Academic Career

2017 – 2019 | Master’s Degree in Science and Technology, University of Sfax, Tunisia

Research Master in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, with a 64% specialization in the field.

Studies included oceanography and marine hydrodynamics and their influence on ecosystems.

Focus on ecosystem dynamics, marine plastic pollution, and ecosystem resilience.

2016 – 2017 | Master’s Degree in Science, Technology, and Health, University of Le Mans, France

Integrated understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems.

EXPERIENCE

1. Research Fellow | “CONTRIB_MAESTRI_INTERREG_ITALIA_MALTA” Project
   November 2025 – Present | University of Messina, Department of Engineering, Messina, Italy

• Monitoring and modeling the dynamics of plastics in marine–coastal environments.

2. Research Fellow | “Transport of Plastics by Waves and Currents on Emerged and    Submerged Beaches (PLATONE)” Project
February 2025 – November 2025 | University of Messina, Department of Engineering, Messina, Italy

• Calibrated wave conditions and employed the Vectrino Profiler (Nortek AS) for high-precision wave motion tracking.
• Analyzed data on plastic transport velocities and hydrodynamic behavior.
• Contributed to the development of nature-based solutions to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution in coastal areas.

3. Research Grant | National Biodiversity Future Center
February 2024 – December 2024 | Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (CNR-IRBIM), Messina, Italy

• Gained practical field and laboratory experience in monitoring plastics in aquaculture.
• Participated in a multidisciplinary research project focused on marine plastic pollution, aquaculture sustainability, and marine ecosystem health.

PARTICIPATION IN PROJECTS

Translator/Presenter | MAWEGO Project – “Technical Support for the Improvement of Marine Heritage Governance in Libya”
Funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEACI) – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS, AID 12527)
Tricase, Italy (2023)

Mentor | Deep Blue Project – “Training of Trainers: Effective Management and Sustainable Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources”
Bizerte, Tunisia (2020)

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED

● Conference Proceedings

MetroSea 2025 (24-26 September 2025): Experimental study on the near-shore transport of floating plastic particles under irregular waves
Authors: Giovanni Passalacqua, Imen Chebbi, Claudio Iuppa, Fabrizio Narzisi, Luca Cavallaro, Rosaria Ester Musumeci, Enrico Foti, and Carla Faraci.
SCACR 2025 (24-26 September 2025): Wave motion effects on microplastic sedimentation
Authors: Giovanni Passalacqua, Imen Chebbi, Claudio Iuppa, and Carla Faraci.
MetroSea 2025 (8-10 October 2025): A numerical tool for predicting the transport of floating plastic debris in the coastal zone
Authors: Claudio Iuppa, Giovanni Passalacqua, Imen Chebbi, and Carla Faraci.

● Journal Article

1. Title: A. Short-term in vitro exposure of Pinctada imbricata hemocytes to Quaternium-15: exploration of physiological and cellular responses.
Authors: Multisanti Cristiana Roberta, Riolo Kristian, Impellitteri Federica, Chebbi Imen, Faggio Caterina, and Giannetto Alessia.
Rivista: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2023;101:104198. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104198 | PMID: 37391050