Postdoctoral Scientist
Chiara obtained her Master’s degree in Functional Genomics at the University of Trieste, where she developed a strong interest in molecular biology and virology. She carried out her thesis research at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Trieste, in the laboratory of Dr Alessandro Marcello, working on viral diagnostics and antibody detection assays for flaviviruses.
She then completed her PhD at Utrecht University in the Virology group of Prof. Frank van Kuppeveld, as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN INITIATE. Her doctoral research focused on how picornaviruses and coronaviruses evade host dsRNA-mediated innate antiviral responses, with particular emphasis on stress granules and interferon responses. During her PhD, she also completed an industrial secondment at Janssen Vaccines and Prevention.
Since November 2025, Chiara has been a postdoctoral researcher in Papa’s Lab, where she studies the role of viral protein domains and post-translational modifications in regulating the assembly of viral replication factories during infection.
Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking, cooking, staying active, reading, and—most of all—traveling and exploring new places.