Curriculum Vitae

Education

I graduated in Physics in 1994 from the University of Naples "Federico II", and in 1999 I obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, also from the University of Naples “Federico II”.

Position and Scientific Interests

In September 2002, I started working as a computer science researcher at the University of Naples “Federico II”.

Today, I am an Associate Professor in Computer Science at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II.

I am co-director of The Computational Vision and Neural Networks Lab (ViNe Lab, link), and I am a research associate of the ARHeMLab (Augmented Reality for Health Monitoring Laboratory) and AIPA Lab (Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence, Privacy & Applications).

My main research interests concern theoretical aspects of machine learning, artificial neural networks, deep learning, XAI and Trustworthy AI, and their applications such as biomedical signal analysis and interpretation for healthcare and BCI domains, and computational neuroscience.

In the field of machine learning, my contributions have been both theoretical and applied, for example:

  1. A new type of learnable activation function for artificial neural networks;
  2. New methods for synthesizing explanations of the behavior of machine learning systems;
  3. New solutions for sparse dictionary learning;
  4. The application of machine learning techniques to biological signals for the classification of behaviors or emotional states in both humans and animals.

My research has been published in international journals such as Neurocomputing, Neural Networks, Pattern Recognition Letters, Pattern Recognition, Knowledge-Based Systems, Scientific Reports, Biological Cybernetics, Experimental Brain Research, and Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

Projects and Responsibilities

I have been the unit leader for the neuroscience project "Actions representations and their impairment" funded by the Compagnia San Paolo. I was the scientific leader of work packages in national research projects such as PRIN 2007 (2007MNH7K2_003) titled "The adaptive behavior of biological systems and the scientific method: the role of formal and material models, functional explanations, disciplinary approaches, and unification" and PRIN 2015 (2015TM24JS_009), titled "Perception, Performativity, and Cognitive Sciences". I have participated in various national and international research projects such as the PON SMART HEALTH project and the European ETHICBOTS project.

Teaching

I have held various teaching positions in accredited PhD programs by the Ministry, such as the module "Methods for Explainable Machine Learning" (12 hours) accredited by the ITEE Doctoral School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Naples Federico II.

For over 20 years, I have been entrusted with various teachings belonging to the bachelor's and master's degree courses in Computer Science at the University of Naples Federico II. In particular, I have been assigned courses related to Machine Learning and, specifically, artificial neural networks.