Alessandro holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology from Université de Sherbrooke (2011) and a master’s in biology from Université de Montréal (2015). His research project focused on the genetics of the populations of a chrysomelid (the lily leaf beetle) that arrived in Montréal in the mid-20th century. Afterwards he worked in agronomic research with the goal of limiting the use of pesticides in fruit production. As keenly interested as ever in the world of insects and their roles in the environment, Alessandro is now taking on fresh challenges at the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV) as project manager of the Mission Monarch program, a citizen science program under the auspices of the Insectarium de Montréal.