My background is fundamentally hybrid: PhD in Robotics, Cognition and Interaction Technologies (University of Genoa, Italy); BSc-MSc in Psychology and Neuroscience (University of Padua, Italy). I work at Rehab Technologies, joint lab of IIT and INAIL. Here, I investigate the neurocognitive and psychophysiological processes underlying the interactions between users and (robotic and digital) medical devices for rehabilitative, prosthetic, and assistive applications. In particular, I use methods of neuroergonomics in user-centered design to shape virtual and augmented settings for enhancing processes of human-technology integration like embodiment and presence, empowering the patient's engagement in motor and cognitive tasks.
I'm the Coordinator of ENACT (Employing Neuroergonomic solutions to Attenutate the Cerebellar Tremor), a project supported by AISM (the Multiple Sclerosis Italian Association) with a grant of its Foundation to design and develop wearable technologies and interactive environments to investigate, assess, and mitigate the cerebellar tremor (in terms of intention tremor of upper limbs), and to enhance motor and cognitive rehabilitation procedures.
Furthermore, I'm involved in education activities and public events to talk about cyborgs, robots, and virtual worlds. Among them, I lead the GAMEABILITY initiative, aiming at teaching high school students how to design video games for people with disabilities, making the learners aware of problems and difficulties faced by these players.
I'm a member of SIE (the Italian Ergonomics Society), I-RIM (the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines), AIP (the Italian Association of Psychology), SIHTA (the Italian Association on Health Technology Assessment), and ICORR (the International Consortium for Rehabilitation Robotics).