Go to main contentGo to navigation menu
University of Catania  >  DSBGA
Reserved Area
Logo UniCt

Degree Course in

Geology and Geophysics

Search

Claudia Pirrotta

Fixed-term Assistant Professor (RTDA) of [GEOS-04/A]
Membership Section: Earth Sciences section
Contacts

Office: Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali – Sezione di Scienze della Terra – Corso Italia, 57 – 95125 Catania
Email: claudia.pirrotta@unict.it
Phone: 095 4783726

VERSIONE ITALIANASTUDIUMAREA RISERVATA

She conducts research and university teaching activities in the fields of Geophysics and Geology, with particular reference to applied geophysics, seismotectonics, seismic microzonation, structural monitoring, archaeology, and the conservation of historical-monumental heritage. These activities have been carried out mainly at the University of Catania and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Furthermore, she has carried out professional activities at the engineering-geological firm Diagnosis S.r.l. and at the innovative start-up Etna Robotix S.r.l., which operates in the field of scientific research and technological development.

Her scientific activity is articulated through participation in national and international research projects of significant interest, collaborations with scientific bodies and institutions, and participation in conferences as a speaker and author of oral and poster contributions. She is the author and co-author of numerous publications in international journals indexed in WoS and Scopus, with contributions as first author and corresponding author. Moreover, she carries out editorial activities as a Guest Editor and reviewer for peer-reviewed journals in the geological and geophysical sectors.

Within the academic framework, she holds teaching roles in the scientific-disciplinary sectors GEOS-04/A and GEOS-04/B within university degree courses, master's degrees, advanced training courses, and PhD programs, including those of an interdisciplinary nature.

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

  • 01/03/2026 – present: Researcher (RTD-A), SSD GEOS-04/B. Activities: Applied geophysics investigations aimed at subsoil exploration in geological and archaeological fields, seismic microzonation, structural dynamic characterization, and structural monitoring of buildings. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof. S. Imposa.
  • 01/03/2023 – 28/02/2026: Researcher (RTD-A), SSD GEOS-04/B, SAMOTHRACE Project – SiciliAn MicronanOTech Research And Innovation Center (CUP E63C22000900006), financed under the PNRR, Mission 4 “Education and Research” – Component 2 “From research to business” – European Union funded projects (NextGenerationEU initiative). Activities: Geophysical studies for dynamic characterization and structural health monitoring of historical buildings for the preventive conservation of built historical-cultural heritage. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof. S. Imposa.
  • 01/01/2023 – present: Research Support Activity, Regional Department of Civil Protection, within the regional seismic microzonation plan (ex regional council resolution March 20, 2017, n. 138) for seismic microzonation (MS) studies under the national seismic risk prevention program (ex art. 11 law 77/2009). Agreement pursuant to art. 15 of law 241/1990 and legislative decree 50/2016 between the Regional Department of Civil Protection of the Presidency of the Sicilian Region and the C.N.R. Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (for the Center for Seismic Microzonation and its Applications). Activities: Execution of geophysical investigations aimed at seismic risk prevention and reduction. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • 01/07/2020 – 30/06/2021: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, SSD GEO/10, AGM for CuHE Research Project: “Analysis of strong historical earthquakes in eastern Sicily and their effects on monumental heritage”. Activities: Geophysical studies aimed at analyzing the effects of historical earthquakes on monumental heritage. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 05/07/2018 – 20/11/2018: Research Fellow, SSD GEO/10, SIMIT THARSY Research Project - Tsunami Hazard Reduction System, Interreg Italy-Malta; project title “Studio di depositi di tsunami nell’area di Marzamemi e limitrofe (Sicilia SE)”. Activities: Geophysical, geological, and geomorphological analyses aimed at seismotectonic studies and the investigation of tsunami deposits. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 01/07/2017 – 30/09/2017: Research Fellow, SSD GEO/10, SATOME Project: Slides and Tsunamis on the Malta Escarpment. Activities: Applied marine geophysics studies through the acquisition and analysis of Chirp and Sparker seismic profiles in the offshore of eastern Sicily, focused on submarine landslides and tsunami deposits. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 12/04/2016 – present: Member of the CATANIA Research Unit “Morphotectonics, active structures and historical seismicity” of CRUST - Interuniversity Center for 3D Seismotectonics with territorial applications (Centro Interuniversitario per l’Analisi Sismotettonica tridimensionale con applicazioni territoriali). Activities: Seismotectonic studies. Affiliation: Gabriele d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara.
  • 01/11/2014 – 31/10/2015: Research Fellow, GEOMONITOR Project – Path for the creation of spin-offs in environmental monitoring. Activities: Geophysical and geomorphological studies aimed at patenting a wave buoy for coastal environmental monitoring, with particular reference to storm and tsunami risks. Affiliation: National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) - Catania Section - Etneo Observatory. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 02/02/2015 – 01/04/2015: Research Assistant (Contract), SSD GEO/10, DPC-INGV Framework Agreement 2012-21 Project V3, Research Program Task WP 12 “Historical analysis on space-time relationships between regional seismicity in the Gulf of Patti-northern Sicily and seismic-volcanic phenomenologies at Vulcano”. Activities: Geophysical and seismotectonic analyses for the study of historical earthquakes and contribution to the drafting of the catalogue of eruptions and earthquakes of Vulcano. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 01/04/2014 – 29/06/2014: Research Assistant (Contract), SSD GEO/10, PRIN Program “Active and recent geodynamics of the Calabrian Arc and the accretionary complex in the Ionian Sea”. Activities: Geophysical and seismotectonic studies aimed at defining active tectonics and seismotectonics in eastern Sicily and southern Calabria. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 26/08/2013 – 23/11/2013: Research Assistant (Contract), SSD GEO/10, DPC-INGV Framework Agreement 2012-21 Project V3, Research Program Task WP 12 “Historical analysis on space-time relationships between regional seismicity in the Gulf of Patti-northern Sicily and seismic-volcanic phenomenologies at Vulcano”. Activities: Geophysical and seismotectonic analyses for the study of historical earthquakes and contribution to the drafting of the catalogue of eruptions and earthquakes of Vulcano. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 01/03/2011 – 28/07/2013: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, SSD GEO/10, Research Program “Analysis of seismically induced phenomena in Eastern Sicily” (including 5 months of maternity leave). Activities: Geophysical, geological, geomorphological, and paleoseismological analyses aimed at seismotectonic studies in eastern Sicily and southern Calabria. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 31/10/2007 – 31/10/2010: PhD Student (with Scholarship), PhD in “Geological Evolution of Mediterranean-type Orogens”. Activities: Characterization of seismogenic sources and tsunamis in eastern Sicily through geophysical (applied geophysics), geological, geomorphological, and paleoseismological studies. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.
  • 23/11/2005 – 22/11/2007: Research Fellow, SSD GEO/10, Activity: "Acquisition and analysis of historical geological and geomorphological data for the identification of earthquake-induced geological phenomena". Activities: Geophysical, geological, and paleoseismological studies for the characterization of seismogenic sources and tsunamis in eastern Sicily. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA. Scientific Supervisor: Prof.ssa M.S. Barbano.

 

PARTICIPATION IN SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS

  • SAMOTHRACE Foundation – SiciliAn MicronanOTech Research And Innovation Center – PNRR Project “Ecosystems for Innovation”. Period: 01/03/2023 – 28/02/2026. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • CRUST – Interuniversity Center for 3D Seismotectonics with Territorial Applications (Centro Interuniversitario per l’Analisi Sismotettonica tridimensionale con applicazioni territoriali), Catania Research Unit “Morphotectonics, active structures and historical seismicity”. Period: 12/04/2016 – present. Affiliation: CRUST - Gabriele d'Annunzio University and University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • PRIN - PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE – MUSE-4D - Overtime tectonic, dynamic and rheologic control on destructive multiple seismic events - Special Italian Faults & Earthquakes: from real 4D cases to models - 2017 Call. Period: 01/11/2019 – 31/10/2022. Affiliation: Gabriele d'Annunzio University and University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • Project AGM for CuHe: Advanced Green Materials for Cultural Heritage. Program: PON Research and Innovation 2014-2020. Period: 12/09/2018 – 11/03/2022. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • SATOME oceanographic campaign: Slides and Tsunamis on the Malta Escarpment. Period: 01/07/2017 – 30/09/2017. Affiliation: CNR-ISMAR and University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • SIMIT-THARSY – Tsunami Hazard Reduction System. Cross-border cooperation programs, INTERREG V-A ITALY-MALTA 2014-2020. Period: 01/03/2018 – 01/03/2021. Affiliation: Regional Department of Civil Protection – Presidency of the Sicilian Region and University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • Seismological and Volcanological V3 Project – Multi-disciplinary analysis of relationships between tectonic structures and volcanic activity. DPC-INGV Agreement 2012-15. Period: 01/01/2012 – 31/12/2013. Affiliation: INGV - Etneo Observatory and University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • PRIN 2010-11 – “Active and recent geodynamics of Calabrian Arc and Accretionary Complex in the Ionian Sea”, funded by M.I.U.R. Period: 01/01/2010 – 31/12/2011. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • University Project: “Analysis of megaclasts on the coasts of south-eastern Sicily for the evaluation of their origin from storms or tsunamis”. Period: 01/01/2008 – 31/12/2009. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • Seismological S1 Project – DPC-INGV Framework Agreement 2007-2009 – Determination of the seismogenic potential in Italy for seismic hazard assessment. Period: 01/09/2007 – 30/09/2009. Affiliation: INGV - Rome 1 Section and University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • University Project: “Seismogenic sources and seismically induced phenomena in eastern Sicily and Calabria. Geological and geomorphological analyses of seismically induced phenomena for the characterization of seismogenic sources”. Period: 01/01/2007 – 31/12/2008. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • Seismological S2 Project – DPC-INGV Agreement. Assessing the seismogenic potential and the probability of strong earthquakes in Italy. Period: 01/06/2005 – 31/07/2007. Affiliation: INGV - Rome 1 Section and University of Catania - DSBGA.

 

TEACHING ACTIVITY

  • Lecturer for the XX Advanced Training Course in Engineering for Cultural Heritage. Lecture title: “Geophysical investigations for archaeological areas and cultural heritage”. A.Y. 2025/2026. Affiliation: University of Naples Federico II - C.I.Be.C.
  • Course within the PhD Program in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Course title: “Vibration-Based Applied Geophysics for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Structural Dynamic Characterization (SDC) of Buildings - Applied Geophysics for Structural Health Monitoring and Structural Dynamic Characterization of buildings through environmental vibration analysis”, 2 CFU (12 hours). A.Y. 2024/2025. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • Course within the PhD Program in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Course title: “Acquisition and analysis of vibrational measurements for the monitoring of buildings of historical, artistic, and monumental interest within PNRR projects”, 1 CFU (6 hours). A.Y. 2023/2024. Affiliation: University of Catania - DSBGA.
  • Teaching activities for the module “Seismic damage scenarios” within the 2nd Level University Master in “Environmental Diagnostics and Safety” (8 total hours). Period: 17/04/2014 – 31/12/2014. Affiliation: Enna "Kore" University.

 

Gaudiosi I., Barnaba C., Laurenzano G., Pennica F., Simionato M., Azzaro R., Boniolo G., Brunelli G., Catalano S., Cavuoto G., Davani F., di Fiore V., Famiani D., Grassi S., Heilamikael S., Imposa S., Mancini M., Milana G., Morreale G., Niceforo D., Panzera F., Paratore M., Peronace E., Pirrotta C., Porchia A., Punzo M., Puzzilli L. M., Quattrocchi G., Romanelli M., Ruscito V., Tarallo D., Taverna P., Torrisi A., Tortorici G., Tusa G., de Franco R., Caielli G. M. Database of HVSR Measurements Across the Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy). Annals of Geophysics (in press).

 

Grassi, S., Pirrotta, C., Imposa, S., Quattrocchi, G., and Morreale, G. (2026). Identification and Characterization of Creep-Capable Faults Using Advanced HVSR Processing: Implications for Seismic Microzonation (Etna, Italy). Geosciences, 16(7), 248. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences16070248.

 

Pirrotta C., Gueli, A.M., Trigona, C., Pappalardo, E., & Imposa, S. (2025). Dynamic Characterization and Soil–Structure Interaction (SSI) of Heritage Buildings: The Case of the Norman Castle of Aci Castello (Sicily, Italy). Heritage, 8(12), 538. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120538.

 

C. Pirrotta, C. Trigona, S. Imposa, B. Mancuso, V. Pinto and A. M. Gueli,

VIEW COURSES FROM A.Y. 2022/2023 TO PRESENT