Find Academic Supervisors

• Algorithms
• Data Structures
• Pattern Matching
• +3 more

Simon J. Puglisi is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki. His research focuses on algorithms, data structures, pattern matching, and data compression, with applications in bioinformatics and genomics. He has collaborated extensively with researchers in the field, including Travis Gagie, Juha Kärkkäinen, and Andrew Turpin. His work spans theoretical computer science and practical applications in genomic data processing and efficient indexing techniques. Key research interests include genome sequencing algorithms, efficient compression methods (e.g., Lempel-Ziv and relative Lempel-Ziv), and the development of succinct data structures for handling large genomic datasets. His contributions to suffix arrays, wavelet trees, and de Bruijn graphs have advanced computational methods in bioinformatics and information retrieval. Puglisi's articles frequently address challenges in text indexing, error correction in short-read sequencing, and optimizing algorithms for scalability. He is known for his work on self-indexing techniques and the SHREC error correction method for genomic data. His research bridges theoretical algorithm design with real-world applications in high-throughput sequencing and large-scale data management.

Agostino CortesiView profile

Professor

• Software Engineering
• Static Analysis
• Cybersecurity
• +5 more

Agostino Cortesi is a Full Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice , affiliated with the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics. He serves as Rector's Delegate for Research Quality Assessment and Deputy Coordinator of the Scientific Committee for the Innovation Ecosystem Project. His academic career includes a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Informatics from the University of Padova (1992), a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University, and visiting professor roles at institutions such as the University of Illinois and École Normale Supérieure Paris. Research interests focus on software engineering , static analysis , security applications , and abstract interpretation . He has pioneered techniques for formal verification of software systems and explored cybersecurity in e-Government and robotics. His work spans over 200 publications in top journals and conferences (e.g., ACM TOPLAS, IEEE TSE, POPL, PLDI). Key contributions include advancements in abstract domains for behavioral property verification and security-oriented analysis frameworks. He has held leadership roles including Vice-Rector at Ca' Foscari, Dean of Computer Science programs, and Chair of the Department of Computer Science. Cortesi coordinates EU Horizon 2020 projects (e.g., Families_Share €1.6M) and regional initiatives like CEVID (€360K). He founded Factors , a university spin-off focused on robotic systems verification, which won the 2020 Veneto SmartCup ICT Prize. Education: PhD in Applied Mathematics and Informatics (1992, University of Padova) Editorial Roles: Co-Editor-in-Chief of Springer’s 'Services and Business Process Reengineering', and member of editorial boards for 'Computer Languages' and others Grants: Over €3M in EU and regional funding for projects in cybersecurity, Industry 4.0, and digital innovation Teaching includes courses on Software Correctness , Data Programming , and Computer Networks across Computer Science and Management programs. His research lab actively engages in industrial partnerships with Cisco, Leonardo, and AGID (Italy’s Digital Agency).

Joanna Cecilia da Silva SantosView profile

Assistant Professor

• Software Engineering
• Software Security
• Code Generation
• +4 more

Joanna Cecilia da Silva Santos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame , where she leads the Security and Software Engineering research lab (S 2 E) . She earned her Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Computing and Information Sciences from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Federal University of Sergipe (UFS) . Research Interests: Her work focuses on the intersection of Software Engineering and Software Security , with specific emphasis on Code Generation , Program Analysis , Software Architecture , and Quantum Software Engineering . Recent projects include evaluating large language models for code generation, detecting regular expression denial-of-service vulnerabilities, and creating taint-based analysis tools for Java security. 2025: Code generation benchmarks, LLM performance in programming assignments 2024: Frameworks for secure code generation, ReDoS analysis, static analysis of deserialization 2023: GitHub Copilot complexity prediction, vulnerability characterization 2022: Transformer-based code smell detection, security evaluation datasets Scientific Awards: 2017 Best Paper Award at ICSA 2020 JOBS Workshop Research Pitch Competition Winner 2023 Distinguished Reviewer at ESEC/FSE 2014 CAPES Scholarship for Masters at RIT 2013 3rd Place Paper at XIII ERBASE Her research group engages in empirical studies of code vulnerabilities, automated security tools, and educational applications of language models, with funding reflected in multiple peer-reviewed publications.

Violetta LonatiView profile

Assistant Professor

• Formal Languages and Automata
• Computer Science Education
• Theoretical Computer Science
• +2 more

Violetta Lonati is an Assistant Professor at the University of Milan 's Department of Computer Science since 2005. Her research spans Formal Languages and Automata (operator precedence languages, Wang automata, tiling systems) and Computer Science Education . She co-authored over 15 publications in theoretical computer science and education, focusing on 2D language recognition, logic characterization of automata, and pattern statistics in stochastic models. Education : PhD in Computer Science (2005) and Laurea in Mathematics (2001) from University of Milan Research Groups : ALaDDIn Lab for Didactics and Dissemination of Informatics, Bebras International Initiative Her work on Wang automata established their equivalence to tiling systems while introducing deterministic variants. In education, she designed workshops for schools and contributed to Italy's national computing curriculum proposal (2019). She held leadership roles at ACM ITiCSE (WG5 leader 2022), served as Associate Program Chair (2019-2022), and reviewed for top venues like ICER and SIGCSE TS. She received Google CS[4]HS and Informatics Europe awards for her educational contributions. Key Publications (2017-2001): Input-driven locally parsable languages (TCS 2017) Operator precedence logic characterization (SICOMP 2015) Snake-deterministic tiling systems (MFCS 2009) Graph fibrations and PageRank (RAIRO 2006) Pattern statistics in rational models (STACS 2005) Scientific awards include Google CS[4]HS (2011, 2017, 2019) and the Informatics Europe Best Practices in Education (2016). As part of ALaDDIn, she developed teacher training programs and graduate courses on computing education. Her teaching experience covers Algorithms & Data Structures (2013-2023), Computer Science Teaching (2014-2023), and courses for Biotechnology and Geological Sciences programs (2005-2007).

Giorgio VinciguerraView profile

Research Fellow

• Data Compression
• Algorithm Engineering
• Learned Data Structures
• +3 more

Giorgio Vinciguerra is a Research Fellow (RTD-A) at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Pisa since January 2023, and a member of the A³ Lab. His research focuses on compact data structures, data compression, and algorithm engineering, with a specialization in learned data structures that leverage machine learning to improve space-time trade-offs. He holds a PhD from the University of Pisa (2022), awarded the Best PhD thesis in Theoretical Computer Science by the Italian Chapter of EATCS. His academic journey includes postdoc research (2022), a visiting researcher role at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2024), and Harvard University (2020). He has contributed to EU-funded projects like SoBigData.it and owns patents for innovations in data structure design. Key research interests include: Learned compression techniques for time series and string dictionaries Space-efficient indexing for massive datasets Algorithmic integration of machine learning into traditional data structures His work has been published in top venues including ICDE, Inf. Syst., and ACM Trans. Algorithms. Awards include the 2025 WSDM Outstanding Reviewer Award. He has co-supervised multiple theses on topics like adversarial query optimization and compressed indexing. Teaching roles include courses on programming, algorithms, and information retrieval at the University of Pisa. His software libraries (e.g., LeMonHash, PGM-index) are widely used in database systems and bioinformatics.

• Combinatorics on Words
• String Algorithms
• Data Mining
• +3 more

Gabriele Fici is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Palermo (Unipa). His research focuses on combinatorics on words, string algorithms, and algorithmic pattern matching. He teaches courses in text sequence analysis, data mining, and software development. Research Interests : Combinatorial pattern matching, Abelian repetitions, digital convexity, and theoretical foundations of string processing. Key Contributions : Pioneering work on Lyndon words, de Bruijn sequences, and jumbled pattern matching algorithms. Publications : Extensive publications in top-tier conferences like CPM and journals, with a focus on 2013-2025 trends in algorithmic complexity and computational linguistics.

• Algorithms on strings
• Formal language theory
• Bioinformatics
• +3 more

Chiara Epifanio is a researcher (INFO-01/A) at the University of Palermo , based in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science . She holds regular office hours on Tuesdays 14:30–17:00 in Room 104, first floor, Via Archirafi 34, and can be reached at chiara.epifanio@unipa.it . Over the past fifteen years she has designed and taught a diverse portfolio of courses spanning Programming , Bioinformatics , Advanced Programming , Teaching Methodologies and Techniques for Computer Science and Pattern Discovery for Life Sciences . These offerings serve degree programmes in Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics & Data Science, and the recently launched curricula in Data, Algorithms & Machine Intelligence and Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence . Her research lies at the intersection of combinatorics on words , string algorithms , and bioinformatics . She has made sustained contributions to the design of alignment-free distances for biological data, the theory of Sturmian words and their associated graphs, suffix automata tolerant to mismatches, and compact data structures such as linear-size suffix tries. The work repeatedly draws on deep results from formal language theory, automata theory, and discrete mathematics to solve practical problems in sequence analysis. Publications trend: From 2004 onward she has produced a steady stream of peer-reviewed articles that move from foundational combinatorial results on Sturmian words and critical factorization theorems toward application-driven studies on approximate string matching and genomic data mining. A marked acceleration is visible in the 2023 publications addressing k-Hamming and k-edit distances, reflecting current demands in large-scale biological data analytics. Scientific awards: None explicitly mentioned in the provided material. Advising & grants: No PhD or Master’s students are listed in the supplied pages, and no funded project descriptions are available. Laboratories & teams: While no specific lab is named, her teaching and research are embedded within the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, which hosts groups in algorithms, discrete mathematics, and bioinformatics, and provides access to the university’s ATeN Center and other research infrastructures.

• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Data Compression
• +7 more

Raffaele Giancarlo is a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Palermo. His office hours are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Room 106 of the DMI (Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica) or via TEAMS. He can be reached at raffaele.giancarlo@unipa.it. Research Focus: Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Data Compression, and Algorithm Design. Key Contributions: Development of agile platforms for genomic data analysis, optimization of Bloom filters, and innovative text indexing techniques.

Anna Chiara LaiView profile

Researcher

• Control Systems
• Fractional Calculus
• Optimal Control
• +3 more

Anna Chiara Lai is a Researcher at the Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome. Her academic work focuses on control systems, fractional calculus, and robotics modeling. She teaches courses in Mathematical Analysis and Mathematical Methods for Engineering students. Her research explores topics such as optimal control strategies for soft manipulators, fractional differential equations in epidemic modeling, and stability analysis of unbounded control systems. Her research interests include control theory applications (e.g., robotic arms, hyper-redundant systems), fractional calculus (e.g., generalized binomials, SIS models), and mathematical modeling in epidemiology and mechanics. Recent work emphasizes bio-inspired robotics, such as octopus tentacle mechanics and soft manipulator optimization. Her publications span journals like Acta Mathematica Hungarica , Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications , and SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization . She contributes to projects like Mathematical control models and applications , aiming to bridge theoretical control systems with practical engineering solutions. Dr. Lai’s advising and grants are not explicitly detailed, but her teaching and research reflect a strong commitment to both academic instruction and applied scientific exploration. She maintains an institutional email (annachiara.lai@uniroma1.it) and actively engages with students via Google Classroom for course materials and office hours (Mondays 1:30–3:30 PM).

• Theoretical Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Many-Body Systems
• +4 more

Becca Federico is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, University of Trieste, holding significant leadership positions including Deputy Head of Department, Deputy Head of Head's Office, Deputy Head of Executive Board, and Deputy Head of Management Committee. He serves as a member of the Department's Board, Boards of Studies for Physics programs (SM20 and SM23), and multiple Doctoral Studies Boards (PHD04 cycles XXXV through XXXIX). Dr. Federico's research focuses on Theoretical Physics of Matter, Models, Mathematical Methods and Applications , with particular expertise in strongly-correlated models on the lattice within Condensed Matter Physics. His work spans quantum many-body systems, topological phases of matter, and frustrated magnetic systems, employing advanced computational techniques to understand complex quantum phenomena. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on cutting-edge approaches to quantum systems, particularly the integration of machine learning techniques (neural networks, transformers) with traditional quantum many-body methods. His work explores the intersection of topological phases, quantum spin liquids, and strongly correlated electron systems, with significant contributions to understanding Hubbard models, frustrated magnets, and topological insulators. As a member of research groups focused on strongly-correlated models on the lattice, Dr. Federico contributes to advancing computational methods for quantum systems while maintaining strong connections with the broader physics community through his leadership roles and participation in doctoral education.

Maria Domenica Di BenedettoView profile

Professor

• Nonlinear control
• Hybrid systems
• Networked embedded control systems
• +4 more

Maria Domenica Di Benedetto is a full Professor of Control Theory at the University of L'Aquila, Italy, leading the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering. She holds a Dr. Ing. (summa cum laude) from Sapienza University of Rome (1976), a Docteur-Ingenieur (1981), and a Doctorat d'Etat Sciences (1987) from Université de Paris-Sud. Her academic journey includes roles as Assistant Professor at Sapienza (1983–1987), Associate Professor at Istituto Universitario Navale (1987–1990) and Sapienza (1990–1993), and Adjunct Professor at UC Berkeley (1995–2002). She has held visiting roles at MIT, University of Michigan, and others. Her research focuses on nonlinear control, hybrid systems, and networked embedded systems, with applications in automotive and air traffic control. She pioneered the DEWS Center of Excellence, addressing embedded controllers and wireless systems, and co-founded WEST Aquila S.r.L. for industrial collaboration. Key roles include IEEE Fellow (2002), editorships for major journals (e.g., IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control), and leadership in global research initiatives like HYCON and iFly projects. Notable contributions include fault-tolerant control of wireless networks, symbolic control for nonlinear systems, and safety-critical analysis of air traffic systems. Her work bridges theory and practice, addressing real-world challenges in control engineering and cybersecurity. Over 150 peer-reviewed publications and 10+ patents reflect her prolific output. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2002), multiple editorial roles, and leadership in international research consortia. Labs/Teams: Director of DEWS Center, Scientific Committee member of CETEMPS, and collaborator with industry partners like Volvo Technology and BlueCrest Capital.

Michael ShekelyanView profile

Lecturer

• Data Management
• Database Systems
• Differential Privacy
• +5 more

Dr. Michael Shekelyan is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Computer Science at Queen Mary University of London (2023–present), part of the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (2018) and a Diploma in Media Informatics from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2014). Previously, he worked as a Research Associate at King's College London (2021–2023) and a Research Fellow at the University of Warwick (2018–2021). His academic journey includes roles as a Meta-Reviewer for NeurIPS and ICDT Proceedings Chair (2024), with extensive service as a reviewer for top conferences like ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, and journals such as TKDE and IEEE T-IFS. Research Interests: Focuses on algorithms and data structures for managing large/sensitive datasets, including differential privacy, random sampling (e.g., Hidden Shuffle Method), and multidimensional data summarization (e.g., DigitHist). His work bridges theoretical guarantees with practical applications in data management and machine learning. Notable contributions include privacy-preserving top-k selection, efficient sampling over joins, and error-bounded data summaries. Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles in top venues including SIGMOD, ICDE, EDBT, AISTATS, and PVLDB. Key works include 'Streaming Weighted Sampling over Join Queries' (EDBT'23), 'Sequential Random Sampling Revisited' (AISTATS'21), and 'Sparse Prefix Sums' (Information Systems'19, which won an ADBIS award). Grants/Awards: Received the ADBIS'17 Award for Sparse Prefix Sums. Active in organizing conferences and mentoring early-career researchers through reviewing roles. Current projects include a PhD studentship on privacy-preserving algorithms for medical data sharing. Labs/Teams: Leads the Privacy-Preserving Algorithms initiative at Queen Mary, collaborating with international research networks in database systems and data privacy.

• Combinatorics on Words
• Algorithms on Strings
• Automata Theory
• +4 more

Marinella Sciortino is a Professor at the University of Palermo , affiliated with the School of Basic and Applied Sciences and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science . She serves as Director of the CINI Research Unit and is a member of the Academic Senate (2022-2024). Sciortino contributes to editorial and scientific committees for journals and conferences, including Theoretical Computer Science and the GRIN Committee . Research focuses on: Combinatorics on Words String Algorithms Automata Theory Symbolic Dynamics Data Compression Biological Sequence Analysis Her work includes groundbreaking studies on the Burrows-Wheeler Transform (BWT) , extending its application to multiple sequences and improving compression efficiency. She has supervised PhD student Giuseppe Romana and participated in numerous conference program committees (e.g., SPIRE , ICTCS , CiE ). Recent scientific contributions (2022-2020): BWT teaching methodologies String attractors Variant discovery in genomics Algorithmic perspectives on alternating BWT Positional clustering for SNP detection Mental rotation effects on computational learning Teaching roles include Laboratorio di Algoritmi (Computer Science) and Teoria dell'Informazione e Compressione Dati (Master's in Computer Science). Contact: marinella.sciortino@unipa.it , +39-091-238-91080.

Kris KroisView profile

Associate Professor

• Eco-Social Design
• Social-Ecological Transformation
• User Interface Systems
• +3 more

Kris Krois is a Tenured Associate Professor at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, affiliated with the Faculty of Design and Art. He leads the transdisciplinary MA Eco-Social Design program, focusing on social-ecological transformations through collaborative design practices. His work integrates activism, education, and community engagement, addressing climate justice, sustainable mobility, and crisis response. He actively contributes to initiatives like the Climate Citizen Assembly and the New European Bauhaus of the Mountains. Krois has organized the annual 'By Design or by Disaster' conference since 2013, emphasizing radical care and power dynamics in transformation. His research extends to visual journalism and user interface systems, with a focus on democratizing decision-making processes. He co-edited major publications including STRING FIGURES – Transforming together (2023) and Care beyond crises (2022), reflecting his commitment to participatory design and solidarity-based futures. Education: Advanced degrees in design and related fields (details unspecified). Affiliations: KAUZ – Laboratory for Climate Justice, Zukunftspakt–Patto Futuro, lab:bz. Research Labs: Involvement with trans–form research cluster and Scientists for Future South Tyrol. His publications span eco-social design pedagogy, urban crisis responses, and democratic governance. Krois advocates for prefigurative practices in movements toward just societies, blending theoretical insights with hands-on workshops and policy engagement.

Nicola PREZZAView profile

Associate Professor

• Algorithms for Massive Data
• Bioinformatics
• Information Systems
• +4 more

Nicola Prezza is an Associate Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics. His research focuses on algorithms for massive data, bioinformatics, and information systems, with a strong emphasis on compressed data structures and computational pan-genomics. He has led the ERC-funded project REGINDEX, exploring compressed indexes for regular languages. Prezza is also a guest editor for multiple scientific journals and has contributed to international symposiums like SPIRE and CPM. In teaching, he instructs courses on algorithms for massive data, advanced computer science, and programming at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in compression, streaming algorithms, and graph indexing. Recent projects involve Wheeler automata, suffix arrays, and efficient data structure design. Prezza's research outputs include over 50 indexed publications, with recent highlights in string processing, finite automata indexing, and parameterized-space compression. He collaborates with institutions globally and actively participates in editorial roles for Information and Computation , Information Systems , and Algorithms .