Donato Giovannelli is Full Professor of Microbiology at the University of Naples Federico II, research associate at CNR IRBIM, and affiliated scientist at the Earth-Life Science Institute in Tokyo and Rutgers University, USA. His research aims to explore and understand the emergence and evolution of life and the co-evolution of the Geosphere and Biosphere. To this end, his group combines classical microbiology techniques with fieldwork and computational tools to reconstruct geo-bio interactions. Most of the work is done in extreme environments, ranging from deep hydrothermal vents to the world’s largest volcanoes, from underground to Antarctica. His research is funded by ERC, NASA, NSF and ICDP.
The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.
