Mariacarla Staffa

is an Assistant Professor in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Robotics and Computer Science at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy. She received the M.Sc. degree in Computer Science from the University Federico II with honors, in 2008. She got a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Automation Engineering from the University Federico II in 2011. She was visiting researcher at the “Institute de Système Intelligentes et de Robotique'' of the University of Paris “Pierre et Marie Curie”. She is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and of the EUCognition - European Society for Cognitive Systems (ID: 2037). She is also part of the IEEE RAS Technical Committee for Cognitive Robotics. She serves as Expert Reviewer for European Commission Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Area: AI and Robotics). She is member of the PRISCA (Projects of intelligent robotics and advanced cognitive systems) Laboratory, making research in the fields of Cognitive Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Social and Assistive Robotics, and of the QUASAR (Quantum Computing and Smart System) Laboratory, where she collaborates with experts of machine learning, quantum computing and smart systems. Additionally, she is affiliated to the ICAROS center (Interdepartmental Center for Advances in Robotic Surgery) of the University of Naples Federico II, aiming at creating synergies between clinical and surgical practice and research on new technologies for computer/robot assisted surgery. She is mainly interested in exploring computational neuroscience and cognitive robotics to generate innovative strategies and solutions for scientific problems and technological limitations. She authored several works on Social Assistive Robots, Adaptive Human Robot Interaction, Human Behaviour and Emotion interpretation, etc.