Dr. Giorgio Chessari

Dr. Giorgio Chessari obtained his PhD in March 2025 with a research project focused on the application of genomics to the study of biodiversity in local livestock breeds, with a particular focus on Italian native breeds. His research combined methodological and practical approaches aimed at supporting the characterization, valorization, and conservation of these local genetic resources. He continued his research as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Catania (Italy), before joining the Functional Breeding group at the Georg-August-University of Göttingen in August 2026. His current research focuses on the development of genomic approaches for estimating breeding values for resource efficiency in dairy cattle, with particular emphasis on feed efficiency and the relationship between resource utilization, animal health, and welfare.

Academic Qualifications:
2021 - 2025: Doctor in Agricultural Sciences (Dr. sc. agr.) in Agricultural Sciences at the Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
2021 - 2025: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in Biotechnologies at the University of Catania, Italy
2018 - 2020: Master’s degree (M.Sc. with distinction) in Agricultural Biotechnologies at the University of Catania, Italy
2015 - 2018: Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc. with distinction) in Food Science and Technologies at the University of Catania, Italy

Research Focus:
- Genomic analyses of genetic diversity and population structure
- Investigation of selection signatures in livestock populations
- Quantitative genetics and genomic approaches in livestock

Areas of Expertise:
- Application of genomics to the characterization of livestock biodiversity
- Genotype imputation and quality control of genomic data
- NGS data analysis and bioinformatics
- Development of bioinformatics pipelines