The main research topics of the PhD program in Computer Science and Automation are as follows:
Industrial Automation
This research program focuses on the development of models, methodologies and tools for the efficient use of resources in industrial and logistics processes. Its theoretical background lies in the fields of optimization and the control of discrete-event systems, and includes the development of models and methods for predicting the behavior of such processes.
Operations Research
This research program focuses on the development of theories, models and methods for decision support and optimization.
In addition to methodologies specific to the field, such as discrete optimization, scheduling theory, multi-agent optimization and complexity theory, the research program covers typically interdisciplinary aspects concerning the study of decision-making processes in organized systems, as well as the development of models and methods for improving the performance of such systems.
Business Management and Analytics
Link identifier #identifier__117812-1Research group website
This research program focuses on the study of business and social dynamics through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates methods from network science, text mining and machine learning with theories from the social sciences, psychology and management. The aim is to support strategic decision-making processes and improve the understanding of organizational and communication-related phenomena.
The main areas of interest include brand management, business intelligence, communication and organizational behavior, people analytics and innovation management, with particular attention to the analysis of social contexts and big data.
Artificial Intelligence
Link identifier #identifier__24648-2Research group website
This research program has a multidisciplinary character and focuses on the study and development of methods and tools for intelligent systems, namely adaptive, flexible and reliable computer systems with a sound theoretical foundation. The research activity encompasses both formal approaches and empirical and experimental investigations for the analysis, development and evaluation of the systems devised.
The research program focuses on the following areas: Adaptive and Personalized Web, Automated Deduction, Context-Aware and Social Recommendation, AI in Education, AI Applications, e-Learning, Knowledge Representation Logic, Modal and Temporal Logic, Artificial Intelligence Planning and Scheduling, User Modelling and User-Adapted Interaction.
Graph Algorithms and Network Visualization
Link identifier #identifier__10997-3Research group website
The objective of the research group is to develop new tools and methodologies for the analysis and visualization of information, with particular emphasis on large-scale networks and graphs (Big Data). Of particular interest are representation metaphors that lend themselves to progressive exploration, such as clustered graph representations, condensed visualizations of different types of information (simultaneous graph drawing), and the representation of graphs and networks in constrained spaces. The research group investigates problems motivated by practical applications, supported by a solid theoretical background.
Computer Networks and Security
Link identifier #identifier__158527-4Research group website
The research group aims to develop new methodologies and tools for the management of computer networks and the Internet. Areas of interest include inter-domain routing, network and system security, software-defined networks, and computer network virtualization.
Research activities specifically address algorithms and systems for the exploration and analysis of the Internet, as well as the study of inter-domain routing policies and routing stability on the Internet. Regarding network security, research focuses on authenticated data structures for the secure use of untrusted databases. In the area of software-defined networking, research addresses the use of software-defined networks in application contexts, as well as issues related to their management and monitoring.
Databases and Information Systems
Link identifier #identifier__69458-5Research group website
The main objective of this research program is to study new principles, methods and tools for organizing and managing information in the form of databases, i.e. systematic collections of large amounts of persistent and shared information. The research focuses particularly on new requirements arising from the availability of large volumes of data from heterogeneous information sources.
The program includes projects addressing both methodological and formal aspects, as well as experimental research. Research topics include data extraction from Web sources, schema and heterogeneous data management (“model management”), data integration and exchange, big data analysis and management, and new data management systems (NewSQL and NoSQL).
Computer Systems for Scientific Computing
The objective of this research program is to develop new theoretical methodologies and software for scientific computing applied to fields in which simulation plays an important role, ranging from engineering applications using the Finite Element Method to bioinformatics applications involving the analysis and correction of genomic sequences. The program combines development in parallel (multicore), distributed (cluster) and many-core (GPU) environments with algebraic and functional analysis methods.
Robotics
Link identifier #identifier__81537-6Research group website
The program focuses on methodologies and technologies for sensor-based navigation of cooperative autonomous vehicles operating in partially structured environments. Research activities include sensor data processing for localizing a robot and planning its motion, mapping the environment, and controlling the robot along its path. The program also includes the development of distributed control systems.
Modelling and Simulation of Critical Infrastructures
Link identifier #identifier__178984-7Research group website
The main research topics of this program concern the following areas: modelling of interconnected complex systems, modelling of interdependencies, vulnerability of SCADA systems, data fusion, distributed algorithms for sensor networks, intelligent energy management, decentralized traffic control, and Smart Cities.