Francesco Cavalcante is a researcher at CNR-IMAA in Potenza since 2000, he is IMAA contact person for the “Paleoclimate” topic. Formerly charge Professor in Regional Geology course (A.A. 2020/2021 and 2021/2022) and expert referent of the Mineralogy course (A.A. 2022/2023) within the Geological Sciences degree course of the University of Basilicata (Potenza). From 1997 to 2000, he benefited from coordinated and continuous collaboration contracts at the former Institute for Research on Clays (IRA-CNR).

Graduated in Geological Sciences (A.A. 1995/1996) at the University of Pisa; Master in Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production (January – June 1997; Rome). He has participated and he is currently staff member (participating researcher or coordinator of research activities) of numerous scientific projects on environmental, and circular economy topics. He is a member of the editorial board of Minerals journal; Journal of Geosciences (SCIREA); Earth Science, ISSN Print: 2328-5974; ISSN Online: 2328-5982 (2019 e 2020), Guest Editor of the Special Issue “Clays, clay mineral and Geology” of the journal Minerals (MDPI), and “Geoheritage: the Foundation for Sustainable Geotourism” of the Geoheritage journal.

The research activity is focused on the genesis of clay minerals and their significance/role in different systems of the geological past, by studying parent material weathering, hydrothermal system, and depositional environment. Furthermore, scientific studies are aimed at understanding the evolution of clay minerals from low diagenesis to low metamorphic degree as well as at use of clayey sediments mineralogical associations as paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental proxies.