Nicolaj Jeran

Post doc
Nicolaj.Jeran@unimi.it

I'm deeply interested in understanding the intricate mechanisms governing chloroplast homeostasis, from their biogenesis to their eventual degradation, and the communication pathways between chloroplasts and the nucleus. My applied research efforts aim to leverage natural and induced genetic variability to uncover how delaying senescence can enhance barley's resilience and overall yield.

Link

Viola Torricella

Post doc
Viola.Torricella@unimi.it

I’m a postdoctoral researcher at PhotoLab, where my research focuses on enhancing photosynthesis to improve crop productivity. We use molecular approaches to investigate both natural and induced genetic variability in the model species Hordeum vulgare (barley). My interests include identifying novel genes and traits involved in light capture and photoprotection. I’m also exploring nitrogen uptake and its dynamics in relation to leaf chlorophyll content.

Andrea Persello

PhD Student
andrea.persello@phd.unipd.it

I am a PhD student in Scientific,Technological and Social Methods Enabling Circular Economy school. My project regard the characterization of novel pale-green barley lines with enhanced photosynthetic performances. In particular, their application in the agri-voltaic system, which associate agriculture and production of renewable energy from solar panels reducing land competition.

Chiara Bertaso

PhD Student
chiara.bertaso@unimi.it

I’m a Ph.D. student enrolled in the Molecular and Cellular Biology school. I am very passionate about biotechnology, microbiology and genetic engineering. My research focuses on biotechnology applied to agriculture. Among other things, I am working on the use of innovative biological pesticides for plant protection against pathogens. I also work on combinatorial library screening in yeast and on the development and optimization of biomanufacturing processes for the production of cyclic peptides.

Sergio Spolti

PhD Student
sergio.spolti@unimi.it

In my research, I explore antimicrobial peptide aptamers derived from combinatorial libraries, selected via the yeast two-hybrid system. These peptides specifically target key proteins from fungi, Oomycota, and insects. My work also involves the structural and functional analysis of these peptide-protein interactions to elucidate their mechanism of action and assess their biotechnological potential.

Daniele Lucon

Master Student
daniele.lucon@studenti.unimi.it

I am a Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Master student in. My internship consists in the characterization of novel barley lines isolated within a chemically mutagenized population, displaying pale-green traits and increased photosynthetic performance.

Cristina Butta

Master Student
cristina.butta@studenti.unimi.it

I am a master's student in Biogeosciences: analysis of ecosystems and science communication.
My thesis work is in the frame of the BestCrop EU project. I’m participating in the molecular characterization of barley mutants—produced through chemical mutagenesis at the James Hutton Institute—that exhibit impaired chloroplast development and reduced leaf chlorophyll content.
Studying these mutants can provide new insights into photosynthesis regulation and abiotic stress responses in barley and other crops.

PAST LAB MEMBERS

Post Doc
Lien Hong Tran

PhD Students
Lisa Rotasperti - XXXIII cycle - Molecular design of a novel dual-purpose barley variety.
Carlotta Peracchio - XXXI cycle - Defining the Gun1-Ftsh interactions in chloroplast biogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Roberto Ferrari - XXIX cycle - Molecular bases of SVP regulatory functions in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Fabio Rossi - XXVII cycle - A proteomic approach to identify protein interactors responsible of flowering time determination in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana.

Fellow
Francesca Sansoni (December 2019 - August 2020) - Biochemical analysis and field trials of vde and zep mutants of barley.

Master Students (from 2016)
Alessandro Betti (October 2022 - July 2023) Functional characterization of barley mutant TM-1214 displaying altered chlorophyll accumulation and photosynthetic traits
Andrea Persello (October 2021 - July 2022) The pale-green leaf phenotype as a novel trait to improve crop yield and agriculture sustainability: characterization of the barley pale-green mutant TM-2490.
Giorgia Fabretti (October 2020 - December 2021) The potential of pale-green phenotype in crops: characterization of two Horderum vulgare pale-green mutants from the chemical mutagenized TILLMore population.
Anna Calabritto (October 2020 - September 2021) Preliminary characterization of the retrograde signalling pathway mediated by chloroplast protein homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Simona Ibba (October 2019 - December 2020) Screening and characterization of pale barley accessions in the natural variability of WHEALBI collection.
Maria Barattiero (November 2018 - December 2019) Short- and long-term photosynthesis regulation: study of OEC's PsbR subunit in Hordeum vulgare and GUN1-interacting proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Francesca Sansoni (October 2018 - October 2019) Molecular Design of a novel Dual-Purpose Barley Variety with improved photosynthetic efficency: studying VDE gene.
Nicolaj Jeran (October 2017 - October 2018) Functional characterization of putative peptide transporters in chloroplast envelope of Arabidopsis thaliana.
Carolina Cozzi (October 2017 - October 2018) A genetic landscape of Arabidopsis’ siliques senescence.
Stefano Rosa (October 2017 - October 2018) NoPV1, a new antimicrobial peptide able to counteract Plasmopara viticola.
Sara Forlani (October 2016 - October 2017) Molecular design of a novel dual-purpose barley variety.
Ilaria Mancini (October 2016 - October 2017) Molecular aspects of chloroplast biogenesis: GUN1-FtsH genetic interactions.

Paolo Pesaresi

Luca Tadini