About us
A multidisciplinary research group

Giovanna Pesante graduated in Milan in Biology, with a specialisation in Ecology. She worked as a Marine Biologist and then as a Paramedic, until she focused her efforts on lab-based work. She therefore obtained an MSc in Bioscience Technology at the University of York (UK), with an internship spent in FERA (Food and Environment Research Agency), designing and expressing fusion proteins from spider-derived venoms, for the development of novel bio-pesticides. In 2018 she was awarded a PhD in Biology, working in CNAP (Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, York, UK), discovering new enzymes to produce second-generation biofuels. During her PhD she was an intern at the BDC (Biorenewable Development Centre, York, UK), comparing the effects of microwave pre-treatments to conventional thermal hydrolysis on biogas yield for anaerobic digestion. She then collaborated with Biome Bioplastic Ltd (Southampton, UK), working on alternative, biobased sources of acrylic acid based on algal biosynthetic pathways. In 2021 she moved back to Italy to join LabICAB at the University of Verona, where she has been involved since, working as a Postdoctoral Researcher in various EU projects (Life CIRCforBIO, HE AgriLoop). Her interests are biotechnologies applied to the valorisation of different types of waste into bioproducts such as microbial proteins, biostimulants and bioplastics.

Federico Micolucci obtained a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the University of Verona. During his research, he focused on optimizing fermentation processes for the recovery of bioproducts from organic waste and urban sewage sludge, with particular attention to the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from mixed culture biomass.He pursued a postdoctoral position at Aalborg University in Copenhagen and another at Lund University, where he worked on innovative wastewater treatment solutions using membrane processes and activated carbon, with a focus on removing organic micropollutants and pharmaceutical residues. Additionally, he collaborated as a researcher with the University of Gothenburg and Hiroshima University within the SWEMARC project, studying circular aquaculture systems and wastewater treatment through anammox processes. Currently, he is a researcher in the European project REFRAME (HORIZON-MSCA) at the University of Verona. His work focuses on transforming wastewater treatment plants into biorefineries for bioproduct recovery and optimizing treatment processes for more sustainable resource management and energy efficiency. This role allows him to combine his technical and scientific expertise with the management of complex projects, contributing to both technological innovation and the dissemination of knowledge in the field of environmental sustainability.

Elvis Montagnese obtained a master’s degree in Biotechnology for Bioresources and Eco-sustainable Development at the University of Verona. During his thesis internship, he specialized in the production of PHAs on a laboratory scale. The process, in particular, involves the use of a mixed microbial culture fed at regular intervals by a feed rich in VFA (produced by the fermentation of agricultural waste). The objective, therefore, is to eco-efficiently convert under-exploited agricultural residues into a bioproduct with high added value. Currently, as a research fellow within the European Agriloop project (Horizon Europe), he is investigating the production of these polymers on a pilot scale. The system he works on is located in Isola della Scala at the agricultural consortium company La Torre, which provides the matrices to work on. His work at the moment, in addition to production, focuses on the downstream process to optimize the recovery and purification of the PHAs produced.

Fabio Gugolati graduated in Biotechnology for Bioresources and Eco-sustainable Development at the University of Verona. During his thesis, he worked on the construction and activity monitoring of a laboratory-scale UASB reactor. The goal was to obtain medium-chain volatile fatty acids (caproic acid) from a hypothetical winery wastewater through the process of chain-elongation. He has been working as a research fellow at LABICAB since 2024 and has participated in two different projects: first BIOREFINE (PRIN-PNRR) and then DT4ART (EUROSTARS). Currently, his work focuses on obtaining data from wastewater treatment using a UASB reactor under different operating conditions. The final goal is to use this large amount of data to create a digital model for the automatic control of UASB reactor activities.

Fabio Rizzioli obtained his Master’s degree in Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology from the University of Bologna, with a thesis on the bioelectrochemical functionalization of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). He was subsequently awarded a PhD in Biotechnology. Currently, he is a research fellow at the University of Verona, focusing on nutrient recovery and biorefinery of organic waste from agricultural and municipal sources. His research is part of the European project LIFE DIMITRA, which aims to develop and manage a demonstration-scale plant for nutrient recovery, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, from agricultural digestate. The recovery processes are based on sequential filtration with pressure application (ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis), using a physical approach to avoid the use of chemicals and thus increase the sustainability of the process.

Riccardo Lo Coco graduated in Chemistry from the University of Palermo, specialising in Organic and Environmental Chemistry. During his PhD in Biotechnology at the University of Verona, he conducted research into the implementation of advanced technologies for the valorisation of organic waste through the recovery and purification of high added value molecules, with a view to the circular economy. During his PhD, his scientific activity was mainly focused on the development of innovative methods for the extraction, recovery and purification of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), molecules that represent precursors for the synthesis of sustainable materials and bioproducts with high commercial value. In particular, he has developed an integrated system based on anaerobic UASB reactors coupled to hydrophobic membranes for the selective recovery of VFAs from wine waste to generate substrates to produce bioplastics and microbial proteins. He is currently a research fellow in the European ELLIPSE project (CBE JU), which focuses on the valorisation of industrial heterogeneous waste streams through the production of cost-efficient PHAs and the selective recovery of nutrients. In this context, he is involved in the development of a pilot-scale plant for the treatment of digestate using a sequential membrane system to produce controlled release biofertilisers. He is part of the IWA – Young Water Professionals Italy (YWPIT) network as a mentor. He also has non-academic professional experience, having worked for several years as a diving instructor.

He obtained his Master’s degree in Biotechnology for Bioresources and Ecosustainable Development at the University of Verona. During his thesis, he worked on the production of hydrogen by purple non-sulfur bacteria in an anaerobic photo-bioreactor using medium-chain volatile fatty acids produced by a chain elongation process in a UASB reactor. He is currently in the second year of his PhD at the LabICAB group. During these first two years, his research has focused on the production of high value-added products (single cell proteins, pigments, PHA, H2) by exploiting photo-bioprocesses mediated by purple non-sulfur bacteria. The objective of these processes is the valorisation of waste products (OFMSW) and the conversion of CO2 into high value-added products by using purple non-sulfur bacteria.