New rector and leading team at the University of Pisa

Born in 1959, Professor Mancarella holds a joint Ph.D. in Information Technology from the Universities of Genoa, Pisa and Udine. He started his career at the Imperial College of Science in London and since 2004 is full professor at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pisa. He has been Deputy Head of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences, Vice Rector to Teaching and the Rector’s Delegate for the support and integration of students with disabilities. Research interests of Professor Mancarella focus on computational logic and the so-called logic-based argumentation systems through studies of a theoretical and foundational nature, with an emphasis still on the computational and applicative aspects. These were central themes in two European projects under the FP5 and FP6.

The new rector appointed 11 vice rectors and 11 delegates, among which Professor Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, vice rector for European and international research, and Professor Marco Raugi, vice rector for Applied Research and Technological Transfer. Full professor of Ecology at the Department of Biology, Benedetti-Cecchi has covered numerous roles at international level and has been the principal investigator in numerous European projects. Professor Raugi is full professor of Electrical Engineering at the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Construction Engineering. He investigates computational intelligence applications to electrical engineering with particular focus on PowerLineCommunications and the SmartGrid.

Founded in 1343, the University of Pisa is one of the most ancient and prestigious universities in Europe. Galileo Galilei, who was born and studied in Pisa, became professor of Mathematics at the Pisan Studium in 1589. Today the University of Pisa boasts twenty large departments, covering all disciplinary areas, with high level research centres in the sectors of physics, computer science, engineering, mathematics, among others. The academic staff is 1469 professors and researchers, 1507 administrative employees, and more than 50.000 students (including students from other Italian region and from abroad). The University of Pisa is involved in a large number of EU-funded projects, especially under the 7th Framework Programme, with 157 granted projects, that represent an EU contribution of 50 million euros and Horizon 2020 with 47 granted projects (15 million euros).