I am a researcher and senior analyst of zooplankton samples and have been working at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn as zooplankton taxonomist since 2001. My taxonomic expertise is focused on planktonic copepods at the species level and on their developmental stages, while for other zooplankton taxa at class, order or genus level. My principal fields of research include studying and analyzing the diversity, ecology and biology of copepods at short-term and long-term temporal scales. I am involved in many national and international projects on diversity, distribution and ecology of mesozooplankton in different geographical areas using integrated taxonomy. I am responsible for abundance and biomass datasets of mesozooplankton samples at the Long-Term Ecological Research station MareChiara (LTER-MC) in the Gulf of Naples and for zooplankton metabarcoding and metagenomics of the Naples Ecological REsearch Augmented observatory (NEREA) project (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). In ICES Working Groups, I am responsible for Term of Reference B in WG-IMT (Integrated Morphological and Molecular Taxonomy) and in WG-EUROBUS (Towards an EURopean OBservatory of the non-indigenous calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinUS), and a member of WG-ZE (Zooplankton Ecology). I authored the 2021 Checklist of marine planktonic copepods for LifeWatch-ERIC and the ICES Leaflet on Temora and published 30 ISI publications on zooplankton and copepod systematics, diversity and ecology, using barcoding and metabarcoding approaches.

My dedication to understanding the diversity of planktonic copepods and the invisible biodiversity has led to my recent appointment as a member of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) in Italy, a prestigious institution aimed at promoting and coordinating biodiversity research and conservation efforts across national and international scales.

My expertise is regularly used to teach copepod identification to a wide range of learners, including university students and other research scientists, as well as citizens during outreach events. I was co- organizer and teacher at the First Advanced Zooplankton Course on Morphological and Molecular Taxonomy of Marine Copepods (Naples, 2018), co-convenor of the Marine Planktonic Symposium during the online e-ICOC Conference (July 2022) and have acted as a tutor during the pre-conference Training Workshop on Biology and Ecology of Copepods held in Hiroshima prior to the 15th ICOC.
I was elected as a member of the Executive Council during the e-ICOC in July 2022. Having served on the EC for the last two years and being re-elected for the next three years I am determined to continue my contributions to the council and further advance the objectives and priorities of WAC. First and foremost, I am deeply committed to the field of copepodology and have dedicated significant time and effort to promoting it nationally and internationally. My experience as Editor of WoRMS for planktonic copepods has provided me with invaluable insights in the intricate world of copepod taxonomy and systematics. I believe this expertise will be useful in shaping the strategic direction of WAC and supporting its mission. Furthermore, I am enthusiastic about leveraging my position at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples to the benefit of WAC and its members. It gives me great pleasure and excitement to offer our institution as the venue for the next International Conference on Copepoda (ICOC) in 2027. Our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced team are well-equipped to host a successful and impactful event, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among copepodologists worldwide.

In addition to hosting the ICOC, I am eager to contribute to the enhancement of WAC's online presence and communication strategies. I propose updating the WAC website's photo gallery with high-definition images of planktonic copepod species, thereby enriching the resources currently available to researchers and enthusiasts alike. Additionally, I am keen to organize supplementary activities such as compiling a comprehensive bibliography, conducting educational lectures, and offering courses on copepod taxonomy. These initiatives aim at fostering a vibrant and inclusive community of copepodologists and promote greater engagement with the field. Moreover, I am committed to leveraging social media platforms to amplify WAC's visibility and impact. By utilizing these channels effectively, we can disseminate valuable information, engage with a broader audience, and raise awareness of the importance of copepodology within the scientific community and beyond.
In conclusion, I am deeply passionate about advancing the goals of WAC and eager to continue serving the organization as one of its Officers. I believe my experience, dedication, and ideas make me well-suited for a position on the Executive Council, and I am committed to contributing my utmost to the success of WAC and the broader copepodology community.