The RESTART Researchers

BIO

I am a researcher in multimedia signal processing, Quality of Experience (QoE), and immersive media. In the last years I focused on Virtual Reality, investing QoE constituents and enhancement, concentrating on 360-degree streaming as well as collaborative and multi-sensory scenarios.

Research Activities

I was mainly involved in the WP4 of the FUN-Media project studying Quality of Experience (QoE) for immersive media, with a focus on virtual reality. I investigated QoE constituents and enhancement, concentrating on 360-degree streaming as well as collaborative and multi-sensory scenarios.

Research Fields

Immersive media, Virtual Reality, Quality of Experience, Multimedia Processing

Contacts

sara.baldoni at unipd.it

BIO

Francesca Meneghello is a researcher in telecommunications. She received her Ph.D. degree in Information Engineering in 2022 from the University of Padova, Italy, and has been since a Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Fellow at the Department of Information Engineering at the same university. In 2023, she visited the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things (WIoT) at Northeastern University (USA) on a Fulbright-Schuman fellowship as a Visiting Scholar. Her research focuses on wireless communications and machine learning, contributing to the definition and development of next-generation data-driven wireless technologies. She extensively worked on wireless sensing in Wi-Fi networks and is now exploring its use in devising networks that adapt to the context, thus improving both their energy efficiency and overall communication performance. Her latest research interests include the improvement of scalability and security of MIMO in Wi-Fi networks.

Research Activities

I worked on integrated communication and sensing technologies for next-generation wireless networks focusing on the sub-6 GHz bands.

Research Fields

Wi-Fi sensing, MIMO networks, ML for wireless

Contacts

francesca.meneghello.1 at unipd.it

BIO

I received the B.Sc. degree, the M.Sc. degree, and the Ph.D. degree in information engineering from the University of Padova, Italy, in 2016, 2019, and 2023, respectively. In 2022, I have been a Visiting Scientist with the ESA European Space Research and Technology Centre. I am currently an Assistant Professor with the University of Padova. My current research interests include radionavigation, security for GNSS, physical layer security, and underwater acoustic communications.

Research Activities

My research activity focused on physical layer security, applied in various content, in particular underwater acoustic comunications. Additionally I am involved in the managment of both SEXTET and the Grand Challenge 1

Research Fields

Physical Layer Security, Radio Navigation, GNSS, Underwater Acoustic Communications

Contacts

francesco.ardizzon at unipd.it

BIO

Fabio Busacca is an Assistant Professor at the University of Catania, Italy. His research focuses on the design of AI techniques for emerging and constrained communication networks, such as LoRa IoT, Vehicular, and Underwater Acoustic networks.

Research Activities

Within the SUPER project, I worked on the design of FedLoRa, an energy-efficient Spectrum Sensing framework supported by LoRa IoT sensors, and on MANTRA, a lightweight framework for low-carbon, latency-aware job offloading in vehicular networks.

Research Fields

Artificial Intelligence, Underwater Acoustic Communications, LPWAN networks, Software Defined Radios, Job Offloading

Contacts

fabio.busacca at unict.it

BIO

I’m a PhD Student in Photonic Technologies, involved in activities regarding microwave photonics field, integrated photonics for communication systems, implementation of simulation tools and the experimental validation of such devices

Research Activities

I’m involved in activities concerning microwave photonics such as radio over fibers systems, frequency up and down converter, and photonic integrated circuit

Research Fields

Microwave Photonics, Photonic Integration

Contacts

valentina.gemmato at santannapisa.it

BIO

Transportation engineer and researcher, I enjoy learning new things in the field of transportation and traffic engineering, a field I am passionate about. My research focuses on understanding cyclists’ behavior to improve cyclist safety. I am passionate about traffic safety.

Research Activities

Conducting experiments using eye-tracking equipment along with other sensors to analyze the cyclists’ behavior in real traffic environments to improve cyclists’ safety and understand their interactions with other road users. The next project will be using bicycle simulators.

Research Fields

Transportation Engineering, Cyclist Safety

Contacts

fatima.kchour at phd.unict.it

BIO

I am a PhD Candidate in International Law at the University of Naples Federico II, with a strong focus on space law, international dispute resolution, and commercial arbitration. My research explores the regulatory and legal challenges posed by satellite mega-constellations, particularly in relation to state responsibility, private investment law, and arbitration in the governance of outer space.

Throughout my academic journey, I have deepened my expertise in both public and private international law, attending the Summer Courses at The Hague Academy of International Law and specialized training in international arbitration. I have contributed to legal scholarship through publications and conference presentations on arbitration, jurisdiction, and cross-border disputes.

In the coming months, I will conduct a research period at the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University, further expanding my work on the legal implications of private space activities.

Alongside my academic work, I have gained practical experience as a lawyer, focusing on maritime and navigation law. This background has allowed me to navigate between legal theory and corporate practice, strengthening my ability to address regulatory and dispute resolution challenges in complex international contexts. I am particularly interested in the intersection of law and business, especially in emerging fields such as space commerce and telecommunications law.

I am actively involved in international law associations and have participated in moot court competitions and negotiation tournaments. These experiences have strengthened my ability to engage with the complex legal and commercial challenges of the evolving space industry while maintaining a solid foundation in dispute resolution mechanisms.

Research Activities

I am conducting a Ph.D. candidate in International Law. My research focuses on the increasing involvement of private actors in the commercial exploitation of outer space. This shift, from State-centric endeavours to a more dynamic and competitive ecosystem driven by private enterprise, is exemplified by the proliferation of satellite mega-constellations, such as Starlink and OneWeb. While these constellations promise unprecedented benefits including global connectivity, operational redundancy, and cost efficiency, their rapid growth raises complex legal and regulatory challenges. In this context, a coherent and comprehensive legal framework is essential to ensure the orderly and sustainable operation of private space activities. Specifically, the expansion of these activities exacerbates concerns regarding – inter alia – orbital congestion, space debris generation, and interference with astronomical research.
Against this backdrop, my dissertation critically analyses the legal framework applicable to the new activities of private actors in outer space, focusing on disputes arising at the intersection of commercial, State, and international interests. Divided into four chapters, the study explores the multifaceted legal dimensions of space activities, identifies gaps in existing legal instruments and proposes potential solutions.

Research Fields

International Law, Space Law, International Commercial Arbitration, Private International Law, Telecommunications Law

Contacts

mario.nocerino@unina.it

BIO

Chiara Suraci is an Assistant Professor at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria. Her research topics include Digital Twin, 5G/6G networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) communications, network security, virtualization technologies, and eHealth services.

Research Activities

Within the COHERENT project, I am involved in research activities related to the project’s topics, I carry out training activities toward RESTART PhD students and master’s degree students interested in conducting theses on related topics, and I attend technical meetings.

Research Fields

Cellular networks, network security, digital twin, D2D

Contacts

chiara.suraci at unirc.it

BIO

Abdollah Ajorloo was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1989. He received the B.Sc. degree from Shahed University, Tehran, Iran, in 2011, and the M.Sc. and the Ph.D. degrees from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2013 and 2019, respectively, all in electrical engineering. He was a postdoctoral researcher at Sharif University of Technology from 2020 to 2023. He joined the RRSN Group at the DIET department of Sapienza University of Rome in 2023 where he has been working as a research fellow.

Research Activities

Research on:
– Multi-channel forward scatter radar (FSR)
– MIMO FSR system
– Localization in RIS-aided ISAC system
– Joint antenna placement and power allocation in MIMO systems.
These efforts contribute to the advancement of low-cost, high-performance radar systems for target detection, localization, and tracking, particularly in passive and ISAC scenarios.

Research Fields

Statistical signal processing, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), MIMO radar, Forward scatter radar

Contacts

abdollah.ajorloo at uniroma1.it

BIO

I am a researcher at the University of Bologna. In 2019 I worked in the Fiat Research Center on activities related to 5G for vehicular applications. In November 2019 I joined the DEI department of UNIBO, where I have been involved in different national and international research projects on satellite communication systems

Research Activities

My research focuses on wireless communication systems, with a particular emphasis on non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) and their integration with terrestrial systems. This includes the design and evaluation of physical layer algorithms, such as those enabling initial access.

Research Fields

NTN, waveforms, uplink synchronization

Contacts

carla.amatetti2 at unibo.it

BIO

I am a PhD student working on automotive middlewares. My research insterests include real-time systems and networks, with a particular focus on in-vehicle communication networks and low-power wireless networks in Industrial Internet of Things scenarios.

Research Activities

Research on publish-subscribe communication protocols for real-time in-vehicle communications. Feasibility study of the full PrioMQTT protocol stack, including the broker, on an STM32F7 embedded system and integration with the TSN standards.

Research Fields

Real-time, In-Vehicle networks, IIoT, Automotive Middlewares

Contacts

alessio.pirri at phd.unict.it

BIO

Dr. Zumbo holds a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering and earned her PhD in April 2023. Currently a Research Fellow (RTDA), she focuses on inverse problems with machine learning and electromagnetic field shaping in complex scenarios.

Research Activities

Dr. Zumbo is advancing research on network digital twin building blocks, focusing on reconfigurable radio elements, the use of Multiphysics software for modeling, and electromagnetic field shaping in complex scenarios for Digital Twin applications.

Research Fields

Field shaping, Inverse problem, Machine Learning, Digital Twin

Contacts

sabrina.zumbo at unirc.it

BIO

Dr. Giada Maria Battaglia is a Temporary Assistant Professor (RTD-A) in Electromagnetic Fields at Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Italy. Her research focuses on antenna synthesis, electromagnetic field shaping, phase retrieval techniques, and the inverse design of electromagnetic devices using metamaterials and metasurfaces.
She earned her Ph.D. in Information Engineering (Electromagnetic Curriculum) in 2020 with a dissertation on phaseless inverse source problems in electromagnetics. She also holds an MSc and BSc in Electronic and Information Engineering (both cum laude) from the same university. From 2021 to 2023, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher on optimal antenna synthesis and has been actively involved in teaching since 2017. She currently teaches the Antennas and Microwaves Laboratory course.
Dr. Battaglia collaborates with national and international institutions, including IREA-CNR, Erasmus University Medical Center, and TICRA. She has contributed to European research projects such as RESTART, Tech4You, and Cyber-Physical Electromagnetic Vision.
She has received several awards, including the Latmiral Award (2022) and Best Paper Award for Ph.D. Candidates (2019), and has presented at IEEE APS/URSI, EuCAP, and AMTA. Her work is published in top-tier journals like IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.
A dedicated peer reviewer, she contributes to IEEE and MDPI journals and is a member of IEEE, SIEM, and CNIT. She also engages in outreach initiatives such as Pint of Science and the European Researchers’ Night.

Research Activities

Activities focus on the exploitation of the Degrees of Freedom theory in scattered electromagnetic fields to identify and formalize the ultimate physical limitations dictated by the electrical size of the system. This theoretical framework is fundamental for assessing the maximum achievable performance in field manipulation and wave control. A key aspect of the work involves the application of recently developed and effective methodologies for solving the phase retrieval problem. These techniques are employed to derive both amplitude and phase constraints on the aperture field, starting from phaseless data of the total radiated field. This approach is particularly relevant in scenarios where direct phase measurements are not feasible or practical.
Moreover, the implementation of synthesis procedures for electromagnetic metasurfaces through the use of inverse scattering techniques is also planned. In particular, the scattering properties of individual inclusions are described by Scattering Matrices, which are then used to reconstruct and optimize the overall response of the metasurface. The evaluation and integration of Machine Learning tools will be explored to enhance the efficiency, adaptability, and robustness of the synthesis and design process.
Finally, activities aim to generalize the Scattering Matrix Method, traditionally employed for the mesoscopic modeling of graded artificial materials, to the context of 2-D flat optics. This extension will allow a more accurate and scalable design of advanced photonic devices operating in planar geometries.

Research Fields

Phase retrieval, antenna synthesis, field synthesis for therapeutic applications, Metamaterials, Metasurface

Contacts

giada.battaglia at unirc.it

BIO

Bachelor and Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering @ University of Pisa.
I’m currently learning how to be a researcher with the PhD Programme in Emerging Digital Technologies of Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies – Pisa

Research Activities

My research is mainly focused on machine learning applications for signal processing in fiber-optic communication systems. Specifically, I am investigating nonlinear equalization through digital backpropagation and AI-based optimization of short reach optical interconnects

Research Fields

Signal processing, fiber-optic communications, nonlinear effects, machine learning

Contacts

Dario.Cellini at santannapisa.it

BIO

I am a researcher with experence in Radar Signal Processing algorithm development, with a particular focus in Photonics-based Cohernet MIMO Radar Networks. I am passionate about translating signal processing algorithms towards to practical radar system surveillance scenarios

Research Activities

Activities carried out in WP 4.1 and WP4.2 of PESCO project for radar signal processing of distributed MIMO radars involve: RCS modelling of extended targets, KPIs Identification, and development of adaptive beamforming algorithms for MIMO radar systems.

Research Fields

Radar Signal Processing, MIMO Radars, Digital Signal Processing

Contacts

malikmuhammadharis.amir at santannapisa.it

BIO

Mirco Pezzoli earned his M.S. in Computer Engineering (cum laude) from Politecnico di Milano in 2017 and Ph.D. in 2021. In 2023, he became a junior assistant professor at PoliMi, working on FUNMedia within RESTART, focusing on immersive audio processing via machine learning and AI.

Research Activities

I contributed to S7-FunMedia project, focusing on spatial audio for immersive metaverse applications, especially Networked Music Performance. I developed AI algorithms using PINN for accurate acoustic field reconstruction and low-latency NMP

Research Fields

Artificial Intelligence, Signal Processing, Spatial Audio, Physics-informed machine learning, immersive media

Contacts

mirco.pezzoli at polimi.it

BIO

I am a skilled and experienced researcher with a strong background in wireless communications, information theory and coding, theory of modu‑
lation, multi‑antenna communications and physical layer security. My research interests primarily concern the analytical modelling of real‑world
communication problems. I also have managerial and administrative skills with the ability to work effectively with cross‑functional teams and
stakeholders at all levels. I am a good listener and a strong orator making me suitable for both a member and a leader of a team.

Research Activities

The evolution of wireless communication toward 6G necessitates the exploration of Sub-Terahertz (Sub-THz) frequency bands to accommodate extreme data rate requirements and ultra-low latency applications. However, Sub-THz frequencies introduce significant hardware impairments, among which phase noise (PN) is a critical limitation. Our recent study focuses on quantifying phase noise, developing a PN model based on 3GPP standards, analyzing its impact on modulation schemes, and proposing mitigation strategies to enhance system resilience.
Extensive measurements of the received signal have been collected for a transmitted sinusoid, providing a robust dataset for PN analysis. The received signal samples will be subjected to signal processing for the modeling of PN. High-precision PN Tx/Rx equipment, including adaptive waveform generator, digital phosphor oscilloscope, and the Mini SAX, mm-wave Signal Analyzer operating in the frequency range of 110-170 GHz are employed to extract empirical data. Multiple frequency offsets have been considered to generate a comprehensive PN profile, encompassing both close-in and broadband noise characteristics.

Research Fields

Physical Layer Security, Optimization, Signal Processing, Waveform Design

Contacts

muhammad.adil at uniroma2.it

Research Activities

I am passionate about machine learning, deep learning, and their integration into both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. Currently, I am working on semantic communication, which utilizes artificial intelligence to understand the meaning of transmitted information and to transmit it effectively.

Research Fields

Integration of terrestrial and non terrestrial networks, semantic communication, deep learning

Contacts

m.narimanikenari@phd.poliba.it

BIO

Software developer specialised in 3D, immersive technologies and virtual environments. He has worked on the design and development of national and international projects for the development of immersive systems.

Research Activities

State-of-the-art analysis of telepresence systems with emphasis in the medical field and start of innovative system design.

Research Fields

Virtual environment, extended realities, virtual realities

Contacts

giovanni.giuliodori at santannapisa.it

BIO

I am a PhD student. My research focuses on microservice-based applications within the Edge-Cloud Continuum. I am particularly interested in applying AI-driven techniques for autonomous decision-making and resource management in distributed systems.

Research Activities

I am developing a MAPE-K-based controller for microservices in the Edge-Cloud Continuum, enhancing QoS and cost efficiency. I am also exploring Kubernetes on drones in FANETs and working on integrating FANET orchestration with the SuperOrchestrator.

Research Fields

Distributed System, Microservices Applications, AI-driven Resource Management, Edge-Cloud Continuum

Contacts

alessandro.genovese at phd.unict.it

BIO

I am a PhD student at Politecnico di Milano. My research activities focus on channel estimation within the Digital Twin framework and on cell-free networks, with a particular emphasis on hardware impairments.

Research Activities

My activities mainly focus on Digital Twin-empowered channel estimation, with emphais on bayesian approaches, and synchronization in cell-free mMIMO networks.

Research Fields

Channel Estimation, Digital Twin, Cell-Free Networks

Contacts

lorenzo.delmoro at polimi.it

BIO

Tiziana Cattai is a researcher at DIET, Sapienza University of Rome. She holds a PhD in ICT from Sorbonne Université and Sapienza. Her work focuses on graph signal processing, topological signal processing and machine learning for distributed sensor networks .

Research Activities

I work on optimizing water resource management using graph theory, graph machine learning and topological signal processing, focusing on sensor placement, energy-efficient LoRaWAN deployment, topology-based flow/pressure estimation, and leakage detection.

Research Fields

Signal processing, sensor networks, topological signal processing, graph machine learning

Contacts

tiziana.cattai at uniroma1.it

Research Activities

My research focuses on physical layer security and network trustworthiness. It involves designing novel high-level security mechanisms at the physical layer of optical networks, emphasizing the development of innovative techniques to enhance the overall trustworthiness of optical networks.

Research Fields

High-Capacity and Secure Coherent Optical Communication Systems, Coherent Communication, Physical layer security, Fiber Optic Networks

Contacts

pantea.nadimigoki at santannapisa.it

BIO

Debora Russo is a PhD student in computer engineering at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II. Before starting her PhD in November 2023, Debora held a position as a Research Fellow from April to September 2023 at the Court of Appeal of Naples. During this six-month period, she contributed to the project “Modelli organizzativi e innovazione digitale. Il nuovo Ufficio per il Processo per l’efficienza del sistema-giustizia”. Her focus involved exploring digital innovation frameworks and process efficiencies in the justice system. She also collaborated with Hitachi Rail during a 7-month internship, where she applied simulation-based methods to analyze and optimize different mobility scenarios through predictive “what-if” analyses.

Her current research focuses on synthetic data generation for smart city applications, multimedia data retrieval, and simulation modeling. She specializes in smart sensors, AI-driven spatial computing, and IoT-based sensing to advance next-generation solutions for connectivity in complex urban scenarios.

Research Activities

My activities for RESTART regard the development of a flexible pipeline for synthetic dataset generation designed to advance smart city applications, particularly “smart propagation environments.” My main goal is to build virtual urban environments that go beyond simple visual realism by including material properties necessary for accurate electromagnetic simulation. Each scene incorporates multiple surfaces—from building façades to public infrastructure—annotated with parameters such as permittivity or reflectance. By doing so, the resulting datasets can serve as realistic testbeds for tasks like path loss estimation, sensor deployment studies, and coverage optimization.

I began by defining a modular framework capable of capturing a range of data modalities—RGB images, depth maps, segmentation masks, and metadata—from virtual viewpoints. This approach ensures that the pipeline can produce thousands of frames consistently labeled with a uniform naming scheme and aligned metadata. Additionally, I placed special emphasis on standardizing material classes to enable seamless integration with common electromagnetic simulation tools for the validation and extension of the synthetic scenes.
By bridging these elements, the pipeline aims to support large-scale and data-driven experimentation in urban connectivity, wave propagation studies, and broader smart city research.

Research Fields

Smart Cities, 3D Modeling, Synthetic Data, AI-driven Simulation

Contacts

debora.russo at unina.it

BIO

Telecommunications Engineer specialized in optical and RF communications systems. Currently, I’m a PhD candidate at the Photonic Devices Group of Politecnico di Milano. My research is focused on photonic integrated circuits for FSO applications, optical communication systems, and surface plasmons for optical power monitoring. I have experience with circuit design, mask layout, experimental measurements, and characterization of integrated optical devices.

Research Activities

Design, simulation, and characterization of photonic integrated circuits for telecommunication applications.

Research Fields

Photonic integrated circuits, free-space optical communications

Contacts

andresivan.martinez at polimi.it

Research Activities

Development of AMFuzz tool, that is designed for negative testing of 5G Core Network components. AMFuzz targets the NAS protocol and enables black-box fuzzing of the AMF network function—responsible for initial access and mobility management. By identifying vulnerabilities beyond predefined threat models, AMFuzz enhances resilience against unexpected control-plane behaviors. Recently, AMFuzz has been partially integrated within the ScasDK suite, another RESTART project, to enable coordinated security assurance workflows, combining both compliance and robustness testing.

Contacts

sara.da.canal at uniroma2.it

BIO

Maria Chiara Girardi is a tenure-track researcher in Constitutional and Public Law, with habilitation for the position of Associate Professor in the same field. She has conducted research and academic studies abroad at prestigious institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg, Pantheon Assas University in Paris, and the University of Montréal.
Her monograph, La proprietà pubblica. Percorsi costituzionali nell’evoluzione della forma di stato (Editoriale Scientifica, 2024), was awarded the Sergio Panunzio Prize by the Italian Association of Constitutionalists (AIC) as the best first work by emerging constitutional scholars. She has authored numerous articles published in high-ranking academic journals and is a member of several national and international research groups.

Research Activities

The research activity carried out within the framework of the PNRR project RESTART focused on the risks arising from the use of digital platforms and artificial intelligence to citizens’ rights, as well as the excessive concentration of power in the hands of the entities managing these platforms.

Research Fields

Telecommunications, artificial intelligence, fundamental rights, public property, state forms

Contacts

mariachiara.girardi at unina.it

BIO

Anna Valeria Guglielmi (Member, IEEE) received the B.Sc. degree, the M.Sc. degree, and the Ph.D. degree in information engineering from the University of Padova, Italy, in 2012, 2014, and 2018, respectively. In 2017, she has been a Visiting Scientist with the BIOTEC Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Germany, and the University of California, Irvine.
She is currently an Assistant Professor with the University of Padova. Her current research interests include machine-learning architectures and signal processing for wireless communication systems, and physical layer security.

Research Activities

My research focuses on smart radio environments (SREs), where the wireless environment itself becomes an intelligent, reconfigurable space that actively participates in information transfer and processing. SREs are tailored into real world by deploying programmable frequency-selective surfaces and smart reflectarrays or mirrors in the environment,
embedding arrays of low-cost antennas into the walls of buildings, and coating the environmental objects with reconfigurable meta-surfaces. In this context, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have emerged as a cost-effective solution for beyond-5G wireless systems, offering the ability to dynamically reflect signals to mitigate free-space path loss and atmospheric absorption at millimeter-wave frequencies. However, RISs introduce a
challenge: their optimal configuration relies on accurate channel state information, requiring efficient channel estimation. My research investigates joint optimization strategies that simultaneously configure RISs and estimate channels, reducing the overhead in communication. Beyond enhancing wireless performance, my goal is to harness the controllability of RISs to improve security, with a particular focus on the authentication problem and the challenge-response physical layer security mechanism.

Research Fields

5G systems, signal processing, machine learning, physical layer security

Contacts

annavaleria.guglielmi at unipd.it

BIO

I’m Zahra Mazaheri, a physicist specializing in terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and metasurfaces. My work has focused on developing THz Time-Domain Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (THz-TDSE) to study doped semiconductors, metasurfaces, binary mixtures, and based novel materials and explore THz applications in biosensing and material characterization. I’ve presented at international conferences, mentored students, and hosted scientific workshops. I am currently working as a researcher at the University of Naples Federico II.

Research Activities

My role in the project is to design and build a new device capable of characterizing metasurfaces in the THz band. The setup is based on ellipsometry, which measures the change in the polarization state of light after interacting with the material. By combining ellipsometry with Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy, we can sense the change in amplitude, phase, and polarization response of the THz beam after reflecting from the metasurfaces under test at different reflected angles.

Research Fields

THz Spectroscopy, THz Ellipsometry, THz imaging

Contacts

zahra.mazaheri at unina.it

BIO

Name: MUHAMMAD FAROOQ.
Title: PhD student at C3 Lab
Department: Electrical and Information Engineering (DEI)
Affiliation: Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy.
Supervisors:
1. Prof. Saverio Mascolo (saverio.mascolo@poliba.it)
2. Prof. Luca De Cicco (luca.decicco@poliba.it)
PhD research topic: Adaptive 360-degree video streaming using AI algorithms
Project: RESTART (Fun Media project)

Research Activities

I studied adaptive 360-degree video streaming using AI algorithms. I used public dataset available at https://github.com/360VidStr/A-large-dataset-of-360-video-user-behaviour/blob/main/README.md. After preprocessing of this dataset, I used different ML models such as MLP, LSTM, RNN, CNN, GRU and Linear Regression. MLP performs best in all these models and achieved viewport prediction accuracy of 99.35%. Now I am working to compare my research results with state of the art approaches.
I attended ACM MMSys conference held at Polytechnic University of Bari from April 14-17, 2024. I have done registration of summer school on ”Model Predictive Control” at ETH Zurich from April 07-11 and also have plan to join summer school in Milan on Deep Learning in September this year.
My first article draft and ready and after review from my supervisor, I’ll submit it into upcoming multimedia conference. I am also working on research abroad period in UK for 6 months.

Research Fields

Artificial Intelligence, Control Systems, Viewport Prediction, Machine Learning, Adaptive Streaming

Contacts

m.farooq1@phd.poliba.it

janjuafarooq5@gmail.com

Research Activities

Artificial Intelligence application on SAR images

Contacts

cristian.tommasino at unina.it

BIO

Enrico Testi received the M.S. degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering for energy (magna cum laude) and the Ph.D. degree in Electronics, Telecommunications, and Information Technologies engineering from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 2018 and 2022, respectively. He is currently junior assistant professor at the Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi” of the University of Bologna. His research interests include artificial intelligence techniques for next-generation wireless networks, massive MIMO, and satellite IoT.

Research Activities

IN: Developed AI-driven methods for grant-free/grant-based massive access in industrial settings, focusing on cell-free massive MIMO networks.
INCHNET: Designed AI-aided techniques for asynchronous access in mMTC and low-complexity decoders for URLLC.

Research Fields

Artificial Intelligence, Cell-free Massive MIMO, Coded Random Access, Spectrum Sensing

Contacts

enrico.testi at unibo.it

BIO

Elia Favarelli received the M.S. degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering for Energy (summa cum laude) and the Ph.D. degree in Structural and Environmental Health Monitoring and Management from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 2018 and 2021, respectively. He is currently a Junior Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi” (DEI) of the University of Bologna. His research interests include machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), tracking, and joint sensing and communication (JSC). His current research focuses on JSC, resource allocation, and AI-aided tracking algorithms.

Research Activities

IN: Analysis of AI and Deep Learning techniques for massive multiple access and multiple access strategies.
ISaCAGE: Investigation of sensor fusion and near-field sensing for OFDM-based ISAC systems.

Research Fields

Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Telecommunication, Tracking, 

Contacts

elia.favarelli at unibo.it

BIO

I am researcher with experience in the design and optimization of On-chip photonic system to enhance the performance of Optical Phase Arrays (OPA). I am always passionate and curious about practical conversion of theoretical ideas to industial applications.

Research Activities

The work focuses on designing a reconfigurable On-chip photonic system to enhance the performance of Optical Phase Arrays (OPA).
Firstly, developing a beam steering system incorporating phase change material (PCM) with Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology by addressing limitations large size, narrow configurability and higher power consumption of prior models. Precise phase control is obtained by utilising the phase transition property of PCM. The work integrates optically active devices like modulators, detectors etc with photonic components like Bragg Grating (BG) and Phase shifted Bragg grating resonators (PSBGR) into a single chip.
Secondly, work focuses on developing a beam steering system using lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) OPA. Work investigates cascaded domain engineering and electro-optic modulation to supply precise phase control in beam steering.
Other than phased array antennas, research also explores luminescent solar concentrators as an extension with the aim of implementing photonics-based energy harvesting in future optical systems. Early simulations have managed to model brightness enhancement behaviour for 3 dimensional luminous concentrator and confirm their suitability for light recycling and thereby brightness enhancement without severe power loss.

Research Fields

Optical Phased Arrays (OPA), Silicon Photonics, Integrated Photonic Circuits, Telecommunications, On-Chip Photonic Systems

Contacts

r.kutteeri at phd.poliba.it

Research Activities

Engineering metasurfaces with anomalous reflection and/or other prescribed scattered fields, and developing the corresponding inverse design technique based on the Combined Image Theory Scattering Matrix Method.

Research Fields

Antennas and Propagation, Electromagnetic Wave Scattering, Metasurfaces and Metagratings, Anomalous Reflection, Inverse Design

Contacts

renat.abdullin at unirc.it

BIO

I am Assistant Professor at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna.I have collaborated on international projects in the field of wireless networks, railway traffic management systems and telemedicine. I have several years of experience in industrial collaborations in the fields of wireless network design and performance evaluation.

Research Fields

Wireless networks, Telemedicine, Railways Traffic Management Systems, Smart Agriculture

Contacts

annalina.ruscelli at santannapisa.it

BIO

PhD in Urban Risk Assessment and Reduction for Smart City and Smart Roads (Digital Twins & AI) (My research includes: Smart cities and alternative architectural practices, including processes of human interaction with the surrounding environment. The connection of urban space between generations. Creating smart cities. The sustainability movement is based on the goals of neurology, the environment, and humans.)

Research Activities

Using QGIS software and GNSS data, movement patterns and routes related to road optimization for cyclists have been identified.

Research Fields

Road safty, QGIS, GIS, Digital twins, AI

Contacts

zahra.yaghoobloo64 at gmail.com

BIO

Luciano Miuccio received the Ph.D. degree in systems, energy, computer and telecommunications engineering in 2022. He is currently a junior assistant professor at the DIEEI of the University of Catania.

Research Activities

Development of QoS-Aware MAC protocols for Industrial IoT networks using multi-agent reinforcement learning. Design of centralized and/or distributed RL-based scheduling to optimize resource efficiency and reduce delay in IIoT traffic.

Research Fields

Artificial Intelligence, NOMA, RRM, MAC, IIoT

Contacts

luciano.miuccio at unict.it

BIO

I am a physicist specializing in graphene-based optical devices. I have extensive experience in designing, fabricating, and characterizing optoelectronic devices using CMOS processes and numerical software. Currently, I am a researcher at the University of Naples Federico II.

Research Activities

Within RESTART, I work on the design of a graphene-based optical switch for Telecommunications, optimizing fabrication processes, characterizing materials, and performing electrical and optoelectronic measurements to evaluate its optical performance.

Research Fields

Photonics Graphene Optoelectronics Nanofabrication Telecommunications

Contacts

teresa.crisci at na.isasi.cnr.it

BIO

Federica Rinaldi is an Assistant Professor at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Italy, where she received the PhD degree in Information Engineering in 2021. In 2019, she spent six months at Ericsson R&D Finland, where she worked on satellite and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) in 5G and beyond technology. In 2022, she received the “2022 Scott Helt Award” for the best paper published in the IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting.

Research Activities

Within the RESTART project, Dr Rinaldi investigated new solutions to improve the feeder link switch-over procedure in LEO satellite-based NTNs by exploiting inter-satellite links and Reinforcement Learning techniques to increase throughput, reduce latency, and avoid packet loss.

Research Fields

Non-Terrestrial Networks, Feeder Link Switch-Over, Radio Resource Management, Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service,.

Contacts

federica.rinaldi at unirc.it

BIO

Studies on the orchestration of network services over heterogeneous virtualized network infrastructures.

Research Activities

I am a researcher focusing on multiple aspects of softwarization in communication infrastructures, including service orchestration over the Cloud continuum, with a focus on the far and near Edge segment.

Research Fields

Service Orchestration, Edge Computing

Contacts

gianluca.davoli at unibo.it

BIO

Olga Chukhno was born in Moscow, Russia, on August 29, 1995. She obtained a B.Sc. degree (2017) in Business Informatics and an M.Sc. degree (2019) in Fundamental Informatics and Information Technologies from RUDN University (Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia), Russia. Subsequently, she completed her double Ph.D. degree (2023) in Information Engineering with the A-WEAR project (A network for dynamic wearable applications with privacy constraints, http://www.a-wear.eu/) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Network (ITN)/European Joint Doctorate (EJD) program, with joint affiliations at the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy, and Tampere University, Finland. During her doctoral program, she also undertook industrial secondment at S2Gruppo, Spain. She then served as a postdoctoral researcher at the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy (2022-2023) and currently holds the position of Assistant Professor at the same university.
Her current research interests include mathematical modeling and its applications, focusing on wireless communications and edge computing.

Research Activities

Olga Chukhno investigates various strategies for deploying a DNN pipeline, encompassing pruning, fine-tuning, and inference across mobile devices and edge servers. More specifically, her research involves determining whether and to what extent DNN pruning and fine-tuning should be applied to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of inference tasks, and analyzing the trade-offs involved in distributing DNN inference tasks between resource-constrained mobile devices and more powerful edge servers, considering latency, accuracy, energy consumption, network load, and privacy preservation. In addition, Olga explores the complex interplay between task offloading decisions, network conditions, and wearable temperature in the context of XR. She analyzes the impact of local computation and offloading on the status of the wearables, and compares different processing strategies.

Research Fields

Wireless communications, Edge computing, ML pipeline, mathematical modelling

Contacts

olga.chukhno at unirc.it

BIO

Federico Mason is research fellow at University of Padova. He received the Ph.D. degree in information engineering from the same institute in 2023. In 2022, he was a visiting researcher at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, San Diego, USA. In 2023, he worked as a post-doc researcher at the Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy. His research interests include the development of distributed learning algorithms to optimize complex systems, with a special focus on healthcare applications.

Research Activities

I am Work Package (WP) leader of WP7 of the SEXTET project, which is mainly focused on the design on energy efficient communication systems. Hence, I am supervising the research activities carried out by all the SEXTET partners in this field. Besides, I am one of the coordinator of Grand Challenge 1, which is leaded by University of Padova and aims at designing an emergency framework exploiting drones and satellite communication.

Research Fields

Distributed Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Digital Medicine, Signal Processing

Contacts

federico.mason at unipd.it

BIO

Francesca Benassi received PhD Degree in Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies Engineering from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, in 2022. She is currently working as junior assistant professor at the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering (DEI) “Guglielmo Marconi” within the RESTART project. Her main research interests involve the design of wearable rectennas for Wireless Power Transfer applications both at microwave and at millimeter waves and RIS design.

Research Activities

Design of a reconfigurable metasurface with energy harvesting purposes. Design of a beamforming emulation.

Research Fields

Wireless Power Transfer, Metasurfaces, Electromagnetic Fields

Contactsa

francesca.benassi9 at unibo.it

BIO

I am a researcher (RTDA) at the University of Naples Federico II since April 2024. I earned my Ph.D. in Electrical and Information Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy) in 2022, where I focused on the design and characterization of resonant devices for microwave and optical applications. Subsequently, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Lecce, specializing in numerical modeling, fabrication, and characterization of nanophotonic and plasmonic devices for biomedical applications. My research interests include the numerical design and fabrication of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) at sub-THz frequencies for 5G and 6G telecommunication networks. Additionally, I have extensive experience in nanophotonic devices for biomedical applications, particularly in designing, fabricating, and characterizing optical-based plasmonic nanostructures for thermo-plasmonic applications.

Research Activities

As a RESTART researcher my job is to establish a laboratory called FABRIS that will be dedicated to the fabrication of components of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces operating from the microwave to the THz region. The lab facility will be based on deposition and lithographic systems for the fabrication of large area multilayered structures based on metals and on dielectrics (oxides and other unconventional materials, like phase transition glasses). Currently, I am working on design of liquid crystal based metasurface working at 300 GHz for beam steering applications and a vanadium-dioxide based metasurface for dynamic polarization conversion at sub-THz wavelengths. The fabrication and prototyping of these designs will be carried out in FABRIS lab at UNINA.

Research Fields

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), Nanophotonics, Plasmonics, Thermo-plasmonic, Numerical simulations

Contacts

muhammadfayyaz.kashif at unina.it

BIO

Dr. Swati Sharma is a distinguished professional known for her contributions in the fields of academia and research. With a strong academic background in electronics and communication engineering and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Dr. Sharma has built a reputation as an expert in her field. She holds advanced degrees in her area of specialization, in RF and microwave circuits, and has worked extensively to advance knowledge through research, teaching, and practical applications. Furthermore, her work combines theoretical rigor with practical implementation, contributing to innovations that enhance the performance and efficiency of modern electronic systems.

Her career is marked by numerous accolades, peer-reviewed publications, and active participation in conferences and seminars worldwide. Dr. Sharma is also recognized for her mentorship, guiding young professionals and students to achieve their potential. In addition to her academic and professional endeavors, she is passionate about community service and often engages in initiatives that aim to improve societal well-being.

Research Activities

Designed, measured, and reverse engineered a two-stage low-noise amplifier using 0.12um GaN HEMT technology for X-band space applications. This work has been motivated by the WIN Semiconductor Foundry in the race of GaN circuits and systems towards high frequencies, and specifically the X-band. LNA survivability is also examined in terms of temperature stress and non-linearity. The measured MMIC low-noise amplifier shows the gain greater than 20 dB, Input Return Loss (IRL) / Output Return Loss (ORL) greater than -11 dB and noise figure of 1.5 dB in the frequency band from 9 to 11 GHz.
One more design of a Ka-band monolithic low-noise amplifier (LNA) with high gain, low noise figure (NF), good input (output) return loss with high linearity has been designed for the operating frequency range of 28-32 GHz using a 0.15 um enhancement mode (E-mode) gallium arsenide (GaAs) pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (p-HEMT) process. The LNA employs a source degeneration technique to achieve a minimum noise figure of 2 dB. PQG3-0C is a highly versatile mm wave pHEMT platform that integrates both 0.15um D-mode transistors optimized for PA and switch functions and 0.15um E-mode transistors for single supply LNA/PA.
The third design of an X-band MMIC low-noise amplifier (LNA) with high gain, low noise figure (NF), input/output return loss with high linearity has been designed for the operating frequency range of 8-12 GHz using a 0.12 μm depletion mode (D-mode) gallium arsenide (GaAs) pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (p-HEMT) process. The LNA employed a source degeneration technique to achieve a minimum noise figure of 1.8 dB and RLC network on the second stage between drain and gate to get stability at low and high frequencies. The two-stage LNA has attained a gain of 19 dB with IRL of 6.6 dB and ORL of 10 dB at center frequency (10 GHz). NP12-0B is developed in WIN’s 0.12 μm gate length process on GaN/SiC wafer with a 2 mil/4 mil substrate thickness. It is a robust RF GaN HEMT technology that incorporates multiple refinements to enhance DC and RF ruggedness and add die-level moisture resistance.
The fourth design is about SPDT for X-band applications using 0.15um GaAs pHEMT mature technology. The motivation behind this circuit is to use it for high-frequency performance, low insertion loss, high linearity, compact size, integration of multiple components on a single chip, and a wide application range like radar, satellite, wireless communication and high data rate communication. For frequencies from 8 to 12 GHz the conventional SPDT simulated results showed excellent isolation loss of 38 to 32 dB and insertion loss of 1.56 to 1.7 dB. For frequencies from 8 to 12 GHz the simulated results showed excellent isolation loss of 30 to 28 dB and insertion loss of 1.35 dB. The return loss is more than 10 dB in comparison to shunt-series topology.

Research Fields

MMIC Active and Passive Circuits, Hybrid Circuits, Non linear Modeling of HEMTs, Communication Systems, Antennas

Contacts

swati.sharma at uniroma2.it

BIO

I am a Tenure Track Assistant Professor RTT in Telecommunications at the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Politecnico di Bari, where I was formerly an Assistant Professor RTD-A. I have been fascinated by telecommunications since I was a high school student.

Research Activities

Definition of use cases, requirements, and multi-layer architectures toward 6G for Integrated Terrestrial And Non-Terrestrial Networks and design of innovative methodologies for resource management based on Artificial Intelligence.

Research Fields

Artificial Intelligence for network optimization, 6G systems, Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks

Contacts

arcangela.rago at poliba.it

BIO

I’m received PhD degree in “Systems, Energy, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering” at the same university. From March 2023, I’m employed at the University of Catania like an Assistant Professor. My research interests include signal processing, location algorithms and analysis of 5G radio channel performance parameters for accurate estimation and monitoring of precipitation intensity levels.

Research Activities

Study of rain intensity classification techniques using radio parameters of 4G/5G mobile radio systems and artificial intelligence techniques. Accordingly, study of the impact of rain on the QoS of radio channels in mobile radio systems.

Research Fields

Signal Processing, 5G channel modeling, Rainfall Estimation, Location Algorithm, Artificial Intelligenc

Contacts

roberta.avanzato at unict.it

BIO

Sono un ingegnere elettronico e dottorando presso l’Università di Catania, con focus di ricerca sull’integrated sensing. La mia attività si concentra sulla progettazione di circuiti analogici e a onde millimetriche (mmWave) in tecnologia CMOS per applicazioni avanzate, come radar, imaging e telecomunicazioni.
Con una forte passione per l’innovazione tecnologica, unisco competenze teoriche e sperimentali per affrontare le sfide dell’elettronica integrata e del sensing avanzato.

Research Activities

Le tecnologie a onde millimetriche (mmWave) stanno rivoluzionando il sensing integrato in applicazioni come radar automobilistici, imaging biomedicale e comunicazioni avanzate. L’uso di trasmettitori CMOS nanometrici consente di integrare sistemi ad alte prestazioni con efficienza energetica e costi ridotti.
Il progetto si concentra sulla progettazione di trasmettitori mmWave in CMOS operanti nelle bande 60 GHz, 77 GHz, ottimizzati per alta risoluzione e sensibilità. Le principali sfide includono il miglioramento dell’efficienza del PA, la riduzione del rumore di fase negli oscillatori e l’integrazione.
Per affrontare queste problematiche, verranno analizzate soluzioni come amplificatori di potenza ad alta efficienza , oscillatori a bassa rumorosità e moltiplicatori di frequenza.
Questo progetto mira a sviluppare trasmettitori CMOS mmWave in grado di combinare elevata integrazione, efficienza energetica e scalabilità, aprendo la strada a nuove applicazioni nel sensing avanzato.

Research Fields

mm wave, rf, sensing

Contacts

manfredi.caruso1 at phd.unict.it

BIO

I am pursuing a PhD in Emerging Digital Technology at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy. I am doing my research in free space optics (FSO) in non-terrestrial networks (NTN). Specifically, the design and realization of high-capacity FSO links for NTN nodes for aerial and space networks to handle the traffic demand of emerging 6G along with its anticipated features like Tb/s data rate and requirements of delay-sensitive applications.

Research Activities

A cluster-constellation-based non-terrestrial network (NTN) architecture is introduced to optimize node deployment for unified global coverage, ensuring seamless integration with terrestrial networks. This architecture incorporates free-space optics (FSO) based feeder and backhaul links to achieve high link capacity. The FSO links are analyzed in terms of propagation impairments, expected link capacity, and suitable modulation formats. A detailed numerical investigation is conducted for link budget analysis of high-capacity FSO feeder links in drones, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and satellites at different orbital levels—Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Orbit (GEO). This analysis considers the use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components under realistic conditions, including weak to strong turbulence scenarios. Since laser beams are highly sensitive to atmospheric disturbances, especially under strong turbulence conditions where refractive index variations are larger. These conditions cause wave front distortions, leading to random beam deviations and potentially splitting the beam into multiple intensity hotspots. This phenomenon increases the risk of data loss or even link failure.
The results indicate that FSO feeder links can be successfully implemented for drones, HAPS, and LEO satellites using COTS transceivers originally designed for terrestrial networks. However, for MEO and GEO feeder links, achieving reliable connectivity requires higher transmitted power—beyond the capabilities of currently available commercial boosters (up to 47 dBm). This highlights the need for further research and development to enhance the feasibility of FSO links for higher-altitude NTN applications.

Research Fields

Free Space Optics in Non-Terrestrial Networks

Contacts

sujit.basu at santannapisa.it

Research Activities

Within RESTART, I applied machine learning to optimize feeder link switch-over and ISL metrics (throughput, latency, packet loss) using reinforcement learning for dynamic path selection. We also developed ML methods to detect ISL failures and reduce switch-over times

Contacts

raouane.dehimi at unirc.it

BIO

Corrado Puligheddu is an Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Torino, Italy, since 2023. In 2021, he was a visiting scholar at Northeastern University, USA. He has authored over 15 articles in prestigious journals and international conferences.

Research Activities

I am involved in the S2 – SUPER project, within which I have the leader role of the WP4. I worked on two of the main innovation of the WP4: OREO, an orchestrator of xApps-based RAN services in O-RAN, and TASPER, a Target Wake Time scheduling algorithm for the IIoT.

Research Fields

5G Networks, Edge Computing, Open RAN, Machine Learning

Contacts

corrado.puligheddu at polito.it

BIO

Antonella Maria Loconsole received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Information Engineering in 2022 by Politecnico di Bari, Bari, Italy. Currently she is Research Assistant in Electromagnetic Fields with the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Politecnico di Bari, Bari, Italy. Her research interests include optical fiber lasers and amplifiers, SIW antennas, and microwave applicators for medical applications.

Research Activities

During the RESTART project, I designed and fabricated different antennas working at millimeters waves, considering innovative solutions for beamsteering also by means of transmitarrays.

Research Fields

Electromagnetic fields, antennas, microwave applicators, fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers

Contacts

antonellamaria.loconsole at poliba.it

BIO

I am a researcher specializing in the integration of network orchestrators and federated learning. My work focuses on ensuring seamless communication among network components, enabling efficient functionality, and implementing robust network monitoring. Additionally, I conduct research on network slicing in Radio Access Networks (RAN) to optimize resource allocation and enhance network performance.

Research Activities

My research is primarily dedicated to leveraging integration of network orchestrators and federated learning to advance the objectives of the WatchEDGE project. This involves ensuring communication among network components, enabling proper functionality, and implementing robust network monitoring.

Research Fields

SDWAN orchestrator, Federated learning, Network slicing

Contacts

mengyao.li at polimi.it

BIO

Marco Rapelli received his B.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering (2015) and his M.Sc. in Computer and Communication Networks Engineering (2017) both at Politecnico di Torino. He took part of FULL (Future Urban Legacy Lab), an inter-disciplinary center of Politecnico di Torino, where, in March 2021, he received his Ph.D. cum laude in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. During his Ph.D., he also spent a eight-month visiting period at the Computer and Communication Systems Labs at Technische Universität Berlin, in Berlin, Germany. He is now an Assistent Professor with time contract at Computer and Communication Network Department (DAUIN) of Politecnico di Torino. His main research interests focus on mobility studies, large-scale urban traffic simulators and vehicular networks.

Research Activities

Development of a Manuever Coordination algorithm and the Vehicle-to-Infrastructure communication for the PoC demo of the MoVeOver RESTART project.

Research Fields

Vehicular communication, urban mobility, V2X

Contacts

marco.rapelli at polito.it

BIO

I am currently a Researcher at the Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Federico II’. I am involved in the ADAPTO project, working on the development of a framework for optimizing computational and network resources in 5G-and-beyond networks. Other research interest include networking in IoT and Cyber–Physical Systems, with special attention to performance and security issues.

Research Activities

I am involved in the ADAPTO project, whose goal is providing a framework for optimizing computational and network resources across distributed edge and central clouds in 5G-and-beyond networks.

Contacts

giovanni.stanco at unina.it

BIO

Stefano Caputo received his Dr. Eng. in mechanical engineering (2016) and Ph.D. in telecommunications engineering (2019) from the University of Florence. He is a researcher focusing on physical-layer security, sensors, V2V/V2I communication, VLC, localization, BANs, and molecular communications.

Research Activities

Signal processing of radar, communication and localization signals for active and passive systems dedicated to specific integrated sensing and communication application contexts.

Research Fields

Visible Light Communications, Body Area Networks, Physical Layer Security, Localization

Contacts

stefano.caputo at unifi.it

BIO

I am a researcher with experience in radar signal processing. My current focus is on smart radio environments and JCAS systems.

Research Activities

My RESTART research focuses on synthetic aperture radar, imaging systems and SRE, particularly the study of an IIAC system aided by RIS/smart-skins. My co-authors and I received the Best Paper Award for our contribution at the ICC ’24 workshops.

Research Fields

SRE, RIS, SAR Imaging

Contacts

d.torniellibellini at gmail.com

BIO

As part of Project Restart, I have been working on the resilient design of power supply systems for telecommunication base stations. My focus has been on ensuring reliable operation during disasters or grid outages. I have contributed to the review of existing solutions and the design of a microgrid capable of providing at least 4 hours of backup power. This includes a smart energy management system that enables demand response to improve the survivability of the base station. I am also involved in developing control algorithms aimed at enhancing the resilience and reducing the emissions of the microgrid. In addition, I am helping create a framework for optimal site selection of power supply systems, using risk analysis as a key factor.

Research Activities

I am a researcher in Electrical Engineering with a background in Electronics and Control Engineering, specializing in the modeling, control, optimization, and simulation of microgrids and large-scale systems with stochastic power production and energy storage. My main goal is to develop efficient, low-emission, and resilient energy systems. My professional journey has taken me across Spain, the UK, Ecuador, Brazil, and Italy, where I’ve worked with academic institutions and industrial partners to deliver sustainable energy solutions tailored to real-world challenges. Beyond research, I actively collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to initiatives that promote knowledge sharing, innovation, and support for women in science and engineering.

Research Fields

Control systems, power electronics, electrical engineering, renewable energy

Contacts

anakarina.cabrera at polimi.it

BIO

Domenico Scotece is an Assistant Professor at the University of Bologna. He received his Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees in Computer Science Engineering from the University of Bologna in 2020 and 2014, respectivly.

Research Activities

I’m currently task leader of T4.1 in SUPER WP4 project: “Programmable Data Plane for Radio Access Network”. In particular, we’re designg and developing a solution for accelerating data plane in O-RAN architecture.

Research Fields

Pervasive computing, middleware for fog and edge computing, IoT, management of cloud computing systems, Software-defined Networking, 5G and 6G

Contacts

domenico.scotece at unibo.it

BIO

Born in Catania, 29/06/1989, Maste degree and PhD in Telecommunication Engineering in Politecnico di Torino. Working on optical networking and new digital twin enabled network services.

Research Activities

Federica Anfuso, a Ph.D. student at the University of Catania, works on the PNRR Restart-Spoke 3 project. Her research focuses on near-field electromagnetic field synthesis using caustics to control wave propagation along prescribed trajectories.

Research Fields

Antennae and millimiter wave technologies

Contacts

federica.anfuso at phd.unict.it

BIO

Marco Simone is an assistant professor at the University of Catania. His research activity involves optimization techniques applied to electromagnetics, antennas and microwave devices design for 5G, satellite and other mm-wave applications.

Research Activities

The activity carried out by Marco Simone within the RESTART project involves:
– Slot array antenna in parallel plate waveguide for main beam control over frequency
– Dual-polarized stacked patch antenna array for satellite applications in Ku band

Research Fields

Microwave, Electromagnetics, Antennas, Optimization

Contacts

marco.simone at unict.it

BIO

I received the bachelor’s degree in electronic and telecommunications engineering and the master’s degree in telecommunications engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy, in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Since April 2023, I am pursuing the Ph.D. degree program at the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering (DEI) of Polytechnic University of Bari.
My research topic is about the design of optical and RF links for integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. Specifically, I am involved in the development of a numerical tool able to perform link budget analyses of optical feeder links (OFLs) as well as in the design of a fading testbed for the emulation of the fading affecting OFLs.
During the Ph.D. program, I spent one month at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, to experimentally investigate the performance of OTN transceivers under emulated turbulence. Moreover, I spent six months at the ESTEC center of the European Space Agency as a Visiting Expert, supporting TEC-SEC in the analysis and design of mitigation techniques for OFLs.

Research Activities

My research topic is about the design of optical and RF links for integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. Specifically, I am involved in the development of a numerical tool able to estimate the performance of optical feeder links (OFLs). To this end, a link budget model for OFLs was defined and implemented. Moreover, my research involves the design of an experimental fading testbed for the emulation of the fading affecting OFLs. The testbed is used to estimate the performance of commercial fiber-based equipment for potential use in OFLs.

Research Fields

Free space optics, electromagnetic fields, channel modeling, optical turbulence

Contacts

c.cantore at phd.poliba.it

BIO

Born in Catania, 29/06/1989, Maste degree and PhD in Telecommunication Engineering in Politecnico di Torino. Working on optical networking and new digital twin enabled network services.

Research Activities

Signal processing of radar, communication and localization signals for active and passive systems dedicated to specific integrated sensing and communication application contexts.

Research Fields

Radio Access Network, Green Networking, Network Resilience, Radio Resource Management

Contacts

greta.vallero at polito.it

BIO

He received the M.Sc. degree (Hons.) in telecommunications engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari, the M.Sc. degree in computer science from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical and information engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari. In 2023, he was a Visiting Expert with the Radio Frequency Division, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Electronics with the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari.

Research Activities

Study, design, and implementation of an adaptive beam steering system based on LO-phase shifting and real-time AoA estimation performed completely in hardware through phase interferometry.

Research Fields

RF and mixed-signal circuits and systems for telecommunications, phased arrays, and theories and techniques for localization

Contacts

antonello.florio at poliba.it

BIO

I am an assistant professor (RTDa) with the University of Naples Federico II. My research interests include array signal processing, detection, estimation, and optimization theory, as well as statistical signal processing in the context of radar systems.

Research Activities

Development of optical network digital twin, streming telemetry and new optical data network environmental sensing services.

Research Fields

Radar signal processing, integrated sensing and communication, detection and estimation, radar systems, optimization theory

Contacts

massimo.rosamilia at unina.it

BIO

Jacopo Pegoraro received his Ph.D. in Information Engineering from the University of Padova, Padua, Italy, in 2023. He works as an Assistant Professor with the SIGNET Research Group, Department of Information Engineering, at the same University. He was a visiting research scholar at the New York University, Tandon School of Engineering in 2022, working on joint communication and sensing. His research interests include signal processing, sensor fusion, and machine learning with applications to millimeter-wave sensing and the integration of sensing and communications.

Research Activities

Led WP3 of PESCO, coordinating research on integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) systems and novel sensing paradigms. Worked on synchronization for ISAC and multiband sensing algorithms.

Research Fields

Integrated communications and sensing, wireless sensing, signal processing

Contacts

jacopo.pegoraro at unipd.it

BIO

I am a Ph.D. student with extensive experience working in a chemistry laboratory, specializing in characterization, organic synthesis, and organometallic chemistry.

Research Activities

In recent years, the Internet and related technologies have become a primary need for the world’s population. The need for faster data transfer rates, lower latency and higher capacity has shifted interest from 5G, the fifth-generation mobile network (30-300 GHz, millimetre wavelengths) to 6G, the sixth-generation mobile network (0.1-30 THz, 10 μm-3 mm wavelengths). One way to meet these Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) using 5G technologies would be to install
UNIVERSITY OF NAPOLI “FEDERICO II”
POLYTECHNIC AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
Department of Chemical Sciences
a large number of access points and base stations, making the deployment of the system environmentally unfriendly, extremely expensive, and complex from both a hardware and software/protocol point of view. An alternative approach to this challenge is the development of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs), which are characterised by extremely low power consumption and direct processing electromagnetic (EM) signals at the speed of light, dramatically reducing latency and complexity compared to the corresponding fully digital baseband solutions, while maintaining a green environment. The aim of this project is to provide new materials for the generation, modulation, and detection of THz radiations.

Research Fields

Design, synthesis, and crystallization of non-centrosymmetric organic crystals for telecommunications applications, as well as the characterization of their structural and optical properties.

Contacts

emanuela.santagata at unina.it

BIO

I am a researcher with expertise in the cross-layer design and optimization of optical networks. My main research interests include the application of machine learning in optical networks, and cross-layer network design considering capacity-scaling enablers such as Hollow-Core Fibers, Multi-Core Fibers, and Multi-band transmission.

Research Activities

I have been a task leader in WP5 of RIGOLETTO (task T5.1) dealing with the application of Machine Learning for network management. I have also been heavily involved in task T5.3 on the role of Hollow-Core Fiber in future optical networks. Other activities include contributions to writing deliverables, reports, and contributions to RESTART missions and grand challenges.

Research Fields

Optical Networks, Machine Learning, Network Automation, Capacity Scaling, Hollow-Core Fibers

Contacts

memedhe.ibrahimi@polimi.it

BIO

Sana Ullah is a researcher specializing in graphene-based antennas and metasurfaces for THz applications. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Military College of Signals, NUST, Islamabad, with a focus on RF and Microwave Engineering. His work includes the design of a transparent beam-steering antenna capable of 360° azimuthal beam control, as well as graphene-based metasurfaces combined with lithium niobate for second- and third-harmonic generation in sensing applications. His research aims to advance reconfigurable THz devices for next-generation wireless communications, sensing, and biomedical applications.

Research Activities

Graphene has emerged as a key material for THz antennas and metasurfaces, offering reconfigurability, transparency, and tunability through electrical and magnetic biasing. I have designed a transparent beam-steering antenna based on graphene, capable of steering the beam across the entire 360° azimuthal plane, making it highly versatile for wireless communications in the sub-THz and THz frequency range.

In addition, I am actively working on graphene-based metasurfaces integrated with lithium niobate to achieve second- and third-harmonic generation (SHG & THG) for nonlinear sensing applications. These metasurfaces leverage graphene’s tunable conductivity and lithium niobate’s strong nonlinear response, enabling advanced frequency conversion and signal processing for THz biosensing and environmental monitoring.

Research Fields

Graphene based devices(Antennas and Metasurfaces) for THz and Beyond

Contacts

s.ullah1 at phd.poliba.it

BIO

Honors graduate in Telecommunication Engineering, I am pursuing a PhD in Electrical and Information Engineering at Politecnico di Bari. My research blends digital twin ecosystems, adaptive network optimization, and intent-based networking.

Research Activities

Scientific research related to my project, measured through publications in conferences and journals, as well as dissemination activities, including poster presentations and the recognition of Best Poster & Demo awards during plenary sessions.

Research Fields

Digital Twins, Network Optimization, Intent-Based Networking, Network Security

Contacts

f.detrizio at phd.poliba.it

BIO

PhD student at Polytechnic University of Bari working on integrated photonics. His research focuses on hybrid TFLN-SiN platforms for optical filters and splitters in RESTART projects RIGOLETTO and HePIC.

Research Activities

I work on the design and simulation of integrated photonic devices on hybrid platforms involving thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) and silicon nitride (SiN). My current research focuses on developing energy-efficient and scalable optical components such as filters and switches for future optical networks and data center interposers. My work is part of the RESTART subprojects RIGOLETTO and GrapHICs.

Research Fields

Integrated Photonics, TFLN, Optical Filters, MMI, SiN

Contacts

p.yousefi1 at phd.poilba.it

BIO

Alessandro Vizzarri received a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Bologna, a PhD in Telecommunication Engineering and Microelectronics from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and a post-lauream diploma from the Superior Institute of Communication (Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Rome).
He is a Professor in Telecommunications at the University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy).

He is/was a Manager Consultant for vendor, manufacturing, and consultancy companies operating in the ICT market, in particular wireless networks (UMTS/HSPA, LTE, WiFi,..), Broadcast Networks (DVB-S/T/H), Digital Transmissions, Project Management, Business Management. He is/was a Senior Project Manager in several research projects on ICT technologies at European and international levels.
His research interests include Wireless (5G/BY5G/6G), Non-Terrestrial (LEO/HAPS/UAV) and Broadcast Networks, Radio Network Planning, O-RAN, QoS/QoE, interoperability, Goal-oriented Semantic Networks, Blockchain and Web3 Security, Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship, Regulation and Standardization.
He is President of the Italian Association of Telecommunication Engineers (AICT) and a member of the Order of Engineers in Rome (Italy). He was the Professional & Career Activities Coordinator at the IEEE Italy Section.

Research Activities

O-RAN and mediated communications based on Virtual Assistant. Multibearer communications. Integration with O-RAN framework, Edge Cloud Computing (ECC), an AI/ML-based component for different vertical applications, including multimedia. Integration with Non-Terrestrial Networks. Performance analysis in terms of QoS/QoE and security.

Research Fields

Wireless Networks; 5G/6G; Edge Cloud Computing; Non-Terrestrial Networks; Performance Analysis; AI/ML; goal-oriented semantic networks

Contacts

 ALESSANDRO.VIZZARRI at UNIROMA2.IT

BIO

I am an Assistant Professor at the ISPAMM Lab, DIET Dept. Sapienza University of Rome. I received my Ph.D. degree in ICT with honors in January 2023 with the thesis titled Hypercomplex Generative Models: AI Beyond Clifford Algebra.

My research interests are generative deep learning, quaternion and hypercomplex neural networks, generative semantic communication models and multimodal representation learning.

I am the recipient of the Best Track Manuscript Recognition by the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society and of the 2023 INNS Doctoral Dissertation Award.

Research Activities

Research and developments on generative semantic communication.

Research Fields

Generative AI, Multimodal Learning, Generative Semantic Communication, Hyperxomplex

Contacts

eleonora.grassucci at uniroma1.it

BIO

Born in Catania, 29/06/1989, Maste degree and PhD in Telecommunication Engineering in Politecnico di Torino. Working on optical networking and new digital twin enabled network services.

Research Activities

Signal processing of radar, communication and localization signals for active and passive systems dedicated to specific integrated sensing and communication application contexts.

Research Fields

optical networking, physical layer, fiber sensing

Contacts

emanuele.virgillito at polito.it