Orwin Martin is an Associate Professor of Somali Language and Literature at the University of Naples 'L'Orientale', Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean. He holds a First Class Honors degree in Arabic and Amharic from SOAS (1986) and a PhD in Somali Phonology (1994). Previously, he served as Senior Lecturer at SOAS (2008–2020) and held various administrative roles including Head of Department (2011–2014). His research focuses on Somali poetry's linguistic and aesthetic dimensions, including meter analysis, Arabic influences, and literary translation. He has published extensively on Somali poets like Hadraawi and Weedhsame, and collaborates with international institutions like the Poetry Translation Centre. Teaching spans Somali language at all levels, comparative literature, and translation studies. He has organized conferences, including the 2018 Somali Studies Congress in Hargeysa, and contributed to academic roles such as editorial boards for African Languages and Cultures and the Journal of Somali Studies. Awards include a certificate from Hargeisa Youth Development Association for outreach work.
Bianca Basciano is an Associate Professor at the Department of Asian and North African Studies , Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where she has held the Director's Delegate for Research role since 2023. Her work focuses on Chinese linguistics , particularly Mandarin morphology, syntax, and second language acquisition. Research Areas: Chinese compounding, reduplication, causative constructions, resultative compounds, and language teaching methodologies. Teaching: Offers BA/MA courses in Chinese language and linguistics at Ca' Foscari University. Editorial Roles: Member of the editorial boards for Sinica Venetiana and Lingue e Linguaggio . Research Projects: Principal investigator for the PRIN 2020 project on Italian learners' acquisition of Chinese resultative verbs, with extensive corpus-based analysis. Collaborates with Giorgio Arcodia and other international scholars. Key Themes: Event structure delimitation, Vendlerian verb classes, micro-parametric syntactic variation. Publications: Over 40 works including monographs with Oxford University Press and Bologna University Press. Her methodological approach combines theoretical linguistics with corpus analysis, contributing to the understanding of Chinese as both a linguistic system and a second language acquisition challenge. She has also organized international conferences like the 31st IACL Annual Meeting.
Alessandro Del Tomba is a Tenure-Track Researcher in Linguistics and Glottology at Sapienza University of Rome, specializing in historical linguistics, Indo-European studies, and Central Asian philology. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from Sapienza and Comparative Indo-European Linguistics from Leiden University. Historical linguistics Indo-European studies Eastern Iranian philology Language contact theories His research focuses on Khotanese and Tocharian languages, with recent publications analyzing manuscript transmission, morphological variation, and phonological developments. He serves as Principal Investigator for the FIS project "Khotanese language and texts in contexts (KhoTxt): A multimodal approach to the classification and periodisation of the Khotanese language and its texts within the cultural and historical framework of medieval Central Asia". He teaches General Linguistics at undergraduate levels and Linguistics courses at the graduate level in Modern Philology. Active in international academic networks, he participates in conferences across Italy, Europe, and Asia.
Marco Maggini is a Full Professor in the Department of Information Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Siena, a position he has held since joining the university in 1996. His academic career spans over 25 years with foundational expertise in computer engineering and artificial intelligence, focusing on theoretical and applied machine learning research. His educational background includes: Laurea degree (cum laude) in Electronics Engineering from the University of Florence (1991) Ph.D. in Computer Engineering and Control Systems from the University of Florence (1995) Prof. Maggini's research encompasses machine learning, neural networks, kernel machines, and the integration of symbolic and sub-symbolic knowledge systems. He extends these foundations into practical applications including web mining, search engine technology, pattern recognition, natural language processing, and computer vision. This interdisciplinary approach bridges theoretical computer science with real-world implementation challenges across multiple domains. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a dominant focus on multilingual NLP applications, particularly educational puzzle generation for low-resource languages (Italian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish) using LLMs. His work demonstrates consistent innovation in named entity recognition, commonsense reasoning evaluation, and cross-lingual adaptation techniques. Secondary research threads include medical imaging segmentation, molecular property prediction, and AI security vulnerabilities, reflecting his broad technical mastery across computer vision, bioinformatics, and adversarial machine learning. No specific scientific awards were mentioned in the provided documentation, though his editorial roles indicate peer recognition within the academic community. While student mentoring details are absent from the source material, his position as Full Professor and leadership of SAILab imply active graduate supervision. His extensive publication record (120+ papers) and editorial service suggest significant research grant involvement, though specific funding sources remain undocumented. He directs the Siena Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAILab), which serves as an interdisciplinary hub for advancing machine learning theory and applications. The lab's current projects emphasize educational technology, multilingual NLP systems, and the integration of symbolic reasoning with neural architectures, maintaining strong industry and international academic collaborations.
Carolina NEGRI is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where she has held a permanent faculty position since 2015. She is also the Director's Delegate for Quality Assurance of the Department and has served in various institutional roles including scientific coordinator of the Erasmus+ ICM program with Waseda University and member of the Doctoral College. She holds a PhD in Oriental Studies from the Oriental University Institute of Naples and advanced degrees from Ochanomizu University in Tokyo and the University of Naples 'L’Orientale'. PhD in Oriental Studies (Far Eastern Asian Civilizations), Oriental University Institute of Naples, 2000 MA in Japanese Literature and Philology, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, 1996 Laurea in Japanese Language and Literature, University of Naples 'L’Orientale', 1991 Her research focuses on pre-modern and modern Japanese literature, Japanese philology, literary translation, and gender studies. She specializes in classical Japanese texts, the role of women in medieval Japanese society, intertextuality, and the literary contributions of female authors such as Murasaki Shikibu and the nun Abutsu. Her work bridges philological rigor with cultural and gender analysis. Her recent research outputs demonstrate a strong trajectory in the study of Japanese literary history, classical grammar, and the socio-religious roles of women. Key themes include the development of a comprehensive history of Japanese literature, intertextuality in premodern works, and the literary production of medieval nuns. She has led externally funded projects such as 'Images from the Past' (Japan Foundation, 2019–2021) and multiple Erasmus+ and National Institute of Japanese Literature research stays. Premio Guglielmo e Mario Scalise per la traduzione letteraria (2007) Japan Foundation Japanese Studies Fellowship (2011) National Scientific Qualification for Full-Time Professor (2021) National Scientific Qualification for Associate Professor (2014) Carolina NEGRI has supervised numerous academic programs and mentored students through her teaching and research leadership. She has secured multiple international research grants, particularly from the Japan Foundation and Erasmus+, supporting collaborative projects with Waseda University, Gakushūin Women’s University, and the National Institute of Japanese Literature. She has been a visiting scholar at institutions in Japan, the United States, and Europe, reflecting her active international engagement. She is a member of the research group working on the history of Japanese literature alongside Luisa Bienati, Edoardo Gerlini, and Pierantonio Zanotti, and has collaborated with Paolo Calvetti on medieval Japanese literature. Her work contributes significantly to the global understanding of Japanese literary and cultural history.
Ilaria Sicari is a Research Fellow at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, specializing in Slavic Studies with a focus on Soviet literature, cultural Cold War dynamics, and transnational literary circulation. She holds a PhD in Slavic Studies from Ca' Foscari University (2017) and has taught Russian literature at the Universities of Bologna, Florence, and Pisa. Her current Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship explores Tamizdat (underground Soviet literature dissemination) through the TAMIZDAT project, collaborating with Stanford University and Leiden University. Research Institutes: Digital and Cultural Heritage, International Studies Key Projects: On the Two Sides of the Iron Curtain , Banned Books from Russia and Eastern Europe Her research emphasizes socio-cultural actors in literary circulation, including translators, editors, and dissidents. Major interests include Soviet censorship, dissident literature, and the reception of foreign literature in the USSR. She has published widely on Italo Calvino's Soviet reception, Soviet human rights movements, and Cold War cultural diplomacy. Recent articles examine Tamizdat publishing strategies in Italy, Soviet psychiatric abuse, and Cold War paratextual propaganda. She contributes to digital archives on banned Soviet texts and is affiliated with the Italian and international Slavic studies associations (AIS, ASEEES, AATSEEL).
Francesca Cupelloni is a Researcher in Italian Linguistics (LIFI-01/A) at the Department of Modern Literature and Culture , Sapienza University of Rome. Qualified as an Associate Professor in 2023, she graduated in History of the Italian Language (2017) and earned her PhD (2020) at Sapienza, supervised by Luca Serianni . She has held scholarships at Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, and been a visiting scholar at the University of Lausanne (2019). Her research focuses on Italian language history (early centuries), lexicography , and gastronomic vocabulary , particularly 14th-15th-century Florentine and Middle Latin/vernacular gastronomic terms. She contributes to projects like the digital Autographs of Italian Writers ( www.autografi.net ), editing Lorenzo de' Medici's autograph letters with linguistic commentary, and collaborated on the PRIN 2017 AtLiTeG project. Recent publications include articles in VoSLIG. Historical Vocabulary of the Italian Gastronomy Language (2024), studies on Antonio Pucci's Danteisms, Leopardi's lexical borrowings, and historical syntax in Lorenzo de' Medici's epistles. She serves on the scientific committees of journals Interpres and Dante , and collaborates with the Germanisms section of the Lessico Etimologico Italiano (LEI) .
Cristina Guardiano is a Full Professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Communication and Economics. Her research focuses on syntax, historical linguistics, and the Parametric Comparison Method (PCM), exploring syntactic variation across languages to reconstruct linguistic phylogenies. She specializes in formal syntax, differential object marking, and the intersection of syntax with computational and genetic data analysis. Key Affiliations: Dipartimento di Comunicazione ed Economia, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Research Themes: Syntactic parameters, language evolution, Romance dialectology, genetic-linguistic correlations Guardiano's work integrates theoretical linguistics with interdisciplinary approaches, including collaborations with geneticists and computational linguists. Notable contributions include studies on the syntax of Italiot Greek, Sicilian dialects, and the application of parametric syntax to historical language classification. She leads initiatives like the TerraLing database to systematize cross-linguistic syntactic data. Her teaching includes advanced courses on linguistics, parametric syntax, and the analysis of language evolution. She emphasizes critical evaluation of Large Language Models (LLMs) and their implications for linguistic theory.
Giorgio Francesco ARCODIA is a Full Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where he also serves as Director's Delegate for Interdepartmental Agreements and a member of the University Quality Assurance Office (PQA). His academic expertise lies in Chinese linguistics, linguistic typology, morphology, dialectology, and second language acquisition. He has held previous academic positions at the University of Milano-Bicocca, progressing from researcher to associate professor before joining Ca' Foscari as a full professor. His research is deeply interdisciplinary, focusing on Sinitic languages, grammaticalization, and cross-linguistic comparison. Education: PhD in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Pavia (2008) MA in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Pavia (2005) BA/MA in Foreign Languages, University of Bologna (2003) Language studies at Renmin University of China, Beijing (2005–2006) Advanced training in Chinese, Russian, Japanese, and linguistics across institutions in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Taiwan His research interests include Chinese morphology, linguistic typology, dialectology, grammaticalization, and the acquisition of Chinese as a second language. He has conducted extensive research on reduplication, compounding, derivational morphology, object marking, tense, and aspect in Sinitic languages, as well as on contact phenomena in Macanese and Sino-Vietnamese. His work often combines corpus-based, experimental, and typological methodologies. The recent publications reflect a strong focus on morphosyntactic and typological features of Sinitic languages, with recurring themes such as nonconcatenative morphology, prosody, grammaticalization of tense and aspect, structural particles, and cross-dialectal convergence. His work increasingly bridges theoretical linguistics with pedagogical implications, especially in teaching Chinese to Italian speakers. Scientific Engagement: Section Editor, Open Linguistics (2024–present) Member, Scientific Board, Linguistic Typology at the Crossroads (2021–present) Member, Editorial Board, Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale (2024–present) Peer reviewer for major journals including Linguistics , Morphology , Journal of Linguistics , and Language and Linguistics Project evaluator for Swiss National Science Foundation, ANR (France), and Research Grants Council of Hong Kong He actively supervises and collaborates with researchers, particularly on projects related to Chinese linguistics and second language acquisition. He has coordinated international research initiatives and double degree programs, notably with the Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg. His institutional service includes membership in PhD committees, research councils, quality assurance bodies, and departmental governance at Ca' Foscari. He is a member of leading academic associations including the International Association of Chinese Linguistics (IACL), European Association of Chinese Linguistics (EACL), and Società di Linguistica Italiana (SLI), and has held leadership roles in AILC, EACL, and CASLAR. He has organized major international conferences such as IACL-31 and EACL-10, and workshops on Chinese dialect grammar and prosodic grammar.
Laura Nadal Sanchis is an Associate Professor at the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies , Ca' Foscari University of Venice . She specializes in Spanish discourse markers , experimental linguistics , and inclusive language studies through cognitive and pragmatic approaches. Linguistics Translation Studies Cognitive Science Language Education Her research focuses on cognitive processing of linguistic elements in Spanish, including anaphoric encapsulation , discourse coherence , and gender-inclusive language effects . She employs experimental methods and eye-tracking technology to analyze these phenomena in L1 and L2 speakers. Current publications highlight her work on discourse markers in Romance languages , cross-linguistic analysis , and educational applications through CLIL methodology and translator training . While specific awards aren't listed, her extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions to experimental linguistics and discourse analysis .
Thomas Strobel is an Adjunct Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice's Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies. His academic career includes roles as a research assistant and fellow in multiple institutions, including Goethe University Frankfurt and the German Language Association. He holds a PhD in General Linguistics from Goethe University Frankfurt, focusing on pronominal partitivity in German dialects. Strobel's research focuses on syntax, dialectology, and morphosyntactic variation in Germanic languages. Key areas include partitive constructions, grammatical gaps, and the intersection of formal and functional approaches in linguistic variation. His recent work explores syntactic changes in German dialects and cross-linguistic partitive phenomena. He has published extensively in journals like Linguistische Berichte and Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft , and edited volumes on topics like grammatical gaps and partitive constructions. His teaching spans German language courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, contributing to programs in linguistics and cultural studies. Strobel has been involved in DFG-funded projects such as the 'Syntax of Hessian Dialects' and has held postdoctoral roles at leading institutions. His work bridges theoretical syntax and empirical dialectology, emphasizing microvariation and areal linguistics.
Francesco Bianchini is an Associate Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of Bologna's Department of Philosophy and Communication Studies. He serves as the scientific coordinator of the Knowledge and Cognition Research Center. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and the philosophy of science, with emphasis on simulative cognitive modeling, biologically inspired architectures, and analogical reasoning. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bologna (2007) and has held academic roles since 2008, including Senior Assistant Professor (2016–2019) and Junior Assistant Professor (2013–2016). Education includes a first-class degree in Philosophy (2001) and a specialization in History and Philosophy education (2003). His work bridges theoretical philosophy, ethics, and empirical studies, addressing topics like AI's ethical dimensions, cognitive architecture design, and historical perspectives on scientific thought. He coordinates university initiatives in AI and interdisciplinary research, such as roles in the ALMA-AI Center and Horizon Europe thematic groups. Research interests span AI philosophy, cognitive modeling, and the epistemology of mind. His articles analyze AI's conceptual foundations, robo-ethics, and the interplay between synthetic biology and artificial systems. Recent work includes studies on generative AI, large language models, and Cartesian influences on cognitive theories. Bianchini’s contributions reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue, integrating philosophical analysis with scientific methodologies. His articles frequently explore foundational questions about intelligence, knowledge representation, and the societal implications of emerging technologies.
Valentina Piunno is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Bergamo, Italy. She specializes in Glottology and Linguistics (sector GLOT-01/A, equivalent to L-LIN/01), with a strong focus on phraseology, lexicography, lexical semantics, and Italian linguistic structures. She teaches courses such as Digital Linguistics, Descriptive and Historical Linguistics, and Text Linguistics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research interests include evaluative phraseological constructions, intensifying structures, color terminology, fixed syntactic schemas, and partially lexically specified constructions in Italian, often with comparative perspectives involving Spanish and French. She also investigates dialectal varieties of Italian from theoretical and lexicographic viewpoints. The most recent publications highlight a consistent focus on meaning patterns at the syntax-lexicon interface, lexicographic practices, and the formal analysis of Italian phraseology. Her work combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies, contributing significantly to the understanding of Italian linguistic structures and their representation in reference works. Expression of patient and caregiver uncertainty in online health communities (2025) Analysis of evaluative phraseologisms in Italian vs. Spanish and French (2025) Color terms and intensifiers in Italian (2024) Fixed-schema constructions in Italian dialects (2024) Lexicographic and lexicological meaning patterns (2024) Schematic phraseologisms and analytical methods (2024) Dr. Piunno has authored numerous book chapters and articles, including editorial contributions, and has published with academic presses such as Walter de Gruyter, Aracne, and Frank & Timme. While no scientific awards or student advisement details are listed, her publication record indicates active scholarly engagement. She is involved in current teaching activities for the 2025–2026 academic year and maintains an office for student reception by appointment.
Soon Haeng KANG is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where he has held a permanent position since 2018. His academic work centers on Korean and Italian linguistics, with a focus on syntax, morphology, and comparative analysis between the two languages. He is actively involved in teaching, research, and expanding Korean language education in Italy. PhD in General Linguistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2007–2007) Master's Degree in Italian Linguistics, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2000–2003) Bachelor's Degree in Italian Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (1993–2000) Visiting Student, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2001–2002) Dr. Kang's research focuses on the structural aspects of Korean and Italian languages, particularly in adjective syntax, genitive constructions, plural markers, and noun phrase organization. He employs comparative and contrastive methodologies to analyze grammatical phenomena across Korean and Italian, contributing to both theoretical linguistics and applied language teaching. His work bridges East Asian and European linguistic traditions. His recent publications show a strong trend in Korean linguistic theory and pedagogy, with major 2024 monographs on Korean morphology and the verbal system. He has also published extensively on the expansion of Korean language education in Italy and the adaptation of teaching methods during the pandemic. His articles span topics from syntactic movement in Italian to the educational implications of Korean grammar, reflecting a dual expertise in both languages. Dr. Kang has received research funding from the National Research Foundation of Korea for multiple projects related to Italian syntax and Korean-Italian contrastive analysis. These grants supported postdoctoral research and academic development activities in South Korea. Post-doctoral fellow, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2009–2010, 2012–2013) Contract Professor of Italian, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2007–2018) Contract Professor of Italian, Sejong University (2008–2012) Collaborator and linguistic expert, Ca' Foscari University (2003–2005) He has contributed to the development of Korean studies in Italy through curriculum design, vocabulary textbooks, and institutional leadership. His work helps shape the academic landscape for Korean language education in Europe, particularly in Italy.
Roles & Affiliations: Laura Mori is a Full Professor of Glottology and Linguistics at the Faculty of Interpreting and Translation at the University of International Studies of Rome (UNINT). She currently serves as Pro-Rector for Teaching (2023–2026) and previously held roles as Pro-Rector for Research (2020–2023). She is Scientific Director of the Centre for Linguistic Research on Corpora and a key member of the CIRCgE board. Her teaching includes courses in Sociolinguistics and Textual Linguistics/Pragmatics. Education & Qualifications: Laura earned her PhD in Historical Linguistics (Experimental Phonetics) from Sapienza University of Rome (2006). She became a Researcher in 2008 and Associate Professor in 2015 before attaining her current Full Professor position in 2021. Her expertise spans over 16 years of teaching and research in glottology and linguistics. Research Focus: Her work centers on interlingual contact dynamics, multilingual sociolinguistics, and historical sociolinguistics. Notable areas include Maltese linguistics, Maltese English, Haitian Creole, and the pragmatic analysis of legislative texts. She leads the Eurolect Observatory Project , analyzing legal language hybridization in EU contexts, and co-coordinates the Fone.Ma project on Maltese speakers’ L2 Italian pronunciation. Grants & Projects: Key initiatives include the PRIN 2017 project on global Italian dynamics and an interdisciplinary neuromarketing study (FRSA 2021) linking linguistic organization to consumer behavior. She collaborates internationally with institutions like the University of Malta and Ghent University. Labs & Teams: She directs the UNINT’s Linguistic Research on Corpora Center and co-leads the Eurolect Observatory Group (24 European academics). Her work engages with the Italian Association of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics (AITLA) and the Maltese Linguistics Association (GĦILM).
