FRANCESCA
GUZZO

I am a biologist with extensive experience investigating new natural organic compounds from plants, which are biologically active. In particular, my research focuses on the chemical characterization of metabolites, the evaluation of their biological activities, and the search for potential applications, including the safety profile and the regulatory aspects of substances of natural origin. Currently, I am Postdoctoral Researcher in the Organic Chemistry Department at the University of Cádiz, where I investigate about the development of plant biostimulants based on byproducts of the agrifood sector to contribute to steer the sustainable transition of viticulture, including the regeneration of the biodiversity and the Functioning of vineyard soils. Thus, my work will contribute to phasing out contentious inputs such as synthetic agrochemicals, while promoting the circular economy. Moreover, my future plans include integrating my knowledge and expertise in natural products and organic chemistry with cutting-edge agroecological theory and practice, for which the host laboratory is a great fit. I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences in December 2016 and a Master’s Degree in Biology in December 2019, both from the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”.I joined the Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies as a research fellow within the support for Operational Innovation Projects (POIs) of the PSR Campania 2014-2020 until October 2020. Subsequently, I became a member of the Organic Chemistry group, within the same department, where I started my doctoral thesis with a research grant (D.R. n. 655/2020).The main topic of my thesis was the identification and isolation of plant secondary metabolites with antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. For this, I carried out the phytochemical characterization of underexplored species belonging to the Myrtaceae and Agavaceae families, emphasizing their metabolic profiling, the isolation and structural characterization of pure compounds, and their application in the pharmacological and nutraceutical field. The dissertation was carried out in March 2024, earning an outstanding grade with the distinction of European Doctor after having spent 8.5 months at University of Cadiz (Spain). Despite having defended my PhD recently, the results of my research include 6 first-author articles in SCI journals, which is a testament to my leadership capacity. I have also participated in 11 international congresses where I contributed as an oral speaker and with posters, in most of which I was also the lead author. My contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards, including The PeerJ Chemistry Awards for the best poster presentation, and the OLChemIMAward 2022 and The Faculty of Pharmacy & PSE Awards for the best oral presentation, which is a testament to my ability to excel in academia. Considering scientific societies, I am also an active member of the PSE (Phytochemical Society of Europe), SCI (Italian Chemical Society) and GIDRM (Italian Group for the Discussion of Magnetic Resonance Imaging).