Type B (senior) fixed-term researcher since 17 November 2021 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:
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 Supervisor for 1 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-present Supervisor for 6 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 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.
Relevant reviewing Activities:
2022 External Evaluator for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for sea turtle research permit application
2022 External Evaluator for European Science Foundation for ApogeeBio post-doctoral fellowship programme
2021 External Individual Evaluator (Step 2) for ERC Starting Grant 2021 proposal within LS7 panel (Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health)
2020 Member of PhD Final Examination Committee at the Wageningen University and Research Centre, for PhD student Dr. Ran An, Thesis title “Modulating the human intestinal microbiome in healthy adults and elderly through dietary supplements”.
2016 External Evaluator for HSE Research Awards on Ageing. Health Service Executive (HSE), Health and Wellbeing Division, St Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Editorial Board Membership:
2019-2020 Guest Editor for Microorganisms Special Issue “Microbiomes for the Sustainable Production of Safe and Secure Foods”; www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms/special_issues/microbiomes_foods_security
Organization of Scientific Meetings and Events:
2023, 2024 Organization of a series of lessons on environmental microbiology and bioremediation for secondary school students (2nd year, 12 y/o), at Scuola Secondaria di Primo grado “Mameli”, San Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna, within the framework of the Dissemination work package of the Horizon EU project NYMPHE. (https://dicam.unibo.it/it/notizie/incontri-ravvicinati-col-mondo-invisibile-alla-scuola-media)
2023 Organization of the Kick Off meeting of the Horizon EU project NYMPHE. University of Bologna, Italy. January 18-19th, 2023.
2021 Organization of the science dissemination event: “Giornata dedicate allo studio dei microbiomi marini” (Marine Microbiome Day) within the Sailing for Blue Life Festival, in collaboration with Fondazione Cetacea Onlus. June 9th, 2021, Nautical Club, Rimini. The event was part of the Dissemination work package in the H2020 CIRCLES project and enlisted as part of the “Waiting for the Researchers 'Night” festival, which included initiatives dedicated to science dissemination in the framework of the European project SOCIETY Rinascimento (GA101036092) / Researchers' Night. (https://circlesproject.eu/sailing-for-blue-life-circles-on-the-high-seas/, https://circlesproject.eu/sailing-for-blue-life/)
2021 Organization of two WP leaders meetings of the H2020 project CIRCLES “Controlling microbiomes circulations for better foods”. May 28th and October 22nd, 2021. Meetings held virtually because of the Covid19 pandemic travel restrictions.
2020-2021 Organization of the first- and second-year meetings of the H2020 project CIRCLES. April 28th, 2020 and April 27th, 2021. Meetings held virtually because of the Covid19 pandemic travel restrictions.
2019, 2022 Organization of a series of 4 lessons on microbiomes and microbiology for primary school children (classes 3° and 4°), at Scuola Primaria Ermanno Quaquarelli, San Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna.
2019 Organization of a lesson and laboratory, for kids aged 8-14, within the Unijunior Bologna events series (https://www.unijunior.it/calendario/sede-bologna/lo-sapete-che-al-90-siamo-fatti-di-batteri-ma-tranquilli-sono-nostri-amici, https://circlesproject.eu/circles-at-unijunior-bologna/), in collaboration with Prof. Marco Candela and Dr. Monica Barone. Lesson title: “Did you know we are 90% bacteria?”.
2018 Organization of the Kick Off meeting of the H2020 project CIRCLES. University of Bologna, Italy. December 4th, 2018. Talk title: WP2, Objectives and road map.
2015 Organization of the annual meeting of the EU FP7 project MyNewGut “Factors influencing the human gut microbiome and its effect on the development of diet-related diseases and brain development”, Palazzo Hercolani, University of Bologna, Italy.
