Doctorate - Aerospace Science and Technology

My Ph.D. focuses on autonomous satellite navigation for proximity and docking operations. I specialize in monocular pose estimation using deep learning, emphasizing algorithm deployability and domain gap. In 2022 I ranked 4th and 5th in the ESA’s satellite pose estimation challenge. From February to July 2024 I conducted a research visit at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (Adelaide, Australia), working on structure from motion.

Supervisor: Prof. Paolo Tortora; co-supervisor: Prof. Dario Modenini.

Master of Science - Aerospace Engineering

I contributed to a microsatellite mission study, focusing on attitude and power subsystems, and developed a thermal analysis model for LEO satellites. I conducted my thesis in collaboration with Alén Space (Spain) on the preliminary design of the communication system for an ESA-contracted robotic lunar cave exploration study.

Exam average (out of 30): 29.87; graduation mark (out of 110): 110 with honours.

Bachelor of Science - Aerospace Engineering

My internship and final thesis focused on GPS algorithms for orbit determination.

Exam average (out of 30): 29.40; graduation mark (out of 110): 110 with honours.

Research Fellow

Research topic: onboard technologies for attitude and orbital control of satellites in very low Earth orbit.

Students Supervisor

Since joining the Microsatellites and Space Microsystems Lab in February 2021, I have supervised 7 BSc and 1 MSc students from the Aerospace Engineering programs during their internships and final thesis projects.

Teaching Tutor

MATLAB Ambassador

During my initial two years of Ph.D., I engaged in two contracts with MathWorks through Adecco S.p.A. Within this period, I organized MathWorks-branded events aimed at promoting awareness of MathWorks products among students. Additionally, I conducted seminars within engineering bachelor's and master's degree courses at the University of Bologna, focusing primarily on MATLAB applications in numerical computing and deep learning.

Research Fellow

This project involved conducting a feasibility analysis on the application of neural networks for satellite pose estimation. In this framework I created a photorealistic dataset of a COSMO-SkyMed spacecraft using Blender and developed a pose estimation algorithm utilizing neural networks in TensorFlow. The pose estimation software has been finely tuned for real-time inference on a Coral Dev Board Mini. This research project received funding from Thales Alenia Space Italia.

EUROAVIA Executive

I am a proud co-founder of EUROAVIA Forlì-Bologna, the University of Bologna’s affiliated society within the European Association of Aerospace Students. In 2018, I represented the association at the AMEAC Congress in Bremen. I also contributed in the organization of the Aerodynamics Symposium, the association’s inaugural international event.

Private Tutor

Since my second year of bachelor's studies, I have been providing private lessons in mathematics, physics, and chemistry for high school and university students.