RESEARCH TOPICS FOR XXXVI CYCLE
1) Research topic: INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS IN AGRO-FOOD INDUSTRIES AND LIVESTOCK FARMS
1 (one) position with grant funded by Bioecology Srl
Scientific tutor: prof. Lara Maistrello
The project focuses on the sustainable management of insect pests in agri-food facilities and of house and other pests in livestock farms by means multidisciplinary approaches. Population dynamic of pests and surveying of the presence and efficacy of biocontrol agents, with special reference to parasitoids of different life stages of hosts, will be investigated. Specific monitoring systems and mass trapping devices will be evaluated to improve their efficacy. Management strategies will be developed, based on a combination of behavioural manipulation, mechanical and physical techniques, and using biocontrol approaches both by means of parasitoids and, in the case of livestock farms, by means of competition with non-pest species. Overall, the project will contribute to identify the best approaches and practices to be integrated to improve the sustainability in the management of insect pests in agri-food industries and livestock farms.
Candidate should have knowledge of insect biology and behaviour, specific monitoring and rearing techniques and experience in integrated pest management strategies and biological control. The candidate should possess initiative and problem solving skills, should be motivated and have a good attitude both to independent and team work. The candidate is required to spend at least 6 months at foreign research institutes.
The successful candidate must have a master degree in biology/agricultural sciences and documented interest in insect behaviour and biological control.
2) Research topic: PHYTOSANITARY QUALITY ALONG THE TOMATO AND PEPPER PRODUCTION CHAIN THROUGH AN INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL DISEASES CAUSED BY XANTHOMONADS
1 (one) position reserved for an employee "Kosovo Institute of Agriculture" of Peya, within the Convention with "Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development" of the Republic of Kosovo on specific research themes and provision for double supervision
Scientific tutor: prof. Emilio Stefani; co-Tutor: Ing. Fehmi Geci
Tomato and pepper are among the most important vegetable crops for Kosovo. Several diseases are reported on these crops, but prevalence and distribution of bacterial diseases in the Country is largely unknown: in particular, the bacterial spot of both tomato and pepper, which appear to be well established in other geographical regions in the Balkans. In particular, Xanthomonas spp. are reported to be more destructive than other phytogenic bacteria, especially on pepper: this is probably due to the high susceptibility of several popular cultivars, the agro-climatic conditions in the Balkans, which appear particularly conducive to disease and the lack of efficient seed sanitation techniques. Finally, several local and small seed producers do not apply an effective and reliable seed certification scheme. The proposed PhD project is aimed to fill the knowledge gaps on the real situation in Kosovo related to the phytosanitary quality of tomato and pepper seeds and propose strategies and methods to ensure the production, marketing and use of safe seeds.
Objectives of the PhD project will be:
- Monitor any possible outbreak of bacterial diseases affecting tomato and pepper in Kosovo during three following seasons (2021-2023);
- Monitor and analyse tomato and pepper seed lots of domestic production for the presence of Xanthomonas spp., in order to assess their phytosanitary quality;
- Establish a collection of Xanthomonas spp. in order to identify the species involved in disease outbreaks and seed infection, assess their virulence on both tomato and pepper, perform a population study to characterise their genetics;
- Evaluate a set of domestic tomato and pepper varieties for the identification of possible tolerance/resistance genetic traits to Xanthomonas spp.;
- Evaluate current seed disinfection methods for tomato and pepper;
- Develop and implement innovative seed disinfection methods and seed priming based on ozone treatments.
3) Research topic: OPTIMIZED APPROACHES FOR RESILIENT CROPS CULTIVATION
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific tutor: prof. Enrico Francia; co-Tutor: dr. Justyna Anna Milc
The project will deal with application of modern agronomic and/or molecular techniques applied to crop plants, in particular Triticeae and Solanaceae, in order to increase resilience and yield in modern farming systems. Application of good agronomic practices will aim at selection of the appropriate plant materials and optimization of inputs. The student will perform a visiting stage (at least 6-months) in foreign institutions to get knowledge on up-to-date approaches of sustainable intensification and agricultural genomics applied to cultivation systems. Knowledge generated through the project will also help to clarify molecular bases of crop adaptation to a changing environment.
Required skills: knowledge of agronomic practices, genetics and crop physiology; knowledge of applied biotechnology is also welcome; strong communication attitude in English, autonomous data elaboration and high motivation.
4) Research topic: EXPLOITATION MICROBES AND MICROBIAL PRODUCTS IMPACTING ON HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, FOOD, AND SUSTAINABILITY
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific tutor: dr. Alberto Amaretti
Microbial biodiversity is an inexhaustible source of biochemical and metabolic potential that is still understudied. Microorganisms and their communities are extraordinarily diverse in their range of habitats and are capable of synthesizing and transform myriad varieties of molecules, compounds, enzymes, etc. The proposed research program aims to explore microbial communities and strains to identify metabolic activities and microorganisms yielding molecules that impact on health, environment, food, and sustainability. Key steps include the characterization and screening of environmental microbes and microbial communities, the study of their genomes and metagenomes, the study of the relevant parameters affecting transformation, possible strains improvement, the cultivation in laboratory scale bioreactors, the optimization of cultivation conditions. The applicant should have strong biological background, motivation to work in national and international research teams, ability to process acquired data and presenting written and oral scientific reports. The PhD program include a period abroad of 6 months, not necessarily consecutive.
5) Research topic: HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR THE DESIGN OF MORE SUSTAINABLE FOOD PACKAGING SYSTEMS
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific tutor: prof. Patrizia Fava; co-Tutor: dr. Fabio Licciardello
Modern packaging systems are requested to face the challenge of being environmentally sustainable, maintaining their ability to protect food products and to retard degradation phenomena. Indeed, packaging contributes to the sustainability of a food product and should be designed holistically together with that product to optimize the overall environmental performance and minimize the risk of product spoilage, damage and wastage. This project is focused on the study and design of packaging systems addressed to reduce food wastage and to provide sustainable end-of-life options. The project will consider the opportunities offered by paper and cardboard packaging materials (also recycled) as well as traditional polymeric plastics and the new biobased and biodegradable/compostable polymers. The project requires the PhD student to spend at least 6 months at foreign research institutes.
The applicant should have expertise in shelf-life assessment tests and methodology, knowledge on the main physical properties of packaging materials.
6) Research topic: BEYOND THE CHEMISTRY: THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE SOUND IN PLANTS
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific tutor: dr. Laura Arru; co-Tutor: dr. Luca Forti
It is an emerging evidence that plants developed the sensitivity to sense sounds and possess the competence to distinguish the relevant sound frequencies over the non-relevant ones. Buzz pollination or the ability of plant roots to grow towards flowing water are just a couple of examples. Plants also seem to have developed the ability to produce sounds in order to manage different environmental situations. The Research will investigate this fascinating field of communication in plants using sound as a modality. The student will improve his/her technique and the approach to this investigation with a period of at least 6 months in a foreign University highly qualified in exploring this field of investigation. The outcomes of this Research, besides a deeper and better knowledge in this unexplored research field, will lead to understand signals that can be interpreted and used by plants, in order to improve their health, their defense, or even their content of secondary metabolites of human interest.
Required skills: the candidate should possess initiative and problem-solving skills, should be motivated and have a good attitude both to independent work and to teamwork in a highly cross disciplinary environment. The successful candidate must have a master’s degree in Biology, Natural Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences or closely-related areas.
7) Research topic: VALORIZATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS THROUGH LACTIC ACID FERMENTATION BY GENOMICS AND METABOLOMICS APPROACHES
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific tutor: prof. Lisa Solieri; co-Tutor: prof. Davide Tagliazucchi
The demand for healthy foods is rapidly risen in recent years due to increased consumer’s perception about the relationship between diet and health. Among the healthy foods, fermented dairy products, including cheese, gained increased interest due to their worldwide consumption, the unique sensory properties and the presence of several beneficial compounds (BC) such as bioactive peptides. In this PhD project we used Parmigiano Reggiano cheese full chain production as model system to study the impact of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on cheese quality, sensory features and biofunctionalities. The body of knowledge developed in this project will help to improve cheese process technologies and valorize PR healthy properties. In addition, thermophilic LAB from PR natural whey as well as mesophilic LAB from raw milk and ripened cheeses were screened for the release of antimicrobial and anti-hypertensive compounds by metabolomics approaches. Comparative genomics of the best BC-producer candidates will contribute to dissect the genetic signatures of health relevant phenotypes. These candidates will be also exploited to produce innovative functional food also from by-products of cheesemaking production chain.
Required skills: bachelor’s and master's degree in scientific field related to applied biotechnology, microbial biotechnology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, genetics and gene expressions; a solid understanding of the relevant concepts in bioprocesses and genotype/phenotype relationships; strong communication aptitude in English. Openness and availability to spend a period of at least 6 months in foreign Laboratories, according to the STEBA PhD Course rules.
8) Research topic: SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE RURAL APENNINES BETWEEN SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND HISTORICAL-NATURALISTIC ISSUES
1 (one) position without grant
Scientific tutor: prof. Emiro Endrighi
To feed a program aims at developing, in a sustainable way, the Apennine areas, it is mandatory to valorize both typical products and any peculiarity of the physical-naturalistic context, as well as the historical events of the communities living in the area.
Using recent statistical data jointly with historical information, will be identified historical paths of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. These paths, enriched with the support of other alternative methodologies such as the social, economic and environmental analyses, will be used to build an overall platform of capable resources useful for the integrated local valorization of the investigated area.
The candidate should have solid expertise in historical and socio-demographic analysis with particular attention to rural areas. The interdisciplinary expertise will be positively evaluated.