Curriculum di Biologia Applicata all'Agricoltura e all'Ambiente (Cod. 10568)
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Tema di Ricerca N. 1 / Research Theme N. 1
Titolo
“Conservazione delle popolazioni di anfibi e rettili in paesaggi rurali Mediterranei” (Borsa di Ateneo)
Title
“Conservation of Amphibian and Reptile populations in Mediterranean rural landscapes” (University grant)
Tutor
Prof. Sebastiano Salvidio (University of Genoa), sebastiano.salvidio@unige.it
Co-tutors
Prof. Andrea Costa (University of Genoa), andrea.costa@unige.it; Prof. Stefano Canessa (University of Bern), stefano.canessa@unibe.ch
Program description including the formation program abroad
The PhD program will focus on the estimation of amphibian and reptile population abundances in different Mediterranean rural landscapes. By using robust methods (removal, distance sampling, capture-mark-recapture and hierarchical models) the abundances of amphibian and reptile communities will be related to their preferred microhabitats or traditional management activities in Mediterranean agroecosystems. The program will focus on species listed in annex II and IV of the EU Directive 92/43/CEE “Habitat”. Field sampling will focus on agroecosystems representative of the Apennine and Alpine regions, such as vineyards, grazed pastures, mown meadows, chestnut and timber woods. According to the “Nature restoration law” (EU Regulation 2022/869), the ecological role of small agricultural features will be also analyzed. These features are historically widespread in Mediterranean agroecosystems and have a role in maintaining connectivity among habitats. These features are ditches, small streams, dry-stone walls, terraces, hedgerows, small water reservoirs and irrigation tanks. The impact of these features on the conservation status of amphibian and reptile population will be evaluated by using robust statistical methods.
During the PhD course, a three-months internship at the Division of Conservation Biology of the University of Bern will be mandatory for statistical training.
Tema di Ricerca N. 2 / Research Theme N. 2
Titolo
“Implementazione di modelli in vitro avanzati 3D di tessuti polmonari umani per l’individuazione di biomarcatori specifici del potenziale infiammatorio e cancerogeno di fibre minerali e loro derivati” (Borsa di Ateneo)
Title
“Implementation of advanced 3D in vitro models of human lung tissues for the identification of specific biomarkers of the inflammatory and carcinogenic potential of mineral fibers and their derivatives” (University grant)
Tutor
Prof. Sonia Scarfì (University of Genoa), sonia.scarfi@unige.it
Co-tutors
Prof. Alessandro F. Gualtieri (UNIMORE), alessandro.gualtieri@unimore.it; Dr. Jan Markus (Mattek In Vitro Life Science Laboratories Bratislava, Slovakia), jmarkus@mattek.com
Program description including the formation program abroad
The project focuses on the implementation and validation of 3D in vitro models of human lung tissues for the prediction of toxicity/carcinogenicity derived from the prolonged inhalation of mineral fibres. This type of particulate causes well known health pulmonary problems such as lung fibrosis, asbestosis, lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma. In nature, the occurrence of numerous minerals with asbestiform behavior has been widely documented. These are fibrous, friable silicates, able to split longitudinally into needle-like microfragments that can be inhaled, also containing heavy metal impurities (e.g. iron, manganese, chromium), resulting in different biodurability in vivo, which ultimately cause environmental and workplace biosafety problems of great relevance.
The project will be developed in phases by testing in vitro models of increasing complexity, from simple co-culture systems of human lung cell types relevant to the development of inflammatory/carcinogenic pathways (i.e., alveolar macrophages, epithelial, endothelial, mesothelial cells) to the use of 3D lung reconstructed tissues such as the EpiAirway™ and EpiAlveolar™ models recapitulating faithfully the human bronchial and alveolar tissue architecture. In particular, the two latter models, although perfectly mimicking the micro-physiology of the lower respiratory tract and of the lung parenchyma, lack the immune cell component essential for the development of the acute and chronic inflammatory responses at the basis of the fibrotic and carcinogenic processes in the lung. As such in the last phase of the project the immune cells will be added to the 3D reconstructed tissues to complete the in vitro model for the toxicity/carcinogenic predictive studies. The functionality of the models will be tested by using positive and negative mineral fibre controls of carcinogenicity in humans, namely crocidolite UICC and wollastonite NYAD G, together with other types of potentially harmful minerals (i.e., erionite, mordenite, chrysotile). The following parameters will be investigated to confirm/disprove the validity of the predictive model: short- and long-term cytotoxicity (24-48h and up to 14-21 days), oxidative stress, genotoxic stress, accumulation of heavy metals, production of acute and chronic inflammatory cytokines, expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers and transformation potential.
If the models prove to be reliable, they could be used as predictive tools for the biosafety assessment of chemical substances, mineral fibres and environmental particulates potentially inhalable by humans, also helping to understand their mechanisms of toxicity.
Period abroad: for a period of no less than three months, the PhD candidate will carry out part of the experimental thesis in the research laboratories of the Mattek in vitro Life Science Corporation (Bratislava, Slovakia), a leading company in the development of 3D human microtissue models, under the tutorage of Dr Jan Markus, for the implementation of the EpiAirway™ and EpiAlveolar™ models by the addition and further testing of the immune cell component to the respective in vitro systems.
Tema di Ricerca N. 3 / Research Theme N. 3
Titolo
“Acclimatazione, adattamento e resilienza dei licheni al cambiamento climatico” (Borsa di Ateneo)
Title
“Acclimation, adaptation and resilience of lichens to climate change” (University grant)
Tutor
Prof. Paolo Giordani (University of Genoa), paolo.giordani@unige.it
Co-tutor
Dr. Christopher Ellis (Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden), c.ellis@rbge.org.uk
Program description including the formation program abroad
Lichens have recently been defined as self-sustaining micro-ecosystems formed by the interaction of an exhabiting fungus and an extracellular array of one or more photosynthetic partners and an indeterminate number of other microscopic organisms.
The phenotype resulting from this symbiosis is a structure, the thallus, which, in the absence of protective tissues, has evolved a unique water management strategy, called pokylohydry, which allows it to manage repeated cycles of hydration/dehydration. Due to these physiological properties, changes in temperature trends and water availability caused by climate change threaten the normal biological processes and relationships between partners in the lichen symbiosis, making them excellent model organisms for studying the effects of climate change.
Aims
Using lichens as model organisms, the proposed project aims to investigate the response of lichens to climate change, in terms of three interrelated biological processes: resilience, adaptation and acclimation. Together, these processes operate across different temporal and biological scales to shape species responses to changing environments. Resilience refers to the ability of ecosystems to absorb disturbance while maintaining essential structure and functions, and includes both resistance to change and recovery from disturbance. At the organismal level, responses to environmental stress can occur through genetic adaptation or acclimation. Genetic adaptation involves heritable changes in allele frequencies over generations that increase fitness in a given environment. In contrast, acclimation is a form of phenotypic plasticity in which individuals adjust their physiological and morphological traits over their lifetime in response to environmental variation.
Methods
To study these processes in lichens, the proposed PhD project will use a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses a wide range of field, laboratory and modelling techniques, including ecological and ecophysiological methods to investigate photosynthetic efficiency (e.g. measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, CO2 efflux in respiration) and water management in lichens (e.g., visualization of water content and dynamic by Near Infrared Imaging), along with transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to determine their adaptive capacity.
Formation periods abroad
For a period of no less than three months, the PhD candidate will carry out part of their work at leading European research centres in the field. In particular, at the Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh, under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Ellis (who will also act as the co-tutor of the project), the PhD candidate will have the opportunity to develop the theoretical framework of the project idea by preparing a scientific review paper, as well as setting up field activities.
In a later phase of the project, at the University of Hamburg under the supervision of Prof. Philipp Porada (https://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/forschung/oekologie-biologische-ressourcen/oekmodel/mitarbeiter/porada-philipp.html), the candidate will develop mechanistic statistical models which, using data collected during the experimental phases of the project, will be able to predict and extend the response of lichens to climate change on larger spatial and temporal scales.
Tema di Ricerca N. 4 / Research Theme N. 4
Titolo
“Studio sulle specie invasive di Ditteri nel territorio Italiano” (Borsa di Ateneo)
Title
“Evaluation of the invasive dipteran species in Italy” (University grant)
Tutor
Prof. Stefano Vanin (University of Genoa), stefano.vanin@unige.it
Co-tutor
Prof. Sonia Scarfì (University of Genoa), sonia.scarfi@unige.it
Program description including the formation program abroad
Invasive species are considered one of the causes of biodiversity decline and at the same time they are considered one of the most important issues for human and animal health and economical damages. In particular, Diptera with mosquitos and flies are responsible of the transmission of several diseases. In fact, mosquitos act as vector of Dengue, Toscana Virus, Malaria, Usutu virus, West Nile virus and they are monitored by the national and regional “Piano per il contrasto delle arbovirosi”. On the other hand, flies act as mechanical vector of several bacteria and viruses and their capacity of infecting human and livestock depends on their synanthropic level. Global warming and globalization have been reported as the main causes of species introduction. Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and Synthesiomya nudiseta (Diptera, Muscidae) are among the fly species of medical, veterinary and forensic interest reported in the last years in Italy, and also in Liguria. Aedes albopictus, Aedes koreicus and Aedes japponicus (Diptera, Culicidae) are the mosquitos species of medical and veterinary interest reported in the last years in Italy, and also in Liguria.
The aims of the project is the monitoring of Diptera of medical, veterinary and forensic interest introduced in Italy by using interception traps, traps baited with specific odors mimicking the human sweat and CO2, traps baited with decomposing flesh.
The work will be performed in Liguria following the “Piano regionale per Il monitoraggio e contrasto delle arbovirosi”, in Campania, Veneto, Friuli Venetia Giulia, Sicily and Puglia placing the traps in the ports in collaboration with the University of Naples “Federico II” (Dipartimento di Veterinaria), University of Bari (Dipartimento di Scienze agrarie), University of Trieste, University of Messina and University of Palermo.
In addition, a sampling in Marseille (France) will be performed that will allow the PhD candidate to spend at least 3 months abroad.
After the sampling, specimens will be morphologically and molecularly identified. The PhD candidate will also put attention on the designing of a Diptera specific protocol for the identification of the origin of the invasive species. COII gene has been already investigated, showing a population specificity in Chrysomya albiceps from Africa (around 2% of variability between population).
Tema di Ricerca N. 5 / Research Theme N. 5
Titolo
“Tratti funzionali ed ecofisiologia delle piante: comprendere le proprietà elettromagnetiche per creare sentinelle ecologiche” (Borsa co-finanziata HEU EcoSentinel HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01 / Dipartimento e Ateneo di Genova)
Title
“Functional traits and ecophysiology of plants: understanding electromagnetic properties to create ecological sentinels" (co-funded HEU EcoSentinel HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01 / Department and University of Genoa grant)
Tutor
Prof. Enrica Roccotiello (University of Genoa), enrica.roccotiello@unige.it
Co-tutor
Prof. Armando Carpaneto (University of Genoa), armando.carpaneto@unige.it
Program description including the formation program abroad
This PhD project aims to bridge functional plant ecology and plant ecophysiology to support the conceptualization and prototyping of plants as components of novel bio-communication systems, plants as antennas, energy sources, and biosensors.
The research will focus on plant functional traits (e.g. leaf thickness, pigment composition, turgor pressure) and ecophysiological parameters (e.g. water content, membrane potential, ion concentrations) that influence the electromagnetic and energy-generative potential of leaves.
The PhD will integrate trait-based modeling, physiological measurements, and conceptual design, with simulation studies to evaluate leaf performance in communication setups. Special emphasis will be placed on species selection, identifying plant candidates suitable across ecosystems such as forests, agroecosystems, and urban green spaces.
The international formation program will provide the PhD student with interdisciplinary training through the EcoSentinel project’s global partnership. Focusing on plant functional traits and ecophysiological properties, the student will receive hands-on experience in trait analysis, physiological measurements, and data integration across diverse environments. Training at leading institutions will cover methods to assess leaf structure, water relations, ion balance, and other traits linked to plant performance in bio-communication and energy systems. Supported by experts in ecology, physiology, and bioengineering, the program fosters a holistic understanding of plants as biosensors, antennas, and energy sources for innovative environmental monitoring technologies.
The period abroad will take place at one of the partner institutions involved in the projects:
Fundacio Privada Universitat i Tecnologia, Barcellone Spagna, Ignion srl, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spagna, PLANT-EBV, Renkum, Netherlands, Université Côte D'Azur, Nice, France.
The specific location will be selected based on the project's needs, while also considering the doctoral candidate’s aptitudes.
Curriculum di Scienze della Terra (Cod. 10569)
Tema di Ricerca N. 1 / Research Theme N. 1
Titolo
“Proprietà fisiche e termodinamiche dei minerali all’interno dei pianeti” (Borsa di Ateneo)
Title
“Physical and thermodynamic properties of minerals in planetary interiors” (University grant)
Tutor
Prof. Donato Belmonte (University of Genoa), donato.belmonte@unige.it
Co-tutor
Dr. Daniele Antonangeli (IMPMC, Sorbonne Université, Paris), daniele.antonangeli@upmc.fr
Program description including the formation program abroad
Physical and thermodynamic properties of silicate and oxide minerals are crucial to understand the dynamics and chemical evolution of telluric planets like Mars, Mercury, Venus and the Earth. The main goal of this research is to gain original insights on the structure, composition and phase stability relations of minerals in deep planetary interiors by merging multi-scale computational modelling and laboratory experiments at high pressure and temperature conditions (HP-HT).
A 3- to 6-month mobility period abroad at the Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique de Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC, Sorbonne Université, Paris) is planned to perform different kinds of high-pressure experiments (i.e. laser-heated diamond anvil cell and multi-anvil cell experiments, Brillouin scattering, XRD, etc.).
Tema di Ricerca N. 2 / Research Theme N. 2
Titolo
“Interazione tra eventi sedimentari da trasporto in massa e correnti di mare profondo, e il loro impatto sugli ecosistemi sottomarini: un approccio di affioramento” (Borsa di Ateneo)
Title
“Interplay between sedimentary mass transport events and deep-sea currents, and their impact on submarine ecosystems: an outcrop-based approach” (University grant)
Tutor
Prof. Kei Ogata (University of Genoa), kei.ogata@unige.it
Co-tutor
Prof. Andrea Baucon (University of Genoa), andrea.baucon@unige.it
Program description including the formation program abroad
This project will implement a cross-disciplinary, field-based research, tuned up by the continuously updating marine geology database, to understand how the different depositional settings and associated benthic ecosystems respond to periodic vs. episodic seafloor reorganisation caused by mass wasting and bottom current processes. The candidate will investigate specific case studies selected from the Mediterranean Cenozoic rock record (e.g. Alps/Apennines, Pyrenees, Dinarides) utilizing state-of-the-art tools for (bio)geochemical and petrophysical profiling (e.g. GR, XRF, SEM-EDS, RockEval, stable isotopes, biomarkers), and a specifically designed combination of high-resolution sedimentological-stratigraphic and ichnological-(micro)palaeontological analyses. The overall aim of this study is to understand the interaction between submarine landslide events, bottom currents and (sub)seafloor ecosystems across different depositional environments, tectonic settings, climatic scenarios and spatial-temporal scales. The candidate is envisioned to spend a 3 to 6-months period abroad according to the following options: 1) Grupo de Estudo de Afloramentos Análogos a Reservatório Petrolíferos of the Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) with Prof. Francisco Pinheiro Lima Filho, 2) Department of Stratigraphy and Palaeontology of the University of Granada (Spain) with Prof. Ángel Puga Bernabeu, or 3) Earth Surface Dynamics Research Group at the University of Geneva (Switzerland), led by Prof. Sébastien Castelltort.
Tema di Ricerca N. 3 / Research Theme N. 3
Titolo
“Studio geofisico del controllo tettonico-magmatico sullo sviluppo di sistemi idrotermali sottomarini e associata mineralizzazione nell’Arco di Kermadec (Oceano Pacifico Meridionale, Nuova Zelanda)” (Borsa di Ateneo)
Title
“Geophysical study of the tectono-magmatic control on the development of submarine hydrothermal systems and associated mineralization in the Kermadec Arc (South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand)” (University grant)
Tutor
Prof. Caratori Tontini (University of Genoa), fabio.caratori.tontini@unige.it
Co-tutors
Dr. Cornel de Ronde (GNS Science, New Zealand), cornel.deronde@gns.cri.nz; Dr. Luca Cocchi (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Italy),luca.cocchi@ingv.it
Program description including the formation program abroad
The Kermadec intraoceanic arc northeast of New Zealand is characterized by a linear chain of ~30 major cone and caldera volcanoes, of which ~80% host active seafloor hydrothermal systems. Massive sulfide deposits are found on at least four of these volcanoes, providing a unique opportunity for in situ investigations of modern-day analogues of ancient onshore deposits. In particular, fundamental questions of global relevance revolve around how regional differences in structural and magmatic settings along the arc may influence the development of hydrothermal systems, and how regional and local tectonic structures control fluid circulation and mineralization. Answers to these questions will fill important knowledge gaps about the formation mechanisms of seafloor massive sulfide deposits and their ancient analogues, providing important information relative to the processes controlling critical mineral resources.
The candidate will focus the study on selected Kermadec volcanoes (e.g., Rumble III, Rumble IIW, and Hungaroa), which provide a representative set of the different morphologies (cones vs. caldera), as well as magmatic and hydrothermal settings observed along the Kermadec arc. The combined use of pre-existing geophysical data (including, but not limited to, multibeam bathymetry and backscatter, gravity, magnetics, heat-flow) from different platforms such as shipborne, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), will be integrated with new data acquired during the PhD project in the context of international research cruises. These data will be used to delineate the geometry of hydrothermal upflow zones and derive models of hydrothermal circulation, which will be constrained by in-situ sampling of rocks and fluids and ultimately correlated with the structural and morphological setting.
The project will benefit from the following network of National and International Collaboration and overseas experience:
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
- GNS Science, New Zealand
- Geomar, Germany
- University of Bremen, Germany
The candidate will join at least one international research cruise in the Kermadec Arc during the PhD project. This trip will provide an important opportunity to visit GNS Science in Wellington, New Zealand, and collaborate with overseas partners. Collaborations with European partners can also be achieved under the umbrella of the Erasmus action.
