Dr. Floriana Anselmucci

Biography

Floriana Anselmucci is an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente in the Soil Micro Mechanics team within the Faculty of Engineering Technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Geotechnics and Geomechanics, as well as a Master's degree in Geomechanics and Geomaterials from the University of Grenoble Alpes in France, and in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Calabria in Italy. Her early research involved developing methodologies to estimate the hydro-mechanical effects of vegetation on soil micromechanics. From 2017 to 2020, Floriana was a doctoral candidate within the Geomechanics group at Laboratoire 3SR in France, where she studied physical processes affecting root-soil interactions using advanced imaging techniques. Her current research focuses on bio-hydro-mechanical properties in the vadose zone and the effects of climate change on soil properties, investigating correlations between plant characteristics and soil water retention. Floriana collaborates with the Department of Biomechanical Engineering to develop a burrowing robot to measure in-situ mechanical properties of soil. She teaches multiple modules including Advanced Programming in Engineering and Soil Mechanics. She is actively involved in various research projects aimed at improving the understanding of geotechnical behaviors in ecological contexts.

Research Interests