Associate Professor at the University of Tuscia since 2005, former researcher since 1992, works in agricultural genetics. He worked at ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas) from 1986 to 1991. Graduated in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Perugia in 1984; obtained his Ph.D. at Reading University (UK) in 1991. He studied the assessment of genetic variation in natural populations of different species. He studied the relationships between the distribution of genetic variability and some climatic and microclimatic conditions of the origin sites. He has also addressed issues related to biodiversity conservation, seed production, fodder production, and varietal identification. He has utilized both traditional and advanced methodologies. The activity also includes the construction of genetic maps and the localization of some genes; in particular, genes involved in the resistance to water stresses by identifying some allelic variants that confer tolerance.