Full Professor of Chemistry and Biotechnology of Fermentation at the University of Milano-Bicocca and a specialist in industrial biotechnology. Since 2020 he has been Director of the Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology (IBFM) at the Italian National Research Council (CNR). Previously (2013–2019) he served as Pro-Rector for Research Exploitation at the University of Milano-Bicocca and was a member of the university’s Academic Senate.

His research focuses on microbial cell factories, metabolic engineering, and the production of recombinant proteins and industrial metabolites (such as organic acids). His work has resulted in 11 patent families, eight of which have been licensed or sold. He has published highly cited papers in industrial biotechnology and has been actively involved in technology transfer and the commercialization of university research.