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Academic background

I graduated (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) in Economics and Management of Networks and Innovation from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy). I then obtained a Ph.D. degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, awarded from the University of Plymouth (UK) thanks to a programme of study funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. My doctoral thesis focused on the design of autonomous controllers for fixed-wing drones engaged in security missions.

During my Ph.D. studies I was affiliated with the Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems, then directed by Prof. Angelo Cangelosi. I also had the opportunity to spend several months as visiting researcher within the Laboratory of Artificial Life and Autonomous Robotics (LARAL), at the National Research Council's Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC-CNR) - under the guidance of Prof. Domenico Parisi and Prof. Stefano Nolfi - and within the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems (LIS) - directed by Prof. Dario Floreano - at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

A list of publications can be found here.


Professional career

As a consultant I have been supporting both public and private organisations, in Italy and abroad, dealing with security issues. Areas of intervention included investigating on various kinds of cyber incidents, performing forensics analysis (also within the context of legal cases), identifying and performing comparative evaluations of security technologies, producing comprehensive threat/vulnerability/risk assessments.

Between 2012 and 2018 I have been coordinating Zanasi & Partners' research activities, being involved in several international research projects on security, intelligence and defence, funded by the European Commission and its agencies (notably including ENISA - European Union Agency for Cybersecurity and EDA - European Defence Agency) under the umbrella, amongst others, of the FP7, CIPS, Horizon 2020 and PADR programmes.

Between 2018 and 2020 I have been covering the role of corporate Cyber Security Specialist within the Coesia group, dealing with cyber security incidents handling and forensics investigations, cyber threat intelligence collection and analysis, vulnerability assessment and penetration testing on both IT and OT environments.

Since September 2020 I am with the Barilla group as IT Security Plants Manager, responsible for the cyber security posture of the group's manufacturing plants.


Research projects

● FINSEC (Integrated Framework for Predictive and Collaborative Security of Financial Infrastructure) – H2020: 2018-2021
● TRESSPASS (Robust Risk-based Screening and Alert System for Passengers) – H2020: 2018-2021
● PYTHIA (Predictive Methodology for Technology Intelligence Analysis) – EDA PADR: 2018-2019
● TRIVALENT (Terrorism Prevention via Radicalisation Counter-Narrative) – H2020: 2017-2020
● BODEGA (Proactive Enhancement of Human Performance in Border Control) – H2020: 2015-2018
● SOTERIA (Online and Mobile Communications for Emergencies) – FP7: 2014-2017
● LEILA (Law Enforcement Intelligence Learning Applications) – FP7: 2014-2016
● SECRET (Security of Railways Against Electromagnetic Attacks) – FP7: 2012-2015;
● CWIT (Countering WEEE Illegal Trade) – FP7: 2013-2015
● iSAR+ (Online and Mobile Communications for Crisis Response and Search and Rescue) - FP7: 2013-2015
● RECOBIA (Reduction of Cognitive Biases in Intelligence Analysis) – FP7: 2012-2015
● SCADALAB (SCADA Laboratory and Test Bed for Critical Infrastructure Protection) - CIPS: 2012-2014
● CLOUDCERT (Testbed Framework to Exercise Critical Infrastructure Protection) - CIPS: 2012-2013

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