Associate Professor since 17 November 2024 at DICAM, research interests mainly reside in the characterization of microbial ecosystems in different environments (soils, water, sediments but also in association with other multicellular organisms) in relation to the impact of anthropic activities, presence of pollutants and/or bioremediation and environmental restoration strategies.
Previous Positions:
2021-2024 SeniorAssistant Professor (RTD-B) – from November 2021 to November 2024
Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna Italy
Academic discipline for Italian University Research and teaching: CHIM/11(03/D1)
2019-2021 Junior Assistant Professor (RTD-A) – from December 3rd, 2019 to November 16th, 2021
Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna Italy
Academic discipline for Italian University Research and teaching: CHIM/11(03/D1)
H2020 CIRCLES project Scientific Manager
2018-2019 PostDoc Fellowship at the Dept. of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna
Topic: Molecular characterization of intestinal microbiomes in broiler undergoing different nutritional conditions.
2010-2017 PostDoc Fellowships at the Dept. of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna
Main topics:
Molecular characterization of the gut microbiome in ageing and longevity (biennial fellowship, 2010-2011)
Deep sequencing characterization of human microbiome (2012)
Genetic and functional characterization of innovative probiotic strains (fellowship granted by Biosint srl, 2013)
Study of gut microbiome in term and pre-term neonates aimed at the formulation of probiotic enriched food prototypes (fellowship funded by the project Cluster CL.A.N. – Agrifood - ProS.IT CTN01_00230_413096, 2015-2016)
Composition of gut microbiota and impact on immune system recovery and acute graft versus host disease in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (fellowship funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, under the program Ricerca Finalizzata 2013, Giovani Ricercatori, GR-2013-02357136 to Dr. Riccardo Masetti, 2017)
Fellowships and Awords:
2011 PROFUTURA Research Prize for young researchers in the field of ageing
PROFUTURA Organization, Bologna, Italy
2011 SIMGBM NAICONS Prize for Best PhD Thesis in Microbial Biotechnology
SIMGBM, Italian Society for Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology
2009 SIMGBM Best Poster Awards in Microbial Biotechnology
Poster title: “Gut microbiota and longevity: HITChip analysis of centenarians”
28th National Congress SIMGBM, Spoleto, Italy.
Supervision of students:
2024 - present Supervisor for 3 Master Degree student in Molecular Biotechnology
2022 - present Co-supervisor of 2 PhD students in Innovative technologies and sustainable use of Mediterranean sea fishery and biological resources (FishMed-PhD). Projects: “Biodegradability of bioplastics in marine environment and their impact of microbial biodiversity”, “Development of microbial bioprocesses for textile industry”.
2022 - present Co-supervisor of 2 PhD student in Civil, chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering. Projects: “Development of processes for the bioremediation of environmental matrices contaminated with complex mixtures of pollutants”, “Advanced research in materials engineering and industrial biotechnology”
2022-2025 Supervisor for 10 Bachelor Degree students in Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering
2020-2021 Supervisor for 2 Bachelor Degree students in Biotechnology. Co-supervision of 3 PhD students within the FishMed PhD program of the University of Bologna
2007-2019 Co-supervisor (“Correlatore”) for 10 Bachelor Degree students in Biotechnology, and 6 Master Degree students in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Biology of Human Health and Biodiversity and Evolution
2014-2017 Co-supervisor of PhD student Sara Quercia, PhD in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Project: Developmental dynamics of the infant microbiomes: exploring the gut and oral microbiota in full-term and pre-term infants in the frame of mother’s milk microbial ecosystem
Institutional Responsibilities:
From 2025 Research group component in HORIZON-JU-CBE-IAFlag project RUNFASTER4EU
"Flagship demonstration of bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable oil crops for marketable applications" https://runfaster4eu.eu/ Coordinator: Stefania Pescarolo (VERSALIS SpA), Cecilia Giardi (NOVAMONT), University of Bologna team leader: Prof. A. Monti, DISTAL
Main responsibilities: Activities related to microbial biodiversity monitoring.
From 2023 Scientific Manager in HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION project NYMPHE
“New system-driven bioremediation of polluted habitats and environment”, https://www.nympheproject.eu/ Coordinator: Prof. Giulio Zanaroli, University of Bologna.
Main responsibilities: SOPs and DMP management, Meetings (general assemblies and steering committee meetings) organization, Supervision of activities related to microbial communities enrichment and analysis for mixed hydrocarbons degradation.
Participation as NYMPHE referent in:
- Intra Consortia Webinar “Managing Data and Resources: practical examples in Research Projects focused on consumer products, climate change and zero pollution”. June 9th, 2023; CSIC – online event.
- Open Science Week 2023 event “Scienza aperta e valutazione della ricerca”. October 25th, 2023, Bologna, Aula Prodi. https://eventi.unibo.it/scienza-aperta-valutazione-ricerca
From 2022 Research group component for National Research project PNRR “Biodiversità” CN00000033
“National Biodiversity Future Center”, Spoke 2 – “Solutions to reverse marine biodiversity loss and manage marine resources sustainability”
From 2022 Research group component in HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK project TRIBIOME
“Advanced tools for integration and synergistic interconnection of microbiomes in resilient food systems”, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101084485
Coordinator: Carmen Sanchez Reig (ITENE, Spain). University of Bologna team leader: Prof. Marco Candela.
Main responsibilities: implementation of soil column experiments for microbiome monitoring
From 2022 Research group component in HORIZON-CL6-2022-ZEROPOLLUTION project MAR2PROTECT
“Preventing groundwater contamination related to global and climate change through a holistic approach based on managed aquifer recharge”, https://mar2protect.eu/
Coordinator: Ana Pereiro (NOVA, Portugal); Scientific coordinator: Prof. Dario Frascari, University of Bologna.
Main responsibilities: Supervision of activities related to microbial communities enrichment and analysis for degradation of pharmaceutical compounds.
2019-2021 Scientific Manager for the H2020-SFS-2018 project CIRCLES
“Controlling microbiomes circulations for better foods”, https://circlesproject.eu/
Coordinator Prof. Marco Candela, University of Bologna
2018-2021 Research group component in ALMA IDEA Junior Grant awarded project STRAMICRO
“Strategies in response to ocean acidification: morphological plasticity and microbiome variations in corals”
Principal Investigator Dr. Erik Caroselli, University of Bologna. Funding: University of Bologna
2014-2017 Scientific Manager for National Technological Cluster project "ProS.IT"
“Promotion of consumer’s health: nutritional valorization of Italian Agrofood traditional products”
Coordinator Prof. Patrizia Brigidi, University of Bologna
Technological Transfer Results:
2016 Patent nr. 102016000000558, Metodo per valutare lo stato di salute di un individuo. Inventors: Biagi Elena, Rampelli Simone, Turroni Silvia, Castagnetti Andrea, Candela Marco.
2015 Co-founder of Wellmicro srl, Spin Off at the University of Bologna. https://wellmicro.com/
2015 Patent nr: WO2016/020081 A1 “Identification of vaginal bacteria”. Inventors: Giuseppe C. Viscomi, Fiorella Calanni, Patrizia Brigidi, Beatrice Vitali, Elena Biagi, Federica Cruciani, Marco Severgnini, Clarissa Consolandi. Property: ALFA WASSERMANN S.p.A.
