Personal data
First name / Surname Gianni Galaverna
Date of birth 28.09.1965
Nationality Italian
Gender Male
Home Address Via Queirazza 8, I-43124 Parma, Italy
Business Address Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 95/a, I-43124 Parma, Italy
Telephone(s) ++39 0521 906270 Mobile: ++39 334 6575780
Skype galaverna.gianni
E-mail gianni.galaverna@unipr.it
Civil state Married, 1 child
Position Full Professor in Food Chemistry
Education
1994 PhD in Chemical Sciences, University of Parma
1989 MSc in Chemistry, University of Parma
Professional career
2015 - present Full Professor in Food Chemistry, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma
2004 - 2015 Associate Professor in Food Chemistry, Department of Food Science, University of Parma
1997 - 2004 Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Parma
1996 - 1997 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Parma
1994 - 1996 Research contract, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Parma
Main research interests
Advanced analytical methods for food analysis
Chemical profiling of volatile and non-volatile compounds in food
Bioactive compounds in food: occurrence, transformations, nutritional aspects
Mycotoxins and masked mycotoxins: occurrence, significance and metabolic fate
Catabolic fate and toxicological relevance of parent and conjugate mycotoxins in mammals
Chemical reactions in food as a function of processing and storage
Research topics
Prof. Galaverna has been studying food chemistry and food safety for 25+ years, with a particular focus on bioactive compounds and xenobiotics. He has applied several innovative chromatographic and mass spectrometry methodologies to study the occurrence of bioactive food components and the effect of processing technologies on their chemical modifications. His main field of research is related to natural bioactive compounds and natural toxins, with a special focus on mycotoxins. In this field, he focused his scientific activities on the occurrence and transformations of mycotoxins in food and feed, and on their metabolic fate in planta and in mammals (humans). Moreover, he applied targeted and untargeted analytical approach for the profiling of volatile and non-volatile compounds in food as well as metabolites in plants and humans. In recent years, research has expanded to include the sustainability of food systems and agri-food production.
Research projects
2024 – 2027 “Unlocking the Potential for Agricultural research on an EU Outmost region: boosting ISOPlexis centre“ (isUP-AgrO), HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-02-01, EU (Ruolo: Group Leader, UNIPR).
2023 – 2026 “More on the adoption of a healthy Mediterranean diet” (MoreMedDiet), Section 2 PRIMA Call multi-topics 2022, EU (Role: Group Leader, UNIPR)
2021 – 2024 “Innovative agro-ecological APProaches to achieving resilience to climate CHANGE in Mediterranean countries” (CHANGE-UP), Section 2 PRIMA call 2020, Farming System, EU (Role: Coordinator)
2020 – 2021 “Textile Hemp for the Production of Functional Foods and Protein Biomass For Animal Feeding” (Caterpillar), Rural Development Plan, PSR 2014-2020, Focus Area 2A, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy (Role: Group Leader, UNIPR)
2019 – 2021 “Innovative Milk and Meat Products for Consumer’s Health (MiMe4Health), POR-FESR 2014-2020, Emilia Romagna Region, Italy (Role: Coordinator)
2018 – 2019 “Development of a procedure based on technological innovation, genetic characters for quality, improvement of nutritional value, authenticity assessment to be applied to the heavy pig supply chain”, AGER Foundation, Italy (Role: Research Unit Leader)
2016 – 2018 “Increase of the competitiveness of rural farms through the valorization of the grain biodiversity under organic treatment – Bio2”, Rural Development Plan, PSR, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy (Role: Principal Investigator)
2016 – 2018 “Innovation in the fruit-vegetable sector – Innofruve”, Smart Specialization Strategy, Emilia-Romagna Region Italy (Role: Research Unit Leader)
2016 – 2018 “Innovation of the pork meat chain by valorization of vegetal waste and by using advanced “omic” and processing technologies, for the sustainable production of meat and meat derived products with a positive impact on human health – Green Charcuterie”, Smart Specialization Strategy, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy (Role: Research Unit Leader)
2013 – 2015 “Incidence of mycotoxins on ancient and modern grains under organic vs conventional treatment - AmycoGrano”, Call 2013 “Heartquake zone”, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy (Role: Principal Investigator)
2012 – 2015 “Functional and Safe Feed from Food waste – NOSHAN”, EU FP7- KBBE-2012 (Role: Co-Investigator)
2011 – 2015 “Advanced research in genomics and processing technologies for the Italian heavy pig production chain - Hepiget”, AGER Foundation, Italy (Role: Co-Investigator)
2011 – 2013 “Hidden fumonisins in maize”, PRIN, Italian Ministry of Research, Italy (Role: Research Unit Leader)
2009 – 2013 “From seed to pasta. Multidisciplinary approaches for a more sustainable and high quality durum wheat production”, AGER Foundation, Italy (Role: Research Unit Leader)
2009 – 2012 “Control of mycotoxin contamination: from field to final product (feed chain)”, PRITT – Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy (Role: Co-Investigator)
2008 – 2011 “PROgress in Saving Proteins And Recovering Energy - PROSPARE”, EU FP7-KBBE-2007 (Role: Co-Investigator)
2008 – 2009 “Scientific information on mycotoxins and natural plant toxicants - MyNAPT”, CFP/EFSA/CONTAM/2008/01 (Role: Co-Investigator)
Research contracts
PI of several research contracts with industries of the food sector
Teaching tasks
2001 – present Food Chemistry, BSc in Food Science and Technology
2013 – present Food Chemistry, MSc in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
2008 – present Food Chemistry and Food Safety, International Master in Food Technology (MITA), University of Buenos Aires (Argentina)-University of Parma
Institutional tasks
At present
Head of the Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma
Member of the Board and vice-President of the FOODER – Food University of Emilia-Romagna Association
Coordinator of the FOOD-ER Project, Emilia-Romagna International Network for Education and Industrial Research on Food and Beverage, with all the Universities of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the most relevant company of the regional agro-food sector.
Member of the Technical Scientific Committee (CTS) of the National Agrifood Cluster (ClAN)
Coordinator of the Working Group “Food Science and Technology” for the Italian National Research Plan (PNR 2021-2027), MUR, Italy
Italian Delegate in the Food Chemistry Division of EuChemS, EU
Member of the Board of the Interdepartmental Center SITEIA.PARMA (Food Safety, Quality and Technology), University of Parma
Member of the Board of the PhD Course in Food Science, University of Parma
Delegate of the Director of the Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma
Member of the Commission for the National Habilitation to the role of Associate and Full Professor in Italian Universities, Sector: Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Food Chemistry
2020 – 2023 Coordinator of the International Interuniversity MSc in Food Safety & Food Risk Management, University of Parma, University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Bologna – Alma Mater and University of Ferrara
Coordinator of the Board of the Interdivisional Group of Food Chemistry of the Italian Chemical Society (Italy).
2022 – 2023 Chair of the Value Chain SPES (Recovery and valorization of sidestreams and leftovers of the agro-food chain) of Cluster Agrifood of Emilia-Romagna region (Clust-ER), Italy.
2016 – 2018 Member of the Commission for the National Habilitation to the role of Associate and Full Professor in Italian Universities, Sector: Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Food Chemistry
2008 – 2012 President of the Board of the BSc and MSc degrees in Food Science and Technology, Department of Food Science, University of Parma
2008 – 2012 President of the Board of the BSc and MSc degrees in Food Science and Technology, Department of Food Science, University of Parma
2008 – 2012 Member of the National Coordination Council for the Bachelor and Master degree Courses in Food Science and Technology
Communication skills and competences
Excellent communication skills gained through my experience as speaker at national and international congresses, and at dissemination events in the field of food science.
1997 – present Speaker at national and international conferences and workshops
2005 – present Speaker at national and local dissemination events in the field of food science
2005 - present Co-author of 15+ dissemination papers on technical/educational journals
Organisational and managerial skills and competences
Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills gained through my experience as member of Scientific Committees, Academic Boards, Regional Organisms in the fields of Food Quality and Food Safety
2012 – present Member of the Board of the PhD programme in Food Science, University of Parma
2009 – present Principal investigator of several National and Regional Research Projects (see above)
1994 – present Member of the Organizing Committee of International and National Congresses
2008 – 2012 President of the Board of the BSc and MSc degrees in Food Science and Technology, Department of Food Science, University of Parma
Experience in peer reviewing international literature and in evaluating research projects
20+ years expertise in critical discussion and evaluation of scientific literature gained through my experience as member of scientific working groups, of editorial boards, and of evaluation committees, at national and international level
2015 – present Member of the Editorial Board, Toxins, MDPI, Switzerland
2010 – present Member of the following Review Panels:
PRIN, Italian Ministry of University and Research, Italy
SIR, Italian Ministry of University and Research, Italy
FIRB, Italian Ministry of University and Research, Italy
2014 Guest Editor, Advances in Hyphenated Methods in Separation, Chromatography, MDPI, Switzerland
Multidisciplinary and International Experience
20+ years expertise in working in an international environment gained through my experience as member of scientific working groups, of master programs, of editorial boards, and of evaluation committees, as well as within scientific collaborations with research groups at national and international level.
Scientific output
Prof. Galaverna has published 220+ peer reviewed Journal papers and has an H-index: 51 (Scopus, cit. tot. 8101), 49 (WOS, cit. tot. 7377) and 59 (Google Scholar, cit. tot. 10735).
Affiliation to scientific societies and academies
Prof. Galaverna is member of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) and of the Italian National Academy of Agriculture
Awards
1990 – Millipore Research Award for the best thesis concerning enantiomeric chromatographic separation
