Emiliano Mori graduated with honours in Biodiversity and Evolution in 2009 from the University of Pisa. His thesis focused on the genetic structure and phylogeography of the black francolin. During this period, he developed a strong interest in conservation biology, particularly in biological invasions. While attending a Master’s program in Animal Biodiversity Conservation at “La Sapienza” University in Rome, he worked on alien species in a wetland in central Italy. At the same time, he won a PhD position in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Siena. His doctoral research focused on the spatial ecology of the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata. Throughout the PhD, he also led several research projects on invasive parakeet populations in Italy, the impact of domestic cats on native wildlife, and broader issues related to introduced species, including domestic animals. From late 2013 to 2016, he held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Turin, where he contributed to eradication and control projects targeting grey squirrels and coypus. Since 2013, he has also been a member of the Management Committee for the COST Action “ParrotNet.” As part of this network, he participated in studies on alien parrot parasites in Europe and their potential for spillback and spillover to native species. He received a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) grant to train in parasite identification at the Natural History Museum in London. In 2017, he worked on a project funded by the National Academy of the Lincei on alien Siberian squirrels in Italy. This included investigating spillover and spillback risks to native rodents and humans, particularly concerning zoonoses such as Lyme disease. From 2018 to 2020, he conducted research on wild boar management under a fellowship at the University of Siena. In 2020, he obtained a permanent research position at the National Research Council (CNR-IRET) in Sesto Fiorentino. Since 2023, he has held the role of Senior Researcher. His recent work includes the ecology of the Eurasian beaver in Italy, urban wildlife adaptation, firefly and grasshopper taxonomy, and ongoing research into biological invasions.
