Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT) at the University of Bologna, Dr. Luca Mazzei currently works in the laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry (group leader Prof. Stefano Ciurli). His research involves the characterization, at a molecular level, of metal-dependent proteins and proteins responsible for metal homeostasis in cells. The main goal is the determination of the molecular structure of the metal-containing proteins, the elucidation of the structure-function relationships, the reciprocal influence of the metal ions and the protein matrix, and the interaction modes of the metal-proteins with substrates, inhibitors, and other ligands such as proteins and DNA.
In particular, current research is focused on the molecular characterization, by using X-ray protein crystallography, of the reactivity and inhibition of urease, a nickel-dependent enzyme involved both in pathologies caused by antibiotic-resistant ureolytic bacteria and in the management of global nitrogen resources in the agro-environmental context.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Current position (since 01/2017): Post-Doc research fellowship co-funded by the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (University of Bologna) and Consorzio Interuniversitario di Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo-Proteine – CIRMMP, under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ciurli.
12/2012 – 12/2013: Postgraduate research fellowship funded by the Consorzio Interuniversitario di Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo-Proteine – CIRMMP, under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ciurli.
12/2011 – 11/2012: Research fellowship funded by the Consorzio Interuniversitario di Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo-Proteine – CIRMMP, under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ciurli.
TEACHING
2019 – 2020: Teaching assistant (27 hours) for the course “Chemistry” of the Bachelor in “Genomics” at the University of Bologna. Activity held in English.
2018 – 2019: Teaching assistant (27 hours) for the course “Chemistry” of the Bachelor in “Genomics” at the University of Bologna. Activity held in English.
2017 – 2018: Teaching assistant (60 hours) for the course “General and Inorganic Chemistry” of the Bachelor in “Industrial and Mechanical Engineering” and “Agricultural and Agro-Environmental Sciences” at the Free University of Bozen. Activity held in English.
2016 – 2017: Teaching assistant (60 hours) for the course “General and Inorganic Chemistry” of the Bachelor in “Industrial and Mechanical Engineering” and “Agricultural and Agro-Environmental Sciences” at the Free University of Bozen. Activity held in English.
EDUCATION
2014 – 2017: PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Bologna, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ciurli. During this period, Luca Mazzei spent four months at the EMBL of Hamburg (Germany), improving his knowledge in the bio-cristallographic field, under the supervision of Dr. Michele Cianci.
2010 – 2012: Master’s Degree in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology at the University of Bologna, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences, under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ciurli.
2006 – 2009: Degree in Environmental and Industrial Biotechnology at University of Florence, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences, under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ciurli.
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS
Associazione Italiana di Cristallografia (AIC)
Società Chimica Italiana – Divisione di Chimica dei Sistemi Biologici – Divisione di Chimica Inorganica
AWARDS
Best PhD thesis award in the structural biology field (2019) by Associazione Italiana Cristallografia (AIC).
