Professional Experience
October 2025
present
University of Florence - Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence. Italy.
Associate Professor of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
November 2022
October 2025
University of Florence - Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence. Italy.
Researcher (RTD-b)
September 2021
October 2022
University of Florence - Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence. Italy.
Researcher (RTD-a)
April 2020
August 2021
University of Pisa - Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa, Italy.
Marie-Skłodowska Curie individual fellow
January 2020
March 2020
University of Florence - Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Florence, Italy.
Researcher scientist - "The neural substrate of numerical cognition in developmental dyscalculia revealed by eye tracking, pupillometry and ultra-high field 7T functional magnetic imaging". - Supervisor: Prof. David Burr
April 2019
December 2019
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone (PI), Italy.
Researcher scientist - "Psychophysical testing, design and implementation 7T fMRI experiments to study the visual cortex". NEURODREAM- Supervisor: Prof. Maria Concetta Morrone
December 2018
May 2019
University of Florence, NEUROFARBA, Florence, Italy
Researcher scientist - “Visuo-spatial working memory and crowding mechanisms in developmental dyscalulia”. Supervisor: Prof. David Burr
February 2016
November 2018
INSERM, Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Neurospin, Paris, France
Post doctoral researcher - “Distinguishing numerical codes in the human brain with high-field imaging (7T fMRI)”. Supervisor: MD Evelyn Eger
July 2014
January 2016
University of Pisa, Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa, Italy.
Post doctoral researcher - "Functional exploration of the visual system". Supervisor: Prof. Maria Concetta Morrone
March 2014
March 2018
University of Pisa, Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Pisa, Italy.
Honorary research collaborator for the project “Cortical Plasticity in Retinitis Pigmentosa: an integrated study from animal models to humans”. Supervisor: Prof. Maria Concetta Morrone
March 2014
May 2014
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone (PI), Italy.
"Design and implementation of the fMRI experiments". Supervisor: Prof. Maria Concetta Morrone
March 2010
May 2010
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone (PI), Italy.
"Design and realization of fMRI experiments". Supervisor: Prof. Maria Concetta Morrone
Funding & Qualifications
2026
Obtained National Scientific Qualification for Full Professor in the competitive sector 11/E1, General Psychology, Psychobiology, and Psychometrics.
2023
PRIN Funding (National grant) — RIGHSTRESS Project – Tuning arousal for optimal perception
Total budget: 233,854 euros, of which 34,000 euros allocated to the Unit I coordinate.
2022
Research collaboration within the project THE – Tuscany Health Ecosystem, funded by the European Union – NextGeneration EU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission “Education and Research”
Role: collaborator in Sub-project 11 – Advanced pupillometry sensors for measuring cognitive and emotional states.
2022
Obtained National Scientific Qualification for Associate Professor in the competitive sector 11/E1, General Psychology, Psychobiology, and Psychometrics.
2021
My paper “The pupil responds spontaneously to perceived numerosity” was among the Top 25 most read papers in Nature Communications in the Social Sciences and Human Behaviour category in 2021. Nature Communications (IF 17.7) https://www.nature.com/collections/ccjddcabab
2020
Marie-Skłodowska Curie individual fellowship, 171.473 euros
2019
Post doctoral Fellowship –"Dott. Giuseppe Guelfi" 2019, per ricerche nel campo della Biomedicina e Biologia, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 22.000 euros
2015
Travel Grant - Italian Society for Neuroscience Congress, Cagliari, Italy, 500 euros
2011
PhD scholarship - University of Florence, total budget: 40.914 euros
Education and training
January 2011
April 2014
PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience (scholarship winner, total budget: 40.914 euros)
University of Florence, Department of Psychology Florence, Italy
Thesis: “Object segmentation and enumeration”
Supervisor: Prof. David Burr
January 2013
December 2013
Visiting PhD Student
Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit, Neurospin. Paris, France
Supervisor: MD Evelyn Eger
November 2010
Italian professional qualification in Psychology
(“Esame di Stato per l’abilitazione all’esercizio della professione di Psicologo” - ALBO A)
September 2007
March 2010
Master of Cognitive Neuroscience (Final mark: 110/110 cum laude)
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. Milan, Italy
Thesis: “Selectivity to spatial phase of chromatic cortical mechanisms: an fMRI study”
Supervisor: Prof. Maria Concetta Morrone
September 2004
September 2007
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Final mark: 110/110 cum laude)
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. Milan, Italy
Thesis: “Neural substrate of dyslexia”
Supervisor: Prof. Daniela Perani
Clinical courses and Internships
January 2015
January 2016
Developmental neuropsychology academy
A.N.Svi, Parma, Italy
February 2012
February 2013
Annual Master "Diagnosis and Treatment for Specific learning disabilities"
Centro Risorse, Prato, Italy
February 2012
February 2013
Internship "Diagnosis and Treatment for Specific learning disabilities"
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation. Calambrone (PI), Italy
April 2010
Septembre 2010
Post-lauream Internship "Diagnosis and Treatment of Oppositional Defiant Disorder and ADHD"
IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation.Calambrone (PI), Italy
Teaching
AA 2025/2026
University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence, Italy
Teaching within the courses:
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School of Psychology, Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology and Neuropsychology, Course: Psychobiology of Resilience and Vulnerability (84 hours);
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School of Psychology, "Developmental Psychobiology," Bachelor's Degree Program in Psychological Sciences and Techniques (15 hours);
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Tuscan Doctoral Program in Neuroscience, Course: Basic Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology (12 hours)
AA 2024/2025
University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence, Italy
Teaching within the courses:
-
School of Psychology, Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology and Neuropsychology, Course: Psychobiology of Resilience and Vulnerability (84 hours);
-
Tuscan Doctoral Program in Neuroscience, Course: Basic Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology (12 hours)
AA 2023/2024
University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence, Italy
Teaching within the courses:
-
School of Psychology, Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology and Neuropsychology, Course: Psychobiology of Resilience and Vulnerability (84 hours);
-
School of Economics and Management, Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Business for Societal Challenges, including SSD competencies from Neurofarba, Course: Neuroscience of Social-Cognitive Enhancement for Well-being and Neural Bases of Decision Processes (16 hours);
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Tuscan Doctoral Program in Neuroscience, Course: Basic Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology (6 hours)
AA 2022/2023
University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence, Italy
Teaching within the courses:
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School of Psychology, "Psychobiology of Behavior," Master's Degree Program in Life Cycle and Contexts (42 hours);
-
School of Psychology, "Developmental Psychobiology," Bachelor's Degree Program in Psychological Sciences and Techniques (14 hours);
-
School of Economics and Management, Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Business for Societal Challenges, including SSD competencies from Neurofarba, Course: Neuroscience of Social-Cognitive Enhancement for Well-being and Neural Bases of Decision Processes (16 hours);
AA 2021/2022
University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence, Italy
Teaching within the courses:
-
School of Psychology "Psychobiology of Learning" Master's Degree Program in Life Cycle and Contexts (14 hours)
-
Tuscan Doctoral Program in Neuroscience, "Basic Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology" (12 hours)
AA 2020/2021
University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence, Italy
Teaching within the First-Level Master's Program: Kindness in Pediatric Care Relationships, "Neuroscience of Emotions" (6 hours)
2019
University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Florence, Italy
Teaching within the course: “Psicofisiologia della percezione”, Corso di Laurea Triennale di Scienze e Tecniche Psicologiche
Seminar Title: ‘Organizzazione corticale delle aree visive, plasticità corticale e protesi retiniche’ (2h)
Teaching within the course: “Psicobiologia dell'apprendimento”, Corso di Laurea Magistrale di Ciclo di Vita e Contesti
Seminar Title: ‘Basi neurali della lettura e della dislessia” (2h)
Teaching within the course: “Valutazione psicofisica dei disturbi sensoriali e attentivi”, Corso di Laurea Magistrale di Psicologia Clinica e della Salute e Neuropsicologia
Seminar Title: ‘Metodi di neuroimaging e retinotopia’ (2h)
Seminar Title: ‘Basi neurali della cognizione numerica’ (2h)
2015 - 2018
Teaching within the private “Annual Master in Learning Disabilities”
Società Italiana di Psicologia e Pedagogia, Perignano (PI), Italy
www.sipponline.org/elisa-castaldi.html
2014 - 2017
Cultore della materia
University of Florence, Department of Psychology. Florence, Italy
Seminars within the course "Psychophysical evaluation" hold by Prof. Burr
Peer review activity
2026
Guest Editor for the Special Issue “The Perception of Number” in i-Perception
2023
Reviewer and PC Member for the 2023 ECVP Conference
Present
Reviewer Editor on the Editorial Board of Perception Science
part of the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience and Frontiers in Psychology
Present
Ad hoc reviewer for Current Biology • NeuroImage • Royal Society Open Science • Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews • Behavioral Sciences • Brain and Behavior • Neuroscience • Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology • Vision Research • Education Sciences • iScience • Cortex • Translational Vision Science & Technology • Human Brain Mapping • Learning and Individual Differences • Attention, Perception & Psychophysics • Cerebral Cortex • Perception • Journal of Numerical Cognition • Cerebral Cortex Communications • Neuropsychologia • Brain Imaging and Behavior • Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica • Cognition