Dr. Giovanni Sena

Biography

Giovanni Sena earned a Laurea (B.Sc./M.Phys. equivalent) in theoretical physics from the University of Milan, with a special focus on quantum field theory under the supervision of Prof. Luciano Girardello. He completed a one-year internship in the Biophysics group at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Milan. Later, he moved to New York City to attend the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at New York University, where he earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics, focusing on plant root pattern formation with Prof. Philip Benfey. During his Ph.D., he contributed to the discovery of important transcription factors (SHR, SHORT-ROOT) known to translocate in plant tissues. Afterward, he completed post-doctoral training under Prof. Stan Leibler at Rockefeller University and Prof. Ken Birnbaum at New York University, developing new imaging methods based on light-sheet microscopy to study root development. His research led to the unexpected discovery of a limited role for the stem cell niche in root meristem regeneration. Dr. Sena joined Imperial College London in 2012 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Life Sciences, leading the Laboratory of Plant Morphogenesis, where his diverse team uses the Arabidopsis thaliana model system to study the biophysical and molecular mechanisms controlling root development and its interaction with the environment.

Research Interests

Experience