Marco ZaffalonView profile
Professor
Marco Zaffalon is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) and Scientific Director of the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA). He holds an MSc in Computer Science (cum laude) and a PhD in Applied Mathematics. His research focuses on causal AI, machine learning, and probabilistic models under uncertainty, with applications in defense, environment, medicine, engineering, and business. He leads a 30-member research group in probabilistic machine learning and has secured over 15 million Swiss Francs in competitive grants. Education: MSc in Computer Science (cum laude), PhD in Applied Mathematics. Professional milestones include roles as a software engineer at an Italian insurance group, consultant for SGS-Thomson, post-doctoral fellow at IDSIA, and tenure as a researcher since 2001. Research interests emphasize foundational and applied aspects of probability theory, particularly imprecise probability, and causal reasoning. His work integrates knowledge-based systems, probabilistic graphical models, and robust algorithms for real-world problems. Notable projects include OmniProfiler , Credal Model Averaging , and Learning under Near-Ignorance . Awards & Recognition: President of SIPTA (2019–present) Senior Area Editor for International Journal of Approximate Reasoning (IJAR) Top 2% Scientist (Stanford’s ranking since 2019) Grants & Leadership: Oversaw 15+ million CHF in competitive research funding Founded and directs a 30-member research group He collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, including environmental modeling, medical applications, and defense-related AI systems through IDSIA’s labs and partnerships.









