David CARAMELLI

Ruolo attuale:: Professore Ordinario
SSD:: BIOS-03/B - Antropologia
Afferenza organizzativa:: Dipartimento di Biologia

Recapiti

	0552757744
	david.caramelli(AT)unifi.it

Ulteriori Recapiti

	via del Procosnolo 12, stanza 1, secondo piano
	+390552757744
	david.caramelli(AT)unifi.it
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David CARAMELLI

Orario di ricevimento (aggiornato al 29/08/2022)

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David CARAMELLI

Biografia

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Caramelli

David Caramelli è Professore Ordinario di Antropologia (SSD BIOS-03/B) e Direttore del Dipartimento di Biologia presso l'Università degli Studi di Firenze. Considerato a livello internazionale tra i massimi esperti nello studio del DNA antico e della paleogenomica, coordina le attività del Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare e Paleogenetica dell'ateneo fiorentino. Ricopre inoltre la carica di Presidente del Sistema Museale di Ateneo ed è Socio Corrispondente dell'Accademia di Scienze e Lettere "La Colombaria".

Nel 2024 è stato insignito dall'Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei del prestigioso Premio Internazionale "Fabio Frassetto" per l'Antropologia Fisica, prestigioso riconoscimento conferito per gli alti contributi scientifici apportati alle scienze antropologiche ed evolutive.

La sua attività di ricerca si focalizza principalmente sull'Antropologia fisica, con un approccio pionieristico nel recupero e nell'analisi di materiale genetico altamente degradato proveniente da resti scheletrici archeologici e paleontologici. Attraverso l'uso di tecnologie di sequenziamento di nuova generazione (NGS), i suoi studi offrono contributi fondamentali alla comprensione della storia evolutiva umana, ai modelli di migrazione preistorica nel bacino del Mediterraneo e alla genetica delle popolazioni storiche. Le sue competenze si estendono con successo ai campi dell'antropologia forense per fini medico-legali e giudiziari, nonché alla paleogenomica applicata alla tutela e valorizzazione dei beni culturali.

È autore di oltre 200 pubblicazioni scientifiche sulle più prestigiose riviste internazionali e figura stabilmente tra gli scienziati più citati nel panorama internazionale del settore. Svolge un'intensa attività editoriale internazionale, ricoprendo l'incarico di Associate Editor per Human Population Genetics e BMC Genomics, oltre a essere membro dell'Editorial Board di importanti riviste scientifiche tra cui PLoS ONE e Scientific Reports.

David CARAMELLI

Curriculum

Current and Previous positions	2015-present Full Professor of Anthropology, Department of Biology, University of Florence 2024-present President of the University Museum System, University of Florence 2016-2024 Director of Department of Biology, University of Florence 2010 2015 Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Florence 2005 - 2010 Assistant Professor, University of Florence, Italy 2002 - 2005 Post Doc, Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, University of Florence
Prizes and awards	Novembre 2024 International Award "Fabio Frassetto" Accademia dei Lincei Roma September 2022 Member of Accademia la Colombaria di Scienze e Lettere, Firenze
Visiting academic positions	March 2017 Fellowship IAS, Institute of Advanced Studies, Princeton, USA: Tracing Longobard Migration through DNA Analysis January 2012 Fellowship,University of California Los Angeles: Migration Age DNA Analysis January 2011 Fellowship, Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - January 2003 Fellowship, University of Tracia, Greece, Laboratory of Anthropology -DUTH Democritus:
Teaching activities and PhD supervision	2010 - present Professor of Anthropology, Master Degree in Biological Science, University of Florence. 2005 - present Professor of Molecular Anthropology for the Master Degree in (i) Science and Material for Cultural Heritage of Mathematical Physical and Natural Science and (ii)Natural Science, University of Florence From 2010 to 2013 Professor of Bioinformatics, Master Degree in Biological Science, University of Florence 2004-2025- 25 post Doc, 22, PhD, 86 Master Student Department of Biology, University of Florence
National and international collaborations and networks that contribute to enhancing the scientific quality and feasibility of the proposal	David Reich Department of genetics Harvard Medical School USA, Svante Paabo Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Germany, Carles Lalueza Fox, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Spain; Johannes Krause, Max Planck Institute for the History and the Sciences, Jena Germany ; Cosimo Posth, Institute for Archaeological Sciences,University of Tübingen; Ron Pinhasi, University of Vienna, Department of Anthropology,; Patrick Geary, Princeton (USA); Krishna Veeramah, Stony Brook University New York;
Other work experience (e.g. consultancy if any)	David Caramelli is Full Professor of Anthropology and President of the University Museum System at the University of Florence, internationally recognized for his research in ancient DNA and paleogenomics. He founded and directs the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology/Paleogenomics and has published more than 100 papers in leading journals such as Nature, Science, and PNAS.He developed innovative methods for ancient DNA analysis, contributing to the demonstration that Neanderthals and modern humans were distinct evolutionary lineages. His work on Neanderthal genetics included the recovery of DNA from important fossils such as the Altamura Man and the characterization of Italian and Spanish Neanderthals, revealing phenotypic traits including light skin and red hair. He also demonstrated regional differences in Neanderthal diet and provided evidence for the medicinal use of plants.Caramelli improved estimates of human evolutionary events through studies on ancient mitochondrial DNA mutation rates. By analyzing hundreds of ancient genomes, he reconstructed major migratory movements across Europe over the last 30,000 years, documenting prehistoric maritime migrations to Mediterranean islands and the progressive reduction of Neanderthal DNA in modern human genomes. His studies on Neolithic, Copper Age, and Bronze Age populations clarified the spread of the Beaker Culture through both migration and cultural transmission. He also investigated historical populations such as the Etruscans and Lombards, shedding light on their origins and genetic interactions. For more than 25 years, Caramelli has collaborated with the Raggruppamento Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche (RACIS) on the analysis of degraded DNA recovered from crime scenes, contributing to forensic investigations and to the international transfer of Italian expertise and methodologies in forensic genetics.
- Administrative role and position responsibility	2024- present President of the University Museum System, University of Florence 2020- 2024 Member of Academic Senate of University of Florence 2016 -2024 Director of Department of Biology, University of Florence 2016 -2024 Member of Council of Director -University of Florence 2005 - present Member of the Council Committee of the Department of Biology, University of Florence 2006 - 2012 Member of the Technical Scientific Commission of Genetics Resource, Tuscany Region 2005 - present Member of the Scientific Advisory Board, Department of Biology, University of Florence
- Scientific organisations/Coordination of academic activities	2022 XXIV AAI Congress Il Prossimo Uomo Chieti Scientific committee 2019 XXIII AAI Congress: Anthropology: what are the next questions? Padua Scientific committee 2017 International Workshop AAI AGI Human Migration Cortona 9 settembre Scientific committee 2017 International Workshop The Leonardo Project, Florence Scientific committee 2014 International Congress of European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Florence Scientific committee 2012 International Workshop e: a day with ancient DNA, , University of Florence Scientific committee 2006 First Congress of Italian Society of Evolutionary Biology , (SIBE), Florence Scientific committee
Editorial activity	2016-present Review panel member of Swiss National Foundations 2015- present Review panel member for the Ministry of Education, Estonia 2014 - present Review panel member for the Ministry of Education, Spain 2014 - present Review panel member, Max Plank Society, Germany 2014_present panel member Inamori Foundation Kyoto Price, Japan 2010 - present Review panel member, Ministry of Research and Education, Italy 2014 Review panel member, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA), Hungary 2008 Review panel member, Estonian Science Foundation (ETF), Estonia 2016-present Editorial Board Member of international peer review journal Scientific Report Nature publishing Group, London 2012 - present Editorial Board member of international peer review journal PLOS ONE 2020-present Editorial Board member of international peer review journal Genes 2021-present Editorial Board member of international peer review journal Frontiers in Genetics 2010 Scientific evaluator, Lasker prize 2010, Human Biology Journal, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France 2004 - present Referee for the following international journals: Nature, Science, Science Advances; Nature Communications, I Science, Cell, Pnas, Tree, Human genetics, Annals of Human genetics, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Annals of Human Biology, Human Biology, Genetical Research, PLOs One, Human Biology, Journal of Archeological Science Molecular Biology and Evolution, Nature Protocol.
Membership of scientific societies	2016- present Member of the directive council of Anthropological Italian association 2007 - 2010 Member of the Scientific Council of the Italian Society of Evolutionary Biology 2006 Funding Member of the Italian Society of Evolutionary Biology 2004 - present Associated Member of the: Italian Society of Anthropology

David CARAMELLI

Interessi

L'attività di ricerca si sviluppa principalmente nell'ambito dell'Antropologia fisica, con un focus specialistico sulla paleogenetica e sulla paleogenomica. Le linee di ricerca si concentrano sul recupero e sull'analisi del DNA antico da resti scheletrici archeologici e paleontologici, applicando tecnologie di sequenziamento di nuova generazione (Next Generation Sequencing - NGS).

I principali filoni di indagine includono:

Evoluzione umana e paleogenomica: Studio delle relazioni genetiche tra specie estinte (in particolare i Neanderthal) e l'uomo moderno.
Genetica delle popolazioni e dinamiche migratorie: Ricostruzione dei flussi migratori preistorici e storici nel bacino del Mediterraneo, con specifico riferimento alle popolazioni etrusche, nuragiche e di epoca medievale.
Paleogenomica applicata ai beni culturali: Valorizzazione del patrimonio storico-archeologico attraverso lo studio molecolare dei reperti, finalizzato alla ricostruzione filogenetica e alla caratterizzazione della biodiversità del passato.
Antropologia e genetica forense: Applicazione di tecniche e protocolli biomolecolari avanzati per l'identificazione di resti umani degradati e la risoluzione di casi di interesse medico-legale e storico-giudiziario.
Metodologie di autenticazione del DNA antico: Sviluppo di protocolli stringenti per contrastare la contaminazione e garantire l'affidabilità dei dati genomici antichi.

David CARAMELLI

Pubblicazioni

Legenda

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David CARAMELLI

Biography

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Caramelli

David Caramelli is Full Professor of Anthropology (SSD BIOS-03/B) and Head of the Department of Biology at the University of Florence. Globally recognized as a leading expert in ancient DNA (aDNA) and paleogenomics, he coordinates the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Paleogenetics at the Florentine university. He also serves as President of the University Museum System and is a Corresponding Member of the "La Colombaria" Academy of Sciences and Letters.

In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious "Fabio Frassetto" International Prize for Physical Anthropology by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, in recognition of his significant scientific contributions to the fields of anthropology and human evolution.

His research focuses primarily on Physical Anthropology, employing pioneering approaches for the retrieval and analysis of highly degraded genetic material from archaeological and paleontological skeletal remains. Utilizing Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies, his studies provide critical insights into human evolutionary history, prehistoric migratory patterns within the Mediterranean basin, and the genetics of historical populations. His expertise also extends successfully to forensic anthropology for medico-legal and judicial purposes, as well as paleogenomics applied to the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage.

He has authored more than 200 scientific publications in high-impact international journals and is consistently ranked among the most cited scientists in his field. He actively contributes to the international scientific community as an Associate Editor for Human Population Genetics and BMC Genomics, and as an Editorial Board member for journals such as PLoS ONE and Scientific Reports.

David CARAMELLI

Curriculum

Current and Previous positions	2015-present Full Professor of Anthropology, Department of Biology, University of Florence 2024-present President of the University Museum System, University of Florence 2016-2024 Director of Department of Biology, University of Florence 2010 2015 Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Florence 2005 - 2010 Assistant Professor, University of Florence, Italy 2002 - 2005 Post Doc, Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, University of Florence
Prizes and awards	Novembre 2024 International Award "Fabio Frassetto" Accademia dei Lincei Roma September 2022 Member of Accademia la Colombaria di Scienze e Lettere, Firenze
Visiting academic positions	March 2017 Fellowship IAS, Institute of Advanced Studies, Princeton, USA: Tracing Longobard Migration through DNA Analysis January 2012 Fellowship,University of California Los Angeles: Migration Age DNA Analysis January 2011 Fellowship, Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - January 2003 Fellowship, University of Tracia, Greece, Laboratory of Anthropology -DUTH Democritus:
Teaching activities and PhD supervision	2010 - present Professor of Anthropology, Master Degree in Biological Science, University of Florence. 2005 - present Professor of Molecular Anthropology for the Master Degree in (i) Science and Material for Cultural Heritage of Mathematical Physical and Natural Science and (ii)Natural Science, University of Florence From 2010 to 2013 Professor of Bioinformatics, Master Degree in Biological Science, University of Florence 2004-2025- 25 post Doc, 22, PhD, 86 Master Student Department of Biology, University of Florence
National and international collaborations and networks that contribute to enhancing the scientific quality and feasibility of the proposal	David Reich Department of genetics Harvard Medical School USA, Svante Paabo Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Germany, Carles Lalueza Fox, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Spain; Johannes Krause, Max Planck Institute for the History and the Sciences, Jena Germany ; Cosimo Posth, Institute for Archaeological Sciences,University of Tübingen; Ron Pinhasi, University of Vienna, Department of Anthropology,; Patrick Geary, Princeton (USA); Krishna Veeramah, Stony Brook University New York;
Other work experience (e.g. consultancy if any)	David Caramelli is Full Professor of Anthropology and President of the University Museum System at the University of Florence, internationally recognized for his research in ancient DNA and paleogenomics. He founded and directs the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology/Paleogenomics and has published more than 100 papers in leading journals such as Nature, Science, and PNAS.He developed innovative methods for ancient DNA analysis, contributing to the demonstration that Neanderthals and modern humans were distinct evolutionary lineages. His work on Neanderthal genetics included the recovery of DNA from important fossils such as the Altamura Man and the characterization of Italian and Spanish Neanderthals, revealing phenotypic traits including light skin and red hair. He also demonstrated regional differences in Neanderthal diet and provided evidence for the medicinal use of plants.Caramelli improved estimates of human evolutionary events through studies on ancient mitochondrial DNA mutation rates. By analyzing hundreds of ancient genomes, he reconstructed major migratory movements across Europe over the last 30,000 years, documenting prehistoric maritime migrations to Mediterranean islands and the progressive reduction of Neanderthal DNA in modern human genomes. His studies on Neolithic, Copper Age, and Bronze Age populations clarified the spread of the Beaker Culture through both migration and cultural transmission. He also investigated historical populations such as the Etruscans and Lombards, shedding light on their origins and genetic interactions. For more than 25 years, Caramelli has collaborated with the Raggruppamento Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche (RACIS) on the analysis of degraded DNA recovered from crime scenes, contributing to forensic investigations and to the international transfer of Italian expertise and methodologies in forensic genetics.
- Administrative role and position responsibility	2024- present President of the University Museum System, University of Florence 2020- 2024 Member of Academic Senate of University of Florence 2016 -2024 Director of Department of Biology, University of Florence 2016 -2024 Member of Council of Director -University of Florence 2005 - present Member of the Council Committee of the Department of Biology, University of Florence 2006 - 2012 Member of the Technical Scientific Commission of Genetics Resource, Tuscany Region 2005 - present Member of the Scientific Advisory Board, Department of Biology, University of Florence
- Scientific organisations/Coordination of academic activities	2022 XXIV AAI Congress Il Prossimo Uomo Chieti Scientific committee 2019 XXIII AAI Congress: Anthropology: what are the next questions? Padua Scientific committee 2017 International Workshop AAI AGI Human Migration Cortona 9 settembre Scientific committee 2017 International Workshop The Leonardo Project, Florence Scientific committee 2014 International Congress of European Society for the study of Human Evolution, Florence Scientific committee 2012 International Workshop e: a day with ancient DNA, , University of Florence Scientific committee 2006 First Congress of Italian Society of Evolutionary Biology , (SIBE), Florence Scientific committee
Editorial activity	2016-present Review panel member of Swiss National Foundations 2015- present Review panel member for the Ministry of Education, Estonia 2014 - present Review panel member for the Ministry of Education, Spain 2014 - present Review panel member, Max Plank Society, Germany 2014_present panel member Inamori Foundation Kyoto Price, Japan 2010 - present Review panel member, Ministry of Research and Education, Italy 2014 Review panel member, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA), Hungary 2008 Review panel member, Estonian Science Foundation (ETF), Estonia 2016-present Editorial Board Member of international peer review journal Scientific Report Nature publishing Group, London 2012 - present Editorial Board member of international peer review journal PLOS ONE 2020-present Editorial Board member of international peer review journal Genes 2021-present Editorial Board member of international peer review journal Frontiers in Genetics 2010 Scientific evaluator, Lasker prize 2010, Human Biology Journal, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France 2004 - present Referee for the following international journals: Nature, Science, Science Advances; Nature Communications, I Science, Cell, Pnas, Tree, Human genetics, Annals of Human genetics, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Annals of Human Biology, Human Biology, Genetical Research, PLOs One, Human Biology, Journal of Archeological Science Molecular Biology and Evolution, Nature Protocol.
Membership of scientific societies	2016- present Member of the directive council of Anthropological Italian association 2007 - 2010 Member of the Scientific Council of the Italian Society of Evolutionary Biology 2006 Funding Member of the Italian Society of Evolutionary Biology 2004 - present Associated Member of the: Italian Society of Anthropology

David CARAMELLI

Interest

The research activities focus on Physical Anthropology, with a specific expertise in paleogenetics and paleogenomics. The core of the research involves the retrieval and analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) from archaeological and paleontological skeletal remains, utilizing Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies.

The primary research areas include:

Human Evolution and Paleogenomics: Investigating the genetic relationships between extinct hominins (particularly Neanderthals) and modern humans.
Population Genetics and Migration Dynamics: Reconstructing prehistoric and historic migratory flows in the Mediterranean basin, with a specific focus on Etruscan, Nuragic, and medieval populations.
Paleogenomics Applied to Cultural Heritage: Enhancing historical and archaeological heritage through the molecular study of artifacts and biological remains, aimed at phylogenetic reconstruction and the characterization of past biodiversity.
Forensic Anthropology and Genetics: Applying advanced biomolecular techniques and protocols for the identification of degraded human remains and the resolution of medico-legal and historical-judicial cases.
Ancient DNA Authentication Methodologies: Developing stringent protocols and criteria to mitigate contamination and ensure the authenticity and reliability of ancient genomic data.