Born in Melara (ROVIGO) on September 15, 1960, she earned a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Trieste in 1984, graduating with full marks (110/110 cum laude).
From 1984 to 1987, she worked as a freelance biologist in the food and clinical sectors.
From 1988 to 1991, she held a training fellowship in the field of Biotechnology at the Trieste Research Area, working with the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology at the University of Padua and the CRIBI (Interdepartmental Research Centre for Innovative Biotechnology).
In 1989, she conducted research at the Department of Bacteriology and Biochemistry, University of Idaho (USA).
From 1991 to 1994, she was head of the Research and Development Laboratory at Heligenetics SpA. During this time, she served as Project Leader for several EU-funded projects (BRIDGE, IMPACT I), focusing on factors affecting the persistence of microorganisms released into soil as agricultural inoculants, the development of microbial products for agricultural use, and the coordination of microbial fermentation production activities.
From 1995 to 2000, she held fellowships within the EU Biotech programs IMPACT I, IMPACT II, and PANDA, working with the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology.
From the 1996–1997 to the 2000–2001 academic years, she taught General Microbiology and Food Microbiology in the Food Technology Diploma program of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Padua.
Since October 1, 2001, she has been a researcher in the field of agri-food and environmental microbiology at the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Padua.
Since January 1, 2005, she has been an Associate Professor in the same department, within the scientific-disciplinary sector AGR/16 (Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Microbiology).

Since 2002-2003 academic year, she taught Microbial Biotechnologies for Food and Industry and Applied Microbial Food Biotechnologies in the Master’s degree programs in STAL and BAL. She also teaches Fermentation Chemistry in the Biotechnology program.

She served as Deputy Director of the PhD School in Plant Production Sciences until 2011. She was Vice-President of the Master’s Degree Program Council in Food Biotechnology and a member of the student committee for the Master's in Food Technology.
From May 2, 2008 to May 1, 2010, she served as Director of the Agripolis Interdepartmental Services Center (C.I.S.), and is currently its Deputy Director.
She was also President of the Agripolis Library Hub and Director of the Pietro Arduino Library from 2008 until 2019.
From November 2015 to 2019, she served as President of the Master’s Degree Program Council in Food Biotechnology.

She is affiliated with the PhD School in Crop Science since 2002.

Her research has focused on the microbial degradation of lignocellulos, and the identification and characterization of extremophilic microorganisms producing enzymes of industrial interest.
She has studied environmental impact and biosafety issues related to the use of genetically modified microorganisms, particularly the factors influencing microbial persistence in the environment, the effects of biocontrol and biofertilizer microorganisms on herbaceous plants, and the microbial biodegradation of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons.

Her current research also involves the reuse of agro-industrial waste for the production of value-added products such as bioplastics, bioethanol, and biohydrogen.

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