Ricercatrice

Ricercatrice is an Italian noun that designates a female researcher. It is the feminine form of ricercatore, itself derived from ricercare, meaning to seek or to research. The term follows the common Italian pattern where -tore becomes -trice for the feminine form. The masculine counterpart is ricercatore.

In usage, ricercatrice refers to a woman who conducts research in academic, scientific, or professional settings. She can work at universities, research institutes, laboratories, or in industry and government organizations. Her activities typically include formulating research questions, designing studies, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating results through papers, reports, and presentations. The role may involve teaching, mentoring, grant writing, and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams.

Educational pathways for a ricercatrice commonly involve advanced degrees, often culminating in a PhD. Career paths vary by country and sector but frequently include roles such as postdoctoral researcher, research scientist, assistant or associate professor, or project-based researcher in industry or public institutions. The title is used across disciplines, including the sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.

In Italian, the gender of the noun is usually evident from the article or context; the male form is ricercatore. The term is widely used in academic and professional contexts to acknowledge a woman’s research role. See also: ricerca, ricercatore.