Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT)
University of Milano-Bicocca – Milan, Italy
The Environmental Microbiology Research Group at the University of Milano-Bicocca investigates the structure, dynamics, and functional roles of microbial communities in natural, extreme, and contaminated environments, with a strong emphasis on sustainable ecosystem processes and environmental restoration. Our multidisciplinary approach combines microbial ecology, molecular biology, biogeochemical cycling, and applied bioremediation to address contemporary environmental challenges.
Research Mission & Themes
We aim to understand how microbial communities respond to environmental stressors and how they can be harnessed to support ecosystem health and recovery. Our research spans:
- Microbial ecology and ecosystem functioning in natural and urban environments
- Biodegradation and bioremediation of organic contaminants (e.g., petroleum hydrocarbons, PFAS)
- Microbiome structure and services, including plant-associated microbiomes in urban areas
- Cold environment biodiversity and glacier microbial ecology
- Microbial roles in sustainable strategies for wastewater, soil, and groundwater quality
- Novel bio-electrochemical and biochar-based remediation technologies
- Antimicrobial resistance dynamics and environmental exposure pathways
- Coral-associated microbiomes and marine microbial health
These thematic lines are pursued through a combination of funded research projects, doctoral theses, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Our group operates within the Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology at DISAT, equipped to support cutting-edge experimental and molecular research. Key facilities include:
- Biosafety Level 2 (BL2) workspaces for cultivation and handling of microorganisms
- Advanced incubators for controlled growth of diverse microbial cultures
- Molecular biology equipment, such as high-performance DNA homogenizers, end-point and real-time PCR systems, and gel electrophoresis units
These resources enable controlled experimental workflows from community profiling to functional assays and molecular analyses in microbial ecology and biotechnological applications.
Team & Community
Our research team comprises faculty, research fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and Ph.D. candidates committed to advancing scientific knowledge and training the next generation of environmental scientists and microbiologists. The group also hosts visiting researchers and collaborates with academic, industrial, and international partners.