About

I have recently joined the University as a lecturer in Environmental Science. My research focuses on the use of molecular techniques to address ecological questions spanning different environments. As a result of this core interest, my research spans microbial ecology to environmental DNA (eDNA) in various habitats, from soil to tropical reefs. 

Teaching responsibilities

I am currently module leader for the master module Practical Training-Based Placement.

Research interests

My research focuses on using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) approaches to illuminate the community composition and functioning of natural ecosystems. 

My main research lines are:

• Characterisation of the microbial community in various environment including soils, freshwater and marine habitat
• eDNA for biomonitoring especially in freshwater and tropical marine habitat
• Methodological development for eDNA studies 

Membership of professional bodies

• International Coral Reef Society
• British Ecological Society 

Qualifications

• 2013 BS (Hons) Biotechnology University of Florence (Italy)
• 2014 MS (Hons) Industrial Biotechnology University of Florence (Italy)
• 2018 PhD Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy)

Recent publications

• Bani, A., Randall, K. C., Clark, D. R., Gregson, B. H., Henderson, D. K., Losty, E. C., & Ferguson R. M. W. (2022). Mind The Gaps - What Do We Know About How Multiple Chemical Stressors Impact Freshwater Aquatic Microbiomes? Advances in Ecological Research
• Clagnan, E., D'Imporzano, G., Dell'Orto, M., Bani, A., Dumbrell, A. J., Parati, K., Acién-Fernández, F. G., Portillo-Hahnefeld, A., Martel-Quintana, A., Gómez-Pinchetti, J. L., & Adani, F. (2022). Centrate as a sustainable growth medium: impact on microalgal inocula and bacterial communities in tubular photobioreactor cultivation systems. Bioresource Technology, 127979
• Struebig, M. J., Aninta, S. G., Lo, M., Voigt, M., Bani, A., Barus, H., ... & Supriatna, J. (2022). Safeguarding imperiled biodiversity and evolutionary processes in the Wallacea center of endemism. BioScience.
• Gregson, B. H., Bani, A., Steinfield, L., Holt, D., & Whitby, C. (2022). Anaerobes and methanogens dominate the microbial communities in water harvesting ponds used by Kenyan rural smallholder farmers. Science of the Total Environment, 819, 153040
• Su, M., Dell'Orto, M., D'Imporzano, G., Bani, A., Dumbrell, A. J., & Adani, F. (2022). The structure and diversity of microalgae-microbial consortia isolated from various local organic wastes. Bioresource Technology, 347, 126416
• Su, M., Dell’Orto, M., Scaglia, B., D’Imporzano, G., Bani, A., & Adani, F. (2022). Growth Performance, Biochemical Composition and Nutrient Recovery Ability of Twelve Microalgae Consortia Isolated from Various Local Organic Wastes Grown on Nano-Filtered Pig Slurry. Molecules, 27(2), 422
• Wilkes, M. A., Mckenzie, M., Naura, M., Allen, L., Morris, M., Van De Wiel, M., Dumbrell, A. J., Bani, A., Lashford, C., Laveres, T., & England, J. (2021). Defining recovery potential in river restoration: A biological data-driven approach. Water, 13(23), 3339
• Bani, A., Fernandez, F. G. A., D'Imporzano, G., Parati, K., & Adani, F Influence of photobioreactor set-up on the survival of microalgae inoculum (2021). Bioresource Technology, 320, 124408
• Bani, A., De Brauwer, M., Creer, S., Dumbrell, A. J., Limmon, G., Jompa, J., van der Heyden, S. and Beger, Informing marine spatial planning decisions with environmental DNA (2020). M. Advances in Ecological Research. Vol. 62. Academic Press, 375-407