Welcome!
We are the Applied Microbiology Group at the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca.
Our work focuses on understanding the ecological processes that shape microbial communities in a wide range of terrestrial and marine environments. We also apply bioremediation strategies to clean up polluted sites, tackling various organic contaminants, and we explore life in extreme environments and organisms.
Our lab is equipped with an in-house Illumina next-generation sequencing facility, and we actively collaborate with research groups and companies in Italy and internationally.
Andrea Franzetti
Full Professor
Applied Microbiology
I received the Msc and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Milano – Bicocca, Italy in 2000 and 2007, respectively. I was “FEMS fellow” at the Ulster University (UK) in 2005/2006 and Visiting Research in 2012/2013 at Soderton University (Sweden). I joined the University of Milano Bicocca in 2008 as a research fellow and I am currently full professor of microbiology at the department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. My scientific interests are the mechanisms and exploitation of pollutants, biodegradation processes in natural environments, and the ecological processes assembling the microbial community in extreme environments.
Isabella Gandolfi
Associate Professor
Applied Microbiology
I graduated (M.Sc.) and received my Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, in 2004 and 2007, respectively. I was ‘FEMS fellow’ at ETH Zürich (Switzerland) in 2006/2007. I joined the University of Milano-Bicocca in 2008 as a research fellow and I am currently associate professor of microbiology at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. My scientific interests mainly address the ecological processes that are responsible for the structure and functions of prokaryotic communities in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and plant- and animal-associated microbiomes.
Francesca Pittino
Research Fellow
Applied Microbiology
I received the MSc in Biology and the PhD in Environmental Sciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca in 2016 and 2021, respectively. I was Post-Doc for a year and half until 2023 at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) where I was involved in the study of lithic bacterial communities on the Swiss Alps. In 2023 I came back to the University of Milano-Bicocca as research fellow at the department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. My scientific interests are the investigation of microorganisms in extreme environments, especially in cold areas.
Valeria Tatangelo
Laboratory Technician
Applied Microbiology
I received the Msc in Biology and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Milano – Bicocca, Italy in 2011 and 2015, respectively. I obtained my Master’s degree in Biology and my Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, in 2011 and 2015, respectively. Subsequently, I worked at a company in the Quality Assurance department. In 2022, I came back to the University of Milano-Bicocca, first as a research fellow and then as a laboratory technician. Within the group, I am responsible for managing the sequencing facility.Furthermore, I am involved in the Life Capture project. The project intends to find innovative remediation solutions for PFAS-contaminated soil and groundwater in terms of sustainable management and treatment methods.
Meriam Cheffi
Postdoctoral Researcher
Applied Microbiology
Tunisian Ph.D. researcher in Biological Sciences. I have worked in several laboratories in different countries during my Master, Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowships. I received my M.Sc. and Ph.D. in 2014 and 2021, respectively, from the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, Tunisia. As a researcher in the field of biological sciences, I have a focus on environmental microbiology, biosurfactant production and its applications, and bioremediation methodologies. Currently, I am working as a Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, where, I am focusing, firstly, on studying the composition of the microbial communities in contaminated groundwater, and secondly, on the estimation of biodegradation rates as well as the effectiveness of the in situ bioremediation methods.
Asia Rosatelli
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
I am a PhD student in Environmental Science with a background in applied microbiology for the bioremediation of organic pollutants. I received my BSc in Biotechnology (L-2) from the University of Perugia in 2019 and my MSc in Environmental Sciences (LM-75) from the University of Milano-Bicocca in 2021. After my master degree, I worked as a Research Fellow in the MicroDiSAT group for one year in a project whose aim was the application of commercial products in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted soils for the investigation of biodegradation kinetics and microbial community dynamics. In November 2022, I started my PhD in Environmental Sciences. The project on which I’m working is under the Joint Research Agreement (J. R. A) signed between the University of Milano-Bicocca and ENI S.p.a and focuses on the development and production of a Microbial activated Biochar to be applied in the bioremediation of contaminated sites. During the 2nd year of my PhD, I spent 6 months at the Institute for Water Education- IHE-Delft.
Riccardo Grimoldi
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology (L-2) in 2018 and my Master’s degree in Industrial Biotechnology (LM-8) in 2022, both from the University of Milano-Bicocca. My Master’s thesis focused on the characterisation and testing of new commercial products for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon- contaminated soils. After my Master’s degree, I spent a year teaching as a science professor, which gave me valuable experience in student engagement and educational communication.
In January 2024 I started a PhD programme in Chemical, Geological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Milan-Bicocca. My research focuses on characterising the microbial community present on the phyllosphere of plants in the urban environment of Milan, with the aim of understanding the main ecological factors influencing the temporal and spatial evolution of the community. In particular, I am investigating the role of air pollution in shaping microbial diversity and exploring its potential as a driver for improving urban air quality.
Gabriella Caucia
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
My research interest lies in exploring microbial electrosynthesis (MES) as a promising avenue for sequestering CO2 and generating value-added chemicals through the metabolism of electroactive microorganisms. I aim to utilize hyperthermophiles in bioelectrochemical systems to produce value-added compounds, with a specific focus on methane production. This will involve investigating the potential of hyperthermophilic methanogens in electrochemical cells and exploring possible syntrophic relationships with hydrogen-producing bacteria. Through this research, I’m expected to advance our understanding of hyperthermophiles’ role in enhancing the efficiency of bioelectrochemical systems for methane production.
Isabella Ghizzi
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
Since I was a student at primary school, I have always been fascinated by two things: biological sciences and the sea. These two passions have led me to become a Marine Scientist that, at the moment, is focusing its research on marine microbiology. The subject of my Master thesis was the characterization of coral-associated microorganisms communities (microbiome), a new field of study with a huge potential, especially in the perspective of climate change. After the Master’s Degree that I earned in 2022, I won a Research Scholarship at Bicocca University; the project concerned the analysis of bacterial communities associated with the crustose coralline alga Ellisolandia elongata (in partnership with ENEA research centre). At the moment, I am a Ph.D. student and, even though the main research object of my Doctorate is the study of coral microbiome, beside this, I am following different projects, all focused on the study of marine microbiomes, but from different points of view and with different applications, so as to enable a more comprehensive study and safeguard of the marine environment and its inhabitants.
Davide Rossi
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
In 2020 I graduated from the University of Milan-Bicocca with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Technology (LT-32), where I later obtained a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Technology (LM-75). During my studies, I developed my thesis in the Microdisat research group, focusing on the characterisation of the cloacal microbiome of a swallow population (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster) and possible correlations with the phenology of the analysed specimens. I am currently a PhD student at the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory of the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, also at the University of Milan-Bicocca (MicroDiSAT research group). My research activity focuses on aerobic degradation processes of organic pollutants mediated by microorganisms, with particular attention to the assessment of soil quality after bioremediation processes. In this context, I analyse aspects of biological and ecological soil quality as well as potential health risks.
Erika Bruno
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
I received the BSc in Biological Sciences (L-13) in 2019 and the MSc in Biology (LM-6) in 2022 from the University of Milano-Bicocca. After my master’s degree, I received a research fellowship from the Department of Medicine and Surgery as part of the “Progetto SARI – Sorveglianza Ambientale di SARS-CoV-2 attraverso i Reflui urbani in Italia,” aimed to investigating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in urban wastewater from five Lombardy wastewater treatment plants and coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. From November 2023, I’m starting the PhD program in Chemical, Geological, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca, where I’m focused on analyzing the potential effects of wastewater bypass and high-intensity weather events on the release of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes into the environment.
Alessandra Suagher
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Technologies (L-32) in 2020 and my Master’s degree in Environmental and Territory Science and Technologies (LM-75) in 2022, both from the University of Milano Bicocca. For my Master’s thesis, I collaborated with the MicroDiSAT group and the Universidad de Playa Ancha and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María in Chile to apply bioelectrochemical systems to the bioremediation of a hydrocarbon-contaminated marine site. Following my Master’s degree, I worked as a Scholarship Researcher in the MicroDiSAT group. I was involved in the characterisation of surfactants and biosurfactants, and the study of their potential application in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated site, investigating the biodegradation kinetics and the dynamics of microbiological communities in the contaminated soil. Since November 2024, I have been a PhD student on the Chemical, Geological and Environmental Sciences course at the University of Milan Bicocca, Environment curriculum, within the MicroDiSAT group, in which I’m involved in a project carried out to develop a predictive model using machine learning techniques in order to estimate the kinetics of biological treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils.
Silvia Leoci
PhD student
Applied Microbiology
I received the BSc in Biological Sciences (L-13) in 2019 and the MSc in Environmental Science and Technology (LM-75) in 2022 from the University of Milano-Bicocca. After my master’s degree, I worked at the start-up M3R for a year as a laboratory technician, collaborating on research and development activities in the field of bioremediation. In November 2023, I started my PhD in Chemical, Geological and Environmental Sciences at University of Milano-Bicocca in high apprenticeship with M3R. My research focuses on developing innovative methodologies for monitoring biological processes in contaminated environmental matrices and studying bioremediation processes.
Vittoria Calabretta
Research Fellow
Applied Microbiology
I am a Research Fellow specialized in Environmental Microbiology. My academic journey began in Florence, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, completing a thesis on the plant microbiome of medicinal plants, focusing on the ability of microbes to produce antibacterial VOCs against specific pathogenic strains. In 2025, I obtained my Master’s degree in Marine Sciences, with a thesis project centered on the microbiome characterization of various coral species sampled in the Mediterranean Sea. My work also explored the effects of diesel pollution on coral microbiome structure, including the identification of bacteria capable of hydrocarbon degradation.
My experience and passion for microbiology have led me to work on projects involving both marine and plant-associated bacteria. I am currently contributing to the ECOROADS project,
developing microbiology-enhanced barriers to reduce traffic noise and air pollution while supporting environmental sustainability. In parallel, my marine research involves characterizing
coral microbiomes and evaluating coral resilience, investigating the interactions between the microbiome and the coral in its healthy state.