Bio-naturalistic Anthropology
The “natural history” of non-human primates and of the human species is examined through paleontological, archaeological, and neontological approaches. Paleoanthropology, functional morphology, and skeletal biology investigations include phylogenetic and adaptive aspects, reconstructing macro- and micro-evolutionary dynamics, including living conditions and health status of past human populations. Genome analysis techniques and population genetics methods make it possible to investigate and reconstruct demographic and adaptive dynamics of present-day human groups, resulting from the interactions between biology, culture, and environment.
Reference teachers: Giovanni Destro Bisol, Giorgio Manzi, Mary Anne Tafuri.
Bioethics
Research topics address the ethical implications stemming from advances in the biosciences; environmental ethics, food ethics and nutrition, also examining their connection with environmental and social sustainability; the ethics of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on society, individuals, and the environment; research ethics, with a focus on issues of “responsible conduct” and “research integrity”. The field also explores the evolving relationship between science and society, with attention to innovations introduced by citizen science and to transformations in museology and cultural heritage management toward fostering an effective scientific citizenship.
Reference teachers: Antonella Ficorilli, Fabrizio Rufo.
Plant Developmental Biology and Plant Biotechnology
Research activities in this field focus on the study of developmental processes in vascular plants under physiological conditions and abiotic stress, and on the use of plant biotechnologies through both traditional and innovative experimental approaches. Understanding plant developmental mechanisms, the role of genes and hormones involved, and signaling molecules is fundamental to interpreting plant development and adaptive strategies to environmental conditions. The study of developmental mechanisms, plant–environment interactions in relation to plant genomes, relies on omics technologies and multivariate statistical analyses. Research also investigates secondary metabolite production and their cellular biosynthesis sites. Additional research is underway on the use of nanocarriers for the delivery of bioactive molecules in plants and for the delivery of pharmaceutically active plant-derived compounds into the human body.
Reference teachers: Elisa Brasili, Federica Della Rovere, Giuseppina Falasca, Laura Fattorini, Diego Piacentini, Alessio Valletta.
Environmental Botany
This group studies interactions among environment, plants, and fungi across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Research addresses responses of species, communities, and ecosystems to climate change, pollution, and natural or anthropogenic disturbances, with a focus on biodiversity conservation, land management, and environmental sustainability. Topics include in situ and ex situ conservation of plant species, multi-taxonomic data analysis for forest biodiversity, plant functional traits, fungal biodiversity, biological invasions, urban vegetation, and territorial ecological classification.
Reference teachers: Fabio Attorre, Sabina Burrascano, Andrea Ceci, Laura Celesti, Giulia Capotorti, Eva Del Vico, Michele De Sanctis, Luca Malatesta, Carlo Ricotta, Laura Varone.
Pharmaceutical Botany
Main research lines include the analysis of secondary metabolites from medicinal plants of Italian and South American flora, analysis of mycotoxigenic fungal strains, isolation and identification of secondary metabolites from species of pharmacobotanical interest, and regulations governing functional foods, novel foods, and traditional botanical use, at both European and global levels.
Reference teachers: Daniela De Vita, Fabio Sciubba, Lamberto Tomassini, Chiara Toniolo.
Systematic Botany
Research focuses on native and non-native vascular flora, taxonomy and nomenclature of critical taxa through morphometric and molecular analyses, and ex situ propagation and conservation of rare or threatened plant species. The area also addresses botanical museology, with attention to collections preserved at the Sapienza Herbarium Museum and the Botanical Garden of Rome.
Reference teachers: Giuseppe Fabrini, Duilio Iamonico, Mauro Iberite.
Environmental Chemistry
Research mainly investigates air quality, ranging from evaluating the impact of atmospheric particulate matter and its emission sources, to developing new methods for assessing the effects of air pollution on the environment and human health through the in situ use of model or experimental organisms.
Reference teachers: Silvia Canepari, Lorenzo Massimi.
Chemistry of Cultural Heritage
Research focuses on developing advanced diagnostic methods and new materials for restoration and conservation. Activities include the creation of early-warning systems based on nanostructured multisensor platforms, micro-extraction and clean-up protocols for non-invasive identification of organic dyes in ancient artifacts, proteomic analysis of archaeological textiles, use of plasmonic resonance and NMR techniques for art diagnostics, innovative cleaning treatments using soft matter such as microemulsions and hydrogels containing phytochemicals and green solvents, and the synthesis of nanostructured consolidants and protective agents derived from biological materials.
Reference teachers: Alessandro Ciccola, Gabriele Favero, Ilaria Serafini.
Ecology
This area investigates ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that generate and maintain biological diversity across levels of hierarchical organization, and the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning under environmental change and disturbance. Research topics range from trophic networks, speciation processes, hybridization, and adaptation, to carbon cycle assessment in forest and agricultural ecosystems; studies of community structure, anthropogenic impacts, restoration of coastal–marine ecosystems, and the effects of climate change on Mediterranean and polar ecosystems.
Reference teachers: Edoardo Calizza, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Casoli, Maria Letizia Costantini, Valentina Mastrantonio, Daniele Porretta, Daniele Ventura, Marcello Vitale.
Paleobotany and Paleobiology
Research focuses on fossil plant studies aimed at paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions in Europe and the Mediterranean region during the Quaternary, through classical paleobotanical and palynological approaches, ancient DNA analysis from lake sediments (metabarcoding and metagenomics), and stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen. The group also serves as a reference for studies of botanical remains from archaeological and historical sites.
Reference teachers: Alessandra Celant, Federico Di Rita, Donatella Magri, Alessia Masi, Claudia Moricca, Laura Parducci, Laura Sadori, Cristiano Vignola.
Plant Pathology
Research focuses on:
i) genome organization and evolution in fungal pathogens, particularly pathogenic effectors and regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis;
ii) molecular and biochemical dynamics in interactions among environment, pathogens, food-interest plants, and biocontrol agents;
iii) development of diagnostic systems for plant diseases based on innovative sensors and next-generation sequencing technologies.
Reference teachers: Marzia Beccaccioli, Giovanna Gramegna, Luigi Faino, Massimo Reverberi.
Food Sciences
Research in this multidisciplinary field includes microbiology, technology, biotechnology, and chemistry of food systems. Topics involve microbial biodiversity and agro-food microbial resources, microbial biotechnologies, processes and plants in agro-food chains, raw materials, development of new products and processes, characterization of traditional and innovative foods, and quality and safety management. Particular attention is given to supply-chain sustainability and the food–human health nexus.
Reference teachers: Francesca Constantini, Angela Longo, Cesare Manetti, Carlo Giuseppe Rizzello, Michela Verni, Emanuele Zannini.