Our PhD Alumni

My PhD experience in Health, Safety and Green Systems was a key step in shaping my research profile and professional career. I completed my PhD in March 2026 with a thesis entitled “Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence Methods for Crop Mapping and Yield Estimation”, focused on the integration of Earth observation data, remote sensing and artificial intelligence to improve crop monitoring and yield assessment.

The PhD gave me the opportunity to work on highly innovative topics at the intersection of agriculture, geospatial science and data-driven methods. During these years, I developed strong skills in satellite data processing, machine learning, spatial analysis and agricultural modelling, while also gaining a broader understanding of how these tools can support more efficient, resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the possibility to combine methodological development with real-world applications. This helped me understand not only how to build advanced models, but also how to use them to address concrete challenges related to crop production, climate variability and decision support.

After completing the PhD, I continued my research at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) of the University of Bologna, where I further developed artificial intelligence models for precision agriculture. This experience allowed me to consolidate the skills acquired during the PhD and apply them to new research questions.

I am now a researcher at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), in the Impacts on Agriculture, Forests and Ecosystem Services Division – Institute for Climate Resilience. My current work focuses on crop modelling and machine learning for climate-risk assessment, integrating satellite, climate, agricultural and socio-economic data to support food security monitoring and to study crop risks, yield dynamics and adaptation pathways.

I am very satisfied with the path that began with this PhD. The programme provided me with the scientific background, technical skills and interdisciplinary perspective needed to move into an international research environment and to work on issues that are increasingly important for agriculture, food security and climate resilience.

Pursuing my PhD in Health, Safety and Green Systems was a truly transformative chapter in both my personal and professional life. From day one, I was immersed in a vibrant, intellectually stimulating environment that encouraged me to push the boundaries of knowledge. It is not just the highest level of academic education; it is, above all, the tackling of major scientific challenges. 

My PhD experience in Health, Safety and Green Systems was a very important step in developing my research interests at the intersection of urban sustainability, environmental quality and human health. I completed my PhD in April 2025 with a thesis entitled “Big Data and ‘Healthy Cities’: Regeneration of Urban Contexts, Green Systems, and Safe and Healthy Lifestyles”, focused on the role of data-driven approaches and green systems in supporting healthier and more resilient urban environments.

During the PhD, I had the opportunity to work with a wide range of methods, including GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis and modelling tools. This interdisciplinary training allowed me to investigate how urban form, vegetation and environmental conditions interact, with particular attention to urban heat island effects, microclimate and the potential benefits of green infrastructure.

One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the possibility to connect advanced analytical methods with practical urban and environmental challenges. The PhD helped me strengthen my ability to manage complex spatial datasets, integrate different sources of information, develop quantitative analyses and critically interpret the results in relation to urban planning, environmental quality and public health.

I am currently a research fellow at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) of the University of Bologna. My work focuses on the application of GIS, remote sensing and machine learning to assess the effects of green systems on environmental quality and urban heat island mitigation. I also use modelling and simulation tools to evaluate the environmental and microclimatic benefits of green infrastructure and their potential contribution to healthier urban environments.

My PhD experience in Health, Safety and Green Systems was an important stage in both my scientific training and professional development. I completed my PhD in April 2024 with a thesis entitled “Modelling, Simulations and Monitoring for Sustainable Plant and Animal Production Systems through Precision Techniques”, focused on the use of modelling, simulation and monitoring tools to support more efficient and sustainable agricultural production systems.

During the PhD, I had the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary approach combining environmental modelling, precision techniques and sustainability assessment. Working across different scales, from agricultural structures and production systems to the surrounding territory, allowed me to better understand the complex interactions between technological solutions, environmental performance and resource use.

The programme was particularly valuable in strengthening my ability to design and carry out research activities, manage and analyse complex datasets, use modelling tools and critically assess the environmental impacts of agricultural systems. It also gave me the opportunity to work within a stimulating research environment and to collaborate with colleagues from different scientific backgrounds.

After completing the PhD, I continued my research at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) of the University of Bologna. This experience allowed me to further consolidate the skills developed during the doctoral programme and progressively expand my research activities. I am now a researcher at DISTAL, where my work focuses on environmental modelling applied to agricultural buildings and territories, as well as on the assessment of environmental sustainability through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies.

I am very satisfied with the path that began during my PhD. The programme provided me with a strong methodological background, an interdisciplinary perspective and the scientific independence needed to continue an academic research career. It also gave me the opportunity to build continuity between my doctoral research and my current activities, contributing to the development of more sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural systems.

I completed my PhD in biochemistry through the "Health, Safety, and Green Systems" doctoral program in Imola. Over the course of the three-year program, I engaged in intensive research, combining literature reviews with significant experimental laboratory work. My journey was also marked by close collaboration with the company sponsoring my PhD; I participated in various meetings to plan and discuss research activities and had the opportunity to visit several of their production sites. This university-industry partnership was crucial to my professional development and enabled me to continue the collaboration post-PhD, as I am currently conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Bologna.
During my doctoral studies, I also attended various scientific conferences in Italy and across Europe, presenting my project results through both scientific posters and oral presentations. A particularly significant experience was a six-month period spent abroad, where I was able to hone my laboratory skills and work closely with PhD students and researchers from diverse groups and disciplines. Daily interaction with individuals from different scientific backgrounds allowed me to exchange knowledge, ideas, and perspectives, thereby broadening my outlook on research.
Alongside my research activities, I attended lectures and courses organized as part of the doctoral program; these enabled me to deepen my understanding of key theoretical and methodological aspects of my field while developing transversal and multidisciplinary skills.
I consider my PhD a highly significant experience—not only from a scientific and professional standpoint but also on a personal level. It allowed me to gain greater autonomy, learn how to manage projects and overcome challenges, and engage with diverse environments and people. It is a path that has given me a great deal, and one I would particularly recommend to those interested in research who wish to challenge themselves in a stimulating scientific environment.
I am currently continuing my research career as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bologna, thereby carrying on the work I began during my PhD.

My PhD experience in Health, Safety and Green Systems was a fundamental step in developing my scientific profile and defining my current research pathway. I completed my PhD in June 2025 with a thesis entitled “Resilience and Green Regeneration in Climate Change and Post-Pandemic Scenarios: Bioengineered Indoor Farming Systems for Medicinal Plants”, focused on innovative controlled-environment cultivation systems for medicinal plants.

During the PhD, I had the opportunity to work on research topics combining plant science, biostatistics, engineering and environmental control. This interdisciplinary approach allowed me to investigate how cultivation conditions can be optimized to improve plant growth, quality and functional characteristics, with particular attention to the production of bioactive compounds of medicinal interest.

The programme enabled me to develop strong experimental and methodological skills in the design and management of controlled-environment cultivation systems, environmental monitoring, statistical data analysis and modelling, as well as the evaluation of plant responses to specific growing conditions. Particular attention was devoted to the use of LED lighting and other elicitation strategies to influence plant physiology and enhance the accumulation of valuable bioactive compounds. The doctoral programme also gave me the opportunity to expand my research through a research stay at the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) in Germany, where I further developed my research activities in an international academic environment. The PhD was also carried out in collaboration with a leading company in horticultural LED technology, allowing me to bridge academic research and industrial innovation and to translate scientific findings into applied research for controlled-environment plant production.

I am currently a researcher at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) of the University of Bologna, where I continue to work on structures and technological systems for plant production in controlled environments. My research focuses on improving plant growth and quality through the optimization of environmental parameters and cultivation technologies, with particular reference to medicinal plants, bioactive compounds, LED-based light treatments and other elicitors.

I am very satisfied with the path that began during my PhD. The programme provided me with a strong interdisciplinary background and the scientific independence needed to continue an academic research career. It also allowed me to build a direct connection between my doctoral work and my current research activities, contributing to the development of innovative and more sustainable plant production systems. The interdisciplinary nature and scientific quality of this research path were also recognized with the ISA Doctoral Prize, awarded for excellence in interdisciplinary research.

My PhD experience in Health, Safety and Green Systems was a fundamental step in my academic and professional development. I completed my PhD in June 2025 with a thesis entitled “Study of vegetation to be used in urban regeneration to increase resilience”, focusing on the role of vegetation and green infrastructure in improving the environmental performance and resilience of urban areas.

During the PhD, I had the opportunity to work in a stimulating and multidisciplinary environment, combining different perspectives related to urban sustainability, plant science, environmental design and climate adaptation. This interdisciplinary approach was particularly valuable, as it allowed me to develop both solid research skills and a broader understanding of the complex challenges associated with the transformation of cities in response to climate change.

The programme also gave me the opportunity to strengthen my ability to plan and carry out research activities independently, analyse and interpret experimental data, collaborate with researchers from different disciplines, and communicate scientific results. These skills have proved essential for continuing my research career.

I am currently a research fellow at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) of the University of Bologna, where my work focuses on the sustainability and resilience of green infrastructures and nature-based solutions, with particular attention to green roofs and the selection and performance of vegetation under challenging urban conditions.

Looking back, I am very satisfied with the path I followed during my PhD. The knowledge, methodological skills and professional network developed during these years have provided a strong basis for my current research activities and have opened up new opportunities to work on topics that I consider highly relevant for the future of our cities. The PhD allowed me to turn a strong scientific interest into a concrete professional pathway and gave me the tools to contribute actively to research on more sustainable, resilient and liveable urban environments.