EDUCATION and PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Dr. Cavazza received her degree cum laude in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Messina in 1995. Afterwards, she obtained a fellowship by Fondazione Bonino-Pulejo, Messina to conduct a research at the University La Sapienza of Rome for a project regarding method developments for carbohydrates separation and quantitation by chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. From 1996 to 1998 she continued her research activity at the C.N.R. Institute of Chromatography, Area della Ricerca di Roma-Montelibretti gaining experience on analytical chemistry (chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques) applied to sugars and amino acids detection in food products for quality markers identification. In 1998 she spent one year at the School of Chemistry of the University of Leeds (UK) under the supervision of Prof. K. Bartle working at a project about analysis of flavonoids in essential oils by electrochromatography. From 1999 she received a contract at the Department of Neuroscience of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” where she worked about enzyme kinetics by in-vitro assays on biological fluids and cell cultures. She was involved in a project regarding the enzymatic degradation of tumour antigen epitopes to be used as vaccines, in collaboration with the University of Basel. In 2006 she collaborated with the Department of Public Health and Cell Biology of the same University working at the development of new diagnostic procedures for evaluation of infectious diseases. From 2007 she is Researcher at the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Italy.
In 2018 she gained the National scientific habilitation (ASN, Bando D.D. 1532/2016) as Associate Professor in Analytical Chemistry. In 2022 she became Associate Professor. In 2026 habilitation ASN for Full Professor.
From 2015 she is member of Interdepartmental Center for Packaging CIPACK (University of Parma), and since 2023 she became vice-director.
From 2015 she is member of the Executive Committee of the Master in Packaging, and in 2020 she became President of the same Master.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Her research is focused on the development of innovative analytical methods exploiting chromatographic, electrophoretic and mass-spectrometry techniques for the evaluation of food quality and safety, in terms of nutrients, markers of technological processes, shelf-life, but also contaminants potentially deriving from food contact materials and packaging. In particular, her activity deals with the study of plastic material degradation during ageing. Besides, she is involved in projects about the development and the characterization of innovative materials to be employed for active and sustainable packaging in the circular economy context.
GRANTS
-2024-2025: Principal Investigator of the project “Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile - MICS” PNRR PoliMi - “SEAL - Sviluppo di materiali Ecosostenibili per Accessori di stiLe”. Code PE0000004
- 2023-2026: Principal Investigator of the project “BEST-Bioactive compounds to Extend food Shelf-life through Innovative Technologies” PRIN 2022 PNRR P2022M3H2K
- 2022-2024: MUR 3277/2021 "Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna", Spoke 1, European Union – NextGenerationEU
- 2021-2023: Proponent and President of Scientific Committee of the Regional high education course: “Le sfide del Packaging Circolare” (funded by Emilia-Romagna Region).
- PSR Calabria 2014/2020. Misura 16 “Cooperazione” - Intervento 16.2.1 “Sostegno a progetti pilota ed allo sviluppo di nuovi prodotti, pratiche, processi e tecnologie nel settore agroalimentare ed in quello forestale” (Responsible of local unit);
- MIUR project PRIN2012 on the “Assessment of quality and safety of Mediterranean seafoods by “omics” sciences” (Participant of local unit).
- MIUR project PRIN 2017 on the “Development of novel DNA-based analytical platforms for the rapid, point-of-use quantification of multiple hidden allergens in food samples” (Participant of local unit);
- Regional project 2011-2012 –: Misura 124 - Sviluppo di nuovi prodotti, processi e tecnologie with Open Fields srl; Partner.
- Project “Giovani Ricercatori” year 2000 from University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Neuorscience: “Degradazione enzimatica di proteine tumore-specifiche – possibile impiego dei peptidi antigenici nello sviluppo di vaccini antineoplastici”
THIRD MISSION-ACTIVITIES
Active role in the coordination of third mission activities, mainly focused on research projects with food industries.
Active involvement in organization of seminars and laboratory training for high school students.
Participation to scientific, informative and dissemination events organized by University of Parma and Technopole of Parma.
Realization of a MOOC course on Chemistry (available on Eduopen platform).
PUBLICATIONS:
Co-Author of 85 papers, 4 book chapters, and more than 100 contributions to national and international symposia.
