Mirko Cucina obtained his Master's degree in Environmental Biotechnology at the University of Perugia (2012) and his PhD in Environmental Sciences at the University of Perugia (2016). He worked at the University of Perugia (2016-2020) and the University of Milan (2020-2022) before starting his current permanent position as a Researcher at the National Research Council (CNR) (Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Systems in the Mediterranean, Perugia, Italy) in 2022. Since 2023, he has been First Researcher at the same Institute. Currently, his research focuses on circular bioeconomy approaches to recover energy and biofertilisers/amendments from waste and by-products.

He has participated in around 10 research projects funded by competitive calls of national (Italian and Spanish) and European relevance. In 2024, he obtained funding for an international research project of which he is coordinator. He is a member of the Network for Biodigesters in Latin America and the Caribbean (RedBioLAC) and collaborates with several foreign institutions (Polytechnic University of Catalonia - Spain, Industrial University of Santander - Colombia). For ISAFOM, he is responsible for collaboration agreements with Gestione Servizi Aziendali srl and Biorepack - National Consortium for the organic recycling of biodegradable and compostable plastic packaging.

He is the author of 33 scientific publications in indexed journals, 2 book chapters, 4 technical articles and 37 contributions to scientific congresses (posters and oral contributions). He has supervised 5 MSc students at the University of Perugia and the University of Milan. He is currently co-supervisor of a PhD in collaboration with the University of Milan. He is topic editor of Agronomy (MDPI Publications) and has been guest editor for 3 different MDPI journals (Agronomy, Recycling, Sustainability). In 2022, he was awarded the Abilitazione Scientifica di II Fascia (Associate Professor) in the scientific sector "Chimica Agraria", and in 2023 he was awarded the Abilitazione Scientifica di I fascia (Full Professor) in the same sector.