Associate Professor

Education

2017-2021: Post-graduate Clinical Residency in Radiotherapy with the highest grade. University of Messina
2010-2016: Medical Degree (MD) in Medicine and Surgery with the highest grade. University of Messina

Positions
2025-actual: Associate Professor of Human Anatomy. HUMANITAS University, Milan
2024-2025: Associate Professor of Human Anatomy. University of Messina
2023: Visiting Researcher. Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2021-2024: Assistant Professor of Human Anatomy. University of Messina
2021-2024: Co-Director of the Brain Mapping Lab. University of Messina
2019: Research Fellow. BIOTEC, TU Dresden, Germany
2017: Research Fello. IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Messina
2016-2017: Research Fellow. BIOTEC, TU Dresden, Germany

My research focuses on structural and functional connectivity of deep brain structures, including the thalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, with a particular emphasis on their role in movement disorders. A second topic of interest regards brain networks. The goal is to develop new approaches
for the analysis of structural and functional brain networks, combining concepts of computational neuroanatomy, graph theory and multimodal brain connectivity. In this regard, I am exploring novel frameworks for modeling brain tumors as network disorders, integrating advanced neuroimaging and computational approaches to better understand tumor–brain interactions, their impact on large-scale brain connectivity, and relationship with survival.
I have authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading neuroscience and neuroimaging journals, and I am actively involved in international collaborations combining neuroanatomy, connectomics and computational modeling. I also serve as reviewer for high-impact journals and regularly present my research at international conferences.
I teach human anatomy and neuroanatomy, contributing to medical education and mentoring young researchers.