Marco Berzano has extensive education and experience in biology, microbiology, and molecular biology. He received degrees from the University of Camerino in Italy and has held various research and teaching positions throughout Europe. His areas of expertise include freshwater diatoms, microbial pathogens, and molecular techniques such as PCR and microarrays. He has published papers in peer-reviewed journals and continues to supervise students and collaborate on grant-funded projects.

1. CURRICULUM VITAE
Personal notes
Name Marco Berzano
Date and place of birth 09.07.1975 Turin (Italy)
Address100 Moyglare Village, Maynooth, Co. Kildare - Ireland
Spoken languages Italian (mother tongue)/English (advanced level)
Education
1989-1994 Attend LiceoScientifico (High School), graduating with
“Diploma di MaturitàScientifica” on July 1994 (mark:
42/60)
1994-2002 Attend the University Course in Biological Sciences at the
University of Camerino; Graduation on 19 December 2002
presenting a thesis titled: “Approccio alla costruzione di un
Microarray molecolare per l’identificazione di Diatomee
presenti nelle acque dolci”
(Mark: 110 with laude).
2001
Six months as ERASMUS exchange student in Northern
Ireland (UK) at the University of Ulster -Coleraine-
working with Prof. R.Marchant and Prof. Ibrahim Banat –
Dip. School of Biological and Environmental Sciences. The
main topic of the project concerned the study of
hyperthermophilic bacteria in soil (for more details see the
list of publications). In addition, three exams in clinical
microbiology were successfully undertaken.
2003-2006
May 2003, started the PhD in the laboratory of Prof.
C.O.Gualerzi at the University of Camerino working on the
EU Project “MICROPAD- “Microarrays for the detection of
the adundance and distribution of Pathogenic Protozoa,
Flagellated Algae and Diatoms”.
On 08/09/2006 PhD dissertation and proclamation. PhD
title: “MOLECULAR TOOLS AND FRESHWATER DIATOMS, A
NOVEL APPROACH TO IDENTIFY TARGET SPECIES TO
ASSESS WATER QUALITY IN AQUATIC HABITAT”.

2. Professional experiences
1993-1994 Worked at the Cuneo Golf Club (Cuneo, Italy) as caddy and
“starter” during official competitions.
1995-2002 Tour leader for a travel agency (TR Viaggi, Treia –MC-,
Italy). I have worked for a local travel agency leading
groups throughout Europe
2002 Worked six months as secretary of the EU project
MICROPAD, planning the design of the website setting up
graphics and databases, writing scientific reports and
maintaining communication within the European
partnership.
2003 Practical work on microarrays concerning the EU project
MICROPAD under the supervision of Dr G.Muyzer and Dr
C.Meyer at the TU-Delft, Department of Microbiology, NL.
Performed research at the AWI for Marine and Polar
Research-Bremerhaven-Germany under the supervision of
Dr L.K.Medlin.
2004-2005 Senior tutor at the University of Macerata, eLearning Hons
degree for prospective teachers in primary school. In
charge of two courses (Animal Biology, Environmental
Biology) and two laboratories (Laboratory of Animal Biology
and laboratory of Environmental Biology).
2005-2008 Senior tutor on-line at the University of Macerata, as
mentioned for 2004. In charge of 9 courses (Animal
Biology, Environmental Biology 1 and 2, Evolutionary
Biology, Genaral and Human Biology, Biology of humans
with elements of Genetics, Laboratory of Environmental
Biology and Laboratory of Maths and Science).
Scientific consultant for an industrial patent in collaboration
with a small enterprise (ORIM MetalliS.p.a, Macerata -
Italy).
2006 Local organizer of the workshop “Detection of Microbial
Biodiversity in Environmental Samples - A Molecular
EcologyWorkshop”. University of Camerino, Italy, 19-21
September 2005
2006
Research assistant (8 months) at the University of
Camerino (prof. C.O.Gualerzi) working on freshwater
diatoms and water quality assessment using phylochip
technology.
2007
01/01/2007
31/12/2008
Marie Curie Post-Doctoral Position at the University Collage
of Dublin, Ireland. Work is based at the Central Veterinary
Research Laboratory, Dept. Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
Co. Kildare. This position supervised byProf. N.Holdenin
relation to the FP6 EU funded project Cryptonet.ie. The

3. scientific objective of the project was to develop a
Cryptosporidium specific Microbial Risk Assessment (MRA)
model for catchment waters that could be used to identify
when potable water was at high risk of being contaminated.
2008 Reviewer for “Journal of Plankton Research”
2009-2010
’09 April – ’10 November Postdoctoral researcher at the Westminster University,
London working with Prof. Jane Lewis on the EU funded
project MIDTAL (FP7) which aims to develop a universal
microarray chip for the identification of toxic algae
(HABs).Microarrays development, validation of sampling
protocols and RNA quality tests, reporting and workshop
organizer.
2009- ongoing
Laboratory analyst at the Department of Agriculture, Food
and the Marine, Bacteriology/Parasitology Division.Samples
processing and development of novel molecular protocols
for the analysis of microbial pathogens and animal
parasites.Quality internal auditor for the National reference
laboratories.
Higher Educational training
2001-2002 Final year project (to complete the Ms Degree in Biological
Sciences) carried out at the Dip. of Biology MCA Lab. of
Genetics under the supervision of Prof. C.O. Gualerzi and
Dr R. Spurio a project concerning the development of
nucleotide probes for the identification of diatoms as
bioindicators.
2002
March Attended the “basic course in microarray data analysis and
mining” held by Prof. RaffaeleCalogero, Univeristy of Turin,
Torino, Italy.
February Attended the practical Course of the ARB package, basic
level, (www.arb-home.de) at MPI in Bremen for molecular
probe design and phylogenetic studies
April Attended Workshop “ASCMAP–Analysis of Single Cells in
Marine Phytoplancton”: 15-21 April.
June 27 – July 04 Attended the practical course “Bioinformatics: computer
Methods in Molecular Biology” at the ICEGB in Trieste
(http://www.icgeb.trieste.it/)
2004

4. September- November Specialization course for On-line tutors, or E-tutors for
distance learning environments at the University of
Macerata. Final examination passed, qualified E-tutor.
July Attended the practical Course of the ARB package,
advanced level, (www.arb-home.de) at MPI in Bremen for
molecular probe design and phylogenetic studies
September Attended the practical course “Basics in Bioinformatics” at
the ISS (IstitutoSuperiore di Sanità, Rome), focused on
Phylogenetic tools, like Paup, and GCG.
2005
June EMBO practical course “Microarray Technology: From
Production to Applications” in Heidelberg
September Local organizer of the Molecular Ecology Workshop:
“Detection of Microbial Biodiversity in Environmental
Samples”, Camerino (MC), Italy.
2007 Advanced Training at the TATAA Biocentre (Prague, CZ) for
real time qPCR [Core module (3 days) and Biostatistics (2
days)]
2009 Diversity program and health&safety tests as new
appointee at the University of Westminster.
2010 Internal QMS Auditor Training
Teaching and supervising experiences
2003-2006 Supporting lecturer for the course of Dr A.Laterza
(Molecular Ecology) and for Dr A.Concetti (Applied
Biochemistry) respectively in the Ms course in Biotecnology
and CTF (Pharmaceutical and Chemical Thechnologies) at
the University of Camerino. Lectures covered different
topics of Bioinformatics, including the ARB package
software. Students had practical experience on informatics
tools available for applied research in molecular biology.
2003-2006 Supervisor of a technician and an undergraduate student at
the Department of Biology MCA (lab. Genetics), University
of Camerino. Main duties concerned training in Molecular
Biology and Microbiology techniques besides the safety
prcedure of working in a laboratory.
2007-2008 Supervisor of 2 PhD students and transfer of knowledge for
for the molecular biology techniques within the EU project
Cryptonet.ie (CVRL –Dep. Agriculture, Fishery and Food-
and UCD, Dublin).
Co-supervisor of a PhD student at the University of
Camerino (Mai Nguyien).
Supervisor of Ms student working on the development of
molecular tools for the detection of Anisakis spp. in fish
2009 Different roles covered at the University of Westminster:

5. - Supporting staff for CELL SCIENCE MODULE: 3SBS474.Y.
Main responsabilities include running tutorials, practicals
and marking of working assays.
Course developer of Cell Science module FBMS405 for
distance learning students (blended course starting on
September 2010).
Supporting lecturer for module 3BLY614.Y MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY & DISEASE DIAGNOSIS and MOLECULAR
APPLICATIONS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE 3BLY619.
2010
Supervisor of one MSc student in collaboration with the
Dublin Institute of Technology.
Additional skills(include techiniques and instruments used)
I have always worked as part of a team and I strongly believe that unambiguous roles
mixed with a bit of enthusiasm represent the synergy that permits the achievement of
good results other than a pleasant working environment. I am familiar with active
listening and problem solving techniques that have been helping me in work
environment toward difficulties and relationships with colleagues and customers. While
I am working I am always extremely precise and meticulous my good organizational
skills and experience I can be pragmatic when the circumstances require that such as
strict dead lines or difficult situations. I think of myself as an energetic person who has
a focus on a solutions approach to problems and a “can do” attitude.
High level of knowledge on Macintosh and Windows platform, basic on Unix
systems.
Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, database designing (Access).
Software for bioinformatics analysis: DNAstar®, MrBayes, Paup, ARB package,
GenEx (MultiID) and other software for sequence editing and phylogenetic studies.
Good knowledge in bacterial microbiology and microbiology techniques, including
isolation of new bacterial strains
SEM and TEM microscopy techniques as well as Fluorescence microscopy
PCR based techniques, both standard and in real time (qPCR, RT-PCR), Radioactive
labelling techniques, DNA sequencing, Microarray technology, Molecular cloning,
Slot/Dot-Blot analysis, RFLP.
DNA sequencing and fragment typing
Diatom culturing and isolation techniques
Identification of pathogenic protozoa such as Cryptosporidumspp. and Giardia
(molecular typing)
Identification of parasite such as Anisakis spp., Alariaalatausing molecular tools
Identification of common zoonotic parasite (Microscopy-based)
Working experience under the ISO 17025
Experience in Quality Auditing within the National Reference Laboratory (CVRL)

6. List of publications
1. T.M. Murphy, J. O’Connell, M. Berzano, C. Dold, J.D. Keegan, A. McCann,
D. Murphy, N.M. Holden The prevalence and distribution of Alariaalata, a
potential zoonotic parasite, in foxes in Ireland (acceptedby Parasitology
Research, December 2011)
2. De Waele, V., Berzano, M., Speybroeck, N., Berkvens, Mulcahy, G.M.,
Murphy, T.M.Peri-parturient rise of Cryptosporidium oocysts in cows: new
insights provided by duplex quantitative real-time PCR. (accepted by Veterinary
Parasitology, Jan 2012)
3. Stephen McDonald, Marco Berzano, Peter Ziegler, Thomas M. Murphy &
Nicholas M. HoldenQualitative Risk Assessment of Surface Water
Contamination with Cryptosporidium spp. Oocysts: A Case Study of Three
Agricultural Catchments. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An
International Journal,Volume 17, Issue 4, 2011 -pages 813-
825DOI:10.1080/10807039.2011.588148
4. De Waele V, Berzano M, Mulchy G and Murphy T M. Age-stratified Bayesian
analysis to estimate sensitivity and specificity of four diagnostic tests detecting
Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in calves.J ClinMicrobiol. 2011 Jan;49(1):76-84.
Epub 2010 Nov 3
5. Nguyen M, Berzano M, Gualerzi C.O, Spurio R, Development of molecular
tools for the detection of freshwater diatomsJournal of Microbiological Methods.
2011 Jan;84(1):33-40. Epub 2010 Oct 16.
6. Murphy TM, Berzano M, O'Keeffe SM, Cotter DM, McEvoy SE, Thomas KA,
O'Maoileidigh NP, Whelan KF.Anisakid larvae in Atlantic salmon (Salmosalar
L) grilse and post smolts: molecular identification and histopathology.J
Parasitology. 2009 Sep 13:1.
7. Metfies K, Berzano M, Mayer C, Roosken P, Gualerzi CO, Medlin L and Muyzer
G.An optimized protocol for the identification of diatoms, flagellated algae and
pathogenic protozoa with phylochipsMolecular Ecology Notes 7 (6) 2007, 925–
936.
8. Metfies K, Berzano M, Gualerzi C, Muyzer G and Medlin L,Meeting Report:
Molecular Ecology Workshop. Detection of Microbial Biodiversity in
Environmental Samples, Camerino, Italy, September 19–21, 2005Protist. 2006
Aug;157(3):247-50. Epub 2006 Jun 23
9. Marchant R, Banat IM, Rahman TJ, Berzano M. The frequency and
characteristics of highly thermophilic bacteria in cool soil environments. Environ
Microbiol. 4:595-602 (2002)
10.Marchant R, Banat IM, Rahman TJ, Berzano M. What are high-temperature
bacteria doing in cold environments?Trends Microbiol. 10:120-1(2002)

7. Papers in preparation:
1.
2. Berzano M, McDonald S, Holden N, Murphy T M. Cryptosporidium parvum in
wild deers, a reported case in Ireland.(Short communication in preparation)
3. McDonald S, Berzano M, Murphy T M, Holden N. Cryptosporidium in the
background: analysis of in a river catchment showing no signs of clinical
infection. (In preparation)
4. Berzano M, McDonald S, Ziegler P, Holden N, Murphy T M. Hands in slurry:
comparative analysis to evaluate DNA extraction procedures for the
identification of Cryptosporidium spp. (in preparation)
5. Berzano M, Marcheggiani S, Rombini S, Gualerzi CO, Spurio RThe
application of oligonucleotide probes and microarrays for the identification of
freshwater diatoms. (accepted:Hidrobiologia, special issue)
6. Joe Taylor, Marco Berzano, Linda Percy, Jane Lewis and Linda K. Medlin
Preliminary results of testing of the MIDTAL microarray- chip to monitor toxic
dinoflagellates in the Orkney Islands, UK (submitted on January 2012 to The
Journal of Micropalaeontology)
Grant applications
September 2001 Contribution to the proposal for the EU project MICROPAD,
funded by the European Commission under the FP5
programme. The European Commission successfully funded
the project
(QLK3-CT-2002-01939,
http://cordis.europa.eu/data/PROJ_FP5/ACTIONeqDndSESS
IONeq112482005919ndDOCeq1743ndTBLeqEN_PROJ.htm)
January 2008 Application submitted to the EPA-Ireland for a 3 years
project called PATHOWASTE: Risk assessment of waste and
drinking water plants for Cryptosporidium and Giardia
species. Shortlisted but not funded for lack of fundings.
April 2008 Application submitted to the EPA-Ireland for a 3 years
fellowship to carry on a project titled: Monitoring
environmental samples for zoonotic pathogens using
microarray technology and qPCR. Evaluation: >70%;
shortlisted but not funded for lack of fundings.
January 2009 Contribution to the preparation of the FP7 project called
“μAQUA. MicroArrays for Water Quality Assessment under
Current and Future Climates”. The project involves 12
different partners from several EU countries. The project is
funded and it started on February 2011.
http://microaqua.eu/project
Poster and oral presentations
Since I was an undergraduate student I have presented oral and poster
communications at national and international conferences and I have experiences

8. presenting confidently my research in front of a large audience. Presentations are often
appreciated for being clear and direct and my communicating skills are supported by a
solid knowledge on computer graphics, in particular in the use of software such as
Photoshop® or Powerpoint.
2003
May 29-30 S.Benedetto (AP), Italy, annual meeting “Marine and
environmental biochemistry, SIMBA2003”
2004
April Cortona 2004, Annual meeting of the Italian Genetic
Society. Oral presentation: “La biodiversità delle diatomee
quale possibile strumento per l’analisi della qualità delle
acque”.
September 18th International Diatom Symposium 2004, poster title:
“The EU project micropad: microarrays for the detection of
protozoa, algae and diatoms. Medlin, L.K., Metfies, K.,
Muyzer, G., Mayer, C., Berzano, M., Spurio, R. & Gualerzi,
C.”
30 September-3 October Riva del Garda, FISV (FederazioneItalianaScienzedella
Vita), poster presentation: “Molecular tools for identification
of diatoms in freshwaters: alternative strategies for the
development of species-specific oligonucleotide probes”.
2005
April Oral presentation at the II Simposio sulle Tecnologie
Avanzate: Applicazioni delle nanotecnologie per la difesa nei
settori strutturale, elettronico, biotecnologico, “La
tecnologia dei microarray applicata alle diatomee, un nuovo
approccio per la valutazione qualitative delle acque
superficiali” M.Berzano, S.Rombini, S.Marcheggiani,
R.Spurio, C.O.Gualerzi
August Oral presentation at the International Phycological Congress
in Durban (South Africa) “Microarrays and freshwater
diatoms, a novel approach to identify target species to
assess water quality in aquatic habitats”.
September Oral presentation at the Molecular Ecology Workshop:
“Microarrays and freshwater diatoms, a novel approach to
identify target species to assess water quality in aquatic
habitats”, 19-21 September, Camerino (MC), Italy
2007
May 13-17 International Giardia and Cryptosporidium conference in
Morelia (Mexico). Poster: Towards the development of an
environmental risk assessment model for cryptosporidiosis.
October 31 Invited speaker at the Worshop: Cryptosporidium and other
protozoan enteric pathogens in the Irish Aquatic
Environment– Sources, Reservoirs and Public Health
Implications. Institute of Technology, Sligo -Ireland

9. Conferences
2002
July 21-26 Attended the EPC3 “Third European Phycological Congress”
in Belfast
2005
August International Phycological Congress in Durban (South
Africa). Invited speaker for an oral presentation
September Molecular Ecology Workshop held in Camerino, Italy (local
organizer). Invited speaker, oral and poster presentation.
2007
May 13-17 II International Giardia and Cryptosporidium conference in
Morelia (Mexico). Poster presentation.
2009
October 11-15 III International Giardia and Cryptosporidium conference
(Orvieto). 3 Posters presentation and the oral talk “Hands
in slurry: comparative analysis to evaluate DNA extraction
procedures for the identification of Cryptosporidium spp.
from agricultural slurry”.

10. References could be obtained from:
- Prof. N.M. Holden
Bioresources Research Centre / Biosystems Engineering
UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine- Agriculture and Food
Science Centre- University College Dublin- Belfield
Dublin 4, IRELAND
Tel: +353 1 7167460
Fax: +353 1 7167415
Email: nick.holden@ucd.ie
- Dr T. Murphy
Department of Agriculture, Fishery and Food, Backweston Campus, CVRL
(Parasitology), Stacumny Lane, Celbridge –Co. Kildare, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 6157141
Email: tom.murphy@agriculture.gov.ie
- Prof. C.O.Gualerzi (PhD Supervisor),
Lab. Biologia Molecolare e Biotecnologie Microbiche, Dipartimento di Biologia M.C.A. –
University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 CAMERINO (MC) - Italy
telephone:
work +390737403240
work fax +390737636216
email: claudio.gualerzi@unicam.it
- Dr Gerard Muyzer
Professor in Microbial Systems Ecology, Dept. of Aquatic Microbiology (AMB)
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)
University of Amsterdam (UvA)
Post address: P.O. Box 94248
1090 GE Amsterdam ,The Netherlands
Phone: +31-20-525-6948
Fax: +31-20-525-7832
E-mail: g.muijzer@uva.nl
Website: http://www.science.uva.nl/ibed/home.cfm
- Prof. Linda K.Medlin
ObservatoireOcéanologique de Banyuls-sur-mer, LaboratoireArago,
66651 Banyuls-sur-mer, France
Telephone:
Work +33-430192400
email: medlin@obs-banyuls.fr
home page http://www.awi.de/en/go/molecular_genetics