[DOTTORATO] Dottorandi GA (31)
Ph.D. student in Geoscience and Environment at the Earth Science Department at the University of Pisa.
In my Ph.D. project, I will study the assemblage of fossil vertebrates (mostly odontocetes: dolphins and closely related cetaceans) from the Early Miocene rocks of the Belluno area (Friulan-Venetian basin), working on historical and newly found fossils.
The main aims of the project will be:
- the taxonomic identification of these fossils and the taxonomic revision of the historical collections.
- palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental considerations on the fauna which inhabited the Friulan-Venetian basin during the Early Miocene, supported by isotopic analyses and morphofunctional studies.
- Comparisons on the aforementioned odontocete fauna with other fossil assemblages of the Early Miocene (Pietra Leccese Formation, southern Italy; Calvert Formation, East Coast US; Chilcatay Formation, Perù), in order to evaluate the endemicity of the Belluno fossil fauna and the represented ecomorphotypes.
To achieve these results, I will work with prof. Giovanni Bianucci and dr. Alberto Collareta, who have both worked for long time, and are still actively working, on fossil cetaceans.
My academic formation has been centered on palaeobiological issues (morphometrics, functional morphology, taxonomy, phylogenetics), mainly addressing the phenomenon of convergent evolution: its usefulness for morphofunctional and palaeoecological considerations, and how to recognize this phenomenon in the fossil record.
These topics were present in both my B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses. I got my B.Sc. degree at La Sapienza University of Rome in 2019, with a thesis titled: “Convergent evolution of defensive structures in ankylosaurs and glyptodonts”, whereas my M.Sc. degree was obtained at the University of Pisa in 2022, with the thesis: “Stenopterygius (Ichthyosauria) in the Italian museum collections: species level identification and trophic niche reconstruction”. In the latter thesis project, I was able to apply innovative imaging techniques on fossils, such as 3D models obtained by photogrammetry, structured light scanning and CT scans.
My additional interests include GIS cartography and palaeoichnology, digging since 2022 with the University of Cork and the Natural History Museum of Magdeburg, on a site in Germany (Saxony-Anhalt) bearing amazing ichnofossils.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Palaeobiology
- Convergent evolution
- Systematics
- Palaeoecology
- Functional morphology
- Biomechanics
Research project: The odontocete cetaceans of the Lower Miocene of the Venetian-Friulian Basin: systematics, palaeoecological characterisation and palaeoenvironmental contextualisation.
Supervisors:
Professor Giovanni Bianucci (DST-UNIPI)
Dr Alberto Collareta (DST-UNIPI)
Francesco Nobile
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Marella is a Ph.D. student in seismology and geodesy at the Earth Science Department of the University of Pisa. After a university formation colored by an introduction to the various Earth sciences, she chooses to focus on geohazards. To pursue her aim, Marella specialized in geodesy and volcanology with her current research in which she uses MATLAB and Python to modelized ground deformation based on interferogram. By linking sources deformation to models deformation thanks to machine learning, this novel strategy could open new opportunities in hazard surveillance and resilience. Her primary study area is the AFAR zone. The main goal is to contribute to the improvement of geohazard surveillance and forecast systems.
BSc. in Earth Sciences and Environment at Sorbonne University (Paris, France), 2019. Thesis: Sulphate extraction in matrices and pumices; Sulfur cycle and its role in paleoclimatology; Supervisor: Erwan Martin (ISTeP).
MSc. in Geology and Planetology at Sorbonne University (Paris, France), 2021. Thesis: Hydrothermal circulation in and around oceanic detachment faults: inferences from 3D numerical models; Supervisors: Fabrice Fontaine(IPGP-OVPF); Mathilde Cannat (CRNS).
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Geodesy
- Geophysics
- InSAR
- Volcanoes
- Rift
- AFAR
Research project: Magma and fault dynamics from novel approaches in seismology and geodesy.
Supervisors:
Professor Carolina Pagli (DST-UNIPI)
Dr Francesco Grigoli (DST-UNIPI)
Marella Parnas
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia
Hi everyone, I'm Matteo Salvadori, a geologist and PhD student at the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Pisa. During my Master's degree in Geological Science and Technology, I specialised in geochemistry and isotopic geochemistry, in particular on fluid-rock interaction, mixing processes, water origin and traceability. After graduation, I had the opportunity to work for 3 years as a Scholar Fellow at the Institute of Geosciences and Georesources (IGG-CNR), where I participated in many research projects in the field of hydrology and geochemistry of water and soils. This allowed me to deepen my knowledge of isotope geochemistry and learn how to use different analytical tools by working in different laboratories. With this background, in march 2023 I started a PhD research project to understand the origin, distribution and behaviour of lithium in deep saline waters hosted by sedimentary formations along the Northern Apennine foredeep. Research will consist in an integrate geoscience approach of field work and geochemical and isotopic analyses on different geological matrices (waters and rock) and conceptual modelling of Li cycle in Neogene sedimentary formation, aiming to promote sustainable methods for Li extraction and recovery from waters and brines.
B. Sc. in Geology at the University of Pisa, 2015. Thesis Title: “The Leivi (Genova) landslides of November 2014: study focused on the central-southern sector of the landslide slope”.
M. Sc. in Geological Sciences and Technologies at the University of Pisa, 2019. Thesis Title: “Sedimentary volcanism in Azerbaijan: a study on the origin of sediments emitted by the mud volcanoes Perikushkul, Dashgil and Shikhzahirli and the effect of boron in controlling the crystallinity of illite”.
RESEARCH INTEREST
- Stable isotope
- Water-rock interaction
- Aquifer systems
- Georesources
- Climate change
- Energy transition
Research project: Lithium-rich waters in the foredeep-tectonic wedge zone of the Northern-Central Apennines (Italy): origin and evolution of a potential unconventional lithium resource.
Supervisors:
Professor Massimo D’Orazio (DST-UNIPI)
Dr Maddalena Pennisi (IGG-CNR Pisa)
Dr Andrea Dini (IGG-CNR Pisa)
Matteo Salvadori
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Università di Pisa
Via Santa Maria 53
56126 Pisa
Italia