Education
Ph.D. 2012. Earth Sciences/Carbonate Sedimentology, University of Calabria, Italy.
Thesis: Microbialites and associated organic matter: an example of microbial induced carbonatogenesis in the Ladinian-Carnian carbonate platforms of the Dolomites.
M.S., 2008. Geology, University of Calabria, Italy
Thesis: Rare Earth Element (REE) distribution patterns as paleoenvironmental proxy in Messinian carbonates: the Calcare di Base Formation from Cropalati (Cosenza, Italy). Final vote: 110/110 Magna cum Laude.
B.S., 2005. Geochemistry/Geosciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
Thesis: Microstructural and diagenetic observations on Sirenian bones from the paleontological site of Cessaniti (Vibo Valentia, Italy). Final vote: 100/110.
Postdoctoral appointment
Research Associate, 2012-present. Microbial Carbonates, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Supervisor: Professor Robert Riding
Accomplishment: Extensive field and intensive laboratory research characterizing marine and continental microbial carbonates from China, Italy, and USA to identify fundamental processes of formation and their significance and application in hydrocarbon exploration. Funded By TOTAL, France
Research Experience
Invited reviewer for professional journals: 2013-present
Research Associate, Microbial Carbonate, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2012-present
• Worked with industry (TOTAL) directly and developed characterization techniques for marine analogues of terrestrial carbonates to understand microstructures and organic content.
• Conducted field research on microbial carbonates, including logging, data collection and sampling. Processed samples in the laboratory on microbial carbonates for organic and inorganic analyses, petrographic description and interpretation. Utilized XRD and XRF techniques to identify carbonate minerals. Use of FT-IR/ RAMAN/ToF-SIMS spectroscopy to characterize the distribution of organic matter in carbonate samples.
Graduate research, University of Calabria, Italy, 2006-2012
• Conducted field and petrographic studies on microbial carbonates from Ladinian-Carnian carbonate platforms of the Dolomites.
• Utilized optical microscope, SEM to obtain high detailed recognition of the microfacies and their diagenetic processes.
• Developed and used a variety instrumentations and methods (TOC, Lipid Biomarkers, Isotopic analyses, REE distribution patterns) to characterize biogeochemical properties, including organic matter content in carbonate samples; to reconstruct paleoenvironmental of the depositional environment; and to identify the microbial associations.
• Developed methods for analysis of Rare Earth Element distribution and Lanthanides anomalies pattern.
Undergraduate research, University of Calabria, Italy, 2001-2005
• Utilized SEM/EDX for rock sample characterization
• Reconstructing paleoenvironmental parameters (preservation, salinity, oxic/anoxic interface, etc.)
Teaching Experience
2009-2012: Teaching Assistant/Lecturer, University of Calabria (Italy), for undergraduate and graduate courses of Physical Geology, Sedimentology, Carbonate sedimentology, Bio-mineralization, Organic/Inorganic Geochemistry and Paleontology.
Expertise
Sedimentology/Stratigraphy: Extensive experience in field logging, sampling and petrographic studies of carbonate, clastic and other associated sediments. Microfacies analysis, including optical, fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy to characterize organic and inorganic components. Paleoenvironmental modeling, interpretation of seismic lines, and Petroleum System Analysis.
Organic/Inorganic Geochemistry: Biogeochemical analysis of organic compounds present in rock samples using advanced instrumentation and techniques: CO2 colorimetric titration for quantitative analysis of Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Kerogen maturity study using Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy. Analysis of major/minor elements via XRF and characterization of mineral phases using XRD. Spatial distribution of organic compounds using To-SIMS.
Geochemical Lab: extraction and separation of organics; biomarker analyses using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS); Stable isotope analyses using GC-IRMS, determination of REE content and distribution patterns in carbonate samples via LA-ICP-MS.
Short-term visits and invited seminars
· Environmental and Molecular Sciences Laboratory. PNNL. Richland, WA. March 2016;
· Department of Earth Sciences, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Italy. February 2011.
· Department of Earth Sciences, University of Modena-Reggio Emilia, Italy. October 2010;
· Department of Physics and Natural Sciences ‘Ennio Giorgi’. University of Salento, Italy. September 2010;
· Summons Geobiology Lab, supervised by Prof. Roger Summons and Dr. Christian Hallmann, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. March 2010;
· Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, supervised by Prof. Robert Riding, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. January-March, 2010.
Additional Education
Intensive Courses
1. Elements of Interpretation of Seismic Profiles (Centro di Geotecnologie, University of Siena, Italy) 2012
Elements of Structural Geology: Normal Fault; Reverse Fault; Thrust Propagation; Duplex System; Interpretation of Geological Structures on Seismic Profiles; Wireline Logging and Well Stratigraphy; Creation of Geological Databases on MSAccess; Examples and Case History using IHS Kingdom Suite and MIDLAND VALLEY Move.
2. Seismic Exploration and Data Processing (Centro di Geotecnologie, University of Siena, Italy) 2012
Land, Marine and Transition Zone Seismic Acquisition technique; Waves, Raypaths, Ghost and Multiple Reflections; 2D & 3D Geometry, Fold and Common Mid-Point; Data Recording: Digitization, Aliasing, Filters and Tape Format; Frequencies: Fourier Transform, Digital Filters; Processing Flows and Data Processing; Examples and Case History using GEDCO Vista, Data Processing Software.
3. Geology and GIS - Logic, Instruments, Data Acquisition and Interpretation (University of Calabria, Italy) 2011
Advanced Techniques GIS: vectorization, rasterization; Geo-processing of vector data, analysis and operations on Raster; DataBase: creating, managing and querying databases using SQL; PostGreSQL, PostGIS: Querying geographical databases using the PostGIS extension.
4. FT-IR Spectroscopy applied to the Earth Sciences (GEOITALIA, Rimini, Italy), 2009
Insights on the use of Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy in the broad fields of the Earth Sciences,
Service
Fieldwork co-organizer/Field Trip Leader:
· 15-31 May 2013 - North China Carbonates Fieldwork: Shandong and Beijing Provinces.
· 01-21 September 2013 – Triassic Carbonate Platforms Fieldwork: Dolomites (northern Italy) and Austria.
· 21 June - 5 July 2014 - TOTAL Microbial Carbonates Field Trip: Nevada-California-Utah-Wyoming- Colorado.
· 24 August - 8 September 2015 -TOTAL Microbial Carbonates Field Trip: New Mexico-Texas.
Museum of Paleontology (University of Calabria)
2010-2012: Author of the teaching pathways for elementary, middle, and high school students, Website administrator and booklet guide curator.
X Italian Paleontological Congress (Paleodays 2010)
May 2010 – Co-organizer of the X National Paleontological Society Meeting. Tasks: session organization, publication of the abstract proceedings and creation of the field trip booklet.
Student Mentorship
2009-2012 – Co-advisor of one master thesis and two undergrads final projects. Advisor for extracurricular activities for undergrads and graduate students.
Professional Affiliations
• Geological Society of America (GSA)
• Società Geologica Italiana (SGI)
• American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
• International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS)
• National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)