SPECIAL SESSION #06
Young Researchers' Activities in Technologies for Defense and Security
ORGANIZED BY
Erica Iammarino
Erica Iammarino
Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy
Meri Gjika
Meri Gjika
Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy
Alberto Villani
Alberto Villani
University of Siena, Italy
SPECIAL SESSION DESCRIPTION
This special session aims to promote the contributions of young researchers working in the field of Technologies for Defense and Security. The session provides a dedicated forum for early-career scientists and engineers to present innovative research, exchange ideas, and discuss emerging technological challenges and opportunities relevant to defense and security applications.
The initiative seeks to foster collaboration among academia, industry, government institutions, and defense agencies, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to complex problems and facilitating the development of professional networks. Contributions are expected from a wide range of domains, including sensing and imaging systems, radar and sonar technologies, signal processing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, autonomous and underwater systems, advanced materials, transportation and logistics, as well as education, training, and ethical aspects of defense technologies.
By bringing together young professionals from diverse backgrounds, the session aims to stimulate scientific discussion, promote knowledge transfer, and support the advancement of innovative solutions capable of addressing current and future defense and security needs. The session is open to papers authored and presented by researchers under the age of 35 and is promoted by the IEEE Affinity Group “Young Professionals” – Italy Section. Outstanding contributions demonstrating excellence, originality, and potential impact will be considered for the “Best Paper Presented by a Young Researcher” award.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
Erica Iammarino (Graduate Student Member IEEE) received her master’s degree (cum laude) in Biomedical Engineering from Università Politecnica delle Marche in October 2023. Currently, she is a PhD student at the Department of Information Engineering at Università Politecnica delle Marche, where her research mainly focuses on the development of innovative algorithms for neuroimaging data analysis. Her main research interests include the automatic processing of neuroimaging data, such as electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging, to assess stress and mental engagement, as well as to study functional cortical connectivity under physiological and pathological conditions.
She is a student member of the Gruppo Nazionale di Bioingegneria (GNB), and she is part of the Young Professional Affinity Group of the IEEE Italy Section. Since April 2026, she serves as Chair of the UniversitĂ Politecnica delle Marche IEEE Student Branch.
Meri Gjika received her master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, cum laude, from the same university in July 2024. During her master’s studies, she completed an Erasmus+ internship at the Department of Cardiology at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Currently, she is a PhD student at the Department of Information Engineering at Università Politecnica delle Marche, at the Cardiovascular Bioengineering LAB. Her research interests are centered on the analysis of cardiovascular signals to study atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias, using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to extract relevant features from ECG and hemodynamic signals, as well as on the integration of omics data to provide a deeper understanding of cardiovascular disease mechanisms. In 2026, she was a Visiting Researcher at Lund University, Cardiology Department, as part of her PhD program.
She serves as a student representative for her PhD cohort in the Department of Information Engineering and as a tutor for biomedical engineering students. She is a student member of the Gruppo Nazionale di Bioingegneria (GNB), a graduate student member of IEEE (part of the Young Professional Affinity Group of the IEEE Italy Section), and a member of the European Society of Cardiology. Since April 2026, she has been Secretary of the UniversitĂ Politecnica delle Marche IEEE Branch.
Alberto Villani (IEEE member) received the M.Sc. degree in Automation Engineering from the University of Naples and the Ph.D. degree in Information Engineering and Science from the University of Siena, where he currently holds a postdoctoral research position. His research interests include robotics and haptic interfaces, with applications ranging from human–robot interaction for entertainment and performing arts to mechano-biological technologies for cancer therapy.
He serves as a student representative for the research fellow cohort in the Department of Information Engineering and Science. He is a member of the Istituto di Robotica e le Macchine Intelligenti, a member of IEEE (part of the Young Professional Affinity Group of the IEEE Italy Section), and a member of the EuroHaptic Society. He serves as a member of the IEEE Italy Section Membership and Membership Development team.
