Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Bologna. Her research activity deals with difficult separations and focus on the fundamental aspects of the different processes considered and on their possible applications. In recent years, the interest has been shifted towards bioseparations and the biomedical field using membranes and chromatographic processes to purify biological molecules of therapeutic interest or to remove toxins and small molecules from blood and water streams.
Education and Academic Experience
Laurea in Chemical Engineering with 100/100, University of Bologna; July 1991.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering University of Bologna with a thesis titled “Purification of fusion proteins with affinity membranes”; December 1996.
Nov. 1993/Dec. 1994, Visiting Scholar of the Chemical Engineering Department del Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, USA.
Mar. 1996/Oct. 1996, Research Officer, University of Bath, UK.
Nov. 1996/Dec.1997, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Bologna.
Jan. 1998/Aug.1999, Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, UK.
May 2004/Sept 2007, Associate researcher at the Chemical Engineering Department (DICMA) of the University of Bologna for the research project “Advanced Interactive Materials by Design” (AIMs) funded by the 6th Framework Program (FP6) of the European Union.
Oct. 2007-Sept. 2010, Assistant professor of Principi di Ingegneria Chimica (Chemical engineering principles) at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Bologna.
June 2009/Oct. 2009 Visiting Scholar of the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Since October 2010 Tenured Full time Assistant Professor of Principi di Ingegneria Chimica (Chemical engineering principles) at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Bologna.
In April 2017 she obtained the qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) for the position of Associate Professor.
May 2018/Sept. 2018 Visiting Scholar of the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Oct 2018-Oct 2021, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Enginering Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
As of December 10 2018, Associated Professor of Principi di Ingegneria Chimica (Chemical engineering principles) in the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna.
Mar 2022-Dec 2023, Adjunct Associate Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Enginering Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale (Italian National Scientific Habilitation) as Full Professor for the academic area 09/D2-Systems, methods and technologies of chemical and process engineering, 06 Feb. 2023.
Since January 2024 is Research Associate Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Enginering Department della North Carolina State University di Raleigh, NC, USA.
Teaching experience
Academic year 1995-96, Contract Associate professor at the University of Verona for the course of “Reattori Biochimici” (Biochemical reactors).
Academic year 1996-97, Contract Associate professor at the University of Ferrara for the course of “Principi di Ingegneria Biochimica” (Fundamentals of biochemical engineering).
From January 1998 to August 1999 Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath, UK where she was responsible of the following courses:
- Separation Processes 2 (BEng in Chemical Engineering);
- Biochemical Separation Processes (BEng in Chemical Engineering);
- Pollution Control (MEng in Chemical Engineering);
- Environmental Awareness (MEng in Chemical Engineering);
- Environmental Monitoring and Clean Technology (MEng in Chemical Engineering).
Academic year 2006-07, Contract Associate professor at the University of Bologna for the course of “Fondamenti di impianti biochimici” (Fundamentals of biochemical plants).
Academic year 2009-10, Contract Associate professor at the University of Trento for a module of the course of “Principi di ingegneria chimica” (Chemical engineering principles).
Since October 2007, she teaches several modules for the School of Engineering and Architecture and for the School of Farmacy, Biotechnology and Sport Science of the University of Bologna. In particular, from 2008 she teaches the module of “Bioseparazioni” for the Master degree in Biotecnologie Molecolari e Industriali and since 2013 she is responsible of the course of “Bioreactors and Downstream Processing” for the Master degree in Chemical and Process Engineering, curriculum Sustainable Technologies and biotechnologies for Energy and Materials, STEM, completely taught in English.
Prizes and awards
Award of the European Society for Membrane Science and Technology for the best Ph.D. thesis in membrane science in Europe, 1997.
Younger investigator award of the International Society for Molecular Recognition for the work "Scale up of membrane affinity chromatography processes" chosen as best oral presentation at Affinity 2013.
Scientific services
Vice-President and Secretary of the European Membrane Society for the years 2015-2016.
President of the European Membrane Society for the years 2017-2018.
Secretary of the World Association of Membrane Societies, WA-MS for the years 2017-2020.
Chair of the conference Membranes in Bioprocessing, organized on behalf of the ESBES Downstream Processing group, held in Bologna, 8-10 May 2016.
Chair of the EMS Summer School 2016 on Membranes and Membrane Processes Design held in Bertinoro (FC), 26 June-1 July 2016.
Member of the International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes, ICOM 2017 Advisory Board.
She is a member of the Editorial Board of Membranes, she is a reviewer for Journal of Membrane Science, Desalination, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Journal of Applied Surface Science, Biotechnology Progress, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Industrial Engineering & Chemistry Research, Chemical Engineering Science, Journal of Chromatography A, Journal of Chromatography B, Separation Science and Technology, Biotechnology Journal, Separation and Purification Technology.
Referee for the Italian Ministry for Research and Technology (MIUR): evaluation of PRIN and FIRB projects.
Referee for CONICYT, Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Chile for the Associative Research Program 2012.