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Annalisa Pietrobelli

Postdoc

Abteilung für Menschliche Ursprünge
Max-Planck-Institut für evolutionäre Anthropologie
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig

Telefon: +49 (0) 341 3550 353
E-Mail: annalisa_pietrobelli@[>>> Please remove the text! <<<]eva.mpg.de

Research Interests

My postdoctoral project at the Max Plank Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology - Dept. of Human Origins focuses on the internal and external morphology and biomechanics of the lower limbs of extant and extinct hominid taxa in the light of the evolution of bipedality. Specifically, I investigate how morphological and biomechanical changes in the leg relate to biological variation determined by sexual dimorphism or different body sizes, to different functional requirements determined by high vs. low mobility and activity intensity, to different terrain types and locomotor strategies, and to phylogenetic differences.

  • functional morphology
  • lower limb biomechanics
  • evolution of bipedalism

Curriculum Vitae

Career & Education

2023Postdoctoral researcher – Department of Human Origins, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
2023Adjunct Professor of Anthropometry and Ergonomics – Department of Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna
2022Visiting Postgraduate Researcher – School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent
2019-2023PhD in Biological Anthropology – Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna
Thesis: “Skeletal variability of the human fibula and its evolutionary implications
2018-2019Museum operator – Collection of Anthropology of University of Bologna
2017-2018National Civil Service – Museum operator – Collection of Veterinary Pathology and Teratology
2014-2017MA in Archaeology (bioarchaeological curriculum) – Department of History and Cultures University of Bologna
Thesis: “A geodatabase for bioarcheology – the case of via Orfeo cemetery

Research experience

Internships and courses:

2021UnaEuropa PhD Workshop “Dissonant Heritage: Concepts, Critiques, Cases- University of Bologna & Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, November 2021
2020Statistics class Dr A. Boattini (University of Bologna), Jan 2020 (30h)
Human bone histology morning coffee workshop series for biological anthropologists Dr J. Miszkiewicz (Australian National University in Canberra), May-Jun 2020
2017-2018Acquiring and Post-processing 3D data in Anthropology, University of Bologna, Prof. Stefano Benazzi, Jun 2017 and May 2018
(Module 1: Acquisition and processing 3D models and CT scan: Geomagic & Avizo software)
(Module 2: Geometric Morphometrics, Viewbox & R software);
2017Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Institute for Research and Learning in Archeology and Bioarchaeology (IRLAB) and University of Pisa, Division of Paleopathology, Jul 2015.
Biostat 2017- Multivariate statistics in Anthropology”, University of Pisa with University of Asti, May 2017
2016-2017Internship at the Laboratory of Bioarchaeology and Forensic Osteology Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Dec 2016 - Feb 2017


Fieldwork

2016-2017Field School Badia Pozzeveri (LU, Italy), Institute for Research and Learning in Archeology and Bioarchaeology (IRLAB) and University of Pisa, Middle ages necropolis excavation and anthropological study
2016Islamic necropolis of Salut (Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman), University of Pisa, and Italian Mission to Oman (IMTO)
2016Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno (IS, Italy), University Suor Orsola Benincasa
2015-2015Southern necropolis of Tharros (OR, Italy), University of Bologna
2015Monastry of San Benedetto de Iumento Albo (IS, Italy), University Suor Orsola Benincasa
2013-2014Southern necropolis of Tharros (OR, Italy) Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna


Languages

  • Italian: proficient (mother tongue)
  • English: advanced (C1)
  • French: Intermediate (B1)
  • German: Basic (A2)

Skills & Softwares

Surface models processingMeshlab, Geomagic Studio, Meshmixer (Advanced)
3D image acquisitionArtec Space Spider Laser Scanner + Geomagic design X (Good)
3D imaging segmentationAvizo (Advanced), 3D Slicer (Basic)
Geometric morphometricsViewbox (Advanced), Arothron (R package) (Good)
Cross-sectional geometryMorphomap (R package), BoneJ (Good)
Trabecular analysisMedtool (Good)
StatisticsPast, SPSS Statistics, R & Rstudio (Advanced)
GISQuantumGIS (Good)
Image processing & Illustration preprationAdobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, GIMP (Good)


Research awards & funding

2023best poster prize at XXV AAI Congress (6-8/9/2023, Chieti, Italy) with the poster: Mameli D., Pietrobelli A., Mariotti V., Belcastro M.G. Morphological patterns of lower limb fibrous entheses in juvenile skeletons.
2022MARCO POLO GRANT by Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna
2018Dissertation prize: "Creazione di un geodatabase per lo studio bioarcheologico del cimitero medioevale di Via Orfeo" by Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna

Publications

2024

Pietrobelli A., Sorrentino R., Sparacello V.S., Mottes E., Fontana F., Sineo L., Benazzi S., Marchi D., Belcastro M.G. (2024). Exploring the role of fibular extremities as indicators of mobility patterns and locomotor behavior in Homo sapiens from Mid- Late Upper Paleolithic to the modern age. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 16 (7)
DOI

Mameli D., Pietrobelli A., Sorrentino R., Nicolosi T., Mariotti V., Belcastro M.G. (2024). Entheseal variation and locomotor behavior during growth. Journal of Anatomy, 245 (1), pp. 137 - 155
DOI

Pietrobelli A., Sorrentino R., Benazzi S., Belcastro M.G., Marchi D. (2024). Linking the proximal tibiofibular joint to hominid locomotion: A morphometric study of extant species. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 184 (2)
DOI

Voisin J.-L., Belcastro M.G., Pietrobelli A., Condemi S. (2024) . A new thumb phalanx from Moula Guercy (France): description and considerations of Neandertal hand use [Une nouvelle phalange de pouce provenant de Moula Guercy (France): description et réflexion sur l’utilisation de la main par les Néandertaliens.]. Comptes Rendus - Palevol, 23 (21), pp. 293 - 323
DOI

2023

Sorrentino R., Carlson K.J., Orr C.M., Pietrobelli A., Figus C., Li S., Conconi M., Sancisi N., Belvedere C., Zhu M., Fiorenza L., Hublin J.-J., Jashashvili T., Novak M., Patel B.A., Prang T.C., Williams S.A., Saers J.P.P., Stock J.T., Ryan T., Myerson M., Leardini A., DeSilva J., Marchi D., Belcastro M.G., Benazzi S. (2023). Morphological and evolutionary insights into the keystone element of the human foot’s medial longitudinal arch. Communications Biology, 6 (1)
DOI

Condemi S., Panuel M., Chaumoitre K., Belcastro M.G., Pietrobelli A., Voisin J.-L. (2023). A pathological Neandertal thumb phalanx from Moula-Guercy (France). International Journal of Paleopathology, 42, pp. 14 - 17
DOI

Nicolosi T., Mariotti V., Talamo S., Miari M., Minarini L., Nenzioni G., Lenzi F., Pietrobelli A., Sorrentino R., Benazzi S., Belcastro M.G. (2023). On the traces of lost identities: chronological, anthropological and taphonomic analyses of the Late Neolithic/Early Eneolithic fragmented and commingled human remains from the Farneto rock shelter (Bologna, northern Italy). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 15 (3)
DOI

2022

Pietrobelli A., Sorrentino R., Notariale V., Durante S., Benazzi S., Marchi D., Belcastro M.G. (2022). Comparability of skeletal fibulae surfaces generated by different source scanning (dual-energy CT scan vs. high resolution laser scanning) and 3D geometric morphometric validation. Journal of Anatomy, 241 (3), pp. 667 - 682
DOI

Pietrobelli A., Sorrentino R., Durante S., Marchi D., Benazzi S., Belcastro M.G. (2022). Sexual Dimorphism in the Fibular Extremities of Italians and South Africans of Identified Modern Human Skeletal Collections: A Geometric Morphometric Approach. Biology, 11 (7)
DOI

Belcastro M.G., Pietrobelli A., Nicolosi T., Milella M., Mariotti V. (2022). Scientific and Ethical Aspects of Identified Skeletal Series: The Case of the Documented Human Osteological Collections of the University of Bologna (Northern Italy). Forensic Sciences, 2 (2), pp. 349 - 361
DOI

Pietrobelli A., Marchi D., Belcastro M.G. (2022). The relationship between bipedalism and growth: A metric assessment in a documented modern skeletal collection (Certosa Collection, Bologna, Italy). American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 177 (4), pp. 669 - 689
DOI

Sorrentino R., Carlson K.J., Figus C., Pietrobelli A., Stephens N.B., DeMars L.J.D., Saers J.P.P., Armando J., Bettuzzi M., Guarnieri T., Oxilia G., Vazzana A., Parr W., Turley K., Morigi M.P., Stock J.T., Ryan T.M., Benazzi S., Marchi D., Belcastro M.G. (2022). The talar morphology of a hypochondroplasic dwarf: A case study from the Italian Late Antique period. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 32 (2), pp. 429 - 443
DOI

Gasparini A., Lugli F., Silvestrini S., Pietrobelli A., Marchetta I., Benazzi S., Belcastro M.G. (2022). Biological sex VS. Archaeological Gender: Enamel peptide analysis of the horsemen of the Early Middle age necropolises of Campochiaro (Molise, Italy). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 41
DOI

2021

Marino R., Tanganelli V., Pietrobelli A., Belcastro M.G. (2021). Evaluation of the auricular surface method for subadult sex estimation on Italian modern (19th to 20th century) identified skeletal collections. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 174 (4), pp. 792 - 803
DOI

Belcastro M.G., Nicolosi T., Sorrentino R., Mariotti V., Pietrobelli A., Bettuzzi M., Morigi M.P., Benazzi S., Talamo S., Miari M., Preti N., Castagna L., Pisani L., Grandi L., Baraldi P., Zannini P., Scarponi D., Waele J.D. (2021). Unveiling an odd fate after death: The isolated Eneolithic cranium discovered in the Marcel Loubens Cave (Bologna, Northern Italy). PLoS ONE, 16 (3 March)
DOI

2020

Pietrobelli A., Mariotti V., Fusari S., Gasparini A., Bettuzzi M., Morigi M.P., Belcastro M.G. (2020). Syphilis in an Italian medieval jewish community: A bioarchaeological and cultural perspective. International Journal of Paleopathology, 30, pp. 85 - 97
DOI

Belcastro M.G., Mariotti V., Pietrobelli A., Sorrentino R., García-Tabernero A., Estalrrich A., Rosas A. (2020). The study of the lower limb entheses in the Neanderthal sample from El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain): How much musculoskeletal variability did Neanderthals accumulate? Journal of Human Evolution, 141
DOI

2019

Belcastro M.G., Pietrobelli A., Rastelli E., Iannuzzi V., Toselli S., Mariotti V. (2019). Variations in epiphyseal fusion and persistence of the epiphyseal line in the appendicular skeleton of two identified modern (19th–20th c.) adult Portuguese and Italian samples. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 169 (3), pp. 448 - 463
DOI