Federico Cerrone

Assistant Professor Federico Cerrone is affiliated with the School of Biotechnology at Dublin City University (DCU). He is a Principal Investigator at the Life Science Institute (LSI) and the SFI-Bioeconomy Research Centre (BiOrbic), leading interdisciplinary research in bioprocess engineering and sustainable biotechnology.

Education:

• MSc in Marine Biology (Environmental Microbiology) from Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy (2005)
• PhD from the University of Granada, Spain (2011), focused on anaerobic digestion of organic residues for microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates at the Institute of Water Research

Research Interests:

Federico’s research integrates bioprocess engineering, synthetic biology, and environmental biotechnology. His work emphasizes three areas: (1) microbial manufacturing of novel bio-based materials, including composites for renewable batteries/supercapacitors; (2) production of metabolites with therapeutic potential for bacterial cancer therapy; and (3) bioremediation leveraging microbial adaptations. He prioritizes sustainable circularity in production processes, collaborating with experts in cancer metabolism, enzymology, organic photochemistry, electrochemistry, and bioprocessing modeling.

Grants and Projects:

• Secured and led two SFI-funded TIDA (Technology Innovation Development Awards) projects on bio-scaffolds for neural cells and specialty biosurfactants
• Co-PI in the EPA project "RefineTEXT" for textile waste valorization

Professional Collaborations: Collaborated with the Technology Centre for Biorefining and Bioenergy (TCBB) and Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC). His interdisciplinary approach spans life sciences, engineering, and social sciences, with a focus on life-cycle assessment and sustainable innovation.