Francesco Vaccarino

Francesco Vaccarino is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences "GL Lagrange" (DISMA) at the Polytechnic University of Turin and a member of the Interdepartmental Center SmartData@PoliTO - Big Data and Data Science Laboratory. He is actively involved in research, teaching, and doctoral supervision across multiple programs, including Mathematical Sciences, Applied Mathematics, and Artificial Intelligence.

Research Interests:

• Computational topology
• Topological data analysis (TDA)
• Machine learning and geometric learning
• Algebraic and geometric methods in data science
• Complex networks and higher-order interactions

His recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus, combining topology with machine learning, neuroscience, and physics. Key themes include persistent homology, simplicial network models, and topological visualization of complex systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding brain networks, scientific collaboration patterns, and phase transitions through topological methods.

Scientific Awards:

• The Best Science Visualizations of the Year (Wired.com, 2014)

Advising and Grants: He supervises multiple PhD students in Mathematical Sciences and Artificial Intelligence. He has led research projects funded by competitive tenders (e.g., XTERA-FOOD) and commercial contracts (e.g., with FPT Industrial SPA and Stellantis), focusing on AI, digital transformation, and industrial data analysis. He has served as Scientific Director for corporate training programs in AI and data science.

Conferences and Leadership: He has been Program Chair for several international events including AMTCS7, TOPDRIM, Toponets15, and ECCS 2013, promoting the application of topology in data science.

Labs and Affiliations: He is a core member of SmartData@PoliTO, a leading data science laboratory fostering interdisciplinary research in big data and AI.