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TOPICS for XXXII Cycle

1. TOPIC “Antioxidant in livestock diets”
One position with grant
Scientific Tutors: Prof. Domenico P. Lo Fiego (tutor); Prof. Luisa A. Volpelli (co-tutor)
 
The researches will concern the use of natural substances acting as antioxidant in the diets of livestock (i.e. pigs and dairy cows). The effects of various substances and raw materials will be tested on animal performance and on derivative products: 
• growth, feed conversion, feed intake, milk production, reproductive traits
• slaughtering traits
• quality of meat and milk and of derived products
• metabolic indicators
Requested traits of the candidate: 
• basic knowledge of animal production
• availability to work with farmed animals (pigs and cows)
• ability to work in laboratory
 
 
2. TOPIC “Bioactive edible packaging for feed and food”
One position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Andrea Pulvirenti
 
The research project will focus on the development of bioactive edible packaging, with a special interest on the antimicrobial effect of natural substances, which could exert their action on feed and/or food products.  
Required skills of the candidate: 
• Basic knowledge of food microbiology, food processing, organic chemistry
• Availability to work in food companies and with farmed animals 
• Good competence and practical skills in common laboratory practices
• Good knowledge of English language
 
 
3. TOPIC “Evolution of quality standard in food industry”
One position without grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Andrea Pulvirenti
 
 
4. TOPIC “Quality control of Microbials”
One position with grant 
Scientific tutors: Prof. Emilio Stefani; prof. Andrea Pulvirenti (co-tutor)
 
In agriculture, industrial products defined as “Microbials” may contain one or more microorganisms, belonging or originating to the natural agro-ecosystems and specifically selected to improve crop production and protection. They are regarded as a sustainable solution to ensure biodiversity of microbial communities in soil and plants, together with an effective control of several plant pathogens. 
The research focuses on the development, implementation and characterization of industrial Microbials, in order to meet the highest standards of quality control during any step of their industrial production. This will be done by using the latest methods and techniques in molecular biology and microbial genetics. 
Required skills: The prospective candidate has sufficient knowledge of industrial production of Microbials, together with lab skills related to basic and applied microbiology, namely manipulation of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, fungi) and their microbial genetics. A good English knowledge is an asset.
 
 
5. TOPIC “Symbiotic agriculture: increasing knowledge on the mode of action of beneficial microorganisms”
One position with grant (from Industry) 
Scientific tutor: Prof. Emilio Stefani
 
Several microorganisms, part of the microbial communities present is soil and in plants (as endophytes or epiphytes), play a significant role in agro-environments as plant growth promoters, control of plant diseases, facilitation of nutrients uptake by plants. Understanding the mode of action of such microbes (bacteria, yeasts, fungi) and their relationship to crop plants will help to focus research on selected microorganisms, with the scope to develop innovative products (Microbials) to be used in sustainable crop production, gaining a positive impact in agricultural environments in terms of microbial diversity and stability.
The research focuses on searching microbial candidates in agricultural and natural environments suitable to be used in crop management as biocontrol agents or plant growth promoters. A set of already available microbes and new ones (bacteria and yeasts) will be thoroughly studied and used in field experiments on selected crop plants. This in order to assess their potential use as Microbials in symbiotic agriculture. Additionally, their mode of action in plants will be unravelled through biochemical analyses and a transcriptomic approach, coupled with RNA-seq analysis. 
Required skills: The prospective candidate is an agronomist and plant biotechnologist, with a strong background in molecular plant-microbe interactions. Sufficient knowledge of genomics, transcriptomics and RNA-seq analysis would be an asset. A good English knowledge is required, together with the availability to attend a significant period (not less than 4-6 months) abroad, in a world-leading lab involved in research related to the research topic. 
 
 
6. TOPIC “Development and application of bioinformatics tools for Next Generation Sequencing data analysis and interpretation- exploiting cereal crops and model species”
One position with grant 
Scientific tutors: Dr. Enrico Francia (tutor); Dr. Justyna Anna Milc (co-tutor)
 
The discipline of Bioinformatics addresses the need to manage and interpret the plethora of diverse data that is being massively generated by the 'omic' sciences. This discipline represents the convergence of biology, computer and information technology sciences, and encompasses analysis and interpretation of biomolecular (e.g. genomic and transcriptomic) data, modelling of biological phenomena, and development of algorithms and statistical approaches. This includes information on genomes, biomolecules, biomolecular circuitry, and biological processes at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels.
Required skills: knowledge of applied biotechnology, bioinformatics, genetics and gene expressions; strong communication aptitude in English, autonomous data elaboration and high motivation.
 
 
7. TOPIC "Development of a high throughput plant phenotyping system for innovating durum wheat breeding in the Mediterranean"
One position without grant
Scientific tutor: Prof. Nicola Pecchioni
 
It is aim of the present PhD project to perform a detailed study for setting up a high throughput (HT) plant phenotyping system with the final aim to innovate and improve the efficiency of durum wheat breeding for the Mediterranean environments. The project will have to design a comprehensive strategy for the high throughput field phenotyping of durum wheat, applicable to soft wheat and other straw cereals. In particular, it will be performed a survey and a series of test and validation experiments for choosing for the aim the: best suited technologies (lean phenotyping, drones, phenomobiles, etc), breeding programs, phenological phases, breeding technologies (e.g. MAS and genomic selection vs. HT phenotyping), plot sizes and single plants, environments and targeted traits. The project will also include a significant effort to either adopt existing bioinformatic packages, or to develop new ones specifically suited for wheat breeding, collaboration will be established with IBG2 Plant Science, Forschungszentrum Jülich and other institutions as appropriate. Through a collaboration with CREA Cereal Research Centre, the project will be part of the national plant phenotyping initiative named PHEN-ITALY.
 
Required skills: knowledge of wheat breeding and genomic techniques, quantitative genetics and applied biotechnology; good communication aptitude in English.
 
 
 
8. TOPIC “Food, microbiota and health”
One position with grant 
Scientific tutor: Prof. Maddalena Rossi
 
Required Skills: intestinal microbiota, metagenomics, lactic acid bacteria, fermentation processes.
 
 
9. TOPIC “Microbial biotechnology for development and implementation of technologies for the production of ice creams”
One position with grant (from Industry)
Scientific tutor: Prof. Maddalena Rossi
 
 
10. TOPIC “Development of innovative acetification processes and products”
One position with grant (from Industry) 
Scientific tutor: Dr. Maria Gullo
 
The research aims to develop innovative fermented beverages and vinegars. New raw materials and acetification processes will be studied and prototypal scale productions implemented. 
 
 
11. TOPIC  “Valorization of enological production chain effluents”
One position with grant 
Scientific tutors: Prof. Andrea Antonelli (tutor); Dr. Francesca Masino, Dr. Giuseppe Montevecchi (co-tutor)
 
Wineries produce a vast variety of wastes. Many of them are collected by distilleries that distils millions of tons of effluents (marc and different slurries) to yield ethanol and potable spirits. In turn, heads, faints or tails, washes, and solid matter contains a number of highly valuable molecules that can be profitably used in many fields: flavour industry, building blocks for bio-based industries, biomolecules, energy recovery (methanol in fuel cells), plastic fillers, lipids (with innovative systems), etc.
The main aims of this research can be summarized as follows:
• study of the composition (identification and quantification) of the effluents with appropriate techniques;
• recovery and purification of the different substance contained in the effluents;
• some applications of the substances separated in the previous step.

Required skills: preference will give to the candidates with experience in food technology and chromatographic techniques (HPLC and GC-MS). Good skills in English and in team-working are highly valued, as well. It is also mandatory the availability to spend a period in an European/American lab to refine skills useful for the research project.