Editor Profile
Dr. Carmen Di Giovanni, Ph.D.
Technical Research Officer
Sep 2018 - Present
Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”
Naples
Italy
Name: Carmen Di Giovanni
Affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Via D. Montesano,49, 80131 Naples, University “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
Email: cdigiova@unina.it
Professional Profile
Experienced full-time Technical Research Officer with a strong background in molecular modeling, bioinformatics, and structural biology. Expertise in computational methods for rational drug design, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and protein structure modeling. Skilled at integrating computational and experimental data to elucidate biomolecular mechanisms and support the development of novel therapeutic agents, with a focus on infectious diseases such as HIV, as well as metabolic diseases and cancer.
Collaborates actively in multidisciplinary national and international research projects, leveraging advanced bioinformatics pipelines and structural analysis to drive pharmaceutical innovation and scientific excellence.
Editorial and Reviewing Experience
- Peer reviewer since 2019 for leading international journals, including International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Biomedicines, Pharmaceuticals, Drugs and Drug Candidates, Biomolecules (MDPI), and Pharmacological Research (Elsevier).
- Editorial board member of Biomolecules (MDPI) and Journal of Biotechnology and Biology (JBB)
- Strong track record of rigorous, high-quality reviews in the fields of molecular modeling, bioinformatics, and medicinal chemistry.
- Author of 37 peer-reviewed publications in international scientific journals.
Research Experience
Technical Research Officer — Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II” (Sep 2018 – Present)
- Develop, optimize, and validate molecular models of proteins, nucleic acids, and macromolecular complexes.
- Perform molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to study ligand–receptor interactions.
- Conduct energetic and structural analyses of protein variants and mutations.
- Manage computational and bioinformatics pipelines supporting in silico drug design projects.
- Model and validate protein structures based on experimental data from public databases (PDB, EMDB).
- Collaborate closely with experimental research groups to integrate structural and functional data.
- Provide technical and organizational support to the Department’s Third Mission, Public Engagement, and Internationalization Committees.
- Serve as webmaster and content manager for the Department’s official website.
Previous Research Positions (2008–2018)
- Held multiple research fellowships and contracts at the University of Naples “Federico II” focusing on molecular targets involved in infectious diseases such as HIV, metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, dyslipidemia), and cancer.
- Conducted most relevant research projects on HIV integrase inhibitors, PPAR partial agonists, and Cdc25 phosphatase inhibitors using computational drug design techniques.
Education
- Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences — University of Naples “Federico II” Thesis: Design of potent and selective HIV integrase inhibitors.
- Specialization in Hospital Pharmacy — University of Naples “Federico II”
- Master’s Degree in Pharmacy — University of Naples “Federico II”
Technical Skills
- Molecular modeling, molecular dynamics, virtual screening
- Structural bioinformatics and protein structure validation, structural biology
- Computational drug design and ligand–receptor interaction analysis
Languages
- Italian: Native
- English: Intermediate (B1–B2)
- Drug Discovery
- Molecular Modeling
- Bioinformatics
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Docking
- Molecular Dynamics Simulations
- Protein Structure Modeling
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biotechnology
- Infectious Diseases (HIV)
- Metabolic Disorders
