My Curriculum Vitae

Work & Research Experience

Managing Director, Imprenditore Agricolo Professionale at Società Agricola Patuelli Malagola di Giuliani Sandra S.S.   June 2007 - ongoing

Scientist, Chief Technical Officer Tech Incubation Lab at AstraZeneca
February 2016 - September 2016

  • scouted new technologies to be translated into employee- or patient-facing solutions

Scientist, Intelligent Pharmaceuticals at AstraZeneca
June 2015 - January 2016

  • managed the development and roll out of mobile health devices and apps for the respiratory portfolio

Scientist, Early Product Development at AstraZeneca
September 2014 - May 2015

  • developed of a predictive tool for formulation science in VB.NET
  • developed an in silico biopharmaceutical model to support a New Drug Application
  • organised and facilitated an internal team building event for over 200 people

Chemo/bioinformatician, visiting student at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
April 2014 - August 2014

  • developed a computational drug repositioning pipeline in Python to be applied to neglected diseases
  • identified repositioning candidates for schistosomiasis
  • source deposited on GitHub repository

Computational Chemist at Eli Lilly and Company
February 2012 - May 2013

  • developed structure-based molecular models to target a ionotropic receptor
  • performed virtual screening and pharmacophore screening
  • built workflow to compare molecular modelling results and biological assay data

Biologist at Eli Lilly and Company
September 2012 - May 2013

  • developed an optimised protocol for coating multielectrode arrays (MEAs)
  • performed electrophysiological recordings of dissociated rat cortical neurons
  • designed a template for spike and burst analysis

Computational chemist, visiting student at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
May 2011 - February 2012

  • designed peptidic and non-peptidic compounds as novel anti-HIV compounds
  • developed a combined conformational search and docking protocol for predicting the binding mode of cyclic peptides
  • performed virtual screening of molecular fragments and molecular dynamics simulations
  • presented a poster at the 9th Australian Peptide Conference
  • produced a final dissertation based on this work to support my MSc in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies

Trainee pharmacist at Farmacia Del Corso (community pharmacy in Bologna, Italy)
October 2010 - April 2011

  • dispensed prescription and over-the-counter medicines
  • advised customers about the treatment of minor ailments
  • maintained drug stocks and checked expiry dates
  • placed urgent orders to the suppliers over the phone
  • compounded capsules, ointments and other medications

Intern at Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato, Agricoltura di Ravenna (Chamber of Commerce)
June 2005 - July 2005

  • filed paperwork
  • classified documents for optical storage
  • produced archiviation spreadsheets

Education

MSc in Drug Design from University College London
September 2013 - August 2014

  • trained in latest techniques applied to drug design, with a focus on computational techniques such as molecular modelling, chemoinformatics, bioinformatics
  • graduated with Distinction

MSc in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from University of Bologna
October 2006 - March 2012

  • trained in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug development
  • graduated with 110/110 cum laude

Exchange semester at Monash University, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
February 2009 - July 2009

  • trained in computational chemistry, analytical methods, biopharmaceutics
  • obtained High Distinction (>80%) in all modules

Certifications

  • General First Aid from British Red Cross, 2013

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) from British Council and Cambridge ESOL, 2012

  • Open Water Diver from PADI, 2009

  • International Driver’s License (B) from AA, 2009

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) from ETS, 2007

  • European Driving Licence (B) from MIT, 2005

Honors and Awards

  • Best graduate in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies, academic year 2010-2011 - awarded by Lions Club ‘Bologna Re Enzo’, 2012

  • First place winner of a Leonardo da Vinci grant - granted via the UnipharmaGraduates programme, by Sapienza University of Rome and Noopolis foundation, 2012

  • First place winner of a ‘Thesis abroad’ bursary to support the research project at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences - granted by the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Bologna

  • First place winner of an ‘Overseas’ scholarship to spend one semester at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University - granted by the University of Bologna