About
Education
In 2021, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from the University of Bologna, followed by a Master’s degree in Statistical Sciences with a specialization in Data Science from the same institution in 2024. During my studies, I participated in two Erasmus+ programs: one at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences in Poland and another at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain. In the final phase of my Master’s, I spent 11 months at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts (USA), where I worked on my thesis and gained hands-on experience in data management and analysis techniques for acoustic data (an area not covered in my formal coursework). Since then, I have developed a strong passion for marine bioacoustics and the application of data science in conservation, including the usage of new softwares, analytical techniques, and statistical packages to advance research in this field.
Work Experience
At Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) I worked as a Guest Student/Research Intern in the Marine Mammals and Bioacoustics Laboratory, supervised by Doctor Laela Saying. For my thesis, I explored various combinations of dimensionality reduction techniques and clustering algorithms to classify bottlenose dolphin signature whistles. I compared different models and fine-tuned parameters to achieve the highest possible accuracy, assessed using Adjusted Rand Indexes between models. Alongside, I contributed in the extraction and manipulation of acoustic data for the Sarasota Dolphin Whistle Database, a powerful longitudinal dataset that consists of hundreds of recording sessions of known individual dolphins
Currently, I am a researcher at the Ocean Museum Germany (DMM), where I analyze data from the PAL-CE project. This project involves acoustic data (including SoundTrap recordings and acoustic detections from F-PODs) and environmental data collected in Germany and Denmark. My research focuses on assessing the potential effects of an artificial porpoise-like sound on harbor porpoise behavior and occurrence. To enhance the presentation of results and findings, I developed an R Shiny application, making it easier and more efficient to communicate insights both among project partners and to a non-scientific audience.
Volunteering Experiences
During my time at WHOI, I began working as a Data Analyst for Centinela Patagonia, an NGO founded in 2022 dedicated to reducing anthropogenic impacts on marine life and ecosystems, with a particular focus on the salmon farming industry in Chile. I started analyzing data from their 2023 campaign and have since continued processing and interpreting acoustic recordings from SoundTrap devices. Currently, I am developing an R Shiny application to effectively showcase research findings to a broader audience. We are also working on publications to share our insights.
In 2022, I joined Operation SISO, a Sea Shepherd campaign dedicated to removing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing devices from the Mediterranean Sea. I spent two months at sea with the crew, witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of illegal fishing on marine ecosystems. This experience deeply impacted me, reinforcing my commitment to applying my analytical skills to meaningful projects that drive real-world conservation efforts.