Quick Facts

  • Name: Rosanna Giordano
  • Comes from: I was born in Naples, Italy
  • Lives in: I currently live in Gainesville, FL
  • Leisure time activities: Reading, knitting and sewing
  • Likes: Walking along the beach
  • Unsuspected talent: Embroidery
  • Currently reading: “The shadow of Vesuvius,  A life of Pliny” by Daisy Dunn and “A short history of myth” by Karen Armstrong.

 In a nutshell

  • My research matters because… It makes new contributions to science and gives beekeepers innovative ways to confront current health problems facing pollinators and honey bees in specific.
  • One of the inspirations for my research has been… My teacher’s dedication and enthusiasm for the study of the natural world and human history, especially Dr. James Nardi and Dr. Ellis McCleod, whom I had the privilege to learn from and work with while pursuing my doctoral studies.
  • The best thing about my job is… Discovering new aspects of nature and working with fellow scientists and students who are enthusiastic and excited about the process of scientific discovery.
  • My career highlight so far has been… The publication of the soybean aphid genome.
  • My advice to aspiring researchers is… To engage in research that you are passionate about and is meaningful to you. Research requires diligent attention to detail and many hours of work, passion will render these into pleasurable tasks.

Short Bio

Rosanna Giordano was born in Naples, Italy. She immigrated to the United States and as an undergraduate attended Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. She then continued to obtain her master’s degree in biology at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA and proceeded to obtain her doctorate degree in entomology at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL.  She has taught at the University of Illinois, and the University of Vermont where she also conducted research on several insects including, aphids and springtails. She is currently collaborating with colleagues at the University of Puerto Rico to develop tools to ameliorate the current decline of honey bees.

Rosanna Giordano, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Know Your Bee Inc.

Interview:

Because I am curious about the world around me and need to explore why and how specific events occur.

I am working on the development of molecular tools that can be used to identify world populations of honey bees as well as a tool to assess the health of honey bees. In addition I am also working on the sequencing of the genome of the Puerto Rico gentle honey bee island ecotype.

The most interesting development is the reduced cost and improved technology for genomic sequencing which has made it possible for more researchers, who do not have a lot of funding, to pursue questions that require molecular data.

The most enjoyable aspects of my work is the opportunity to discover new things about the natural world around us and have the priviledge to work with people who are equally fascinated and excited about the process of using the scientific method to discover the unknown. It is then important to share these discoveries with students and the world at large.

My research will provide tools for beekeepers, researchers and US regulatory agencies to use for the detection and monitoring of undesirable honey bees as well as to determine their health status.

I like to read historical novels and graphic novels, sew and knit and watch movies especially those of Hayao Miyazaki.