Paolo Roberto is a biotechnologist graduated (MSc) with honors in Applied Biocatalysis from the University of Tuscia (2011). He got a Master degree plus a PhD in Advanced Biotechnologies with honors at University of Vigo in Spain (2015, 2017). He achieved a permanent position as researcher at the Division of Health Protection Technologies, ENEA Research Center in 2023 (Rome).

Paolo Roberto started his work experience at University of Tuscia (Viterbo) where he specialized in the production of monoclonal antibodies for the characterization of European sea bass immune system. In 2012, he won a three years Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant whitin a project called FishforPharma involving several European research centres. He moved to Vigo (Spain) at Institute for Marine Research (National Research Council of Spain, CSIC) at the Biotecnology and Immunology Unit, to study the pathogenesis of the foodborne human pathogen bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila.

Here, he used the zebrafish animal model to develop three different infection protocols to characterizate the zebrafish larvae immune responses and to identificate the main Aeromonas hydrophila virulence factors. During the 3-years period, he also made two traineeships at the Institute Pasteur and the University of Montpellier to deepen his knowledge in pathology of zebrafish larvae. On 2014 he was invited, as guest speaker, at the 11° International Conference on Aeromonas and Plesiomonas in Montpellier (France).

In 2018, Paolo Roberto got a grant research in the laboratory of Zoology and Animal Biotechnologies of University of Tuscia where he stayed until 2023. He worked in five research projects: “PRONAT”, identification of bioactive substances from animal specimens (Cnccs Scarl 2018-2019); “PISCES”, plastics alien species and physiology, preliminary investigation of the impacts on the ichthyofauna affected by the activities fishing in the Civitavecchia area (Feamp 2014-2020); “ALPHEUS”, augmenting grid stability through low-head pumped hydro energy utilization & storage” (European Union H2020, ongoing); "NANOPISCES", assessment of nanoplastics impact on valuable fish species” (Feamp 2014-2020); "SEED TALENT", assessment of the physiological impacts of nanoplastics on the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, a commercially-relevant fish species (Unitus_EU). His main research interest is focused on the identification of bioactive molecules and the toxicogenomics of microplastics and nanoplastics.

In 2023 he joined the ENEA as researcher in the Division Health Protection Technologies, laboratory of Environment and Health.

email address: paolo.saraceni@enea.it