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DrAlessandra Marcon Gasperini

(She/Her)

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

School of Agriculture and Food Science

Orcid identifier0000-0002-3465-8842 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Lecturer/Assistant Professor
    School of Agriculture and Food Science
  • 0858242388
  • University College Dublin, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Agriculture and Food Science Belfield Dublin 4

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr Alessandra’s research focuses on the following areas:

 

  • Food Microbiology & Climate-Resilient Food Protection: Deciphering tripartite interactions between crops, toxigenic fungi (Fusarium, Aspergillus), and climate variables (drought/CO₂ extremes) to develop stress-tolerant mycotoxin mitigation strategies.
  • Applied Mycology & Mycotoxicology: Mechanistic modelling of fungal ecophysiology under SSP scenarios to predict regional mycotoxin hotspots and prioritize surveillance.
  • Mycotoxin Exposure & Human Biomarkers: Quantifying dietary exposure pathways and validating novel biomarkers in human samples (urine, milk and hair).
  • Mycotoxin-Microbiome Pathobiology: Deciphering how chronic mycotoxin exposure impairs gut barrier function and immune homeostasis.

 

Keywords: Food Microbiology; Applied Mycology & Mycotoxicology; Climate-Resilient Food Protection; Mycotoxin Exposure & Human Biomarkers; Mycotoxin-Microbiome Pathobiology

GRANTS

  • GRANT
    Assessing maternal-to-infant exposure to mycotoxins through analysis of breast milk and infant hair.
    Research England1 Jul 2024
    Co-PI
  • GRANT
    Investigating the effects of mycotoxins on gut health and evaluating mitigation strategies across the food chain.
    Research England1 Jul 2024
    Co-PI
  • GRANT
    FRIETS: Sustainable optimization of the value chain of added-value fresh and dried berries through the integration of Precision Agriculture management strategies and innovative dehydration and edible coating
    EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions1 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2025
    Co-lead in WP5: Aiming to improve the shelf life and safety of fresh and dried berries using precision agriculture, advanced dehydration methods, and edible coatings. Contributed to the development of predictive and risk models to support quality control and food safety monitoring.
  • GRANT
    One Health Over Borders - Postdoctoral Fellowship
    CAPES/PrInt – Brazil31 Dec 2020 - 31 Mar 2022
    Investigated fungal responses to environmental stress, with a focus on growth, mycotoxin production, matrix adaptation, and antifungal resistance. Collaborated in international webinar and co-authored a transdisciplinary One Health e-book addressing human, animal, and environmental health interconnections.
  • GRANT
    Bambinella Life
    European Commission
    Supported the application of post-harvest technologies to extend the storage life of Bambinella, a native Maltese June pear, enhancing local agricultural resilience and reducing food waste.
  • GRANT
    Exploring mycotoxin exposure in plant-based diets through biomarker assessment.
    British Mycological Society
    Collaborator.
  • GRANT
    FLAT BREAD MINE
    European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
    Co-supervised an MRes project on the development of analytical methods for Malta’s first mycotoxin surveillance in flour, providing critical data for food safety and policy development.