As postdoctoral researcher at Rehab Technologies - INAIL-IIT joint lab, I investigate the cognitive-behavioural and physiological processes underlying human-machine interactions according to the methodologies of neuroergonomics. I aim at designing user-centered prosthetic, assistive, and rehabilitative technologies based on biomedical robotic systems and virtual/mixed reality.
I dedicate special attention to the approaches of serious games and gamification for engaging the users and improving the human-machine interaction training. Furthermore, I'm interested in teaching inclusive and health-oriented game design to make students aware of the difficulties of people with disabilities and of of the motor exercise effects on well-being while they learn how to create interactive systems.
My studies on augmented interaction (brain-controlled augmented reality feedback design for mobile control and for user training in surgical human-robot interaction) allowed me to obtain, on April 2015, a PhD in Robotics, Cognition and Interaction Technologies from IIT and University of Genova (Italy). My previous studies focused on cognitive-behavioural disciplines: I received a BSc in Cognitive Psychobiology (animal cognition) and an MSc in Experimental Psychology (psychometrics of user experience) at University of Padova (Italy), working meanwhile as consultant and teacher in cognitive ergonomics.
I currently (December 2019-present) contribute to the projects of the Rehab Technologies INAIL-IIT joint lab to design methods for assessing and enhancing the embodiment of bionic prostheses.
Meanwhile, I collaborate with the technical high school ITIS Delpozzo (Cuneo) on projects for teaching user-centered game design to make students aware of the difficulties of people with motor disabilities (Mindgames) and of the motor exercise effects on well-being (Homework in Motion) while they learn how to create interactive systems.
Previously, within the Biomedical Robotics Laboratory of the Advanced Robotics (ADVR) research line of IIT, I worked on TEEP-SLA, a 3-year (from December 2015 to November 2018, extended to May 2019) project, funded by Fondazione Roma and supported by Fondazione Sanità e Ricerca, for developing novel brain-computer interfaces and brain-robot interfaces to enable people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to interact with devices for their own goals, with particular attention to communication and telepresence. TEEP-SLA is an italian acronym for "Tecnologie Empatiche ed Espressive per Persone con SLA" (Empathic and Expressive Technologies for People with ALS), highlighting how such technologies will interpret the internal state of the users in order to facilitate their volitional acts. Within the same lab, I participated (user studies) to the EU-funded project µRALP (Micro-Technologies and Systems for Robot-Assisted Laser Phonomicrosurgery).
L’Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) è una fondazione di diritto privato - cfr. determinazione Corte dei Conti 23/2015 “IIT è una fondazione da inquadrare fra gli organismi di diritto pubblico con la scelta di un modello di organizzazione di diritto privato per rispondere all’esigenza di assicurare procedure più snelle nella selezione non solo nell’ambito nazionale dei collaboratori, scienziati e ricercatori ”.
IIT è sotto la vigilanza del Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca e del Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze ed è stato istituito con la Legge 326/2003. La Fondazione ha l'obiettivo di promuovere l'eccellenza nella ricerca di base e in quella applicata e di favorire lo sviluppo del sistema economico nazionale. La costruzione dei laboratori iniziata nel 2006 si è conclusa nel 2009.
Lo staff complessivo di IIT conta circa 1440 persone. L’area scientifica è rappresentata da circa l’85% del personale. Il 45% dei ricercatori proviene dall’estero: di questi, il 29% è costituito da stranieri provenienti da oltre 50 Paesi e il 16% da italiani rientrati. Oggi il personale scientifico è composto da circa 60 principal investigators, circa 110 ricercatori e tecnologi di staff, circa 350 post doc, circa 500 studenti di dottorato e borsisti, circa 130 tecnici. Oltre 330 posti su 1400 creati su fondi esterni. Età media 34 anni. 41% donne / 59 % uomini.
Nel 2015 IIT ha ricevuto finanziamenti pubblici per circa 96 milioni di euro (80% del budget), conseguendo fondi esterni per 22 milioni di euro (20% budget) provenienti da 18 progetti europei, 17 finanziamenti da istituzioni nazionali e internazionali, circa 60 progetti industriali
La produzione di IIT ad oggi vanta circa 6990 pubblicazioni, oltre 130 finanziamenti Europei e 11 ERC, più di 350 domande di brevetto attive, oltre 12 start up costituite e altrettante in fase di lancio. Dal 2009 l’attività scientifica è stata ulteriormente rafforzata con la creazione di dieci centri di ricerca nel territorio nazionale (a Torino, Milano, Trento, Parma, Roma, Pisa, Napoli, Lecce, Ferrara) e internazionale (MIT ed Harvard negli USA) che, unitamente al Laboratorio Centrale di Genova, sviluppano i programmi di ricerca del piano scientifico 2015-2017.
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) is a public research institute that adopts the organizational model of a private law foundation. IIT is overseen by Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca and Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze (the Italian Ministries of Education, Economy and Finance). The Institute was set up according to Italian law 326/2003 with the objective of promoting excellence in basic and applied research andfostering Italy’s economic development. Construction of the Laboratories started in 2006 and finished in 2009.
IIT has an overall staff of about 1,440 people. The scientific staff covers about 85% of the total. Out of 45% of researchers coming from abroad 29% are foreigners coming from more than 50 countries and 16% are returned Italians. The scientific staff currently consists of approximately 60 Principal Investigators, 110 researchers and technologists, 350 post-docs and 500 PhD students and grant holders and 130 technicians. External funding has allowed the creation of more than 330 positions . The average age is 34 and the gender balance proportion is 41% female against 59% male.
In 2015 IIT received 96 million euros in public funding (accounting for 80% of its budget) and obtained 22 million euros in external funding (accounting for 20% of its budget). External funding comes from 18 European Projects, other 17 national and international competitive projects and approximately 60 industrial projects.
So far IIT accounts for: about 6990 publications, more than 130 European grants and 11 ERC grants, more than 350 patents or patent applications, 12 up start-ups and as many which are about to be launched. The Institute’s scientific activity has been further strengthened since 2009 with the establishment of 11 research nodes throughout Italy (Torino, Milano, Trento, Parma, Roma, Pisa, Napoli, Lecce, Ferrara) and abroad (MIT and Harvard University, USA), which, along with the Genoa-based Central Lab, implement the research programs included in the 2015-2017 Strategic Plan.
