PhD student

I am Emanuela Cirillo, a PhD student in Neuroscience at the University of Naples Federico II, where I study the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) as a model in neuroscience. My academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s degree in Sustainability Biology from the University of Naples Parthenope, where I graduated with honors with a thesis on bioindicators for monitoring marine protected areas. Alongside my studies, I gained practical experience through a traineeship at the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory of Federico II University Hospital, where I worked on clinical and pathological analyses, and through research in environmental physiology, focusing on biological and environmental sample analysis. I also completed a specialized training course in animal care for laboratory species, including rodents, fish, and cephalopods. My research activity is closely connected to the Octopus Core, a research center based in the Department of Biology at the University of Naples Federico II, where I contribute to projects on cephalopod cognition, sensitivity, and welfare. The outcomes of this work have been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals, with contributions ranging from anesthesia protocols in octopuses to the effects of fishing-induced stress and extraocular photoreception. In 2023, I received the Young Researchers Award from the Italian Zoological Union (UZI) for developing behavioral tests to improve anesthesia assessment in octopuses.Fluent in English at C2 level, I actively collaborate with international research teams. My scientific interests lie at the intersection of biology, neuroscience, and environmental sustainability, with the goal of advancing innovative experimental models while promoting animal welfare and marine ecosystem protection.