Prof. Marco Ventura

SCIENTIFIC PROFILE
Marco Ventura is Full Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Parma. His research focuses on bifidobacterial biology, microbial genomics, probiotics, and host-associated microbiomes, with particular emphasis on the infant gut microbiome and interactions between microorganisms and human health.

His work uses bifidobacteria as a model to understand the functioning of the host-microbiota ecosystem and integrates microbiology, bacterial genetics, computational biology, metabolomics, bioinformatics, intestinal immunology, and anaerobic cultivation techniques. He has authored more than 400 scientific articles, which have received over 2,800 citations; his research network includes collaborations with 885 co-authors from academic and scientific institutions worldwide.

EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC CAREER
He graduated with honours from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Piacenza in 1995 and received his PhD in Natural Sciences from ETH Zurich in 2003. From 2003 to 2005, he conducted postdoctoral research at the National University of Ireland, Cork.

After joining the University of Parma in 2005, he served as a contract lecturer until 2009, as a researcher from 2010 to 2014, and as Associate Professor from 2014 to 2018. Since 2019, he has been Full Professor of Microbiology.

SCIENTIFIC AND INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Since 2017, he has been the founder and director of the University of Parma Interdepartmental Microbiome Research Hub, dedicated to interdisciplinary microbiome research. Since 2024, he has coordinated and promoted the PhD Programme in “Microbiota and Health”, the first doctoral programme in Italy specifically focused on the microbiota. Previously, from 2020 to 2023, he chaired the University’s PhD School in Biotechnology and Biosciences.

Since 2024, he has served as President of the Italian Society of General Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, after previously serving as Secretary-Treasurer. He has also contributed to the organisation of major scientific meetings, including the International Symposium on Bifidobacterial Biology, Microbiology 2023, Microbiology 2025, and the Cortona Prokaryotes Meetings.

AWARDS AND FUNDING
Since 2020, he has been included in the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list in the field of Microbiology. In 2023, he was recognised by the American Society for Microbiology as a Top-Cited Author, and in 2022 he was appointed Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, on the initiative of the President of the Republic, for scientific merit.

In the 2022 national VQR assessment, the research group he coordinates ranked first in Italy in the scientific-disciplinary sector BIO/19 - Microbiology. During his career, he has also received the Italian Reintegration Award for Outstanding Italian Scientists and the Agostino Gemelli Award. He has secured competitive funding from European, JPI, national, and international programmes totalling more than five million euros. Over the past ten years, he has delivered 52 invited talks at international conferences, symposia, and workshops.

RESEARCH GROUP AND TRAINING
The laboratory he leads comprises approximately twenty researchers, including associate professors, researchers, research fellows, PhD candidates, and collaborators. The group brings together expertise in microbiology, microbial genomics, bacterial genetics, computational biology, metabolomics, MALDI-TOF profiling, bioinformatics, intestinal immunology, and host-microorganism interactions.

Since 2016, he has supervised 18 PhD candidates, 11 postdoctoral researchers, and approximately 50 Master’s students. Former group members have pursued careers in academia, industry, and the public sector; five former postdoctoral researchers have established independent academic laboratories.

SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION, EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES, AND INNOVATION
He has served on international scientific evaluation and advisory bodies, including the ERC Advanced Grants LS9 panel, the Research Council of Norway, the ETH funding programme, the Danish Council for Independent Research, and the Italian National Scientific Qualification committee in Microbiology.

He is Chief Editor of “Microbiome Research Reports” and “MicrobialLife” and has held editorial positions for journals including “Microbial Biotechnology”, “Microbiome”, “Scientific Reports”, “BMC Microbiology”, and “Applied and Environmental Microbiology”. His founding of GenProbio in 2011 demonstrates his ability to translate research findings into biotechnological innovation and industrial applications.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
Throughout his career, he has built an extensive international network in bifidobacterial biology, microbial genomics, nutrition, microbial ecology, host-microbiota interactions, and translational research. Collaborations with leading academic groups and research centres support multidisciplinary projects that connect fundamental research, biotechnological applications, and human health.