2019-II Call

Application deadline: October 25-th (noon) 2019
Requirements: students enrolled at the first semester of the second year of the MSc track, with 50 CFUs and 28 GPA
Application: website
Available positions:

8 Automation and Control Engineering
7 Biomedical Engineering
20 Computer Science and Engineering
5 Electric Engineering
5 Electronic Engineering
6 Telecommunication Engineering

Research topics in Automation and Control Engineering

Proposers: Stefano Bruni, Matteo Corno, Lorenzo Fagiano, Simone Formentin, Luigi Piroddi, Maria Prandini, Sergio Savaresi, Riccardo Scattolini, Mara Tanelli.
Topic: Theory and application of control systems
The research area includes all the topics related to the theory and application of modeling, control, identification and learning methods for dynamic systems. Applications include, but are not limited to, energy systems, smart grids, vehicles.
Compatible tracks: ATM, CSE, MTM
Positions available: 3

Proposers: Paolo Bolzern, Patrizio Colaneri, Gian Paolo Incremona.
Topic: Optimization and control of complex systems
The research area includes all topics related to optimization and control for complex systems possibly interacting over a network or involving hybrid dynamics. Examples include social , transportation and power networks.
Compatible tracks: ATM, CSE, MTM
Positions available: 3

Proposers: Luca Bascetta, Gianbattista Gruosso, Luca Ferrarini, Michele Norgia, Paolo Rocco.
Topic: Robotics, mechatronics, and industrial automation
The research area includes topics related to modelling and control of robots (industrial, mobile, aerial) and mechatronic systems in general. The broader area of industrial automation is included as well. Experimental facilities to validate the theoretical results will be available.
Compatible tracks: ATM, CSE, MECC
Positions available: 3

Research topics in Biomedical Engineering

Proposers: A. Redaelli, E. Votta
Topic: Development of Novel Methods for Visualization and Navigation of Clinical Data in Virtual/augmented Reality Environment
Description: The candidate will develop skills in GPU-based algorithms for 3D volume rendering techniques to visualize volumetric clinical imaging data (CT, MRI, Ultrasound) and implementation of efficient methods and algorithms for the navigation of 3D volumetric imaging data (e.g., clip-Plane, plane interpolations, shaders). Coding and methods implementation will be based on the Unity environment (C# programming language) for compatibility with virtual/augmented reality projects (e.g., Microsoft HoloLens). The use and integration of the developed methods with the visualization toolkit (VTK) open-source libraries are envisioned. The candidate will pursue the development of a stand-alone App to be used by clinical end-users. This App will help in performing diagnosis and procedural planning of mini-invasive approaches of patient-specific cases.
Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: A. Gautieri
Topic: Development of in Silico Methods for Rational Enzyme Engineering
Description: Increasing enzyme stability is of great interest to improve their applicability as biocatalyst, therapeutic molecules, biosensors and nanomaterials. Available experimental methods to improve enzyme stability are powerful but highly cost- and time-consuming. Computational methods to design thermostable enzymes are thus highly appealing. In this project the student will contribute to the further development and validation of an in silico method for thermostable enzyme engineering, developed at the Biomolecular Engineering Lab of PoliMi. The tasks will consist in the collection and analysis of information from the ProTherm data bank, and their use to improve the computational algorithm to assess the effect of mutations on the enzyme stability. The improved method will then be validated on a specific enzyme, by proposing engineered variants that will be experimentally produced and characterized to verify the increased stability over the wild-type enzyme.
Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: S. Ferrante, E. Ambrosini
Topic: Smart Objects for Monitoring Elderly During Daily Life Activities
Description: The research activity is part of the European project MOVECARE (http://www.movecare- project.eu/), which aims at developing an innovative multi-actor platform to support the independent life of elderly people living in their home through supervision, assistance and promotion of activities to prevent physical and cognitive decline, and social exclusion. This work is about the possibility to extract and analyse indicators of gesture degeneration from the use of smart objects (such as a pen, a handle) equipped with built-in pressure sensors, accelerometer and gyroscopes. Data will be collected in an ecological setting, i.e., while monitoring daily life activities. Real end-users will be monitored at home for four months in a pilot study, and longitudinal data will be available.
Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: L. Pattini
Topic: Genomic Data Analysis of Cells Resistant to Chemotherapeutic Drug Treatments
Description: The project aims at identifying mutations that confer resistance to treatment with antimitotic drugs. Population of yeast cells have been evolved in conditions that mimick the treatment with antimitotics. Resistant clones will be analyzed by sequencing their whole genome to identify and characterize patterns of mutations that are responsible for the resistant phenotype. DNA sequences will be obtained by means of Next Generation Sequencing techniques. Research activity concerns both low level analysis for experimental raw data processing and explorative analyses of mutation patterns through integrative bioinformatics and genomic data mining.
Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: R. Barbieri, L. Mainardi
Topic: Extraction of Biological Signals from Video Camera Recordings
Description: There is a fast growing interest in the use of non-contact devices for health and performance assessment in humans. Video-photoplethysmography (vPPG) is a non-invasive, optical technique able to remotely detect blood volume changes in humans using ambient light and a consumer-level digital camera. Of note, the use of non-contact video-photoplethysmography (vPPG) has been recently demonstrated as a feasible way to extract cardiovascular information. Nevertheless, several technological and methodological issues need to be addressed to transfer the technology to the clinical and commercial market. The candidate will be required to develop novel algorithms, both for the extraction of the vPPG signal and for identification of physiological parameters, in order to improve the performances of existing methods. Performances from the new methods will be compared with results obtained from symultaneously recorded physiological variables (i.e. ECG, PPG, GSR etc.) using traditional physiological signal processing methods. The Candide will be required to partecipate to experimental campaigns. The recordings will be initially performed on healthy control subjects in different indoor experimental settings eliciting controlled autonomic responses. In accordance to the level of experimental development, further recordings in less controlled settings and clinical environment could be considered. The candidate will be involved in both experimental and methodological developments. At the end of the project, the candidate will own state-of-the art expertize in advanced signal processing techniques. Depending on the level of improvement of the newly developed techniques, the project will lead to original publications in international journal, as well as possible patent applications for new biosignal recording devices.
Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: P. Cerveri
Topic: Development of Statistical Shape Model for Rigid and Non-Rigid Anatomical Surfaces
Description: Context Statistical shape models (SSM) have emerged as promising tools in the biomedical field for their ability to represent continuous morphologic variations of anatomical shapes, reconstructed from CT and MRI scans (see in appendix for technical details). They were proved to address both global and local variations, including pathologic abnormalities. SSM, have been recently taken into account to represent the morphologic variability intrinsic to both soft and rigid body parts with applications in medical image processing and analysis, computer graphics, anatomic quantification, computer-assisted planning and surgery. Coping with rigid anatomic shapes requires addressing physiological and pathological variabilities. For examples, when considering a femur shape dataset we have to address variabilities due to overall size (e.g. due to age), bending of the shaft (male vs female), condylar profiles (young vs aged people), pathologic conditions affecting the articular facets and so on. Considering soft shapes like the liver for instance we have to take into account biomechanical modifications (due for instance to the actual position of the CT/MRI scan acquisition, the surrounding organ pressure, the pathologic condition, ..) meaning that such large morphologic variability can disturb actually the construction of the SSM. The aim of this thesis is to develop shape alignment methodologies for computing robust SSM of soft anatomical shapes. The work might take advantage of the collaboration with Ospedale Niguarda Ca? Granda di Milano and University of British Columbia where the student could spend a period during the thesis. The work will start from a set of custom SW tools developed in previous works. The student will investigate different approaches including the use of finite element modelling to compute deformation from the acquired shape to a template shape before SSM construction. Liver raw data will be collected from Radiology Unit, Ospedale Niguarda Ca? Granda di Milano.
Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE, TLC
Positions available: 1

Proposers: E. De Momi
Description: Variable Impedance Control for Human-Robot Cooperative Tasks
Description: Human robot collaboration is one of the pillars of the Industria 4.0 revolution, as it allows getting rid of the safety fences, increasing the production flexibility and performing complex tasks in unstructured environments. A typical example of this cooperation is the human robot physical interaction that in the industrial and biomedical domains (e.g. in assistive robotics or surgery) gives rise to hands-on control, allowing the operator to freely move the robot through the task for task teaching and/or execution purposes. Though this control technique has been extensively studied in the robotics literature, only a few researchers have considered the problem of stability and quality of the human-robot interaction, two issues crucial to achieve a safe interaction and an accurate execution of the planned task. The main goals of this research are the development of: a) accurate and experimentally validated human arm model, for a safe preliminary assessment of the developed control algorithms and simplified models, including all the control relevant dynamics, to support stability analysis and control design in real time; b) variable impedance control strategy, that allows to improve interaction stability and accuracy through an online estimation of the human arm impedance; c) indexes to assess the quality of the executed task, suitable for typical industrial and biomedical tasks; d) experimental protocol and a set of tests that allow to assess the validity of the proposed control approach (using compliant serial robots available in the laboratories). The work will exploit Matlab facilities as the robotics toolbox and Simulink.
Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE, TLC
Positions available: 1

Research topics in Computer Science and Engineering

Track CSE - Advanced Software Architectures and Methodologies
Proposers: G. Agosta Topic: Compiler Construction & Programming Language Implementation The research area covers dynamic and static compiler techniques (including decompilation) aiming at extra-functional goals such as performance, energy efficiency, security, functional and performance portability, as well as the design and implementation of parallel programming models and domain specific languages (e.g., Modelica). Compatible tracks: CSE (all subtopics), ATM (Modelica) Positions available: 1
Proposers: D. Ardagna Topic: Machine Learning (ML) Methods for Performance Evaluation of Software Systems Nowadays, our society is supported by complex software systems often run in clouds. To obtain an efficient use of resources, a performance model is required. ML techniques are becoming popular, since are both accurate and scalable. This work involves the development of ML models for systems spanning from deep learning training on GPGPUs to Big Data. Compatible tracks: ATM, CSE, TLC Positions available: 1
Proposers: G. Cugola Topic: Models for Event-based and Streaming Applications Many information systems need to make sense of large streams of events to detect relevant and critical situations. Our research group investigates new models and languages to "reason" on streaming data, while also coping with the volume, velocity, and variety of the events in the stream. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: E. Della Valle Topic: Expressive yet Efficient Stream Reasoning Real-time decision-making is critical for many domains. From healthcare to infrastructure management, passing from smart cities. Our goal is to support reactive decision-making combining vast and noisy streams with contextual domain knowledge. To this extent, we make use of BigData Stream processing platforms like Spark, Kafka, and Flink, together with inductive and deductive reasoning algorithms. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: E. Di Nitto Topic: Supporting Privacy Compliance of Microservices Applications The new privacy regulations require owners of software systems to be able to monitor and demonstrate the compliance of their applications to the agreed privacy policies. The objective of this work is to create a framework to support: 1) definition of privacy policies, 2) privacy compliance checking in the context of modern microservice-based applications and 3) privacy compliance enforcement, where possible. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: A. Margara Topic: Parallel and Distributed Stream Processing Processing streams of data is crucial in ICT applications, to support decision making and enable timely reactions. Our research group investigates new paradigms to make big data stream processing applications more efficient, by exploiting massively parallel hardware and distributed infrastructures. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: L. Mottola Topic: The Battery-less Internet of Things Energy harvesting is redefining the energy constraints of traditional battery-powered IoT devices. However, such sources of energy are generally erratic, causing systems to shutdown unpredictably. We devise new software techniques to render IoT software immune to periods of energy unavailability. Compatible tracks: CSE, TLC Positions available: 1
Proposers: M. Rossi (con F. Vicentini, CNR-ITIA) Topic: Safety Assessment of Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) Applications Human-robot cooperation (HRC) in dynamic workspaces is a core feature of the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Flexible and adaptive manufacturing involves changing configuration of workflows and even of layouts. This area of research focuses on methods and tools for designing HRC application that guarantee the safety for workers under all circumstances. Compatible tracks: CSE, ATM Positions available: 1

Track CSE - Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Proposers: F. Amigoni Topic: Multirobot Systems Teams of cooperative robots can provide effective and efficient solutions for performing tasks in warehouse management, information gathering, search and rescue, and patrolling. Such multirobot systems present challenges in the development of decision-theoretic planning tools to accomplish the tasks with the appropriate level of autonomy. Compatible tracks: CSE, ATM Positions available: 1
Proposers: A. Bonarini Topic: Human-robot Interaction An effective interaction between robots and people requires online modelling, learning, and adaptation, in the real world, acquiring data from sensors still far from ideal, and exploiting at best shape and affordance a robot can be designed to have. Applications could be inclusive robogames, assistive, or service robots. Compatible tracks: CSE, ATM, BIO Positions available: 1
Proposers: N. Gatti Topic: Algorithmic Game Theory, Mechanism Design, and Multiagent Learning This area, central in Artificial Intelligence, studies of the strategic interactions among agents, aiming at prescribing the best strategy for the players (Libratus), or at designing interaction mechanisms that are robust when agents are selfish and computationally efficient (kidney exchange), or at learning how to exploit the strategy of an agent that is not playing at the equilibrium. Compatible tracks: CSE, ATM Positions available: 1
Proposers: D. Loiacono Topic: Machine Learning for Health Analytics Nowadays, healthcare systems generate a large amount of data which includes clinical data (e.g., medical imaging, physiological signals), administrative data and electronic health records. Health analytics aims at exploiting the huge potential that lies in these data to support several clinical practices such as early diagnosis, design of personalized treatments, prognostic outcome, and assessment of procedures and protocols. Accordingly, this research topic is focused on the design and development of novel data analytics frameworks based on machine learning methods, such as deep learning and ensemble methods, proved successful in several domains. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: M. Matteucci Topic: Computer Vision for Autonomous Navigation Computer vision is entailed with giving machines the capability of understanding their surroundings. When moving autonomously this means to perceive observer egomotion and the surrounding obstacles simultaneously. This applies to autonomous vehicles and robots but is also the key for augmented and virtal reality. In recent years, understanding the sourrounding has extended from pure geometric perception to semantics thanks to the use of machine (deep) learning models capable of interpreting pixels and points semantics. How this can be pushed forward? Compatible tracks: CSE, ATM, TLC Positions available: 1
Proposers: M. Restelli Topic: Reinforcement Learning Reinforcement learning is a learning paradigm concerned with learning to control a system so as to maximize a numerical performance measure that expresses a long-term objective. Reinforcement learning is rapidly gaining attention both from academic and industrial communities due to recent successes in a variety of sequential decision-making problems. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1

Track CSE - Data, Web and Society
Proposers: M. Carman Topic: Deep Learning for Knowledge Extraction from Text and Images Over the past few years, deep learning techniques have vastly improved our ability to automatically detect and extract useful knowledge from text and images. In this project, we will tailor these techniques for the mining of actionable knowledge from a particular type of corpora, such as medical literature, radiology reports, crowdsourced disaster images, pollution images, etc. Compatible tracks: CSE, TLC, BIO Positions available: 1
Proposers: D. Martinenghi Topic: Ranking for Machine Learning In Machine Learning (ML), a common strategy for avoiding the so-called curse of dimensionality is to try to reduce the number of features in use for model construction. This area targets the study of ranking algorithms for feature selection, a central problem in ML. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: M. Masseroli Topic: Bioinformatics The Bioinformatics research area is focused on big life science data and information of different types increasingly available in many heterogeneous sources, and their best management, integration, mining and analysis with different machine learning techniques for knowledge discovery, to better understand complex biological phenomena. Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: M. Matera Topic: Designing chatbots for data exploration A design framework for chatbots for the exploration of a large body of content (see here): configuring personal chatbots for the interaction with data sources selected by the end users; designing Web architectures for gathering data by different sources depending on the identified user intent; modeling the content and the interaction flow for the transition along evolving contexts; visualizing data effectively. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: L. Tanca Topic: Quality in Big Data processing With Big Data, the magnitude and the number of sources to be integrated increase dramatically. We propose to study methods and techniques to choose, integrate and query data sources, with special attention to keeping and enforcing various aspects of data quality (accuracy, correctness, ranking, etc.) including ethics-related issues, like transparency and lack of bias. Compatible tracks: CSE, ATM, BIO, TLC Positions available: 1

Track CSE - Information Systems
Proposers: C. Cappiello Topic: Context-aware data quality assessment for data analytics The thesis will focus on methods and techniques for the Data Quality assessment in smart environments, where the variety and the uncertainty of data sources are increasing. An adaptive platform able to assess the quality of data on the basis of the analysis to perform will be designed and realized. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: B. Pernici Topic: Information Systems - data analysis The thesis concerns the evaluation of graph-based representation of scientific data and the evaluation of uncertainty of results of deep learning techniques. Considered applications can be in one of the following areas: mathematical models for chemistry, tweet geolocation techniques, sensor data. Compatible tracks: BIO, CSE, TLC Positions available: 1
Proposers: P. Plebani Topic: Business Process Management in Cyber Physical Systems Industry 4.0 research is driving the development and deployment of Cyber Physical Systems that could affect several organizations along a supply-chain. The proposed research thesis on Business Process Management is focusing on modeling, configuring, enacting, and monitoring business processes for Cyber Physical System. Compatible tracks: CSE, TLC Positions available: 1

Track CSE - System Architectures
Proposers: A. Barenghi Topic: Security by design in embedded systems This area tackles the problem of enriching techniques and tools employed in embedded systems design providing reliable and provable security as a part of the design phase. The goal is providing countermeasures against to side channel attacks by means of design tool modifications. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: G. Boracchi Topic: Deep learning for image restoration and registration. Image restoration algorithms (e.g. noise/blur removal) have many applications in engineering, and often leverage deep learning models to represent clean images. Algorithms for learning and efficiently computing image representations are widespread in restoration, registration and anomaly detection. Compatible tracks: CSE, TLC, BIO Positions available: 1
Proposers: L. Cassano Topic: Dependability Solutions for Critical Infrastructures The research area focuses on the design and development of methodologies and tools to support the design and deployment of dependable ICT for critical infrastructures. Tolerance, test and diagnosis of faults in the components of a critical infrastructure will be the target activities. Compatible tracks: CSE, ELN, ELT, TLC. Positions available: 1
Proposers: A. Miele Topic: Design of Approximation-based Fault Management Strategies The project exploits approximate computing to define fault handling strategies tailored for selected classes of applications (e.g. image processing). The goal is to reduce the area/time/power overhead of traditional redundancy-based hardening and achieve an improved fault classification capability. Compatible tracks: CSE, TLC, BIO. Positions available: 1
Proposers: G. Palermo Topic: Self-Tunable Application in High Performance and Embedded Computing Systems The research area focuses on the development of methodologies, libraries, and tools to always guarantee the efficient execution of the target code. Its importance is increasing in several computing areas requiring high level of specialization, ranging from HPC to embedded and cyber-physical systems. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: C. Pilato Topic: Design Methods and Architectures for Hardware Security This area studies how to enforce the hardware security of digital circuits against IP theft and infringement, unauthorized access to sensible data, and other cyber attacks. Micro-architectural solutions and automated design methods are developed and studied based on the security threats to target. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: M. Roveri Topic: Lifeling machine/deep learning for IoT and Edge The project will focus on the design of novel and theoretically-grounded Machine and Deep Learning solutions able to support the lifelong-learning paradigm in real-world time-variant technologically-constrained scenarios (such as Internet-of-Things and Edge Computing systems). Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1
Proposers: C. Silvano Topic: Acceleration of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks on Low-power Embedded Architectures In embedded systems, the computational requirements for DCNNs along with low-power and memory constraints require lot of attention, especially considering the use of HW-accelerators. This research area investigates the design space exploration of low-power accelerators for next generation DCNNs. Compatible tracks: CSE Positions available: 1

Research topics in Electronics Engineering

Proposers: G. Bertuccio
Topic: Semiconductor Radiation Detectors and Integrated Circuits for Scientific Applications
Semiconductor Radiation Detectors (SRD) are commonly used in science and have applications in medicine, material analysis and security. The continuous increase in complexity and performance of new SRD requires advanced Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) for signal readout and processing. The objectives of this research activity is the study, the design and the experimental characterization of the most advanced semiconductor radiation detectors in Silicon and in Compound Semiconductors (GaAs, CdTe, CdZnTe, SiC) and the low-noise and low-power CMOS ASIC for SRD devoted to Synchrotron X-ray sources and Space Telescopes for Astrophysics. The research activity is made in collaboration with the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the European Space Agency (ESA) and Elettra Syncrotron in Trieste.
Compatible tracks: ELN
Positions available: 1

Proposers: C. Fiorini, M. Carminati
Topic: Development of innovative detection systems and readout ASICs for fundamental physics and medical imaging applications
The student will be involved in stimulating team activity carried out within international collaborations and concerning the development of innovative detection systems and readout ASICs to be used in experiments for both fundamental physics (nuclear physics, neutrinos search, X-ray astronomy..) and applied physics (analytical instrumentation for material analysis, industrial applications). Projects of the team regard also the development of sensors and electronics for medical imaging applications. During the program, the student will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a broad range of components, circuits and systems, from radiation sensors, to low-noise integrated circuits, to data acquisition systems, to a complete instrument ans its use in the target application.
Compatible tracks: ELN
Positions available: 2

Proposers: A. Castoldi
Topic: Developement of novel Germanium Drift Detectors
The research activity is focused on the study and development of the first Germanium Drift Detector (GDD) that will represent a break-through in the field of imaging and spectroscopy of X- and gamma-rays. Germanium is one of the purest semiconductor crystals available today with excellent carrier transport properties and high detection efficiency of X and gamma rays that makes it the ideal candidate for such task. The design of novel 'drift' topologies, i.e. based on 3D shaping of the electric field inside the semiconductor volume, combined with the unique material properties has the potential of unprecedented low-noise performance on a wide energy range. The student will be collaborate in the development of the first prototypes of Germanium drift detectors and of the low-noise readout electronics and will participate in the conduction of their experimental characterization as well as in the analysis and interpretation of the data. The research activity is conducted in collaboration with international partners in the frame of the project DESIGN: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), LABEC Firenze.
Compatible tracks: ELN, BIO
Positions available: 1

Proposers: C. Guazzoni
Topic: Development of Innovative Instrumentation for Femtoscopy and Correlation Measurements in Nuclear Physics
The activity proposed to the candidate frames in the construction of the novel Femtoscope Array for Correlation and Spectroscopy, named FARCOS, featuring high angular and energy resolution and able to address several open cases in nuclear physic in experiments with stable and radioactive beams in nuclear physics experiments. Politecnico di Milano research staff, in collaboration with INFN, Sezione di Milano is in charge of the development of a multi-channel double-polarity selectable-gain VLSI frontend to be coupled to the Double-Sided Silicon Strip Detectors of FARCOS and of the frontend to readout the signal of the photodiodes coupled to the CsI(Tl) scintillators acting as third detection stage. The student will collaborate in the final ASIC design, in the final qualification of the frontend electronics (motherboards and patch panels), equipped with the ASICs, the line drivers and the slow-control and will take part in the beam tests. The student will have the possibility to shape the focus of the research activity according to his/her skills and interests. The student will have the possibility to work in a real research lab, with hands-on approach combined with a strong theoretical background in the field of radiation detectors and low-noise frontend electronics, sharing the daily lab life with PhD students, junior and experienced researchers.
Compatible tracks: ELN, BIO
Positions available: 1

Proposers: F. Villa, A. Tosi, F. Zappa
Topic: Microelectronics, devices, and electronic systems for 2D imaging and 3D ranging
1. "ELECTRON DEVICES: design, simulation, and fabrication of single-photon detectors in Si, InGaAs/InP and Ge". The research aims at conceiving new microelectronic sensors for detecting single photons in the 200nm-1,700nm range, with picosecond-timing precision. Different semiconductors (Si, Ge, InGaAs, InP, GaAs) and novel processing (planar, three-dimensional stacking, wafer-to-wafer bonding, vertically-grown micro-crystals) will be pioneered. Funding from European Commission “Horizon 2020” programmes, USA DARPA agency, national funds.
2. "MICROELECTRONICS: schematics, layout, fabrication and validation of ASIC chips for ststems-on-chips". The research aims at integrating detector arrays, in-pixel mixed-signal electronics and on-chip digital processing into one single chip, for imagers providing 2D movies at high (>100,000 frames/s) rates, single-photon sensitivity, and 3D (distance-resolved) maps of objects in a scene. Different microelectronic technologies (CMOS, BCD, and Si-Ge) and foundries will be exploited. Funding from “Horizon2020” EC programmes, NATO “Safety for Peace” programme, JPL-NASA agency.
3. "ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: development and system integration of advanced electronic systems for sensing and imaging". The research aims at prototyping electronic products with FPGA, µC, and DSP devices, for different applications (e.g., time-of-flight 3D automotive vision, quantum optics experiments, quantum computing chips, non-invasive biomedical parameter acquisitions). Various methodologies, hw/fw/sw co-partitions, devices (Xilinx, Altera, ARM-Cortex) and high-level languages will be exploited. Funding from JPL-NASA agency, European Southern Observatory, and European Space Agency).
Compatible tracks: ELN
Positions available: 3

Proposers: A. Gulinatti, I. Rech
Topic: Single-photon detectors and applications
Recently, the field of single-photon detection has experienced an exponential growth due to the emergence of a large number of scientific and industrial applications that require the capability of detecting the light down to the single-photon level. Among them are laser ranging, single-molecules analysis, and optical quantum computing, which are regarded as key enabling technologies to address some of today?s most challenging problems like the development of new drugs, the study of climatic changes and the autonomous driving. The Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) has emerged as the detector of choice for these applications thanks to its remarkable performance. However, many progresses are still needed to bring these applications in everyday life. The research activity is aimed at addressing these limitations by developing innovative solutions for the detection of single photons with unprecedented capabilities in terms of photon detections efficiency, timing jitter, spectral sensitivity, and integrability into large arrays of detectors. The activity will involve one or more of these fields: design and simulation of new detector structures, study and modeling of unexplored detector properties, development of new experimental characterization techniques, design of new front-end circuitry, development of application specific architectures.
Compatible tracks: ELN
Positions available: 2

Proposers: D. Ielmini, C. Monzio Compagnoni, A.S. Spinelli
Topic: Emerging memory devices and in-memory computing
The future evolution of integrated electronic technologies will see a closer interaction of logic and memory devices, overcoming the traditional design schemes in the attempt to constantly reduce power consumptions and improve system performance. This is today triggering the research both on new, fast and energy-efficient memory devices that could be integrated directly in logic processes and on new computational forms that could be directly performed inside memory arrays. The proposed projects for the Honours Program will make contributions to these two research lines. In the former, activities will be focused on the experimental, numerical and theoretical investigation of the basic physics, the working principles and the performance of emerging memory devices, such as nanoscale ferroelectric memories and magnetoresistive memories. In the second, in-memory computing will be investigated both theoretically and experimentally, focusing on hardware neuromorphic systems exploiting different types of memory arrays, e.g., floating-gate, resistive and phase-change arrays, as artificial synaptic arrays. The results of the projects will pave the way to the future evolution of micro and nanoelectronics.
Compatible tracks: ELN
Positions available: 3

Proposers: G. Ferrari
Topic: Innovative Integrated Instrumentation for Nanoscience
The constant scaling down of the devices poses many challenges to their characterization due to the corresponding reduction of the electrical signals, in many cases down to femtoAmpere currents and sub-attoFarad capacitances. The sensitivity required to the electronic instrumentation can be obtained by co-design the device and the reading electronics, ideally merging into a single miniaturized integrated device thus optimizing their coupling. This same approach also paves the way to the design of innovative sensors that profit of the reduced physical size to reach high spatial resolution or the detection of few molecules or electrons. The group is involved in different projects requiring the design of such custom electronic instruments and smart sensors, for example: i) the European project TRAINING4CRM (http://www.training4crm.eu/) having the objective to develop an integrated system able to detect the release of neurotransmitters of optically stimulated neurons; ii) the ASI project QUASIX focused on the design of cryogenic circuits in CMOS technology to investigate single-atom based devices for quantum silicon communications in space
Compatible tracks: ELN,BIO
Positions available: 1

Proposers: D. Natali
Topic: Plastic Electronics
Organic semiconductors are carbon-based compounds that can be conveniently processed from solution at almost room temperature. As a consequence, it is possible to manufacture devices, circuits and systems by means of non-lithographic techniques, such as inkjet printing, screen printing, flexography to cite but a few. The benefits of printed electronics include: low cost, mechanical flexibility, ease of production and integration, and the possibility of addressing a variety of non-conventional applications: flexible displays, image sensors, bio-sensors, smart labels, RF-ID tags, edible electronics, wearable electronics, and more. The research encompasses all the aspects, issues and challenges of plastic electronics: the fundamentals of charge carrier transport related to the energetically disordered landscape sampled by carriers; device modeling and simulation through innovative ad-hoc developed code; printing process engineering; logic, analog, optoelectronic circuits and systems design, realization and characterization.
Compatible tracks: ELN, BIO
Positions available: 1

Proposers: M. Sampietro
Topic: Smart sensor systems for silicon photonics and optical processors
Photonic technologies have since long dreamed of non-invasive monitoring tools to inspect the light inside optical waveguides. By exploiting photon interaction with intra-gap energy states localized at the waveguide surface, we demonstrate that light intensity can be monitored by measuring the electric conductance of the silicon waveguide through a capacitive access to the waveguide via the SiO cladding. This approach realizes a ContactLess Integrated Photonic Probe (CLIPP), that is simple, inherently CMOS compatible, noninvasive and scalable to hundreds of probing points per chip. Light monitoring with a sensitivity of -30 dBm and a dynamic range of 40 dB is demonstrated in waveguides and high-Q resonators, and for the tuning of coupled-resonator optical filters. The CLIPP concept has been demonstrated on both silicon (Si) and indium phosphide (InP) photonic platforms, and has been utilized in several different applications, including for instance automatic fiber-to-waveguide alignment, wavelength tuning and stabilization of micro-ring resonators (MRRs) , light-path tracking and feedback-control of switch fabrics. The Thesis will develop all the electronics to read the CLIPP sensors and to feedback control the operating point of the many optical devices in a Photonic chip. The group is now involved in the European Project STREAMS (http://ict-streams.eu/ ) having the overall objective to develop the necessary Silicon Photonics Transceiver and Routing technologies towards a new, power efficient, WDM-based, Tb/s, optical on-board interconnection paradigm that enables multiple high bandwidth, point-to-point direct links on the board level, as a step forward to the realization of multi-socket server blades technology. The elected student will participate to this high level project.
Compatible tracks: ELN,BIO
Positions available: 1

Research topics in Electric Engineering

Proposers: S. A. Pignari
Topic: Electromagnetic Compatibility in Power Electronics
Description: Contact the proposer for the details.
Compatible tracks: ELT
Positions available: 1

Proposers: F. Grassi
Topic: Automotive Power over Ethernet
Description: Contact the proposer for the details.
Compatible tracks: ELT
Positions available: 1

Proposers: A. Ferrero
Topic: Measurement in the Smart Grid
Description: Contact the proposer for the details.
Compatible tracks: ELT
Positions available: 1

Proposers: S. Grillo
Topic: MDC Microgrid control in the Smart Grid framework
Description: Contact the proposer for the details.
Compatible tracks: ELT
Positions available: 1

Proposers: L. Di Rienzo
Topic: Stochastic electromagnetic modeling
Description: Contact the proposer for the details.
Compatible tracks: ELT
Positions available: 1

Research topics in Telecommunication Engineering

Proposers: G. Bernasconi
Topic: SW based solutions for pipeline monitoring
Description: Pipelines are an important asset in fluid transportation. Current solutions for monitoring their integrity and efficiency are based on the medium/long term analysis of the "multidomain" parameters recorded along the line (pressure, temperature, flow, density, vibrations, etc.), also with machine learning approaches. The research project activities involve the definition of the scenarios/parameters of interest, the design of new prototypal recording systems and layouts, the study and implementation of advanced simulation/monitoring procedures and strategies.
Compatible tracks: ATM, CSE, ELN, ELT, TLC
Positions available: 1

Proposers: M. Nicoli
Topic: Signal processing techniques for vehicle-to-vehicle communications supporting connected automated driving
Description: This area focuses on signal processing methodologies for vehicular communication systems based on millimeter waves (mm-wave) to support cooperative automated driving (CAD). Mm-wave signals (30-300 GHz), currently employed for automotive radar, have the potential to support high data-rate (1 Gbps) and ultra-low latency (1 ms) communications between self-driving vehicles for enabling cooperative perception and maneuvering functionalities. By high data-rate vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, vehicles can share high-definition maps of the driving environment (radar, camera, lidar) and enlarge their perception range, with huge benefits in road safety. Fast V2V interactions enable the vehicle to exchange the planned trajectories and synchronize the mobility patterns to form tight autonomous convoys with enhanced traffic efficiency. This research area focuses on the design of mm-wave V2V connectivity to support these functionalities. Large antenna arrays are employed at the transceivers to form sharp beams and counterbalance the high path-loss of mm-wave propagation. Main objective is the development of innovative algorithms for fast alignment and tracking of the beam-pointing between vehicles, or between vehicles and infrastructure, exploiting side information on vehicles? dynamics and data fusion with interconnected vehicles
Compatible tracks: TLC, ATM, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: U. Spagnolini
Topic: Role of 5G wireless communications in vehicle (self)mobility: concept and reuse of on-board radar for V2V communication
Description: 5G wireless paradigm will be disruptive in many areas, and one key area will be the way vehicles communicate one-another with extremely low-latency. Tactile-internet is relevant in this field to enable the vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication, to enable machine learning algorithms for augmented car platooning vision. Radar systems are already on-board of vehicles, the scientific focus of the proposal is to augment the use of these radar by designing specific signatures to enable inter-vehicle synchronization and communication to be paired with 5G infrastructure.
Compatible tracks: CSE, ELT, TLC
Positions available: 1

Proposers: A. Capone
Topic: Software Defined Networking and Network Virtualization
Description: 5G wireless paradigm will be disruptive in many areas, and one key area will be the way vehicles communicate one-another with extremely low-latency. Tactile-internet is relevant in this field to enable the vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication, to enable machine learning algorithms for augmented car platooning vision. Radar systems are already on-board of vehicles, the scientific focus of the proposal is to augment the use of these radar by designing specific signatures to enable inter-vehicle synchronization and communication to be paired with 5G infrastructure.
Compatible tracks: CSE, ELT, TLC
Positions available: 1

Proposers: M. Cesana
Topic: Internet of Things for Smart Campus
Description: This research topic targets the design and prototyping of Internet of Things solutions to support smart campus applications. Sample applications may include smart thrash bins, smart parking and pedestrian flow tracking. The work will produce in the end a working prototype of a IoT system including the sensors/actuators devices, the communication system to bring the data to a central controller and the backend to store, process and visualize the collected data.
Compatible tracks: TLC, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: A. Redondi
Topic: Extracting Knowledge from Network Data Analytics
Description: Network traffic data traces are precious sources of information to learn and anticipate the network behavior thus being able to adapt the network resources on- the fly. The work will start off from real network traffic data traces from mobile radio network and will consist in applying machine learning tools to extract knowledge from the data traces.
Compatible tracks: TLC, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: G. Verticale
Topic: Information and Communications Technologies for Smart Energy and Smart Grids
Description: The electric power grid is undergoing unprecedented changes that have transformed it to a distributed, user-centric smart grid. Realizing the vision of the smart grid is contingent upon deploying reliable and effective information and communication technology solutions that enable high-speed, two-way communications. Indeed, communication technologies are a key enabler for many of the foreseen smart grid features such as demand response, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), electric vehicle and storage unity integration, and microgrid control. To this end, a plethora of solutions for smart grid communications have recently emerged that rely on a myriad of wireless communication and power line communication technologies. This includes novel approaches to enable smart meters and other smart grid machine type devices to communicate with the grid, as well as new communication solutions to enable vehicle-to-grid and grid-to-vehicle communications. The integration of information and communication technologies in the grid also raises poses security risks that must be mitigated from a cyber-physical perspective.
Compatible tracks: CSE, ELT, TLC
Positions available: 1

Proposers: M. Tornatore, F. Musumeci
Topic: Machine Learning Based Management of Optical Networks
Description: The work targets the development of machine learning tools and algorithms for failure detection and failure identification in optical networks. Failure detection/identification tools can then be leveraged by the network operators to properly adapt the network by re-routing traffic.
Compatible tracks: ATM, TEL, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: A. Melloni
Topic: Photonic Devices
Description: Integrated photonic devices for telecom and datacom, signal processing, (bio)-sensing and neuromorphic applications. Technology (materials and processes for fabrication), design, characterisation and testing. Advanced numerical simulators. Work to be done in the framework of European and industrial projects.
Compatible tracks: ELN, TLC, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: L. Luini, C. Riva
Topic: Advanced satellite communication systems
Description: Investigation and modelling of electromagnetic wave propagation oriented to advanced satellite communication systems, which are shifting from broadcast to interactive systems (e.g. Internet via satellite), to higher frequency bands (e.g. from 30 GHz up to 80 GHz), from using geostationary satellites to satellites on Low and Medium Earth.
Compatible tracks: TLC, ELN
Positions available: 1

Proposers: M. Martinelli
Topic: Optical Communications
Description: The research area addresses the latest developments in the field of optical communications including wireless optics, novel modulation and multiplexing techniques and optical sensors.
Compatible tracks: ELN, TLC, CSE
Positions available: 1

Proposers: M. Magarini
Topic: Molecular and Nanoscale Communication
Description: Molecular Communication (MC) is an enabling paradigm for the interconnection of future devices and networks in the biological environment, with applications ranging from bio-medicine to environmental monitoring and control. The research area will focus on the engineering of biological circuits, which allows to manipulate the molecular information processing abilities of biological cells in order to realize MC-enabled devices. The main subject of investigation will be the design and engineering of communication protocols and systems harnessing molecules as the key information carrier.
Compatible tracks: BIO, ELN, TLC
Positions available: 1

Proposers: A. Spalvieri
Topic: Evaluation of 5G Transmission
Description: Experimental research on 5G low-latency links for monitoring and controlling flying drones through beyond visual line of sight approaches.
Compatible tracks: TLC, CSE, AUT, ELN
Positions available: 1

Proposers: L. Reggiani
Topic: Public Safety Communication in the Context of Emergency Situations
Description: The objective is to design and evaluate efficient heterogeneous resource management techniques by adaptive power control, throughput enhancement and interference management for D2D communication on 5G in a decentralized emergency scenario where decentralized means there is no communication or control from base station (gNodeB). The originality is to exploit machine learning (ML) techniques to improve the existing state of the art works. Further, by exploiting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for weak signal detection, and devices accurate position evaluation is an important objective. The deployed setup with UAV assisted connectivity is one of the novel contribution. In addition, context aware and reliable D2D multi-hop routing and network connections to ensure high end-to-end throughout and low end-to-end energy consumption and delay is another core objective.
Compatible tracks: TLC, ELN
Positions available: 1