Roberto Damico
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Chemical Engineering
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Roberto Damico is a postgraduate researcher at the University of Adelaide, pursuing an MPhil in Chemical Engineering within the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S). His research focuses on the sustainability assessment of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems, integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Circular Economy (CE), and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) to support the design of space-oriented plant production and food systems.
He obtained his BSc (Hons) in Food and Nutrition from University College Birmingham (UK), graduating with First-Class Honours. His dissertation investigated duckweed (Lemnaceae) as a sustainable protein source for astronaut diets, combining shelf-life studies, nutritional profiling, and thermal modelling to evaluate the plant’s suitability for long-duration space missions.
His broader research interests include vertical farming, closed-loop life support systems, and energy-efficient food production for both Earth and extraterrestrial environments.
Bridging his background in culinary science with sustainability engineering, Roberto aims to contribute to the next generation of nutritionally balanced, resource-efficient food systems for future space missions.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2023 - 2023 Internship University of Nottingham -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Italian Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Spanish - Latin American Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
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