards at the University of Portsmouth, where his fascination in applied Volcanology, numerical hazard modelling and environmental risk assessments began.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Geohazards
- Numerical Modelling
- Geomorphology
- Risk Assessment
Research project: Numerical simulations of magma and rock dynamics and definition of ground deformation and gravity patterns diagnostic of deep magmatic movements at Mount Etna.
Supervisors:
Dr Paolo Pagale (INGV Pisa)
Professor Carolina Pagli (DST-UNIPI)
Owen McCluskey
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
I am Roberto Gianardi, a geologist with a volcanological background. In 2016, I graduated in Earth Sciences and Technologies at University of Pisa with a thesis focused on the study and simulations of lahars of the Island of Vulcano (Aeolian Island – Italy). The research included an analysis of hazard assessments associated with volcanic activities.
Post-graduation, I embarked on a professional journey within the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), where I specialized in reconstructing digital terrain models for volcanic hazards studies. I’m also an active member of a research group of INGV which aims to deepen understand the volcanic system of Vulcano and its unrest phases.
Currently, my PhD project centers around the study of volcanic hazards, specifically focusing on intability phenomena by creating high resolution topographies of active volcanic areas using advanced remote sensing techniques (including high-resolution satellite and drone imagery) and specific software.
I am enthusiastic about the potential impact of this research and eager to engage in collaborative efforts to further our collective knowledge in this critical field. Through my doctoral studies, I aspire to make meaningful contributions to the field, ultimately enhancing our ability to mitigate the impacts of volcanic hazards.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Volcanology
- Hazard assessment
- Remote sensing
- Satellite imagery
- Drone imagery
- Geographic Information System analysis
Research project: Creation and analysis of high-resolution topographies in active volcanic areas obtained with remote sensing data for hazard studies.
Supervisors:
Dr Marina Bisson (INGV Pisa)
Professor Marco Pistolesi (DST-UNIPI)
Roberto Gianardi
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
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RESEARCH INTEREST
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- Interest 5
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Supervisors:
Professor Lorem Ipsum
Professor Lorem Ipsum
Dr Lorem Ipsum
Dr Lorem Ipsum
Nome e Cognome
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Paolo Braione is a Natural Science high school teacher with Master degree in special needs education. He graduated in 1993 in Earth Science and is studyng towards a PHD at the University of Pisa, focusing on CO2 mineral sequestration of ophiolites.
Along his career as free-lance geologist and as a teacher, he developed his interest in climate change mitigation and realized the importance of scientific culture promotion.
His studies at Geoscience and Georisource Institute, (IGG - CNR Pisa, Italy) aim at a better comprehension of carbon capture and storage acting in serpentinized ultramafic rocks outcroppiung in Monterufoli area (Tuscany, Italy).
These topics give him an excellent opportunity to convey, especially to young people, messages concerning the importance of reducing CO2 from atmosphere and to disseminate and popularize geological culture.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- climate change mitigation
- carbon mineral storage
- carbonation of serpentinites
- didactics of geology
Research project: Mineralization of CO2 in ultramafic rocks: dissemination to high school students.
Supervisors:
Dr Chiara Boschi (IGG-CNR Pisa)
Professor Elena Bonaccorsi (DST-UNIPI)
Dr Andrea Dini (IGG-CNR Pisa)
Paolo Braione
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Geologist and traveller, passionate about hiking. During my academic career, I focused my studies on hydrological sciences, especially in hydrogeochemistry and isotopic hydrology related to karst environments.
Currently, I am attending a PhD course at the University of Pisa (2023-2026), collaborating with the IGG-CNR (Pisa, Italy) as associated researcher.
The main goal of my project is to better understand the relationship that exist between tides and the hydrogeological cycle, as well as the physical processes that influence it. The research will involve the spatio-temporal analysis of time series of tidal, piezometric and precipitation data, and the creation of an integrated database aiming to support the development of Virtual Research Environments (VREs) of Critical Zone services with hydrology and groundwater hydrology data.
- MSc from the University of Pisa in 2021 with a thesis on the hydrology and hydrogeochemistry of waters belonged to the Renella Cave karst system (Apuan Alps, Italy).
- Research grant from January 2022 to February 2023 at the Department of Earth Sciences (University of Pisa), where I was involved in karst cavities monitoring, precipitation and thermometric data acquisition and analysis in the Apuan Alps area (Tuscany, Italy).
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Hydrogeochemistry
- Isotope hydrology
- Hydrogeology
- Meteorology
- GIS analyses
Research project: Contribution to Virtual Research Environments of Critical Zone services with hydrology and groundwater hydrology data and information.
Supervisors:
Dr Matia Menichini (IGG-CNR Pisa)
Professor Marco Doveri (DST-UNIPI)
Professor Roberto Gianneccini (DST-UNIPI)
Marco Chimenti
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Evelina Dallara is a Ph.D. candidate of the Earth Science Department at the University of Pisa. Her research project is based on the study of the water recharge and the fluid circulation in the Larderello geothermal system, in particular in the areas of the Le Biancane (Monterotondo Marittimo). Furthermore, another part of her Ph.D. project concerns the analysis of past fluid circulation in the reservoir. For the first purpose, fumaroles and water samples are collected and analysed for chemical and isotopic composition, whereas, in order to infer the composition of the past fluids, fluid inclusion studies are carried out.
Evelina has graduated in Earth Sciences at the University of Pisa, with a thesis focused on the application of thermobarometers, and, after that, she took a master’s degree in geophysics at the University of Granada, studying the volcano-tectonic seismic activity. Finally, in 2021 she got her MSc degree in Geological sciences and technologies at the University of Pisa, with a thesis on the analyses of apatite minerals from Volcano, Italy, and in 2022 she started her Ph.D. at the same University.
Her interests are geothermal energy, geochemistry and trying to divulgate these topics in a more interesting and tempting way.
She also likes to gather people, especially young researchers, who work on this topic, in fact, with other Ph.D. colleagues, she organized the GeothermiX Conference in Autumn 2023.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Geothermal reservoirs
- Larderello
- Fluid geochemistry
- Fluid inclusions
Research project: New insights on the water-recharge and circulation in the Larderello geothermal field: focus on the Le Biancane area.
Supervisors:
Professor Paolo Fulignati (DST-UNIPI)
Professor Anna Gioncada (DST-UNIPI)
Dr Matteo Lelli (IGG-CNR Pisa)
Evelina Dallara
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
I am a geologist and I achieved a MSc from the “Università La Sapienza” of Rome in 2022 with a thesis on the reconstruction of paleo-hydrological, paleo-environmental and paleo-climatic variability of the central Mediterranean, through the study of quaternary speleothems. In particular I analyzed a speleothem from Laparnica Cave (Balcans).
I am now attending a PhD course in Earth Sciences at the University of Pisa (2022-2025).
The aim of my project is to improve the knowledge of the evolution of climate and hydrological processes in the central Apennines over time through the evaluation of the climate and hydrological changes of the past. This research is being carried out through the study of continental natural archives sampled in this region and by correlating them with other proxies already analyzed in existing literature.
Additionally, the project is characterized by the monitoring of the different hydrological and hydrogeological components in the selected geographical regions.
The purpose of this research is to understand the major influencing factors of climatic variability, which can be used to produce a conceptual model of the impact of current climate change on water resources in the Apennines.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Geochemistry paleocliamtology
- Geochronology of continental sediments
- Environmental geochemistry of karst and lake systems
- Hydrogeochemistry
- Isotope hydrology
- GIS analysis
Research project: Water resources and climate change: past data and future projections for sustainable management of the Apennines..
Supervisors:
Professor Giovanni Zanchetta (DST-UNIPI)
Dr Ilaria Isola (INGV Pisa)
Professor Luigi Dallai (DST-Sapienza)
Nicole de Santis
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
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Ilaria Furfori is a Natural Sciences, Chemistry and Biology teacher in upper secondary school, and currently she is a Ph.D. student of the “Geoscience and Environment” PhD Programme at the Earth Science Department of the University of Pisa.
The doctoral research is in geoscience education and is mainly focused on:
- investigating the attention paid to the geosciences by Secondary School teachers;
- researching interdisciplinary teaching proposals among Earth Sciences, Biology and Chemistry in order to make the teaching of Earth Sciences more effective, considering that most of Natural Sciences teachers have a background other than a geology degree.
Her research interests include the presence of geoscience misconceptions in Secondary School students and the experimentation of teaching methodologies.
She has been working as a Secondary School teacher since 2014.
B. Sc. in Biology at University of Pisa, 2009. Thesis aims to provide the scientific basis for the design of a highly usable Bees Garden.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Earth science education
- Teaching methodologies and practices
- Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)
Research project: Geoscience in upper secondary school: from a multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary approach.
Supervisors:
Professor Anna Gioncada (DST-UNIPI)
Professor Elena Bonaccorsi (DST-UNIPI)
Ilaria Furfori
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Marco Lazzarotti is a PhD student in Geosciences and Environment at the Earth Sciences Department of the University of Pisa. His research project aims to study historical and current flood events and their effect in coastal plain regions. Past flood events are reconstructed using historical records and subsurface data, while contemporary events are monitored by acquiring measured data on rainfall, hydrometric and solid load. The role of these events in the evolution of the coastal plain areas will be evaluated through stratigraphic data, historical reconstructions, aerial and satellite images, and new surveys.
He graduated in Environmental Sciences at the University of Pisa in 2022 with a thesis focused on the geological-stratigraphic evolution of the last 7000 years of a coastal wetland area in Northern Tuscany (Lake and basin of Massaciuccoli). In the study area, also in response to a formal request from the local community, he investigated some environmental processes resulting from the reclamation of organic soils. Finally, during his master's thesis, he had the opportunity to assess air quality in an urban area by assembling and installing low-cost monitoring stations for atmospheric PM.
He participated as a convener, organizer, and member of the scientific committee in conferences organized by the PhD students of the University of Pisa, such as Water in Geoscience and GeothermiX.
He do support shared decision-making processes that aim to create sustainable, aware, and resilient communities. He is taking part in participatory governance projects that involve the stakeholders, to share needs, experiences and scientific knowledge, in order to define specific objectives, strategies and funding opportunities to achieve them. For example he is a member of a permanent assembly which deals with the protection, management and enhancement of the wetland of Lago di Porta in Tuscany. He is also member of a national environmental organization.
His main interests include academic research, sports and technology. He also loves history, nature and being with friends.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Fluvial dynamics
- Floods and paleo-floods
- Paleo-environment and paleo-climate
- Wetlands
- Environmental matrices monitoring and analysis
- Geochemistry
- Geographic Information System analysis
Research project: Characteristics and effects of the river floods in the Tuscany region in the last 3000 years.
Supervisors:
Professor Monica Bini
Dr Nicola del Seppia
Marco Lazzarotti
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Fabio Macelloni is a PhD student in Geosciences and Environment at the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Pisa. He is part of the Geophysics group and his research activity is mainly focused on the application of machine learning and probabilistic optimization approach to Full-Waveform Inversion. He is interested in the application of machine learning to Earth sciences and in inverse problems, both for deep and near surface investigations. He is currently working on the implementation of an Ensemble-Based approach to Full-Waveform Inversion. The main goal of the project is the development of a methodology able to speed up the probabilistic FWI to obtain a reliable reconstruction of the seismic wave velocity distribution in the subsurface. The algorithm will be applied to data from an Enhanced Geothermal System, with the aim of providing a velocity field for a more accurate localization of the microseismic events caused by the stimulation operations.
BSc in Physics at University of Pisa, 2017.
MSc in Exploration and Applied Geophysics at University of Pisa, 2022. Thesis concerning the approximation of the objective function through machine learning and application to a global inversion of ERT data performed with genetic algorithms.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Inverse problems
- Machine learning
- Full-Waveform Inversion
- Geophysical modeling
Research project: Velocity field estimation in a geothermal reservoir through deep-learning accelerated, probabilistic Full-Waveform Inversion.
Supervisors:
Professor Mattia Aleardi
Professor Eusebio Maria Stucchi
Dr Francesco Grigoli
Fabio Macelloni
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
I am a passionate geologist and a nature lover. I initially formed myself as a Field Geologist with a Bachelors degree in Geological Science at the University of Chieti (2018). Thesis: "Geological Survey of the area of Pizzo di Sevo, Cimalepri (M. Gorzano - Amatrice)". I then specialized in Stratigraphy and Sedimentology with a Master degree in Geological Science and Tecnhology at the University of Pisa (2022). Thesis: "Multidisciplinary study of continuos cores drilling in the archeological site of the Roman river harbour of Aquileia (UD): Facies analysis and reconstruction of the stratigraphic-depositional architecture in relation to the development phases of the harbour". This thesis was carried out collaborating with a wide multidisciplinar geo-archeological research team with wich i’m still actively working. I’ve obtained the qualification to practice the geological profession in 2022 and in 2023 i became a PhD student of the Earth Science Department at the University of Pisa and an associate at the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG) of CNR of Pisa. My PhD project is based on a multidisciplinar study of continent-marine transitional environment with a special focus to the Holocenic paleo-environmental evolution of the Venice Lagoon (north-east Italy).
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Stratigraphy
- Sedimentology
- Geo-chemistry
- Paleo-environment
- Paleo-climate
- Geo-archeology
Research project: Environmental and human control during the Holocene in the context of land-sea transition: integrated sedimentological, geochemical and e-science approaches for the Venice lagoon and comparison with others Mediterranean wetlands
Supervisors:
Professor Giovanni Sarti (DST-UNIPI)
PhD Ilaria Baneschi (IGG-CNR Pisa)
Amedeo Martella
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia