Elena Gemma
Elena Gemma is pursuing a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Parma, Italy, and she is currently in her final year.
During her studies, she served as an Academic Tutor at the University of Parma, supporting students during practical laboratory activities.
Furthermore, she also completed a 9-month internship at a pharmacy near Parma, where she gained a lot of practical experience. Her academic background has provided her with solid training in medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical technology, pharmacology, and drug development.
For her Master’s thesis, Elena is focusing on medicinal chemistry and is conducting a research project focusing on the synthesis of small molecules with potential antibacterial activity through the inhibition of the purine biosynthesis pathway. Her research focuses on the clinically relevant bacterial species, E. coli. The ain of the work is to inhibit the PurK enzyme, which is involved in nucleotide biosynthesis, with the goal of impairing bacterial growth and pathogenicity.