Sciancalepore Anna Giovanna

Work experience

Since Febr 2022: Tenure-Track Researcher at the Institute of Cristallography of CNR, Bari (Italy)
2019-2022: First grade secondary school teacher of math and science
2017-2019: Biologist in a private center for medically assisted procreation, Bisceglie (Italy)
Jan 2017-Jun 2017: Research fellow at the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) of CNR, Lecce (Italy)
2014-2017: Research fellow at the Institute of Nanoscience-CNR, Lecce (Italy)
2011-2014: Senior post-doc researcher at the Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
2008-2011: Post-doc researcher at the National Nanotechnology Laboratory (NNL) of Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Lecce (Italy)
2006-2008: Industrial researcher at Sintesi SCpA, Modugno (Italy)

Curriculum Studiorum

Oct 2003- April 2007: PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Bari. Scientific Supervisor: Prof. M.N.Gadaleta. PhD Thesis: “Mitochondrial biogenesis in different pathophysiological conditions: effect of nutritional interventions”.
2003: Master degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Bari (grade: 110/110 magna cum laude). Master thesis: “High-throughput approach to the study of mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle: preparation of the target for microarray analysis”, Tutor: Prof. M.N.Gadaleta.
1998-2003: Master in Biological Sciences at the University of Bari. Specialization: Molecular Biology.

Research activity

– Microfluidics and nanofluidics, development of devices for genomic analysis and biomedical applications;
– Lab-on-chip devices for growth and differentiation of human renal stem cells;
– Nanobiotechnologies, self-assembling processes, cell patterning and the study of differentiation in controlled cultures;
– Crystallization and structural characterization of biological macromolecules and protein-ligand complexes of pharmacological or biotechnological interest.

Educational and Reviewer Activity

– Co-supervisor of graduate and PhD students in the Universities of Salento and Bari.
– Referee for Biomedical Microdevices, AppliedBiochemistry and Biotechnology, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
– Referee of the final thesis of the 34th cycle doctoral students conferred by the Academic Board of the Doctorate in Physics and Nanosciences of the University of Salento.

Awards

1. Best abstract: The abstract “Combining renal cells and micro- and nanotechnologies: a new route to the development of bioartificial platforms for in vitro testing drug nephrotoxicity” presented during the ERA EDTA conference was awarded by the Paper Selection Committee of the Association for the outstanding scientific relevance (2014) among eight best abstracts presented by young authors
2. 1st Prize for the best poster presentation:  The poster “Micro- and nanostructures and functional devices for medical diagnosis and tissue engineering”, presented during BioNanoMed 2012 Nanotechnolgoy enables Personalised Medicine, 3rd International Congress of Nanotechnology in Medicine and Biology, Krems (Austria) won the 1st Prize by the Erwin Schrodinger Society for the best poster presented.
3. 2nd Puglia Startcup Award for the SM&T Project, a spin-off company of the CNR (2011)
4. 1st CNR Startcup Award – Il Sole 24 ore for the SM&T Project, a spin-off company of the CNR (2010)
5. Il Sole 24 ore Scientific Communication Award for the SM&T Project, a spin-off company of the CNR (2010)

Cell cultures and animal model studies
Set up and employment of human primary, immortalized, cancer and stem cell lines; cellular morphological staining with fluorescent markers; confocal microscopy; transient and stable cell transfection; vitality tests (MTS and MTT); seeding and characterization of cells into microfluidic devices and on nanofibrous scaffolds. Experience with rat model studies.

Molecular biology
Isolation and purification of DNA, RNA and proteins; spectrophotometric and fluorimetric analysis of nucleic acids and proteins; western blot microarray assays; nucleic acid amplification by RT-PCR; PCR end point and Real Time PCR.

Soft lithography techniques
Replica molding; microcontact printing; surface functionalization of biomaterials by chemical and physical approaches.

External collaborations with:

• Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA;
• Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit of the Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Italy;
• Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy;
• Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies University of Salento, Lecce, Italy;
• CNR- Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manufatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Bari, Italy;
• Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Arnesano, Italy;
• CNR-Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari (ISPA), Lecce, Italy;
• Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, degli Alimenti e dell’Ambiente, Foggia, Italy.
• CNR-Istituto per i Processi Chimico Fisici (IPCF), Bari, Italy.