Elena was born in a small village in the Orobic Alps, Italy. She later moved to Milan to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca, where she developed a strong interest in genetics. Her undergraduate thesis in Molecular Genetics focused on hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin, investigating the regulatory mechanisms governing globin gene expression.
She continued at the same university for her Master’s degree in Biology, completing her final year in Carolina Florian’s lab in Barcelona through the Erasmus Traineeship program. There, she worked on the epigenetic remodeling of hematopoietic stem cells during aging and rejuvenation. During this time, she was also exposed to emerging research on the interplay between physical forces and chromatin organization, which sparked a broader interest in mechanobiology.
Driven by a desire to explore this field, Elena joined ICFO as a PhD student in the NMSB group. Working with C. elegans allows her to build on her background in genetics, taking advantage of its versatility and tractability, while addressing biophysical questions in vivo.
Outside the lab, Elena enjoys hiking and cycling. As a personal challenge alongside her PhD, she plans to cycle from Barcelona back to her hometown in Italy.