Prof. Dr. Martina L. Contente is first supervisor of DC number 12.
Martina graduated in Pharmacy and earned her PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Milan, with a thesis on the biocatalytic synthesis of chiral pharmaceutical intermediates. She then joined Prof. Paradisi’s group as a Visiting Postdoc at University College Dublin and later at the University of Nottingham, where she was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship to develop intensified enzymatic processes under flow conditions. After a Roche-funded research period at the University of Bern, she returned to the University of Milan in 2021 as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2024. Her research focuses on using enzymes as strategic tools in sustainable synthesis. Martina has received several recognitions, including the 2022 ChemBioChem Talent Award and her invitation as a JSP Fellow to participate in the highly selective 2023 Bürgenstock Conference. In 2025, she was honored with the Felix Franks Medal by the Royal Society of Chemistry in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to sustainable biocatalysis for the production of high-value chemicals and bioactive compounds.
Key expertise
Contente group is interdisciplinary, focusing on the development of intensified biocatalytic processes through enzyme immobilization and innovative reactor technologies. The team combines expertise in biocatalysis, organic and process chemistry to design sustainable synthetic routes for high-value compounds. A core strength lies in the strategic immobilization of enzymes to enhance stability, reusability, and compatibility with continuous-flow conditions. The group routinely integrates flow chemistry with alternative intensified platforms—including packed-bed reactors, rotating bed reactors (e.g., SpinChem®), and photoreactors—for enhanced productivity and scalability. These technologies are applied to tailor multi-enzyme cascades, streamline downstream processing, and bridge the gap between lab-scale innovation and industrial application.
Facilities include incubators, sterile hoods, shakers, and centrifuges (from micro to ultracentrifuges), along with lyophilizers and fermentation systems ranging up to 20 L. Molecular biology and protein engineering are supported by thermocyclers, real-time qPCR, spectrophotometers, fluorescence/luminescence detectors, automated liquid handling platforms, and ÄKTA systems for protein purification. Dedicated shakers and incubators are available for enzyme immobilization. A Vapourtec R/E-series flow chemistry platform enables process automation and intensification. The lab is equipped with chiral and achiral HPLC, GC, and 300/600 MHz NMR spectrometers for comprehensive analysis. Access to the UNITECH technological platforms provides cutting-edge instrumentation, including TEM, SEM, and CLSM microscopy, supporting structural studies and advanced material characterization.
Hosting Institution
The University of Milan (UMIL) is one of the largest public higher education and research institutions in Europe, with over 65.000 students, 900 PhD candidates, and 2.400 academic staff. Founded in 1924, UMIL is committed to advancing society and the economy through world-class research and education. It comprises 10 faculties and 31 departments, offering 134 undergraduate programs, 34 doctoral courses, and 77 specialization schools. UMIL is the only Italian member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and a founding member of the 4EU+ Alliance, both fostering collaboration among Europe’s top research-intensive institutions. Ranked among the top 100 most innovative universities in Europe (QS 2022), UMIL boasts more than 51.000 scientific publications in the past five years, around 1.400 active research projects, 31 patents (2023–2024), and 23 spin-offs. The university provides comprehensive training for PhD students, including transferable skills (scientific writing, communication, career development) and technical courses in mass spectrometry, NMR, advanced microscopy (via the UNITECH platform), and sustainable chemistry—ensuring a solid foundation for academic and professional success.
Contact
martina.contente@unimi.it
University of Milan
Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS)
Section of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences
via Celoria 2
20133, Milano
Italy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-letizia-contente-49874312b
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55382818000
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3885-1375
https://x.com/ML_Contente
Relevant Publications
A. Colacicco et al. Valorization of Apple Pomace: Production of Phloretin Using a Bacterial Cellulose-Immobilized β-Glycosidase. ChemSusChem 2025, 18, e202500592. DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202500592
F. Annunziata et al. Streamlining Vorinostat Synthesis: A Chemoenzymatic Continuous Flow Approach EurJOC 2025, 2500178. DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202500178
A. Colacicco et al. Flow bioprocessing of citrus glycosides for high-value aglycone preparation. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2023, 13, 4348-4352 DOI: 10.1039/D3CY00603D