Our micropaleontological research focus primarily on:
1) the study of the interactions between microbial communities (fossil, sub-fossil or living) and physical environments under conditions of environmental stress (including extreme conditions). In particular, our research focuses on the morphological and compositional products of such interactions (bio-induced morphologies, bio-sedimentary structures, biomineralizations) and their fossilization potential. Their study in modern systems aims to provide solid tools to interpret the fossil counterparts in the geological record. Different habitats currently investigated include ephemeral, salty and hypersaline lakes with evaporitic precipitation (such as sabkha, playa and salar), areas with rising fluids from the subsoil that can favor mineral precipitations, such as hydrothermal systems, or where travertine precipitation occurs.
2) the use of microfossils, in particular Meso-Cenozoic foraminifera, for biostratigraphic and paleoecological purposes. Data are collected by describing associations of microfossils obtained from soft rocks (clays, sands) and through microfacies analyses (thin sections of compact rocks).