OUR TEAM
People driving
biotechnology forward.
Our multidisciplinary team combines diverse expertise and perspectives to turn scientific ideas into sustainable solutions.
PROFESSORS
Lorenzo Favaro
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Associate Professor of Agricultural Microbiology
His research focuses on microbial biotechnology for the valorisation of agricultural and industrial waste streams into biofuels and biopolymers, including PHAs. Author of 75+ peer-reviewed publications and co-inventor of two international patents, he combines academic research with technology transfer as CEO of Agri-E and co-founder of Urobo Biotech.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Waste valorization ⋅ Biofuels ⋅ Bioplastics
Marina Basaglia
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Associate Professor of Agricultural Microbiology
Her research focuses on the selection and characterisation of industrial microorganisms and their application in sustainable biotechnology. Her interests span agro-food waste valorisation for biofuels and bioplastics, microbial strain improvement, plant growth-promoting bacteria, bioremediation and microbial biosafety.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Microbial biotechnology · Waste valorisation · Bioplastics
Researchers & postdoctoral fellows
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY ⋅ BIOPOLYMERS
Gianmarco Mugnai
RESEARCHER
His research spans microbial ecology and biotechnology, from cyanobacteria and microbial communities to fermentation processes for renewable energy and biopolymer production.
BIOREFINERY ⋅ BIOFUELS
Ameya Pankaj Gupte
POSTDOC FELLOW ⋅ COO of Agri-E
His research focuses on biorefinery processes for converting agricultural and lignocellulosic waste into biofuels and high-value biochemicals through fermentation and biotransformation.
BIOPLASTIC ⋅ ENZYME TECHNOLOGY
Marthinus Wessel Myburgh
POSTDOC FELLOW ⋅ CEO of Urobo
His research centres on designing recombinant yeasts to hydrolyze bioplastics and convert them into high-value products, addressing global challenges in the sustainable end-of-life of bioplastics.
PhD STUDENTS
BIOPLASTIC ⋅ ENZYME TECHNOLOGY
Daniele Vezzini
PhD STUDENT
His research focuses on enzymatic technologies for bioplastic degradation and recycling, from the discovery and characterisation of novel enzymes to their integration into waste treatment processes.
BIOPLASTIC ⋅ ENZIME TECHNOLOGY
Dominique Francoise Rocher
PhD STUDENT ⋅ COO of Urobo
Her research focuses on enzymatic bioplastic hydrolysis and the development of scalable end-of-life solutions for bioplastic waste, including their integration into anaerobic digestion processes.
BIOPLASTIC ⋅ ENZIME TECHNOLOGY
Leonardo Faggian
PhD STUDENT
His research focuses on developing enzymatic solutions for the end-of-life valorisation of bioplastics, integrating bioplastic hydrolysis with anaerobic digestion to enhance resource recovery.
RESEARCH FELLOWS
WASTE VALORISATION ⋅ BIOPRODUCTS
Viviana Paulon
FELLOWSHIP RESEARCHER
Her research focuses on the microbial valorisation of organic and agro-industrial waste streams, integrating anaerobic processes and microbial fermentation for the production of biohydrogen, volatile fatty acids and bioplastics.
PLASTIC ⋅ MICROBIAL ENGINEERING
Laura Zanovello
FELLOWSHIP RESEARCHER
Her research focuses on developing recombinant enzyme-based strategies for the depolymerisation of fossil-based plastics, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a microbial platform for enzyme production.
ANAEROBIC PROCESSES ⋅ BIOPRODUCTS
Chiara Zanin
FELLOWSHIP RESEARCHER
Her research focuses on the valorisation of organic waste through anaerobic processes, integrating the production of volatile fatty acids with their subsequent conversion into PHAs using Cupriavidus necator as a microbial platform.