RESEARCH TOPICS FOR XXXVII CYCLE - First Call
1) Research topic: BREEDING AND INNOVATIONS IN MEDICAL CANNABIS
1 (one) position with grant funded by Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria - Centro di Ricerca Cerealicoltura e Colture Industriali (CREA-CI)
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Nicola Pecchioni
Cannabis sativa L. is a natural biofactory of secondary metabolites, among which cannabinoids have well known and proved medical and pharmaceutical properties, exploited with the preparation of Cannabis-based drugs. Historically, the first cannabinoid to be used as a medicine was the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and more recently research also included cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and several other minor variants. All cannabinoids act on cannabinoid receptors, regulating various human metabolic, immunological and physiological disorders. The Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops of CREA (CREA-CI) site in Rovigo boasts a tradition of scientific excellence on medical Cannabis and is the only one authorized to cultivate it also for research purposes. Past breeding activities for medical Cannabis led to the deveopment of 2 varieties, CINBOL (with prevalent THCA) and CINRO (CBD: THC = 1.5: 1), used by the Military Chemical-Pharmaceutical Factory (SCFM) located in Florence for the production of Cannabis-based herbal preparations. Due to the increasing demand for Cannabis-derived drugs, it is imperative to guarantee the national need for Cannabis-based drugs, by enhancing the production of therapeutic Cannabis and by innovating the genetics in order to satisfy different requirements. The PhD project fits into this context and will address the need to innovate and enhance the production of therapeutic Cannabis. In particular, the enormous biodiversity offered by this species, well represented by a germplasm collection available at CREA-CI, will be explored and exploited to identify pre-breeding materials but also to produce by classical breeding new materials suitable to meet the needs of the medical / pharmaceutical supply chain at national level, focusing on the quality of the product and of the production. Advancement of molecular knowledge by basic research on transcriptional and metabolic networks will help to better define the quality of the final product and for the development of Cannabis-based drugs. For a successful realization of the project, the candidate will spend a period of 3 to 6 months in laboratories where he/she could develop knowledge in Medical Cannabis breeding and cultivation.
2) Research topic: IDENTIFICATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF POSSIBLE SOURCES OF RESISTANCE TO STEMPHYLIUM ROT IN ONION (A. CEPA L.)
1 (one) position with grant funded by Cora Seeds S.r.l.
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Emilio Stefani; co-Tutor: Prof. Enrico Francia
Stemphylium rot, caused by the Ascomycete Stemphylium vesicarium, is one of the most destructive diseases affecting onions worldwide. Its control is particularly cumbersome and is based on the use of chemical fungicides sprayed during the growing season. The research proposal is focusing on the search of resistance traits possibly present in a large collection of onion breeding lines. Following steps are planned:
a) Development of a phenotyping method suitable for the evaluation of resistance/tolerance characters against the pathogen possibly present in onion;
b) Implementation and use of the method developed in the previous point a) to evaluate a large collection of onion breeding lines through large field trials, phytopathometric readings and establishment of AUDPC values;
c) Genetic studies, bioinformatics analysis and association mapping of discovered resistance markers;
d) Markers transformation and validation in a segregating population.
3) Research topic: CHEMOMETRIC STRATEGIES FOR FOOD PRODUCTS OPTIMIZATION AND CONTROL
1 (one) position reserved for industrial doctorate (employee of DSP Explorer S.r.l.)
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Alessandro Ulrici
The objective of this PhD research project is twofold. On the one hand, it will be focused on optimizing the composition of food formulations obtained from organic agricultural production, in order to enhance the nutraceutical, technological and sensory properties through the use of Design of Experiments, with a particular focus on Mixture Design techniques. On the other hand, the development of innovative solutions for non-destructive quality control based on Multivariate Image Analysis will allow the implementation of rapid and economical systems to monitor the visual properties of raw materials and of finished products. The candidate is expected to have knowledge of Chemometrics and its application to image analysis. Strong communication attitude in English, autonomous data elaboration and high motivation are highly valued, as well.
4) Research topic: DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITION OF THE ITALIAN FOOD INDUSTRY
1 (one) position reserved for industrial doctorate (employee of Federalimentare - Federazione Italiana dell'Industria Alimentare)
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Fabio Licciardello
According to Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 (Resolution adopted by the General Assembly of United Nations on September 25, 2015), the world is called upon to take urgent measures towards the limitation of global climate change. Sustainability has become a popular word, which is being declined in any aspect of everyday life. Above all, industry plays a key role in the transition towards a more sustainable society. The food chain, in particular, has the responsibility of feeding the increasing population on one hand, and to limit environmental impacts on the other hand: the satisfaction of both requirements is a big challenge, which the food industry shall face with special efforts and investments in innovation. In this context, the PhD project aims at analyzing the current status of the Italian food industry with respect to environmental sustainabilty, in the frame of EU current and forthcoming legislation (such as the Directive on single use plastics, SUP), reviewing value-chain innovation projects, proposing and testing sustainability-oriented packaging and processing solutions for specific sectors of the food industry.
5) Research topic: STATIC FERMENTATION PROCESSES FROM DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL RAW MATERIALS, DEVELOPED BY THE COMPANY SAN GIACOMO S.R.L.
1 (one) position reserved for industrial doctorate (employee of San Giacomo S.r.l.)
Scientific Tutor: Dr. Maria Gullo
Biofilm forming microorganisms play a key role in the development of static fermentation bioprocesses. The efficiency in biofilm formation and consequently the effectiveness of bioprocesses is strongly related to the ability of the organisms to growth and to be metabolic active in the biofilm matrix. Many factors contribute to the stability of the microflora in mixed static fermentation regime, such as the fermenting raw material, the interaction among occurring microorganisms and the modulation of process parameters. This PhD project is aimed at understanding the function of biofilm forming organisms in static fermentation processes developed from different raw materials and processes. The hypothesis is that a comprehensive approach could allow to enhance the effectiveness of processes conducted by static fermentations and offer a platform to better exploit the versatility of acetic acid bacteria, as main components of the microflora in this context. The activity will be structured with a robust applied research, including prototypal scale experiments, assisted by microbiological and chemical experiments. Prominent required skills are the ability to work in teams and to build up strong interaction between the industry and the academic context, as well as the ability to conduct effective communication of not sensitive results, by oral and written reports, in internal and external meetings.
6) Research topic: ADVANCES IN MICROBIAL ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND EXOPOLYSACCHARIDES SYNTHESIS BY ACETIC ACID BACTERIA
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Dr. Maria Gullo
Acetic acid bacteria are a metabolic versatile microbial group having a huge but unknown potential of exploitation, especially in food and biomedical fields. This PhD project aims at exploring the diversity of species and strains of industrial relevance. The approach includes both to explore new isolation niches for the selective recovery of strains with specific phenotypic traits and to full characterize acetic acid bacteria, which are already collected and maintained at the Unimore Microbial Culture Collection (UMCC). The multidisciplinary aspect of the project requires an integrated approach supported by microbiological and biotechnology expertise. The ability of bacterial strains in producing microbial organic compounds and exopolysaccharides will be assessed by trials in standard conditions, evaluation of new culture media/conditions and analyses of the genomic contents of candidate strains. The project will also fulfills sustainable principles and practices, including the evaluation of agro-industrial wastes as raw materials for producing organic compounds and exopolysaccharides. The whole project strategy is aimed at acquiring knowledge on basic mechanisms of synthesis of molecules and compounds of interest, as well as to optimize microscale bioprocesses, as a main tool to scale up food and biomedical bioprocesses. Within this PhD, a period of research to conduct in a foreign research institute (about 6 months, not necessarily consecutive), is planned. Required skills: high motivation to build up and conduct research activity at the home institution and in international research teams. Critical view of drawbacks and results analysis, high capacity to communicate results orally and in preparing scientific reports.
7) Research topic: DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVE PACKAGING SYSTEMS AS A TOOL FOR FOOD WASTE REDUCTION AND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING PERFORMANCES
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Fabio Licciardello
Packaging main role is to protect food and create conditions for achieving adequate shelf life, thus limiting food waste along the distribution chain. However, it is widely accepted that a significant fraction of food waste is generated at the household level, and packaging also has the potential to reduce domestic food waste by offering functions able to extend secondary shelf life, i.e. the period of product acceptability after package opening. In this context, the PhD project aims at developing innovative antimicrobial and antioxidant active packaging systems for extending the secondary shelf life of packaged products, based on the specific spoilage mechanisms of each product category. Active packaging may also offer functionalities able to compensate for the lower performances of biodegradable materials, thus expanding their possible range of application. The research activities will be based on the experimental determination of materials properties, shelf life studies, experimental determination and modeling of release kinetics, in vitro and in vivo determination of the effectiveness of prototypes. The project requires that the PhD student spends at least 6 months at foreign, highly qualified research institutes. Required skills: knowledge of main spoilage mechanisms in food products; expertise in shelf life assessment through microbiological, physical, chemical and sensory tests; knowledge on packaging materials diffusional properties. Strong team-working aptitude, data analysis and ability to communicate in English. Availability to spend a period of at least 6 months at foreign Laboratories.
8) Research topic: IMPACT OF GENOMIC STRUCTURAL VARIATION ON PLANT PHENOTYPES
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Nicola Pecchioni
Associating phenotypic variation to genetic variation is the main principle and origin of the modern plant breeding programmes. Moreover, genetic studies of association between genomic loci and phenotypic traits has been the origin of gene and QTL cloning in model and agricultural plants. Until now, most research has been focusing on allelic diversity at single transcribed genes as directly causative of the phenotypic effects; and, in few cases, to variation in non-coding sequences as causes of different phenotypes. However, in few other cases, although often for relevant phenotypes of adaptation to the environment, it has been demonstrated how structural (PAV, CNV) variation can be an important mechanism of certain plant phenotypes. The PhD project will deal on investigating how diffused in plant genomes is such “active” structural variation, mainly copy-number variation, i.e. the structural variation that can be directly linked to phenotypes. One main cereal species, one or more experimental populations, together with a set of traits, ideally of adaptation to the environment, will be chosen as a system of study, to investigate in deep at which extent in a plant genome, and by which mechanisms the structural variation has an impact on plant survival and productive performance. For a successful realization of the project, the candidate will spend a period abroad for a minimum of six months in laboratories where these studies are conducted, in the same or in other plant species.
9) Research topic: MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF BIG DATA FROM RGB AND SPECTRAL IMAGING TECHNIQUES FOR INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS IN THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Alessandro Ulrici
In the frame of Industry 4.0, the implementation of fast, economic, and sustainable analytical methods plays a key role for the increase of advanced technologies in the agri-food sector. In this context, the applications of imaging techniques in many contexts like e.g. precision agriculture, food control, food packaging and waste management are rapidly increasing, thanks to their ability to characterize the surface of the samples of interest easily and rapidly. RGB image analysis allows to have an objective and reliable estimate of the visual aspect, which in turn can be related to the presence of defects or to specific chemical properties. Hyperspectral imaging also enables to obtain information not visible to the naked eye, which is directly related the chemical composition of the analysed samples. However, these techniques generate in short times lots of data, that need to be properly elaborated to extract the information of interest. In this context, the goal of this PhD research project consists in the development and application of advanced analytical methods based on multivariate statistics for the analysis of spectroscopic and image data. The research will be focused on the development of efficient machine learning algorithms able to maximize predictive performances and to minimize computational effort at the same time, thus allowing to effectively manage Big Data, such as in real-time monitoring contexts. The candidate must have knowledge of Chemometrics and of its application to spectra and image analysis. Strong communication attitude in English, autonomous data elaboration and high motivation are highly valued. The project requires the PhD student to spend a period abroad of 6 months, not necessarily consecutive.
10) Research topic: CHARACTERIZATION AND EXPLOITATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM PLANTS BY-PRODUCTS AS NATURAL ANTIMICROBIALS FOR FOOD, FEED, AND TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Luisa A. Volpelli; co-Tutor: Prof. Andrea Pulvirenti
The functional properties of phytochemicals are widely known in terms of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. These high-value compounds are present not only in plant-based foods, but also in the by-products generated along the whole supply-chain, from farm to fork. Investigating the possible applications of these compounds may reduce food waste, promote the principles of circular economy and provide natural antimicrobial solutions for food, feed and technical applications. The key steps of the project will be the identification of the main by-products available at regional and national level, the quantitative and qualitative characterization of their bioactive compounds, the in vitro screening of their antimicrobial activity against microbial species of food and feed interest. Then, their application will be tested in food ingredients and coatings to increase the shelf-life of fresh food and as natural antimicrobial additives for feed or animal hygiene. Required skills: the candidate should have a solid background in biology and food science, with practical skills in microbiology techniques and analytical chemistry. Ability to critically process literature and experimental data and to elaborate English-written reports is also welcome. Availability to spend a period of at least 6 months at foreign Laboratories is required.