GROUP MEMBERS

Prof. Giuseppe Falini (GF), PhD in Chemistry, is full professor in chemistry at the University of Bologna where he teaches general and inorganic chemistry, and solid state chemistry. Currently, the research activity of GF is mainly addressed in the fields of biomineralization and macromolecular crystallography. It can be summarized in the following subjects: the study of the crystalline structure using X-ray crystallography of biological macromolecules and minerals involved in the biomineralization processes of calcium carbonate; the design and preparation of innovative materials from waste marine biominerals and biopolymers. GF coordinates the biomineralization and biocrystallization laboratory. GF is co-author of about 230 scientific publications (H-index = 44) in international journals (two in Science) with impact factor. GF also wrote 5 book chapters and is inventor of 3 patents. GF has been invited to present his research activities in more than fifty international and national conferences and schools. GF has been awarded from national institutions, companies and European Community (ERC Adv).

Devis Montroni is a researcher (RTD-A) at the University of Bologna. He got his PhD in Chemistry in 2019 at the University of Bologna where he also got a Master’s degree in organic chemistry in 2015 and a Bachelor's degree in "Chemistry and Material Chemistry" in 2013. During his study he spent half a year in both the Trinity College of Dublin and the University of California, Santa Cruz. After his PhD he spent one year at the University of California, Irvine as PostDoc in Prof. David Kisailus' group. His research interests focus on the study of structure-function relationship of biogenic mineralized and polysaccharide-based matrices with a successive reapplication of this knowledge on bioinspired materials. A second research topic involves the use of chitin to develop novel bioplastics for packaging and scaffold for regenerative medicine.

She is a PhD student in “Innovative Technologies and Sustainable Use of Mediterranean Sea Fishery and Biological Resources” (FishMed-PhD) at the University of Bologna. She graduated in her Bechelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Napoli “Federico II” with a thesis on proteomics and mass spectrometry strategies for the characterization of archaeological finds and got her Master's degree in Chemistry at the University of Bologna with a thesis on plant enzymes crystallography.
Her research activities focus on the biomineralization process in corals and the impact of ocean acidification on their growth, and exploiting calcium carbonate from marine waste materials such as seashells, sea urchin spines, and crab and shrimp carapaces to develop new materials for industrial and biomedical applications.

Angelica Mucaria is a PhD student in Chemistry since November 2021. She earned her bachelor degree in Chemistry at the University of Rome Tor Vergata with a thesis in electrochemistry developing a paper-based biosensor for glucosinolates detection in food waste. She later moved to Bologna where she obtained her master degree in Chemistry with a thesis in biomineralization and functionalization of chitin from waste products. Her project concerns the functionalization and valorization of chitin extracted from waste matrices such as squid pens, crab and shrimp carapaces. 

PhD student in "Innovative technologies and sustainable use of Mediterranean fisheries and biological resources (FISHMED-PhD)" at Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Bologna.

My research applies interdisciplinary techniques to study the ecology and biology of Mediterranean calcifying organisms, such as corals and molluscs. The aims of my studies are to investigate skeletal characteristics, biometry, mechanical properties and calcification in relation to changing environmental conditions, especially in face of ocean warming and acidification.

Simona Fermani (SF) is associate professor in Inorganic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician” of the University of Bologna, where she teaches general and inorganic chemistry, biocrystallography, bioinorganic chemistry, and biomaterials. She got her PhD in Chemistry in 2000. From 2000-2008 she had post-doctoral positions and from 2007-2010, she worked in a multinational company (Nexans). In 2010, she became assistant professor at the University of Bologna. The research activity of SF is primarily addressed in the field of structural biology and biomineralization and focuses on (i) structural study by X-ray or complementary techniques of chloroplast enzymes from photosynthetic organisms and proteins involved in the biomineralization of calcium carbonate; (ii) design and preparation of innovative surfaces for the crystallization of biological macromolecules. SF is co-author of about 110 scientific publications (H-index = 28) in peer-reviewed journals with impact factor. SF has presented her research activities in several international and national conferences.