Valentina Petrolini

I am Associate Professor of Philosophy of Science at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Bologna. My research focuses on philosophy of psychiatry and psychology, where I work on the boundary and transitions between mental health and pathology, and on the role played by affect and emotions in mental disorders. Over the past few years, I have been working on theoretical issues surrounding autism, such as the relationship between disability and identity, gender and diagnosis, and camouflaging.

Before joining the University of Bologna, I worked as Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral researcher (2020-2024) at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), where I am still a member of Lindy Lab. From 2021-2023 I also taught at the University of Parma, where I started collaborating with the research group PRISMA. I obtained my PhD in Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati (2017). I also spent some time at the University of Salzburg (2016) and at Pitzer College (2010).

I am a proud member of the first MAP Chapter (Minorities and Philosophy) in Italy, and since 2025 I am one of the coordinators of the SWIP Italia mentoring program.