Ilaria Mazzini

• Operated mobile fermentation unit with 24 L and 100 L gas fermenters
• Performed continuous fermentation processes to support project objectives.

Key responsibilities:

• Developed and executed microbial fermentation and downstream processing workflows, scaling from laboratory to 150 L pilot scale, across multiple strains (yeast, bacteria, and microalgae)
• Mentored and supervised thesis students and interns
• Planned and coordinated project goals and timelines
• Managed client communication before and during project execution, leading client briefings to align on scope, expectations, and results

Key achievements:

• Plastic-degrading enzyme production and PET enzymatic hydrolysis at 150 L scale for the European public project REPurpose
• Developed enzyme assays to support process outcomes
• Performed simultaneous fermentation and saccharification processes at lab scale for private partners

• Experimental thesis on microbial production of biopolymers.
• Investigated a successful co-culture approach for producing a composite of hyaluronic acid and bacterial cellulose using acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria.