Personale docente

Prof. Marco Giannetto graduated magna cum laude in Chemistry in 1996 from the University of Messina. In 2000, he obtained a PhD in Chemical Sciences from the University of Parma. In 2001, he was appointed Researcher in the scientific disciplinary sector CHIM/01 (Analytical Chemistry) at the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry of the University of Parma. Since 2017, he has been Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability. In 2021, he obtained the National Scientific Qualification (ASN) for Full Professor in the academic recruitment field 03/A1: Analytical Chemistry.

Prof. Giannetto’s research activities are focused on the development of electroanalytical methodologies, chemical sensors and biosensors based on different transduction mechanisms, with applications ranging from clinical diagnostics (Point-of-Care Testing, PoCT) to environmental monitoring and food safety. Additional research interests include the development and validation of multivariate calibration models and the application of experimental design techniques for sensor response optimization. Prof. Giannetto supervises the research and scientific collaboration activities of the Laboratory of Electroanalysis and Sensors and contributes to the research activities of the Analytical Chemistry group of his Department.

These activities are also framed within several research projects in which Prof. Giannetto has actively participated, including: COFIN 1998 (project 9803360360_008), COFIN 2004 (project 2004031784_006), PRIN 2010–2011 (project 2010AXENJ8), PRIN 2022 – Integration of proteOmics and bioSensing towards the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer: from faecal biomarker discovery to smart devices for large screening tests (OmicSensing, project 2022E8YHB7_001), the research project Innovative biosensing for serological and molecular testing and new PoCT devices for SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis, funded by the University of Parma within the framework of the Extraordinary University Call for Biomedical Research Projects on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 (PI: Prof. Maria Careri, University of Parma), METROFOOD-IT (PNRR-RI) – Strengthening of the Italian Research Infrastructure for Metrology and Open Access Data in Support of Agrifood, in which he serves as Head of the operational unit “Analytical Smart Sensors” (PI of UniPR1 Unit: Prof. Maria Careri), and ONFOODS (PNRR PE – Thematic Area 10) – Research and Innovation Network on Food and Nutrition Sustainability, Safety and Security (Research Unit PI: Prof. Maria Careri).

His scientific activity is carried out in collaboration with interdisciplinary research groups, including ongoing collaborations with the group of Prof. Ilaria De Munari at the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Parma and with Dr. Nicola Coppedè at IMEM-CNR in Parma. Additional national collaborations involve the Universities of Messina, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Pavia, Venice, and Catanzaro. International collaborations are currently ongoing with Prof. A. Merkoçi, head of the Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group at ICN2 in Barcelona (Spain), and with Prof. Wolfgang Knoll, Director of the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT). In 2019, he was invited by Prof. Knoll to deliver a lecture at AIT entitled “Biosensors Based on Nanobiocomposites for Clinically Significant Biomarkers and for the Evaluation of Food Safety and Authenticity.”

In December 2021, he was elected Coordinator of the Interdivisional Sensors Group of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) for the 2022–2024 term. In 2015, as a member of the Scientific Organizing Committee, he organized the Third Conference of the same Group, focused on “Sensors and Biosensors: State of the Art and New Perspectives.” In 2019, he contributed to the organization of the workshop “From Molecules to Devices” within the Department of Excellence initiative of the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, participating as speaker in the round table “From Molecules to Sensing Devices in the Department of Excellence.” Within the Department of Excellence development project, he is associated with the working groups “From Molecules to Devices” and “From Molecules to Materials.” In 2023, he chaired both the Scientific and Organizing Committees of the SCI Interdivisional Sensors Group Workshop held in Rome from December 13 to 15. In 2022 and 2024, he directed the organization of the second and third editions of the National School on Chemical Sensors, promoted by the SCI Interdivisional Sensors Group. In 2025, he served as member of the scientific and organizing committee of the SCI Sensors Group workshop held in Rome. He is currently a member of the Executive Board of the SCI Sensors Thematic Group for the 2025–2027 term. Since 2025, he has also been an affiliated member of the National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB). In July 2025, he was invited to deliver an invited lecture at the XV INBB Conference entitled “Innovating Food Safety Assessment: High-Throughput Sensor Platforms for Multi-Allergen Detection.”

His research activity is documented by more than 80 scientific publications in international journals and an equivalent number of conference communications, including invited lectures. Bibliometric indicators: H-index 27; 1,946 citations (Scopus/WoS databases).

In 2016, he served as Guest Editor of the Topical Collection “Chemical Sensing Systems” for the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (Springer). In 2023, he was Guest Editor of the Special Issue “State-of-the-Art Sensors Technology in Italy 2023” for the journal Sensors (MDPI). In 2026, he was invited to join the International Advisory Board of the Journal  Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (Springer).

Since 2012, he has been a member of the PhD Board in Chemical Sciences at the University of Parma. In this role, he has been responsible for advanced courses on PoCT biosensor applications and rapid screening techniques. He has also served as member of the admission committees for the XXIX, XXXII, XXXVI and XXXIX PhD cycles.

In 2014, he was Scientific Coordinator of a research contract between the University of Parma and Mutti SpA (Montechiarugolo, Parma) for a project entitled “Feasibility and Applicability Study of Competitive Amperometric Immunosensors for PCB Determination in Tomato-Based Food Preserves.” Since 2020, he has been Scientific Coordinator of a two-year research contract between the University of Parma and SIRAM-VEOLIA (Milan) concerning “Application of Sensors and Technical Solutions for Monitoring and Improving Indoor Air Quality.” He has also collaborated with the Interdepartmental Centre for Agri-Food Safety, Technologies and Innovation (SITEIA.PARMA) and the Interdepartmental Centre for Energy and Environment (CIDEA) of the University of Parma (Technopole of the Emilia-Romagna Region). In 2023 and 2025, he served as Scientific Coordinator of two research contracts between SITEIA.PARMA and Barilla G. & R. Fratelli S.p.A. related to the development, validation and application of portable biosensors for the multiplex detection of allergens in food raw materials.

Between 2016 and 2024, he supervised five PhD theses in Chemical Sciences and one PhD thesis in Biotechnology, and coordinated three postdoctoral research fellowships focused on electrochemical biosensor applications in diagnostics and food safety. He is currently supervising an additional ongoing PhD thesis in Chemical Sciences.

From 2022 to 2025, he served as Delegate of the Director of the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability for students with Specific Learning Disorders, Special Educational Needs and disabilities. Since 2026, he has served as Department Delegate for internship activities.

Since 2020, he has been an elected member, for two consecutive terms, of the Area 03 Scientific Committee (Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences) of the University of Parma.