Fixed-term researcher

The research of Elena Frigato focuses on the temporal regulation of physiological and behavioral processes in response to environmental factors in vertebrates and invertebrates, including fish, reptiles, mammals, and cave-dwelling species. Specifically, Elena Frigato has investigated the evolution of the circadian system in vertebrates and the mechanisms involved in the spatio-temporal organization of behaviour, with particular attention to the interaction between the circadian clock and environmental cues such as photoperiod, temperature and feeding schedules. More recently, Elena Frigato has been involved in studies on behaviour and cognition. The main animal models used in my research are teleost fish, including Oryzias latipes (medaka), and Danio rerio (zebrafish). Overall, her work integrates biomolecular techniques with behavioural analysis methodologies and physiological measurements, enabling a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the evolution of the circadian system and the cognitive mechanisms underlying animal behaviour. Elena Frigato has contributed to several multidisciplinary and international projects, often working at the interface between molecular biology, neurobiology, and environmental physiology. She is the author of more than 35
peer-reviewed scientific publications and her research is conducted in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Ferrara as well as other national (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples) and international institutions (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of Murcia).