BUSINESS ADDRESS
University of Padova,
Department of Biology
Via U. Bassi 58/B
35131 Padova (Italy)
Phone: +39 049 8276316
E-mail: olimpia.coppellotti@unipd.it

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
1992 - Professor of Zoology
1972 - Dr. Degree in Biological Sciences at University of Padova (Italy)
1967 - High School Diploma in Humanistic Sciences (Liceo Classico “A. Pigafetta”, Vicenza, Italy)

ACADEMIC TITLE
1992 - Associate Professor of Zoology
1980 - Researcher of Zoology

APPOINTMENT
1992 - Current position – Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy
1980 - 1992 Researcher of Zoology at Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy
1974 - 1980 Contract researcher of Zoology at University of Padova, Italy
1972 - 1974 High school teacher of Natural Sciences and Chemistry in Vicenza, Italy

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Photosensitization of Protozoa causative agents of water- and vector-borne diseases by means of porphyrin photosensitized processes.
Development of photoactivatable formulates of low environmental impact in the larval control of the malaria vectors.
Photobiological techniques for water disinfection.
Identification and classification of fossil microorganisms in the Triassic amber.
Biochemical and ultrastructural studies of the movement in Flagellates and Ciliates and of the energetic reservoirs for the movement.
Tolerance to essential and non-essential heavy metals and metal binding-compounds induced in Protozoa and Invertebrates.
Morphological and taxonomic studies of Ciliates coming from various environmental sites, such as Antarctic sea and fresh waters, Lagoon of Venice, and underground waters.
Role of Ciliates as biological indicators of the quality of different environments. Physiological adaptation of Protozoa to low temperatures.

DIDACTIC ACTIVITY
Since 1974 her teaching activity has concerned Zoology of Invertebrates and Protozoology; Morphology and Physiology of Metazoa; Model organisms in Biology, for the curricula of Biology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in the University of Padova (Italy).

VISITING SCIENTIST ACTIVITY
03.2013: Visiting scientist at the University of Penza, Russia, supported by a grant of the University of Padova (“New approaches in the teaching of Zoology and Protozoology in Universities: comparing Italian and Russian traditions and new findings”)
04.2012: Visiting scientist at Federal University Dom Bosco of Campo Grande/Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), supported by a grant of the Veneto region (“Dynamics of social-economic development and effects on the conservation of the biodiversity and local traditions”)
10.2009: Visiting scientist at the University of Penza, Russia, supported by a grant of the University of Padova (“Studies on biodiversity and community structure of Protozoa (Flagellates, Testate Amoebae and Ciliates) in the karst caves and bog environments of Veneto region (North-Eastern Italy) and Middle-Volga Region (South-Western Russia): comparative investigations in the same biotopes from different geographical area”)
09.2008: Visiting scientist at the University of Penza, Russia, supported by a grant of the University of Padova (“Biodiversity and structure of communities of Ciliates and Testate Amoebae in different environments of sea and fresh water”).

TEACHING AT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
04.2013: Advanced School on Modern Trends of Biophotonics and Treatment of Cancer and Microbial Control, São Carlos Institute of Physics (University of São Paulo, Brazil)
06.2012: 2nd European Society for Photobiology (ESP) Photobiology School, Bressanone/Brixen (Italy).

RECENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
2009-2011 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations, Round 3 grant. Grant Number OPP1008387 GCE: “Photocidal porphyrin micro-pellets for larvae control”
2010-2011 University of Padova – Burkina Faso, Azioni di Cooperazione Universitaria, “Environmentally friendly approach for the control of mosquito larvae based on sunlight-activatable photocidal agents: development of an Anopheles-targeted and cost-effective larvicidal formulation to complement current vector control measures”
2009-2010 “Antimicrobial Testing”, Photopharmica Limited, Leeds, UK
2008-2010 “Innovative singlet oxygen sensitizers for biologically modulated photodynamic therapy” PRISMA Project.

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
International Society of Protistologists (ISOP) and Società Italiana di Protistologia onlus (SIP)
International Photodynamic Association (IPA)
Unione Zoologica Italiana onlus (UZI)
World Biodiversity Association onlus
International Society for Subterranean Biology

PUBLICATIONS
• ORCID ID 0000-0002-7091-0902
• SCOPUS ID 6603035765