Assistant Professor (Junior), Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna (since 2023).
Research focus: design and characterization of architected metamaterials (lattice structures), with an emphasis on AI-driven methods; additive manufacturing; fatigue behaviour; topology optimisation.
ACADEMIC ROLES
Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna (since 2023).
Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna (2019–2022). Project: Enhancing the sustainability of highly digitalised manufacturing technologies through intelligent systems, with collaborations across local and international industry, particularly in additive manufacturing.
EDUCATION
PhD in Mechanics and Advanced Engineering Sciences, University of Bologna (2020). Thesis: A methodological approach to knowledge-based engineering systems for manufacturing. Research period at Fraunhofer IPK, Berlin.
Master’s degree (with honours) in Mechanical Engineering, University of Bologna (2015). Thesis: Investigation into relational models for the parametric design on the basis of technological, ergonomic and functional constraints. Research period at Tongji University, Shanghai.
EDITORIAL ACTIVITY & REVIEWING
Co-author of 60+ publications across international journals and conferences, and two Italian handbooks on additive manufacturing and advanced technologies.
Associate Editor:
- Progress in Additive Manufacturing (Springer, since 2024)
- Proceedings of the IMechE, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science (SAGE, since 2023)
Regular reviewer for 30+ journals (including Additive Manufacturing, Rapid Prototyping Journal, Computers in Industry, CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering).
PROJECT MANAGEMENT (PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR)
FLIGHT — Fatigue of Lattice Structures Improved by Generating Hybrid Cell Topologies
Principal Investigator (Jan–Oct 2025). EU NextGenerationEU / National Sustainable Mobility Center (CN00000023; MUR Decree No. 1033, 17/06/2022; Spoke 11). Budget €508,100. Partners: University of Bologna, University of Salento, University of Brescia, Leonardo Helicopter Division. Team includes 3 Full, 8 Associate, 2 Assistant Professors, and 2 senior industrial researchers.
REOBTAIN — Reusing Exhausted Vegetable Oils for Lubricating Bolts and Threaded Joints in the Automotive Industry
Principal Investigator (Jul 2024–Oct 2025). EU NextGenerationEU / National Sustainable Mobility Center (same framework as above). Budget €510,430. Partners: University of Bologna, University of Pisa, Polytechnic University of Bari, Ferrari S.p.A. Team includes 4 Full, 5 Associate, 4 Assistant Professors, and 2 senior industrial researchers.
TEACHING
- Methods for Calculation and Structural Verification of Industrial Products, Master’s Degree in Advanced Design, University of Bologna (since 2023).
- Powertrain Design and Manufacturing, Master’s degree in Advanced Automotive Engineering, at the Motorvehicle University of Emilia‑Romagna (MUNER) (since 2023).
- Mechanical Design with Advanced Materials, Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering for Sustainability, University of Bologna (since 2024).
- Mechanical Behaviour of Materials, Degree in Engineering Management, University of Bologna (since 2024).
- Processes and Systems for Product Design, Master’s Degree in Advanced Design, University of Bologna (2020–2023).
- Automatic Machines, Degree in Automation Engineering, University of Bologna (2023).
Invited seminars on polymer AM, Design for AM, and materials‑oriented AM within DIMSAI and other courses. Academic tutor for “Integrated Manufacturing Systems” (2017–2021).
SUPERVISION & TUTORSHIPS
- PhD supervisor (since 2023): Automotive Engineering for Intelligent Mobility — Design of optimised lightweight lattice structures for automotive applications under variable static and dynamic loads.
- PhD co‑supervisor (since 2024; supervisor Prof. Croccolo): Failure and root‑cause analysis of powertrain components via phenomenological damage models and correlation with road/bench test cycles.
- Academic tutor of the project awarded the Laser Promotion Award by the Italian Association of Manufacturing Technologies (2017).
AWARDS
- Best Paper Award 2023, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna.
PATENTS & INDUSTRIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
- IT202100021092A1 (with Monti, Sartori, et al.): Composite paste materials for extrusion and related system with moisture control and annealing. Owned by 3Festo s.r.l. and applied to ceramic products reinforced with polyamide powder.
- IT201800009779A1 (with Mele, Lenzi, et al.): Finishing process for AM parts (layered addition, liquefaction and resolidification). Owned by Studio Pedrini s.r.l., applied to high‑accuracy products via Multi Jet Fusion.
- Contributor to the creation of 3Festo s.r.l., commercialising ANY3DP, based on code developed during the PhD for preparing/optimising advanced AM production.
ACADEMIC SERVICE & COMMITTEES
- Member, final exam Evaluation Committee, PhD in Advanced Automotive for Intelligent Mobility (since 2024).
- Member, Admissions Committee, PhD in Advanced Automotive for Intelligent Mobility (2024–2025).
- Member, Admissions Committee, Master’s in Advanced Automotive Engineering (MUNER) (2023–2024).
- Member, Council of the Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna (since 2024).
- Member, Department committee for adjunct professorships and tutorships (since 2023).
- Member, Evaluation Committees for the 39th–40th cycle PhD admissions in Automotive Engineering for Intelligent Mobility; various Research Grant and hiring committees; numerous Master’s Degree committees.
- Associate Expert Member for SSD ING‑IND/14 in the State Examinations Commission (Bologna section).
CONFERENCES
- Vice‑Chair, 21st International Conference on Experimental Mechanics (ICEM21), Bologna, Italy, 7–11 July.
- Scientific Board Member, ICEM21, Bologna, Italy, 7–11 July.
- Speaker, ICEM21: “Stress Concentration in Hybrid TPMS Geometries Undergoing Axial Fatigue Loads,” Bologna, Italy.
- Speaker, 54th AIAS Conference (Italian Scientific Society of Mechanical Design & Machine Construction), Florence, Italy, 3–6 September: “Prediction of Linear Elastic Properties for Hybrid Cellular Structures Using Artificial Neural Networks.”
- Co‑author, ICEM21 contributions:
- “Elastic Property Analysis in Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Structures Through Homogenization and Artificial Neural Networks.”
- “Design of Lightweight Cellular Structures Optimised for Pin‑Collar Joints.”
- “Multivariable Regression Models Based on Numerical Extended Analyses for Design Purposes.”
- “AI‑Based Optimization of Bolted Joints Design.”
- Co‑author, ASME Pressure Vessels & Piping (PVP), Montréal, Canada:
- “Analysis of the Effect of Temperature on the Performance of Waste Cooking Oils Used as Lubricants on Threaded Joints.”
- “Failure of Threaded Joints: Results from a Survey on Italian Companies.”
2024
- Speaker, 53rd AIAS Conference, Naples, Italy, 4–7 September: “Replacing Non‑Renewable Lubricants with Vegetable Oils in Threaded Joints.”
- Co‑author, ASME PVP, Bellevue, WA, USA:
- “A Study on the Degradation of Pre‑Applied Threadlockers Under Extended Exposure to Severe Hygro‑Thermal Conditions.”
- “Analysis of the Tribological Behaviour of Titanium Fasteners Under Different Tightening Strategies.”
2023
- Speaker, 52nd AIAS Conference, Genoa, Italy, 6–9 September: “Design and Optimization of a Pneumatic Clamping System for Direct‑Driven Rotary Tables.”
- Speaker, AIAS event Joining Techniques, Pisa, Italy, 13–14 April: “Progress of the Bologna Research Group on Friction and Gluing Connections.”
- Co‑author, 19th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing (GCSM), Buenos Aires, Argentina:
- “Leveraging Insights from Unique Artifacts for Creating Sustainable Products.”
- “Evaluation of Competencies for a Sustainable Industrial Environment.”
- “Towards a Comparative Index Assessing Mechanical Performance, Material Consumption and Energy Requirements for Additive Manufactured Parts.”
2022
- Speaker, 22nd International Conference on Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, Bologna, Italy: “Additive Manufacturing of a Cranial Implant with Energy‑Absorbing Polymer via Arburg Plastic Freeforming.”
- Speaker, AMPEA–E3S Joint Workshop (Economic, Environmental and Social Impact of Material Research Toward Clean Energy Transition): “Outlooks and Current Limitations of Tools for Sustainability‑Driven Decision‑Making in Manufacturing.”
- Co‑author, AIAS 2022 (national conference), Padua, Italy: “Study on the Recycling of Plastics for the Fabrication of Structural Components Using Additive Plastic Freeforming Technology.”
- Co‑author, 18th GCSM, Berlin, Germany:
- “Towards a Comparative Index Assessing Mechanical Performance, Material Consumption and Energy Requirements for Additive Manufactured Parts.”
- “Leveraging Insights from Unique Artifacts for Creating Sustainable Products.”
- “Evaluation of Competencies for a Sustainable Industrial Environment.”
- Co‑author, XXIV National Conference of the Italian Association of Science and Technology of Macromolecules (AIM), Trento, Italy: “Patient‑Specific Implants Manufactured by Arburg Plastic Freeformer.”
2021
- Co‑author, EcoDesign 2021 (Osaka University, online): “Environmental Reflections of Lightweight Design in Arburg Plastic Freeforming Additive Manufacturing.”
- Co‑author, 38th National AIM (Italian Association of Metallurgy) (telematic): “Prediction of Tempering Distortions by Numerical Modeling and Neural Networks.”
2019
- Speaker, 8th International Conference on Mechanics and Materials in Design (M2D), Bologna, Italy: “Intuitive Design of Supports for Selective Laser Melting” (with Fraunhofer IPK).
- Co‑author, M2D, Bologna, Italy: “Polymer Re‑cycling for AM Through the Arburg Plastic Freeforming Process.”
- Co‑author, 17th GCSM, Shanghai, China: “Optimisation of Build Orientation to Achieve Minimum Environmental Impact in Stereolithography.”
- Co‑author, 6th International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (SDM), Budapest, Hungary: “A Life‑Cycle Assessment Framework for Stereolithography.”
2018
- Co‑author, 16th GCSM, Lexington, Kentucky, USA: “About the Use of Mineral and Vegetable Oils to Improve the Sustainability of Steel Quenching.”
- Co‑author, International Symposium on Tools and Methods of Competitive Engineering (TMCE), Gran Canaria, Spain: “The Evolution of Computer‑Assisted Product Design and Manufacturing Tools to Smart Systems for the Factory of the Future.”
2017
- Speaker, 4th SDM, Bologna, Italy: “A Combination of Life‑Cycle Assessment and Knowledge‑Based Engineering to Evaluate the Sustainability of Industrial Products.”
- Co‑author, 4th SDM, Bologna, Italy: “Experimental Investigation into the Use of Natural Reinforcements for Sustainable Composite Materials.”
- Co‑author (poster), 33rd International CAE Conference and Exhibition, Vicenza, Italy: “aiDoE (artificial intelligent Design of Experiment): a Combination of FEM and ANNs.”
2016
- Speaker, 3rd SDM, Chania, Crete, Greece: “A New CAD‑Integrated Application to Support Designers and Increase Design Sustainability.”
2014
- Finalist Team Member, 12th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing (GCSM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia: “Terra Preta Packaging System: A New ‘Blue’ Waste Management.”
- Co‑author (poster), LET’S 2014 – Leading Enabling Technologies for Societal Challenges, Bologna, Italy: “An Innovative Sustainable Solution for Toilets Without Water Consumption: The University of Bologna Blue Team for the Terra Preta Sanitation System International Competition.”
