DR FABIO RINDI
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Biological Sciences University of Alabama Box 870345 Tuscaloosa AL 35487 (205) 348-0380   email frindi@bama.ua.edu

CURRENT POSITION
Postodctoral Associate, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama

RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in systematics, phylogeny, evolution and ecology of algae, in particular terrestrial green algae. Terrestrial microalgae are very challenging organisms, with a fascinating evolutionary history. They have derived from multiple invasions of separate evolutionary lineages of aquatic algae that have adapted to terrestrial conditions. In the course of this process, their morphology has converged into a very limited range of morphological forms. Consequently the simple morphology of terrestrial microalgae, as we know them today, hides an enormous amount of genetic diversity; this is cause of huge confusion and difficulties in the classification of these organisms. The main goal of my research is to investigate taxonomy and evolutionary relationships in several groups of terrestrial green algae, in particular the orders Trentepohliales, Prasiolales and Klebsormidiales. I am investigating taxonomy and phylogeny of these groups by a combination of morphological observations, culture experiments and molecular work based on sequencing of several markers, primarily the large subunit of the ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL), the small subunit of the ribosomal RNA (18S) and the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal RNA (ITS).

Research collaborators (apart the people at the Phycolab):

Prof. Michael Guiry (National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland); Dr Keesoo Lee (Lincoln University, Missouri) and Dr Paul Nam (University of Missouri Rolla); Prof. Thomas Friedl (Universität Göttingen, Germany); Prof. Ulf Karsten and Dr Lydia Gustavs (University of Rostock, Germany); Dr Alison Sherwood (University of Hawaii at Manoa); Dr Jaanika Blomster and Dr Milla Suutari (University of Helsinki, Finland); Dr Lynne McIvor (Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden, The Netherlands); Dr Anika Mostaert (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland); Dr Claudio Battelli (University of Primorska, Slovenia); Dr David John (National University of Ireland, Galway and Natural History Museum, London, UK)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Phycological Society of America

COMPLETE LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

EDUCATION
1999: Ph.D in Environmental Sciences (Marine Ecology), University of Pisa, Italy (Thesis: Morphology, phenology and distribution of some groups of Mediterranean and North Atlantic benthic algae). 
1992: Primary degree in Biological Sciences, University of Pisa, Italy (Thesis: The macroalgal photophilic assemblages of the coast of Livorno: phytosociological analysis and reproductive phenology).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
May 2006 - Present: Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama.
2000 - 2006: Postdoctoral Researcher and Teaching Assistant, Martin Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway; member of the staff of AlgaeBase, the largest online taxonomic database on algae (http://www.algaebase.org)
1999: Research and Teaching Assistant, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa
1996 - 1997: visiting Ph.D. student, Martin Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway.  
1996 - 1999: Ph.D. student, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa.
1992 - 1995: Research and Teaching Assistant, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa.

TEACHING AND SUPERVISION EXPERIENCE
2000-2006: teaching assistant and supervisor, National University of Ireland, Galway.
1999: short-term contract for teaching activities at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences, University of Pisa.
1995: teacher of refresher courses for high school teachers.
1992-1996: teaching assistant, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa.

RELEVANT FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE
2007: Collection of Trentepohliales and other subaerial algae in Florida (mainly Everglades National Park) and in rainforests of central Panama (mainly Barro Colorado Island)
2006: Collection of Trentepohliales and other subaerial algae in coastal areas of Louisiana and rainforests of French Guiana.
2004-2006: Extensive collections of freshwater algae (in particular desmids) from bogs, lakes and streams of Connemara, Clare Island and other areas of western Ireland.
2000-2004: Periodical sampling and monitoring of intertidal algal communities of Clare Island, western Ireland, as part of the New Survey of Clare Island. Extensive sampling of subaerial algae of western Ireland.
1996-1999: Intensive sampling of seaweeds on intertidal rocky shores of the western Mediterranean.
1994-1995: intensive SCUBA diving in Mediterranean Sea; surveys of environmental impact assessment on meadows of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica; participation as research assistant to an oceanographic cruise in the Archipelago of the Eolian Islands, Southern Thyrrenian Sea (project EOCUMM 95).

MAIN FUNDING ACHIEVEMENTS
2007: $ 50,000 - Missouri Life Science Research Board. Project “Integrated Program for the Development of Microalgae as Sustainable Resources for Biofuels and Biomaterials”. As Co-PI with Dr Paul Nam, Dr Keesoo Lee and Dr Virgil Flanigan
2005: € 169,343 - European Community. Project ALGAEIRE “Management and conservation of freshwater habitats: developing expertise on freshwater algae in Ireland” (Marie Curie Fellowship for the Transfer of Knowledge - Contract MTKD-CT-2004-516852). With Prof. M.D. Guiry.
2002: € 45,000 - European Community. Project NATURE “Natural preservatives produced by macro-algae and their use in cosmetic applications” (EC CRAF Project - Contract QLK3-CT-2001-70571). With Prof. M.D. Guiry (as subcontractor).
2000: € 80,000 - Higher Education Authorithy, Ireland Project “Composition and ecology of urban subaerial algal assemblages and associated animal communities in western and south-western Ireland”. With Prof. M.D. Guiry and Dr T.K. McCarthy
1999: 3,144 Irish Pounds (=  € 3,992) - Irish Department of Science and Education Postgraduate grant for one academic year

EDITORIAL ACTIVITY
Associate Editor for Microalgal Taxonomy, Morphology and Phylogeny, Phycologia (September 2007 - present)
Associate Editor for Marine and Freshwater Ecology, Cryptogamie, Algologie (May 2003 - present)
Peer-reviewer for manuscripts submitted to the following journals:
- Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
- Australian Systematic Botany
- Botanica Marina
- Cryptogamie, Algologie
- Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
- European Journal of Phycology
- Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
- Journal of Phycology
- Journal of Plant Research
- Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
- Marine Biology Research
- Marine Ecology P.S.Z.N.I.
- Microbial Ecology
- New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
- Nova Hedwigia
- Oceanologica Acta
- Pacific Science
- Phycologia
- Southeastern Naturalist
- Vie et Milieu

Reviewer of Biology and Sensitivity Key Information for MarLin, the Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland (http://www.marlin.ac.uk)
Co-editor of the Volume 6 (The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae) of the New Survey of Clare Island for the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin (2005-2006)

OTHER RELEVANT APPOINTMENTS
Member  of the Program Committee of the Phycological Society of America (January 2008-present)
Member of the Scientific Organizing Committee of the 4th European Phycological Congress (Oviedo, Spain, 22-28 July 2007)
Member of the Scientific Organizing Committee of the 3rd Congress of the International Society for Applied Phycology and the 11th International Conference on Applied Phycology (to be held from the 21st to 27th  of June 2008 in Galway, Ireland)
Invited chairperson, 8th International Phycological Congress, Durban (South Africa), 13-19 August 2005.
Invited chairperson, 4th European Phycological Congress, Oviedo (Spain), 22-28 July 2007

SPECIAL COURSES
July 2002: Advanced course on identification of freshwater green algae, taught by Dr D.M. John, Department of Botany, Natural History Museum, London
July 2002: Advanced course on identification of freshwater blue-green algae, taught by Prof. B.A. Whitton, University of Durham.
September 2001: International course “Design and analysis of ecological experiments”, taught by Prof. A.J. Underwood and Dr M.G. Chapman (Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities, University of Sydney, Australia).
June 1998: field course on taxonomy of benthic marine algae of the Tuscan Archipelago, organised by the Algology Working Group of the Italian Botanical Society.
August 1991: intensive course ERASMUS on taxonomy and ecology of Mediterranean benthic macroalgae at the Laboratoire Arago, Banyuls-sur-Mer (France).