Alberto Bacchelli

Alberto Bacchelli is an Associate Professor of Empirical Software Engineering at the University of Zurich (UZH), leading the Zurich Empirical Software Engineering Team (ZEST). He joined UZH in 2017, having previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), where he earned tenure. His research focuses on improving software quality, developer effectiveness, and code review practices through empirical studies and tool development. Bacchelli holds a PhD from the University of Lugano, with internships at Microsoft Research. He has received prestigious awards, including the MSR Ric Holt Early Career Achievement Award (2020) and the 10-year Most Influential Paper Award from SANER. His work spans code review efficiency, software security, and developer tools. In his personal life, he balances family time with a passion for photography, particularly through his sister Chiara’s wedding photography work.

• Affiliations: University of Zurich (since 2017), Delft University of Technology (2013–2017), Microsoft Research (internships 2012–2013).
• Education: PhD in Computer Science (University of Lugano, 2013), Master/BS in Computer Science (University of Bologna), studies at Université Libre de Bruxelles.

His research interests center on understanding software engineering challenges and designing tools/methods to enhance practices. Notable projects include studies on code review strategies, developer cognition, and security in collaborative environments. He emphasizes bridging theory and practice, aiming for real-world impact through tools like PyDriller and frameworks for mining software repositories.

Awards highlight his contributions to code review and software engineering education. He actively engages in teaching, mentoring, and advancing open-source practices. His team, ZEST, explores topics such as code review dynamics, developer productivity, and empirical methods to improve software processes.