Biography

Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum

Olga Rickards was one of the first scientist in Italy to apply Molecular Anthropology to the reconstruction of the origin and history of human populations, traditionally studied through palaeontology and archaeology. Since the early seventies, her research group has investigated human genetic variability first at protein and afterwards at DNA level. These data were used to explore the evolutionary history of human populations living in various geographical areas, providing a quantitative and temporal framework that was unavailable from other types of evidence. Since 1990’s her research has focused on the characterization of ancient genetic material from prehistoric peoples of Italy, North Africa and South America and the comparison with sequence data from modern populations.

ACADEMIC TITLES

– She achieved her Ph.D. in Natural Sciences at Sapienza – Università di Roma (1978 in Anthropology).
– She achieved her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at Sapienza – Università di Roma (1981 in Molecular Anthropology).
– She became in 1984 Assistant Professor of Molecular Anthropology at Tor Vergata – Università di Roma.
– She became in 2000 Full (Ordinarius) Professor of Molecular Anthropology at Tor Vergata – Università di Roma.

At Tor Vergata University she has served as:
– Head of the “Departmental Centre of Molecular Anthropology for ancient DNA studies” (since 1996; Department of Biology).
– President of the First and Second level Degree Courses in Biology (2005-2011).
– Coordinator of the Macroarea of MFN Sciences (since 2012).
– Vice Director of the Department of Biology (since 2012).
– Member of the PhD Committee in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology (since 1993).
– Member of the Senato Accademico Integrato (1993-1998).

Long/short term research appointments
– NATO fellow, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Hawaii (1998-1999; 1991-1992; 1994);
– Research Specialist: Department of Human Biology/Physical Anthropology, University of Bremen FRG

(1985); Department of Genetics, General Biology, University of Naples (1986); Department of Animal Biology, University of Barcelona (1990); Human Genetics Laboratories, Roche Molecular System, Alameda California (1993), Department of Animal Biology, University of Bilbao (1995);Department of Animal Biology, Complutense University of Madrid (1996, 1997 ERASMUS project).
Editor in Chief of the International Journal “Annals of Human Biology” (Publisher: Informa Healthcare, London) (since 2004).
Officer of the Italian Anthropological Association (2007-2014).

Research Activity

The research activity of Olga Rickards is characterized by a methodology and perspective involving both a strong engagement as a field anthropologist, with a personal and direct participation in sample collections, and a remarkable interdisciplinary approach, dealing with archaeology, geology, ecology, physical and molecular anthropology, botany, zoology and biochemistry, to the reconstruction of human populations history and evolution as evinced in her publications (more than 250).

The main research expeditions Olga Rickards participated to were carried out:

1. at Tahala and El-Awinat villages (Libyan Sahara) in 2004, as part of the Italian-Libyan Archaeological Mission in the Acacus and Messak of the Sapienza University of Rome and the Department of Antiquities, Tripoli, directed by Prof. Savino di Lernia and the late Ebrahim Azzebi, and aimed to clarify the genetic composition and origin of the extant Libyan Tuaregs and their possible relationships with the Garamantes people;
2. and at Olduvai Gorge, near the Great Rift Valley in northern Tanzania in 2011, as cohordinator and supervisor of the field-workshop organized by the University of Perugia in the frame of the first edition of the Palaeoantropology school held in Perugia on 14-18 February 2011.

Awards
In 2009 she was awarded the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei International Prize “Fabio Frassetto” for anthropology for her scientific research in the field of molecular anthropology with special mention to ancient DNA studies.

Research
Research Interests: Human evolution, mtDNA and nuclear polymorphisms, ancient DNA, stable isotope analysis for reconstructing genetic history, palaeodiet and migrations of ancient populations.

Active Research Programs

• PROGETTI GRUPPI DI RICERCA- Conoscenza e Cooperazione per un Nuovo Modello di Sviluppo – Lazio Innova Regione Lazio 2018 (2 years) prot.85-2017-15143 Principal investigator: Olga RICKARDS (147,191 euros)
• GEDEON: GEnomica e Dieta: Evoluzione e Obbiettivi della valutazione Nutrizionale
• PRIN MIUR (Italian Ministry for the Universities) 2010-11 (3 years) prot.2010EL8TXP National Scientific Coordinator: Olga RICKARDS (838,429 euros)
• Biological and cultural heritage of the central-southern Italian population trough 30 thousand
• Years EPIC (Eredità della Popolazione dell’Italia Centro-meridionale) prot. 2010EL8TXP_001 (Principal investigator local unit 1: Olga RICKARDS) (264,585 euros)
• PRIN MIUR (Italian Ministry for the Universities) 2008 (2 years) prot. 2008B4J2HS National Scientific Coordinator: Olga RICKARDS (156,098 euros)
• Origin and diffusion of farming in central-southern Italy: a multidisciplinary approach. prot. 2008B4J2HS_001 (Principal investigator local unit 1: Olga RICKARDS) (126,429 euros)
• Origin and diffusion of farming in central-southern Italy: a molecular approach.
• PRIN (Italian Ministry for the Universities) 2005 (2 years) prot. 2005057557_001 National Scientific Coordinator and Principal investigator local unit: Olga RICKARDS (128,600 euros)
• Dietary variability and genetic origins of ancient human populations: a combined ancient biomolecular approach.
• PRIN (Italian Ministry for the Universities) 2003 (2 years)
• Nomads and sedentary people. Climatic variations, population dynamics and cultural tracks in Africa and Asia during Olocene. National Scientific Coordinator: Mario LIVERANI prot. 2003100945_002 (Principal investigator local unit 2: Olga RICKARDS) (88,200 euros)
• Nomads and sedentary people. Reconstruction of the genetic history of ancient and extant populations from Libyan Sahara.
• Strategic programme “Biological Archive” CNR (National Research Council) 1994 (1 year) prot. 94.04629.ST74 (Scientific leader: Olga RICKARDS) (50,000 euros)
• Sub-project 4.1.3 A molecular approach to the study of ancient populations of Sicily.
• Special Project “Safeguard of the Cultural Heritage” CNR (National Research Council) 1996 (5 years) prot.96.01168.PF36-97.00689.PF36 (Scientific leader: Olga RICKARDS) (500,000 euros)
• Molecular approach to the study of the ancient Italian populations: reconstruction of the peopling of southern Italy and Sicily in the frame of the Mediterranean Basin.
• Scientific Leader of the European Economic Community programme “Human Capital and Mobility” 1992 (2 years)
• Proposal ERB4001GT921357 (Scientific leader: Olga RICKARDS) (98,951 euros)
• Genetic diversity of the mitochondrial genoma in some native populations of Ecuador.
• Scientist in charge on fellow’s work during the intra-European fellowship (Marie Curie Action) 2004 (3 years) Contract. MEIF-CT-2004-010003 (17,661.62 euros)
• Recovery of ancient DNA from archaeological residuesOther Activities

Scientific organizer and director of the international workshop “Ancient DNA analysis: a new servant to Archaeoanthropology and Forensic Medicine” Bioroma 2000, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, 30-31 marzo 2000. Scientific organizer of the 51st International Symposium of the Society for the Study of Human Biology, held at Monteporzio Catone, Roma, in 2009 on the theme of ‘Human Dispersals’. The aim of the Symposium was to reconstruct human colonization and migrations out of Africa applying traditional and new approaches such as archaeology, genetics, molecular anthropology, the recovery and analyses of ancient biomolecules, food production and human diet. She organized the PRIN 2010-2011 Scientific Meeting held at  Villa Mondragone, Monteporzio Catone, Roma (6 novembre 2015), and the XXII Congress of the Italian Anthropological Association (AAI), held at Villa Mondragone, Monteporzio Catone, Roma (6-8 settembre 2017).

In 2009 she was awarded the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei International Prize “Fabio Frassetto” for anthropology for her scientific research in the field of molecular anthropology with special mention to ancient DNA studies. Total Peer reviewed Articles in Publication List: 127 h-index: 27 (Scopus and WOS) ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2880-7466

Selected Publications

• Messina F, Di Corcia T, Ragazzo M, Sanchez Mellado C, Contini I, Malaspina P, Ciminelli B, Rickards O, Jodice C (2018). Signs of continental ancestry in urban populations of Peru through autosomal STR loci and mitochondrial DNA typing. PLOS ONE, vol. 13(7): e020 Scopus: 2-s2.0-85040015732; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85050096477; WOS: 000439022400076
• Gismondi A., D’Agostino A, Canuti L, Di Marco G, Martinez Labarga C, Angle M, Rickards O, Canini A (2018). Dental calculus reveals diet habits and medicinal plant use in the Early Medieval Italian population of Colonna. JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE: REPORTS, vol. 20, p. 556-564, ISSN: 2352-409X, doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.05.023; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85048595216
• Gnes M, Baldoni M, Marchetti L, Basoli F, Leonardi D, Canini A, Licoccia S, Enei F, Rickards O, Martínez-Labarga C (2018). Bioarchaeological approach to the study of the medieval population of Santa Severa (Rome, 7th-15th centuries). JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE: REPORTS, vol. 18, p. 11-25, ISSN: 2352-409X, doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.12.043; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85040015732; WOS:000430788500002
• Scorrano G, Baldoni M, Brilli M, Rolfo MF, Fornaciari G, Rickards O, Martínez-Labarga C (2018). Effect of Neolithic transition on an Italian community: Mora Cavorso (Jenne, Rome). ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES, ISSN: 1866-9557, doi: 10.1007/s12520-018-0615-9; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85045141863
• Comas D, Luiselli D, Rickards O (2018). Human population genetics of the Mediterranean. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 45, p. 1-4, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: 10.1080/03014460.2017.1416909; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85041584720; WOS: 000423757300001; PubMed: 29382281
• Primativo G, Ottoni C, Biondi G, Serafino S, Martinez C, Larmuseau MHD, Scardi M, Decorte R, Rickards O (2017). Bight of Benin: a Maternal Perspective of Four Beninese Populations and their Genetic Implications on the American Populations of African Ancestry. ANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, vol. 81, p. 78 -90, ISSN: 0003-4800, doi: 10.1111/ahg.12186; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85013113120; WOS: 000394614700003; PubMed: 28205221
• Di Corcia T, Sanchez Mellado C, Davila Francia TJ, Ferri G, Sarno S, Luiselli D, Rickards O (2017). East of the Andes: The genetic profile of the Peruvian Amazon populations. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 163, p. 328-338, ISSN: 0002-9483, doi: DOI 10.1002/ajpa.23209; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85016440892; WOS: 000401719300008; PubMed: 28343372
• Messina F, Scano G, Contini I, Martínez-Labarga C, De Stefano GF, Rickards O (2017). Linking between genetic structure and geographical distance: Study of the maternal gene pool in the Ethiopian population. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 44, p. 53-69, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2016.1155646; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84961198665; WOS: 000393680400007
• Baldoni M, Nardi A, Muldner G, Lelli R, Gnes M, Ferraresi F, Meloni V, Cerino P, Greco S, Manenti G, Angle M, Rickards O, Martínez-Labarga MC (2016). Archaeo-biological recontruction of the Italian medieval population of Colonna (8th-10th centuries CE). JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE: REPORTS, vol. 10, p. 483 -494, ISSN: 2352-409X, doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.11.013; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84995776271, WOS: 000415611900043
• Baldoni M, Nardi A, Muldner G, Lelli R, Gnes M, Ferraresi F, Meloni V, Cerino P, Greco S, Manenti G, Angle M, Rickards, O, Martínez Labarga MC (2016). Archaeo-biological recontruction of the Italian medieval population of Colonna (8th-10th centuries CE).. JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE: REPORTS, vol. 10, p. 483-494, ISSN: 2352-409X, doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.11.013; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84995776271; WOS:000415611900043
• Varano S, Scorrano G, Martínez-Labarga C, Finocchio A, Rapone C, Berti A, Rickards O (2016). Exploring the mitochondrial DNA variability of the Amazonian Yanomami. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 28, p. 846-856, ISSN: 1042-0533, doi: 10.1002/ajhb.22877; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84973122001; WOS: 000392294700012, PubMed: 27245361
• Gismondi A, Di Marco G, Martini F, Sarti L, Crespan M, Martinez-Labarga C, Rickards O, Canini A (2016). Grapevine carpological remains revealed the existence of a Neolithic domesticated Vitis vinifera L. specimen containing ancient DNA partially preserved in modern ecotypes. JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE, vol. 69, p. 75-84, ISSN: 0305-4403, doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2016.04.014; Scopus:  2-s2.0-84963626486¸WOS:000377822500008
• Scorrano G, Lelli R, Martínez-Labarga C, Scano G, Contini I, Hafez HS, Rudan P, Rickards O (2016). Variability and distribution of COL1A2 (type I collagen) polymorphisms in the central-eastern Mediterranean Basin. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 43, p. 73-77, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: 10.3109/03014460.2015.1006679; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84954074041; WOS: 000367826600010
• Scorrano G, Valentini F, Martınez-Labarga C, Rolfo MF, Fiammenghi A, Lo Vetro D, Martini F, Casoli A, Ferraris G, Palleschi G, Palleschi A, Rickards O (2015). Methodological strategies to assess the degree of bone preservation for ancient DNA studies. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 42, p. 10-19, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: 10.3109/03014460.2014.954614; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84917692960; WOS: 000346253400002
• Ciaffi R. Lelli R. Müldner G. Stantcheva K Fischetti AL, Ghini G., Craig O E, Milano, F, Rickards O, Arcudi G., Martínez-Labarga C (2015). Palaeobiology of the Medieval Population of Albano (Rome, Italy): A Combined Morphological and Biomolecular Approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, vol. 25, p. 477-488, ISSN: 1047-482X, doi: 10.1002/oa.2316; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84948107235; WOS: 000358018700009
• Larmuseau MHD, Vessi A, Jobling MA, Van Geystelen A, Primativo G, Biondi G, Martínez-Labarga C, Ottoni C, Decorte R, Rickards O (2015). The Paternal Landscape along the Bight of Benin – Testing Regional Representativeness of West-African Population Samples Using Y-Chromosomal Markers. PLOS ONE, ISSN: 1932-6203, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141510; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84952700912; WOS: 000364398700029
• Messina F, Finocchio A, Rolfo M, De Angelis F, Rapone C, Coletta M, Martínez-Labarga C, Biondi G, Berti A, Rickards O (2015). Traces of forgotten historical events in mountain communities in Central Italy: a genetic insight Lingue . AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 27, p. 508-519, ISSN: 1042-0533, doi: 10.1002/ajhb.22677; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84931572376; WOS: 000356815800008
• Purps J, Siegert S, Willuweit S, Nagy M, Alves C, Salazar R, Angustia SMT, Santos LH, Anslinger K, Bayer B, Ayub Q, Weig W, Xueg Y, Tyler-Smith C, Baeta Bafalluy M, Martínez-Jarreta B, Egyed B, Balitzki B, Tschumi S, Ballard D, Syndercombe Court D, Barrantes X, Bäßler G, Wiest T, Berger B, Niederstätter H, Parson W, Davis C, Budowle B, Burri H, Borer U, Koller C, Carvalho EF, Domingues PM, Chamoun WT, Coble MD, Hill CR, Corach D, Caputo M, D’Amato ME, Davison S, Decorte R, Larmuseau MHD, Ottoni C, Rickards O, Luz D, Jiang C, Dobosz T, Jonkisz A, Frank WE, Furac I, Gehrig C, Castella V, Grskovic B, Haas C, Wobst J, Hadzic G, Drobnic K, Honda K, Hou Y, Zhou D, Li Y, Hu S, Chen S, Immel UD, Lessig R, Jakovski Z, Ilievska T, Klann AE, Cano García C, De Knijff P, Kraaijenbrink T, Kondili A, Miniati P, Vouropoulou M, Kovacevic L, Marjanovic D, Lindner I, Mansour I, Al-Azem M, El Andari H, Marino M, Furfuro S, Locarno L, Martín P, Luque GM, Alonso A, Souto Miranda L, Moreira H, Mizuno N, Iwashima Y, Moura Neto RS, Nogueira TLS, Silva R, Nastainczyk-Wulf M, Edelmann J, Kohl M, Nie S, Wang X, Cheng B, Núñez C, Martínez de Pancorbo M, Olofsson JK, Morling N, Onofri V, Tagliabracci A, Pamjav H, Volgyi A, Barany G, Pawlowski R, Maciejewska A, Pelotti S, Pepinski W, Abreu-Glowacka M, Phillips C, Cárdenas J, Rey-Gonzalez D, Salas A, Brisighelli F, Capelli C, Toscanini U, Piccinini A, Piglionica M, Baldassarra SL, Ploski R, Konarzewska M, Jastrzebska E, Robino C, Sajantila A, Palo JU, Guevara E, Salvador J, De Ungria MC, Russell Rodriguez JJ, Schmidt U, Schlauderer N, Saukko P, Schneider PM, Sirker M, Shinc KJ, Oh UN, Skitsa I, Ampati A, Smith TG, Solis de CalvitL, Stenzl V, Capal T, Tillmar A, Nilsson H, Turrina S, De Leo D, Verzeletti A, Cortellini V, Wetton JH, Gwynne GM, Jobling MA, Whittle MR, Sumita DR, Wolańska-Nowak P, Yong RYY, Krawczak M, Nothnagel M, Roewer L (2014). A global analysis of Y-chromosomal haplotype diversity for 23 STR loci. FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL: GENETICS, vol. 12, p. 12-23, ISSN: 1872-4973, doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.04.008; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84901332843; WOS: 000342433400002
• Capocasa M, Anagnostou P, Bachis V, Battaggia C, Bertoncini S, Biondi G, Boattini A, Boschi I, Brisighelli F, Calò CM, Carta M, Coia V, Corrias L, Crivellaro F, De Fanti S, Dominici V, Ferri G, Francalacci P, Franceschi ZA, Luiselli D, Morelli L, Paoli G, Rickards O, Robledo R, Sanna D, Sanna E, Sarno S, Sineo L, Taglioli L, Tagarelli G, Tofanelli S, Vona G, Pettener D, Destro Bisol G (2014). Linguistic, geographic and genetic isolation: a collaborative study of Italian populations. JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES, vol. 92, p. 201 -231, ISSN: 1827-4765, doi: 10.4436/JASS.92001; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84919915725; WOS: 000343748100010
• Biondi G, Rickards O (2014). New clues for Neanderthal extinction. HUMAN EVOLUTION, vol. 29, p. 257-263, ISSN: 0393-9375; Scopus: 2-s2.0-85012041409
• Scorrano G, Brilli M, Martínez-Labarga C, Giustini F, Pacciani E, Chilleri F, Scaldaferri F, Gasbarrini A, Gasbarrini G, Rickards O (2014). Palaeodiet reconstruction in a woman with probable celiac disease: A stable isotope analysis of bone remains from the archaeological site of Cosa (Italy). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 154, p. 349-356, ISSN: 0002-9483, doi: 10.1002/ajpa.22517; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84902549166; WOS: 000337619200004
• Hollenbach JA, Augusto DG, Alaez C, Bubnova L, Fae I, Fischer G, Gonzalez-Galarza FF, Gorodezky C, Karabon L, Kusnierczyk P, Noble J, Rickards O, Roberts C, Schaffer M, Shi L, Tavoularis S, Trachtenberg E, Yao Y, Middleton D (2013). 16th IHIW: Population Global Distribution of Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptor (KIR) and Ligands. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS, vol. 40, p. 39-45, ISSN: 1744-3121, doi: 10.1111/iji.12028; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84872269335; WOS: 000313488000007
• Lelli R, Allen R, Biondi G, Calattini M, Conati Barbaro C, Gorgoglione MA, Manfredini A, Martínez-Labarga C, Radina F, Silvestrini M, Tozzi C, Rickards O, Craig OE (2012). Examining dietary variability of the earliest farmers of south-eastern Italy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 149, p. 380-390, ISSN: 0002-9483, doi: DOI 10.1002/ajpa.22134; Scopus: 2-s2.0-84867571502; WOS: 000309922100009
• Gismondi A, Rolfo MF, Leonardi D, Rickards O, Canini A (2012). Identification of ancient Olea europaea L. and Cornus mas L. seeds by DNA barcoding. COMPTES RENDUS BIOLOGIES, vol. 335, p. 472-479, ISSN: 1631-0691, doi: 10.1016/j.crvi.2012.05.004, Scopus: 2-s2.0-84864772145; WOS: 000307493700005
• Gasbarrini G, Rickards O, Martínez-Labarga C, Pacciani E, Chilleri F, Laterza L, Marangi G, Scaldaferri F, Gasbarrini A (2012). Origin of celiac disease: How old are predisposing haplotypes?. WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, vol. 18, p. 5300-5304, ISSN: 1007-9327, doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i37.0000, Scopus: 2-s2.0-84867775233, WOS: 000309803600021
• Martínez-González LJ, Martínez-Espín E, Alvarez JC, Albardaner F, Rickards O, Martínez-Labarga C, Calafell F, Lorente JA (2012). Surname and Y chromosome in Southern Europe: a case study with Colom/Colombo.. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, vol. 20, p. 211-216, ISSN: 1018-4813, doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2011.162, Scopus: 2-s2.0-84855772756, WOS: 000299323000022
• Ottoni C, Larmuseau M, . Vanderheyden M, Martinez-Labarga C, Primativo G, Biondi G, Decorte R, Rickards O (2011). Deep Into the Roots of the Libyan Tuareg: A Genetic Survey of Their Paternal Heritage.. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 145, p. 118-124, ISSN: 0002-9483, doi: doi: 10.1002/ajpa.21473, Scopus: 2-s2.0-79954478704, WOS: 000289355600011
• Ottoni C, Martinez-Labarga C, Vitelli L, Scano G, Fabrini E, Contini I, Biondi G, Rickards O (2010). Human mitochondrial DNA variation in Southern Italy (vol 36, pg 784, 2009). ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 37, p. 475, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: 10.3109/03014460903512332, Scopus: 2-s2.0-77951694210, WOS: 000276962900012
• Ottoni C, Primativo G, Hooshiar Kashani B, Achilli A, Martínez-Labarga C, Biondi G, Torroni A, Rickards O (2010). Mitochondrial Haplogroup H1 in North Africa: An Early Holocene Arrival from Iberia. PLOS ONE, vol. 5, ISSN: 1932-6203, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013378, Scopus: 2-s2.0-78149421507, WOS: 000283293800001, PubMed: 20975840
• Predazzi IM, Martínez-Labarga C, Vecchione L, Mango R, Ciccacci C, Amati F, Ottoni C, Crawford MH, Rickards O, Romeo F, Novelli G. (2010). Population differences in allele frequencies at the OLR1 locus may suggest geographic disparities in cardiovascular risk events. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 37, p. 136-148, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: 10.3109/03014460903393857, Scopus: 2-s2.0-77949304181, WOS: 000275225100011, PubMed: 19961348
• Rickards O (2010). Tracing ancient human migration. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 37, p. 283-287, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: 10.3109/03014461003706626, Scopus: 2-s2.0-77951691608, WOS: 000276962900001, PubMed: 20367184
• Ronai Z, Witt H, Rickards O, Destro-Bisol G, Bradbury ARM, Sahin-Toth M (2009). A common African polymorphism abolishes tyrosine sulfation of human anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2). BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL, vol. 418, p. 155-161, ISSN: 0264-6021, doi: 10.1042/BJ20081848, Scopus: 2-s2.0-59849085555, WOS: 000263337900015, PubMed: 18986305
• Wolf A, Millar DS, Caliebe A, Horan M, Newsway V, Kumpf D, Steinmann K, Chee IS, Lee YH, Mutirangura A, Pepe G, Rickards O, Schmidtke J, Schempp W, Chuzhanova N, Kehrer-Sawatzki H, Krawczak M, Cooper DN (2009). A gene conversion hotspot in the human growth hormone (GH1) gene promoter. HUMAN MUTATION, vol. 30, p. 239-247, ISSN: 1059-7794, doi: 10.1002/humu.20850, Scopus: 2-s2.0-59749091919, WOS: 000263254200014, PubMed: 18800374
• Ottoni C, Martínez-Labarga C, Loogväli EL, Pennarun E, Achilli A, De Angelis F, Trucchi E, Contini I, Biondi G, Rickards O (2009). First genetic insight into Libyan Tuaregs: a maternal perspective. ANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, vol. 73, p. 438-448, ISSN: 0003-4800, doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.2009.00526.x, Scopus: 2-s2.0-67149107260, WOS: 000266921300006, PubMed: 19476452
• Ottoni C, Martinez-Labarga C, Vitelli L, Scano G, Fabrini E, Contini I, Biondi G, Rickards O (2009). Human mitochondrial DNA variation in Southern Italy. ANNALS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, vol. 36, p. 785-811, ISSN: 0301-4460, doi: 10.3109/03014460903198509, Scopus: 2-s2.0-70450240940, WOS: 000272968100010, PubMed: 19852679
• Ottoni C, Koon HEC, Collins MJ, Penkman KEH, Rickards O, Craig OE (2009). Preservation of ancient DNA in thermally damaged archaeological bone. NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN, vol. 96, p. 267-278, ISSN: 0028-1042, doi: 10.1007/s00114-008-0478-5, Scopus: 2-s2.0-58249124358, WOS: 000262439000010, PubMed: 19043689
• Craig OE, Biazzo M, O’Connell TC, Garnsey P, Martinez-Labarga C, Lelli R, Salvadei L, Tartaglia G, Nava A, Reno L, Fiammenghi A, Rickards O, Bondioli L (2009). Stable isotopic evidence for diet at the imperial roman coastal site of Velia (1st and 2nd centuries AD) in Southern Italy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, vol. 139, p. 572-583, ISSN: 0002-9483, doi: 10.1002/ajpa.21021, Scopus: 2-s2.0-67650538552, WOS: 000268266200013, PubMed: 19280672
• Ricci F, Fornai C, Blos VT, Rickards O, Di Lernia S, Manzi G (2008). Evidence of artificial cranial deformation from the later prehistory of the Acacus Mts. (southwestern Libya, central Sahara). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, vol. 18, p. 372-391, ISSN: 1047-482X, doi: 10.1002/oa.946, Scopus: 2-s2.0-50449098327, WOS: 000258892300003
• Millar D S, Lewis M D, Horan M, Newsway V, Rees D A, Easter T E, Pepe G, Rickards O, Norin M, Scanlon M F, Krawczak M, Cooper D N (2008). Growth hormone (GH1) gene variation and the growth hormone receptor (GHR) exon 3 deletion polymorphism in a West-African population. MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY, vol. 296, p. 18-25, ISSN: 0303-7207, doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.09.023, Scopus: 2-s2.0-56049103301, WOS: 000261850600003, PubMed: 18950677
• Giardina E, Pietrangeli I, Martínez-Labarga C, Martone C, de Angelis F, Spinella A, De Stefano G, Rickards O, Novelli G (2008). Haplotypes in SLC24A5 Gene as Ancestry Informative Markers in Different Populations. CURRENT GENOMICS, vol. 9, p. 110-114, ISSN: 1389-2029, doi: 10.2174/138920208784139528, Scopus: 2-s2.0-45849141648, WOS: 000256468800005
• Luca F, Bubba G, Basile M, Brdicka R, Michalodimitrakis E, Rickards O, Vershubsky G, Quintana-Murci L Kozlov AI, Novelletto A (2008). Multiple advantageous amino acid variants in the NAT2 gene in human populations. PLOS ONE, ISSN: 1932-6203, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003136, Scopus: 2-s2.0-52349119610, WOS: 000264420100002, PubMed: 18773084

BOOKS
-Biondi, O. Rickards (2014). Senza Adamo. Breve storia dell’evoluzione umana. Città di Castello (PG):Carocci editore & Città della scienza, ISBN: 978-88-430-7214-9.
-Biondi, O. Rickards (2012). Umani da sei milioni di anni. Nuova edizione. ROMA: Carocci Editore, ISBN: 978-88-430-6515-8.
-Biondi, O. Rickards (2011). L’errore della razza. Avventure e sventure di un mito pericoloso. ROMA:Carocci Editore, ISBN: 978-88-430-6092-4.
-Biondi, O. Rickards (2009). Umani da sei milioni di anni. ROMA:Carocci Editore, ISBN: 978-88-430-5113-7.
-Biondi, F. Ghione, O. Rickards, V. Sbordoni (2008). Evoluzioni. Le Scienze tra Natura e Numeri. Antropologia, Biodiversità, Matematica. Roma: OMgrafica, ISBN: 978-88-95688-02-2.

Teaching – link to Didattica web