Barbara Caputo is a Full Professor at Politecnico di Torino, leading the VANDAL Laboratory and directing the AI@PoliTo Interdepartmental Lab. She holds a double affiliation with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and has held roles at Idiap-EPFL and Sapienza University. Her research focuses on AI, computer vision, domain adaptation, and federated learning. She contributes to national AI policy, including the Italian Strategy on AI and the National PhD on AI for Industry 4.0. She is an ERC Laureate and ELLIS Fellow, co-founding ELLIS society. Her work spans visual place recognition, action recognition, and cross-domain learning. Education: PhD in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2005). Major roles include Rector’s Advisor on AI at PoliTo, Board Member of ELLIS, and coordinator of the AI & Industry 4.0 vertical in the National PhD program. Awards include ERC Laureate (2017), ELLIS Fellow (2019), and Inspiring Fifty Italy (2018). Her research emphasizes federated learning, domain adaptation, and AI ethics. Recent articles explore domain generalization, resource-efficient federated models, and AI-environment interactions. She collaborates with institutions like MUR, CNR, and the European Commission on AI policy and tech initiatives.
Secil Ugur Yavuz is a Professor at the Faculty of Design and Arts, Department of Design, at Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. Her academic work spans eco-social design, research through design, and tangible human-technology interactions, with a particular focus on sustainable materials and collective making practices. She teaches courses including Design 3 for the Master in Eco-social Design and doctoral programs in Experimental Research through Design, Art and Technologies. Professor Yavuz's research explores the intersection of analog and digital through tangible human-technology interactions, with significant contributions to sustainable material systems. Her FERAL WOOL project investigates ecological and cultural dimensions of wool, while her work with biomaterials like microbial cellulose and open-source bioreactors addresses circular production systems. She employs embodied and speculative approaches to examine microplastic emissions, children's nature engagement through tools like TREESENSE, and social play with interactive toys. Her recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on material culture, sustainability, and human-centered design across multiple scales. The research demonstrates consistent exploration of how digital and physical realms interact to create meaningful user experiences while addressing ecological challenges. Key trends include the use of embodied interaction methods, speculative design for cultural critique, and co-creative processes that bridge technological innovation with social and environmental responsibility. Yavuz leads the Design Friction Lab, which investigates the philosophical foundations of design through customizable interfaces and DIY approaches. Her work with doctoral students in Experimental Research through Design emphasizes reshaping technologies through collective making processes. The FERAL WOOL research project represents a significant current initiative exploring sustainable textile futures through both ecological and cultural lenses.
Michael Haller is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy, where he serves as founder and director of the Media Interaction Lab. Based at NOI Techpark, his work focuses on next-generation human-computer interfaces, leading a team of over 10 researchers and students in developing innovative interaction technologies for automotive and wearable applications. He earned his Dipl.-Ing. (1997), Dr. techn. (2001), and Habilitation (2007) degrees from Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Austria. Haller's research centers on Human-Computer Interaction with specialized expertise in Smart Textile Interfaces, Physical Prototyping, and Ubiquitous Computing. His lab pioneers user-centered design of next-generation interfaces through industry collaborations with BMW, KTM, SEFAR, and Tratter Engineering. Current work emphasizes sustainable materials for flexible sensors, touchless interaction, and reducing plastic components in automotive interfaces while maintaining ergonomic functionality. His 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a clear trajectory toward sustainable sensor technologies, particularly biodegradable substrates (wood, animal-based, stone, gelatin) for temperature and pressure sensing. These works bridge materials science with HCI, targeting automotive interfaces, health monitoring, and eco-fashion through textile-based solutions that prioritize environmental sustainability without sacrificing performance. His scientific accolades include: Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship Award Google Research Award Europrix Top Talent Award Best ACM SIGGRAPH Emerging Technologies Award Microsoft Imagine Cup 7 Best Paper and Honorable Mention Awards at ACM CHI and ACM UIST Haller directs major research projects including SmartCover (2024-2026) for developing smart laminated dashboards that replace plastic components with gesture-based textile interfaces, and iPlayground (2024-2026) establishing an industrial-scale smart textile lab. He mentors researchers in prototyping and empirical evaluation, with industry grants supporting the development of washable touchless fabrics and next-generation vehicle interfaces. His work bridges academic research and commercial product development through direct industry partnerships. The Media Interaction Lab operates from NOI Techpark with industrial knitting/sewing machines, confocal microscopes for surface analysis, and a collaborative Idea Space for rapid prototyping. Current infrastructure enables development of warp-knitted smart textiles for automotive consoles and sustainable fashion applications, focusing on reducing plastic waste while creating intuitive touchless interaction experiences through magnetoresistive and inductive sensing technologies.
Gianluca Setti is a Full Professor at the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET) at Polytechnic University of Turin, where he has been serving since 2017. He previously held positions at the University of Ferrara from 1997 to 2017. His institutional roles include being the Contact Person for the Research Quality Evaluation process, Member of the Interdepartmental Center SmartData@PoliTO - Big Data and Data Science Laboratory, and Member of the University Quality Assurance Committee. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Proceedings of the IEEE, the first non-US editor to hold this position. Dr. Setti's research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields including machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, Internet of Things, biomedical signal processing, power electronics, and electromagnetic compatibility. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly focusing on compressed sensing, neural networks, and circuit design for specialized applications. His research has significant implications for healthcare, sustainable infrastructure, and next-generation electronics. His publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from foundational work in chaotic systems and neural networks to contemporary applications in AI, IoT, and edge computing. The most recent publications demonstrate his focus on anomaly detection at the edge, neural oracles for biosignal processing, and power electronics innovations. His work shows strong integration between theoretical signal processing and practical circuit implementation. 1998 Caianiello prize (best Italian Ph.D. thesis on Neural Networks) IEEE Fellow (2006) IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Distinguished Lecturer (2004, 2015) 2004 IEEE CAS Society Darlington Award 2013 IEEE CAS Society Meritorious Service Award 2013 IEEE CAS Society Guillemin-Cauer Award 2019 IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems best paper award Multiple best paper awards at major conferences including ECCTD2005, EMCZurich2005, ISCAS2011, PRIME2019, and EMCCOMPO2019 Dr. Setti has supervised numerous PhD students across various research domains including electromagnetic compatibility, signal and power integrity, communication networks, mechatronics and robotics. His research is supported by significant funding including national PRIN projects, EU-funded JTI-ECSEL initiatives, and commercial contracts. He leads the VLSILAB Group at DET, focusing on circuit architectures, embedded systems, and AI applications. His current projects include DECORI (anomaly detection), StorAIge (embedded storage for AI), PROGRESSUS (energy infrastructure), CONNECT (smart grid), and CONVERGENCE (wearable healthcare applications).
Marco Ghislieri is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET) of Politecnico di Torino, Italy. He is a member of the Interdepartmental Center PolitoBIOMed Lab and teaches in the Biomedical Engineering program, including courses like Neuroengineering and Design of Programmable Biomedical Devices . His research spans Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Signal Processing, Neuroscience, and Rehabilitation Engineering . PhD in Bioengineering and Medical-Surgical Sciences (2017-2021) at Politecnico di Torino Thesis: Muscle Synergy Assessment during Cyclic and Non-Cyclic Movements His research focuses on muscle synergy analysis in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients post- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) , AI-driven gait analysis for fall prevention, and wearable sensor applications for stress-cognitive decline monitoring. He leads the S-CoDe and OMNIA-PARK projects, and contributes to PRIN as a team member. Recent publications highlight advancements in machine learning for intraoperative DBS targeting , statistical gait analysis , and neurorehabilitation tools . He serves as Associate Editor for Scientific Reports and Applied Bionics and Biomechanics , and Guest Editor for Frontiers in Neural Circuits . Awards include the Carlo J. De Luca Award (2022) , GNB Doctoral Award (2022) , and the Best Poster Award at M. Grattarola Summer School (2022) . He supervises Fabrizio Sciscenti (PhD candidate) and collaborates on neuroengineering and biomedical device design courses. His work addresses Goal 3 (Good Health) and Goal 4 (Quality Education) of the UN SDGs.
Prof. Michele Germani is a Full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Marche, Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. His research focuses on ergonomics, sustainability, and human-centered design, with particular emphasis on industrial automation, wearable technologies, and circular economy principles. He leads projects on ergonomic risk assessment, environmental impact modeling, and smart manufacturing systems. Academic Background: Holds a position in the Faculty of Engineering, contributing to both teaching and research. His work integrates machine learning, sensor-based systems, and virtual reality to address challenges in manufacturing, healthcare, and sustainable design. Research Interests: Prof. Germani explores topics such as design for disassembly, eco-design tools, and the application of advanced technologies (e.g., exoskeletons, cobots) to enhance workplace safety and efficiency. His studies often bridge engineering and environmental science, aiming to reduce carbon footprints through innovative design methodologies. Key Projects: Development of decision support systems for fall risk detection, sensor-based ergonomic evaluation tools, and frameworks for circular economy implementation. He also investigates the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on workforce dynamics and operator training via mixed reality simulations. Grants & Collaborations: Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations focusing on sustainable manufacturing, healthcare technology, and smart systems. His research has led to tools like Durabot for durability analysis and Greenbuild for green building design. Labs & Teams: Oversees labs developing eco-design strategies, human-robot collaboration systems, and ergonomic assessment protocols, with a focus on real-world industrial applications.
Enzo Mastinu is an electronic engineer specialized in embedded systems for biomedical applications, holding an Associate Professor qualification in Bioengineering. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Cagliari and a PhD in biomedical signals and systems from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. His research focuses on advanced prosthetics and neuroprostheses for upper limb amputations, incorporating embedded systems design, control algorithms, sensory feedback, signal processing, AI, and osseointegration. Key projects include the HAND and HAND2 initiatives, funded by the EU and the Italian Ministry of Research, aiming to develop semi-autonomous prosthetic hands. He has published 25 journal articles (75% in Q1) and 21 conference papers, contributing to a PCT patent. Mastinu is a Senior Member of IEEE EMBS and RAS, reviews for ~90 journals/conferences, and edits Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics (IEEE) and Scientific Data (Nature). He has supervised ~40 students across PhD, master's, internships, and postdocs, and teaches courses in biomedical engineering and STEM education. His scientific awards include the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (2021), National Qualification as Associate Professor (2024), and a Young Researcher Grant (2025). Research emphasizes clinical implementation of prosthetics with neural feedback and intuitive control, as highlighted in high-impact journals like the New England Journal of Medicine.
Massimo Poncino is a Full Professor at the Department of Control and Computer Science (DAUIN) within the Faculty of Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. He serves as Scientific Advisor for the STMicroelectronics partnership and coordinates basic engineering subjects. A Senior Member of IEEE since 2012 and Fellow since 2012, he has served on editorial boards for IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design, IEEE Design & Test of Computers, and ACM Transactions on Design Automation. Education: Laurea in Electronic Engineering (1989) and PhD in Computer and Systems Engineering (1993) from Politecnico di Torino Academic Career: Visiting Scientist University of Colorado (1993-1994), Researcher at Politecnico di Torino (1995-2001), Associate Professor at University of Verona (2001-2004), Full Professor at Politecnico di Torino (2006-present) His research focuses on energy-efficient digital systems , including design automation of SoCs, hardware-aware AI, battery management, cyber-physical systems, and embedded systems. Recent publications highlight advancements in digital twins for batteries , low-power neural network deployment , and IoT privacy . Scientific Awards: Recognition of Service Award - ACM (2013) Certificate of Appreciation - IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (2006, 2008, 2009) IEEE Fellow (2012-) Research Involvement: EU H2020, VI/VII Framework Programs evaluator Scientific Director for projects: Approxim@ction, EMBAI, DISLO-MAN, DAMASCO Member of EDA research group Teaching: Course director for Energy Management for IoT (2019-2025) Lecturer for Computer Science courses (2003-2025)
Maurizio Mancini is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Sapienza University of Rome. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction, Affective Computing, and Multimodal Interaction, with applications in Virtual Reality, Embodied Conversational Agents, and Digital Commensality. He has contributed to understanding expressive movement analysis, social robotics, and adaptive systems in gaming and mindfulness contexts. 2024 : 8 publications on VR mindfulness, reinforcement learning, digital commensality, and multimodal interaction 2023 : 4 studies on human-food interaction, gait recognition, and AI human-likeness 2022 : 5 papers on social robots, collaborative dining, and anomaly detection His work spans topics like nonverbal leadership in full-body improvisation, transactive memory systems in group interactions, and computational models for human-food interaction. Teaching includes courses on Human-Machine Interaction and Programming.
Maria Letizia Marchegiani is an Assistant Professor at the University of Parma , affiliated with the Department of Engineering and Architecture . Previously, she held academic positions at Aalborg University (2019) and Oxford Robotics Institute (2014-2018). Education: PhD in Computer Science and Engineering from Sapienza - University of Rome , MSc/BEng in Computer Engineering Her research interests span signal processing , machine learning , and their applications to robotics , autonomous systems , intelligent transportation , and intelligent healthcare . She explores intersections between auditory perception , cognitive modeling , and energy-efficient wearable systems . Recent publications demonstrate expertise in acoustic event localization , ML-SDWSN architectures , thermal camera integration for vehicles, and privacy-preserving wearable systems . Her work addresses challenges in network reliability , urban soundscapes , and human-robot collaboration .
Carlo Alberto Avizzano serves as Associate Professor in Robotics and Automation at the University of Pisa's School of Engineering, Department of Information Engineering. He coordinates the Department of Excellence in Robotics & Artificial Intelligence (MUR) and leads the Intelligent Automation System Research Group. Research spans robotics, human-robot interaction, computer vision, and control systems Specializes in creating intelligent automation systems with cognitive capabilities Integrates AI, machine learning, and mechatronics for robust autonomous systems His research focuses on developing robots that learn from human examples, adapt to changing environments, and interact through advanced perception systems. Current work emphasizes wearable robotics, UAVs, and industrial automation solutions with applications in medical rehabilitation, firefighting, and manufacturing. He employs distributed computing architectures integrating sensors, real-time control, and knowledge transfer algorithms. Publications reveal strong emphasis on practical implementations: 15 recent works cover exoskeleton design (2024), UAV firefighting systems (2024), industrial bin-picking datasets (2024), and haptic interfaces (2012-2023). Key trends show progression from virtual reality systems (2006-2008) toward modern AI-integrated robotics with industrial and medical applications. Teaching responsibilities include PhD courses in Sensors for Construction, Python Programming for HealthScience, and Digital Perception; plus undergraduate Mechatronics and Computer Vision labs. He serves on PhD boards for Emerging Digital Technologies and Health Science Technology. Extensive patent portfolio including haptic interfaces (2012), sailing simulators (2006), and UAV systems (2024) Research directly translated to commercial products and spin-off companies
Maurizio Leotta is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at the University of Genova, Italy, where he has been employed since 2018. He is a member of the Department of Computer Science, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering (DIBRIS) within the School of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences. Additionally, he serves on the School Council and the Department Board of DIBRIS. Dr. Leotta received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Genova in 2015, with a thesis on Automated Web Testing under the supervision of Prof. Filippo Ricca. His doctoral work was revised by Prof. Massimiliano di Penta (Università del Sannio, Italy) and Prof. Ali Mesbah (University of British Columbia, Canada). Before his academic career, he worked as an IT Technician in various companies and participated in research and industrial projects funded by organizations such as Finmeccanica S.p.A. and the Italian Space Agency. Dr. Leotta's primary research focuses on Software Engineering, with particular emphasis on Test Automation, which is his main research topic. He collaborates with Prof. Paolo Tonella from USI, Switzerland on this area. His other significant research interests include Empirical Software Engineering, Requirements Engineering, Business Process Modelling, and Model-Driven Software Engineering. His work often addresses practical challenges in web and mobile application testing, with a growing interest in applying AI and gamification techniques to improve software testing processes. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating artificial intelligence with traditional software testing methodologies, particularly in end-to-end web testing. He has made significant contributions to improving test robustness, addressing flakiness in test execution, and developing tools for better test maintenance. His work also shows increasing interest in gamification approaches to engage developers and students in software testing activities, as well as applications of large language models to enhance test automation. Dr. Leotta has received multiple prestigious awards for his research, including: Best Paper Award at ICST 2025 (Short Papers, Vision and Emerging Results) Distinguished Paper Award at ICST 2023 (Industry Papers) Best Paper Award at QUATIC 2022 (Full Papers) Best Paper Award at ICST 2022 (Demo and Testing Tool Papers) Best Paper Award at QUATIC 2020 (Full Papers) Best Student Paper Award at ICWE 2016 (Full Papers) Dr. Leotta has advised numerous graduate students, including three PhD candidates who have completed their degrees (Andrea Fasciglione in 2024, Dario Olianas in 2023, and Diego Clerissi in 2020). He currently supervises multiple Master's students working on topics related to software testing, web accessibility, and AI applications in software engineering. He has also served as a postdoctoral advisor for researchers including Diego Clerissi and Dario Olianas. Beyond advising, Dr. Leotta has secured research funding through collaborations with industry partners and has been involved in multiple research projects focused on software testing and verification. He co-directs the Software Engineering for Healthcare (SEH) Laboratory, which has been partially supported by Janssen Italia (previously by Actelion Pharmaceuticals Italia). The lab focuses on applying software engineering techniques to healthcare applications, particularly in the areas of wearable technology for patient monitoring and medical data analysis. Dr. Leotta is also active in the Gamify research community, organizing workshops on gamification in software development, verification, and validation.
Andrea Botta serves as a Fixed-term Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) at the Polytechnic University of Turin. He is an invited member of both the College of Electrical and Energy Engineering and the College of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Automotive Engineering. His academic career spans teaching Mechanics of Automatic Machines across multiple degree programs including Mechanical Engineering and Energy Engineering since the 2020/21 academic year. Botta's research focuses on Applied Mechanics and Robotics, with particular expertise in articulated robots, mobile manipulators, precision agriculture systems, and rehabilitation robotics devices. His work bridges theoretical mechanics with practical applications in agricultural automation and assistive technologies, addressing challenges in mobility platforms, mechanism design, and human-robot interaction. His research directly contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals including Zero Hunger, Good Health, Clean Energy, and Climate Action. His publication record shows consistent output with significant contributions in 2023-2025, demonstrating expertise across both agricultural and medical robotics domains. Recent work reveals a strong trend toward practical implementations of robotic systems for greenhouse agriculture, rehabilitation assistance, and hospital service applications, with notable emphasis on control strategies, kinematic modeling, and user-centered design. Scientific Recognition: Best Paper Award of Jc-IFToMM International Symposium (2022) Botta actively supervises doctoral research, currently guiding Francesco Amodio in the 40th cycle of the Mechanical Engineering PhD program. He participates in competitive research projects including PAL-HAND (Pneumatic And Lightweight Handheld Device) and TWIN-IT-ROMANS (Twinning IZTECH in Robotics Manufacturing Systems), with funding from European Union initiatives including EIT and Horizon Europe Widening Participation programs. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration across mechanical engineering, control systems, and application-specific domains. As a member of the Automation and Robotics research group within DIMEAS, Botta contributes to developing innovative robotic solutions with practical implementations in precision agriculture through projects like AGRIMARO.Q and rehabilitation technology through wearable assistive devices like WELiBot.
Antonino Furnari is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Catania's Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. He is affiliated with the Image Processing Laboratory (IPLAB) and co-leads the LIVE research group. His research focuses on intelligent systems that perceive and anticipate human actions through egocentric vision, enabling assistive technologies for wearable devices. He teaches courses on Computer Programming (Bachelor) and Fundamentals of Data Analysis (Master's), having supervised over 30 theses and 8 PhD students. Key research interests include egocentric vision, action anticipation, human-object interaction analysis, and wearable systems. His work spans datasets like EPIC-KITCHENS and MECCANO, advancing domain adaptation, mistake detection, and procedural activity understanding. Recent contributions include developing methods for unsupervised mistake detection using gaze signals, differentiable task graph learning for procedural activities, and attention-based models for short-term interaction anticipation. He has been recognized with an Italian Habilitation to Full Professor (ASN) in 2025 and serves as an Associate Editor for TPAMI and publicity co-chair for ICCV 2025. He actively participates in organizing workshops such as the Joint Workshop on Egocentric Vision (EgoVis) and presents at top venues like CVPR, ECCV, and NeurIPS. His research bridges computer vision, machine learning, and assistive technologies, with applications in healthcare, industrial settings, and cultural heritage.
Prof. Giuseppe Vannozzi is a Full Professor at the University of Rome Foro Italico, based in the Department of Human Motor Sciences and Health. His research focuses on biomechanics, wearable sensor technology, and gait analysis in neurological and运动 disorders. He has contributed to studies on stroke recovery, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and pediatric conditions like cerebral palsy. His work integrates machine learning with clinical assessment, emphasizing wearable sensors for real-world applications. Research interests include motor control, neurorehabilitation strategies, and the application of inertial measurement units (IMUs) in movement analysis. Key areas include gait variability, postural stability, and upper limb recovery. Recent studies explore the use of auditory cues in Parkinson’s gait improvement and sensor-based interventions for stroke survivors. His publications span over a decade, with recent focus on advanced metrics for gait quality, instrumented clinical tests (e.g., iTUG), and the role of biomechanical parameters in aging populations. He has pioneered sensor fusion algorithms for yoga and sports performance evaluation, and his work on Golden Ratio-based auditory cues highlights interdisciplinary创新. He contributes to academic governance as a member of the University Quality Assurance Committee and has collaborated on EU-funded projects. Teaching responsibilities include courses on research methodology, movement therapy, and motor function assessment in health sciences.
