Aurora Merulla

My name is Aurora Eliana Merulla, born in Piazza Armerina (EN) on 02/27/1998. I earned a Master’s degree in Medical Biotechnology from the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC) at the University of Catania on April 28, 2022, with a thesis titled "Circular RNA circSMARCA5 Regulates the Expression of MicroRNAs with Oncogenic and Tumor-Suppressive Activities in Glioblastoma Multiforme." My thesis work has allowed me to publish my first scientific article, titled "circSMARCA5 is an Upstream Regulator of the Expression of miR-126-3p, miR-515-5p and their mRNA Targets Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (IGFBP2) and NRAS Proto-oncogene, GTPase (NRAS) in Glioblastoma," published on November 8, 2022, in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS).
I began to delve into data analysis during my thesis work, which included a statistical and bioinformatic analysis of qRT-PCR data. That same year, I had the opportunity to further deepen my knowledge in this scientific field through a research fellowship titled "Bioinformatic Applications to Biological Processes”. This experience allowed me to strengthen my data analysis skills and collaborate with the research group I was part of.
Subsequently, through a second-level University Master’s degree in Bioinformatics and then through a research fellowship about in silico modeling, I was able to approach the field of in silico medicine at the Department of Drug and Health Sciences at the University of Catania. This experience has been crucial for my personal and professional growth, as I have had the opportunity to deepen and become passionate about a particular branch of computational biology that involves in silico modeling and simulation of biological processes. On a personal level, I have also been able to strengthen my organizational and teamwork skills in a multidisciplinary context, collaborating with professionals such as doctors and pharmacologists.