I had not an innate vocation for this area. I come from a family without specific scientific interests. Thinking about the moment when my interest started, I think of the first editions of the Italian journal “L’Espresso”, in the mid-60s, with articles on the wonders of DNA.
Your organization´s key sector and mission:
Plant Microbe Interactions laboratory, which mainly works on research on plant-microbe interaction studies. Using cellular, molecular biology and NGS techniques, I investigated mycorrhizal fungi focusing on their interactions with host plants, from the colonization process with the description of the so-called pre-penetration apparatus, to the identification of signaling molecules, as the chito-oligosaccharides. Together with my team, we have demonstrated how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi act as bio-fertilizers and bio protectors against plant pathogens.
Please tell us briefly about your role in the company/organization:
At the moment I am retired, but I’ve held several positions, as full professor, Head of Department, Responsible of the Centro di Studio sulla Micologia del Terreno del CNR-Torino, and PhDs Coordinator. I am also a Professor Emerita at the University of Turin, and this means having more than 20 years of experience as an ordinary professor. I started working as a professor in a very young age and this is not something obvious given that, generally, women career normally goes slower.
I studied in Turin, then I went to live in France and then returned to Italy as a CNR researcher and became a professor at the University. At that time, even in a sector like mine, there were very wise women colleagues, but the professors were mainly men, marking a clear division not only in my sector, but also in other sectors. To date, the situation has certainly improved.
Your interest in STEM
If I have to think about a role model in the science sector, I think about Rita Levi Montalcini, who always took into consideration the issues surrounding women in the science sector.
Your studies
The difficulties came in the research field, when we understood that biology was running fast and efforts were needed not only based on specific topic but also on the ability to move to a more experimental approach, applying new technologies. On a personal level, the greatest difficulty was to make the laboratory a real physical structure, with the necessary instrumentation.
At gender level, the situation has now changed a lot compared to the past. Biology has a lower gender disparity than other STEM sectors. It is always important to really understand what you want to do in life and to cultivate an interest, also considering that, nowadays, disciplines can be easily combined.
You at work
At the time I was working, these issues were not present as they are now. Anyway, I want to stress the group of research with whom I was working were all women.
Together with other colleagues, we founded the first group of Woman and Science, that currently exists, which then became very important at national level. The focus of the group was mainly on solving the disparities between women and men by also promoting the discussion on how to survive in a sector dominated by men. Another thing I am proud of is that, starting from the already existing knowledge in the research we carried out within the Laboratory, we have managed to bring the studies to a more contemporary level, opening the doors to a very important discourse for science. Many of my young students are currently professors in London, France, Germany and Italy.
As I said, understanding that every discipline is interconnected, so it’s easy to move from one sector to another and discover new paths.
Your point of view
Technology helps to partially solve some of the gender inequality issues. Thanks to changes due to technology, also young colleagues are supported in the research management.
To finish with
Research must go hand in hand with the needs of society, giving an ethical value to what a person does. Research helps a lot to work together, and to create a concept of community and sharing.
I wish I could find out new things on my research that I haven’t been able to identify yet.
Continuing with projects based on what have been some of my discoveries and observations on fungi and bacteria and continue with the scientific dissemination.