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PROGRAM
Below the day-by-day program pf the summer schooll is given. The program may be subjected to changes. Check this page for latest updates.
LECTURE ABSTRACTS
 Zhao Qin, Ph.D. Syracuse University, USA Dr. Zhao Qin graduated from Tsinghua University with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in 2006 and 2008, respectively. He got his Ph.D. from MIT in 2013 and then continued to work as a research scientist until 2019 before he started the Syracuse lab. Dr. Qin is working toward combining experiments and multiscale computational tools for functional biocomposite designs through natural processes. His work focuses on the structure-function relationship of nano and biological materials of hierarchical structures, and he has published over 100 papers with an h-index of 53. His research work is funded by US National Science Foundation (NSF, as 2022 CAREER award), NYSERDA and other agencies. | Bioinspired Composite Design for Enhanced Mechanics Natural materials exhibit remarkable functions—self-growth, mechanical strength, energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, and tunability—achieved through multiscale structures. Unlocking their gene-structure-function relationships and innovatively applying these materials is essential for transitioning from petroleum-based development to a sustainable, circular future. Through multiscale material modeling and collaborations, we integrate AI-driven modeling, 3D printing with advanced in situ synchrotron-based characterization techniques to study bioinspired composites and optimize their design. For example, we recently examined bamboo epidermis, where the disorder dispersion of silica particles enhances strength by mitigating defects and arresting crack propagation. By combining AI-guided analysis with 3D printing, we revealed how mesoscopic silica distributions significantly improve mechanical strength in fracture. Additionally, we explored mycelium fibers, which grow and bind within porous media such as wood and fibrous networks. Acting as a sacrificial layer, mycelium enhances material toughness and mitigates failure. Through AI-enabled insights and synchrotron-based characterization, we unraveled the mechanisms underpinning these enhancements, paving the way for sustainable applications. Our work spans from molecular modeling to large-scale building and energy applications, offering sustainable, strong, tough, and thermally stable materials for a wide array of challenges. References
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 Davide Ruffoni University of Liege, Belgium Davide Ruffoni is currently Associate Professor at the University of Liege (Belgium), where he established the Mechanics of Biological and Bioinspired Materials Laboratory in 2013 (MBBM, www.biomat.uliege.be). He obtained his MSc from Politecnico di Milano and was awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship to carry out his PhD at the Biomaterials Department of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Germany). He then moved to ETH (Switzerland) for a postdoc, where he received two fellowships from the European Calcified Tissue Society and from the International Osteoporosis Foundation for his work on bone remodeling around implants. His current research focuses on mechanical and mechanobiological aspects of healthy and diseased bones at multiple length scales. He is also interested in the interfaces connecting highly dissimilar tissues such as the bone-tendon and the bone-cartilage junction. These clinically relevant locations are explored using a multimodal approach and serve as inspiration for developing biomimetic materials using 3D printing. He is an author of 45+ publications in peer-reviewed journals. | Bone: a self-healing, adaptive, hierarchical material Bone, like many other biological materials, has a hierarchical structure. This provides the opportunity to tune properties at all structural levels, resulting in exceptional mechanical behavior. The fundamental principles involved in designing bones will be presented, including the cellular microstructure of trabecular bone, the plywood organization of cortical bone, and the arrangement of stiff/soft building blocks in bone fibers. When bones and soft tissues such as cartilage and tendon are joined together, an intricate interplay of composition and microstructure is observed, resulting in remarkable mechanical properties. Some of these strategies will be reviewed, providing guidelines for biomimetic attachment. Bone is also an adaptive material, which possesses self-repair capabilities. Examples of functional adaptation and self-repair will be discussed, focusing also on the underlying requirements of information and material transport, within bone and across bone-soft tissues interfaces | |||
 Filippo Berto Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Italy Filippo Berto is chair of mechanics of Materials at Sapienza University of Rome. He is chairman of the technical committee ESIS TC15 on Structural Integrity of additive manufactured components of European Structural Integrity Society. He is also co-chair of ESIS TC18 on Structural Integrity of Welded Structures. He has received several recognitions for his research activity, among them the Wohler Medal for his contribution to fatigue. He is now working on machine learning applied to structural Integrity. | Advanced AI Techniques for Material Analysis and Design Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative tool in materials science, offering innovative approaches to address challenges in modeling and understanding material behavior. This lesson explores the core mechanic and the application of advanced AI architectures, such as Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and Transformers, in analyzing and predicting the static and dynamic mechanical properties of additively manufactured materials. Key topics include how AI can model material anisotropy, address geometric imperfections, and predict performance under diverse testing conditions. | |||
 Mohammad J. Mirzaali TU Delft Prof. Mohammad J. Mirzaali is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at TU Delft, specializing in biomimetics, biomaterials, and bioengineering. His research focuses on developing durable biomimetic interfaces between soft and hard biomaterials to enhance surgical outcomes and reduce post-operative complications. Dr. Mirzaali takes a biomimicry approach, inspired by nature’s evolutionary strategies, to design bioinspired materials with structural gradients and hierarchy. He develops computational models (e.g., finite element) and advanced biomanufacturing techniques (e.g., multi-material 3D printing) to create next-generation implants. Prof. Mirzaali has contributed extensively to the field through high-impact publications and interdisciplinary collaborations, advancing the understanding of bioengineered materials for real-world applications. | Biomimetic tissue interfaces: design, modeling, and applications Natural soft-hard tissue interfaces, such as those found between bone and cartilage or tendon, exhibit remarkable mechanical resilience and functionality. However, replicating these extreme interfaces in engineered systems presents significant challenges, primarily due to stress concentrations that lead to mechanical failure. In this talk, I will explore the fundamental design motifs that enable the durability and adaptability of natural tissue interfaces. I will discuss computational modeling approaches and optimization strategies for designing biomimetic interfaces, as well as fabrication techniques that translate these insights into functional materials. Finally, I will highlight potential applications, including the development of medical devices and in vitro models for guiding cell responses, with the ultimate goal of improving tissue integration and regenerative medicine. | |||
 Nicola Pugno Università di Trento, Italy Full Professor of Solid and Structural Mechanics at the University of Trento. Scientific Responsible of Graphene Nanocomposites at the Bruno Kessler Foundation (Centre of Materials and Microsystems); Full Professor of Materials Science at the Queen Mary University of London (School of Engineering and Materials Science); Founder of the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Nanomechanics “Giuseppe Maria Pugno | To be announced To be announced | |||
 Massimo Delogu Università di Firenze, Italy Massimo Delogu graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1997 from the University of Florence. In 2001 he also obtained the title of Ph.D. in "Design and Construction of Machinery" and currently he is Associate Professor at Department of Industrial Engineering in University of Florence. Since the end of the 90's, Massimo Delogu has been dealing with Design for X methodologies applied to performance, safety, reliability and environment issues. Regarding the sustainability topic, since 2001 he has focused interests on Ecodesign of products and technologies. He is scientific coordinator of the EcoDesign Innovation Team (EDIT), within the Department of Industrial Engineering, which carries out basic and applied research activities, through the involvement in projects and collaborations with industries, public and private bodies, at national and international level. The topics addressed along these years concern in particular: Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) of industrial products and technologies; the development and implementation of Ecodesign and LCSA models and tools; the simulation and analysis of product’s end-of-life scenarios; the European policies, mandatory acts and standards. With regard to the research activities, he is author of several scientific articles presented at conferences or published in national and international indexed journals | The choice of material from an environmental perspective: from the European policies to the Life Cycle Assessment role The aim of the seminar is to share knowledge on policies, regulations and practices (i.e. methodologies, tools, and standards) functional to the development of sustainable industrial products and technologies with a focus on the importance of material’s choice in the circularity perspective. Particularly, special emphasis will be dedicated to the EU regulatory framework conducive to achieving the 17 SDGs of the 2030 SD Agenda and to the main EU flagship initiatives and policies (i.e. the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan). In this context, the concept of Life Cycle Thinking, and its implementation through methodologies based on the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment approach, plays a crucial role for evaluating potential environmental benefits of different materials and design solutions that concur to identify the best sustainable trade-off along the whole product life cycle. The importance and the reason for the application of the LCSA approach will be explained and all the steps of the methodology will be described also through the exposition of different case studies | |||
 Laura Gastaldi Politecnico di Torino, Italy Master of science in 2013 at Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Milano (double degree program connected to Alta Scuola Politecnica) and at University of Illinois at Chicago. PhD in Aerospace Engineering since 2017, she was a visiting researcher at Sandia National Laboratories in 2014 and at University of Michigan in 2015. Since 2018 she is a researcher at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Torino, where she won a tenure track position in 2021. She is an active member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). | Sustainable Velomobile Development: A Biomaterial-Based, Holistic Design Approach Across the Product Lifecycle This talk presents a circular design approach to developing a sustainable velomobile, a human-powered vehicle suited for short-distance travel, tourism, and green deliveries. Given the rising demand for alternative mobility solutions, velomobiles offer an efficient and weather-resistant alternative to bicycles. The project integrates Circular Design (CD) and Systems Engineering (SE) to optimize the velomobile’s entire lifecycle—from material selection to end-of-life strategies. A key focus is the use of bio-based composites, particularly PLA reinforced with natural fibers, which have been purposely characterized to ensure mechanical performance and environmental sustainability. By integrating life cycle assessments (LCA) with lab testing, this study enables informed material selection that balances durability while minimizing the CO2 footprint. The talk will address the definition of the design requirements, the LCA based characterization of the newly developed materials, and the material selection process. | |||
 Flavia Libonati Università di Genova, Italy Flavia Libonati is a Professor of Machine and Materials Design at the University of Genoa, Italy, where she directs the M3M (Multiscale Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials) laboratory, and a Research Affiliate at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Italy. Before she was Research Affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge (USA), and Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Milano (Italy), where she also received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. She is a member of the Research Committee and the Department Delegate for the Third Mission, actively involved in scientific outreach activities. Her primary research interests lie at the interface of biological composites and biomimetic materials, with a special focus on the design and manufacturing of bio-inspired multifunctional materials for advanced engineering applications, through a multiscale numerical and experimental approach. She has been recognized for her research through multiple national and international awards and recognitions, including those by ASME, Elsevier, and AIAS. | Bioinspired design: towards multifunctionality The high quest for lightweight, strength, and toughness is driving the research toward the design of de novo high-performance materials. Nature is a magnificent example of how–through the design and self-assembly of heterogeneous hierarchical structures–it is possible to amplify the properties of the constituent building blocks of biological materials, optimize such materials for the environment where they live, and adapt them to changing conditions. As evolution continues to drive the adaptive process of making natural materials over time, engineering is now attempting to emulate this extraordinary capability, lately via bioinspired architected materials and additive manufacturing. However, the advance of novel technologies in key areas, such as transportation, biomedicine, building and infrastructures, increasingly requests new high-performance structural materials able to adapt to diverse and changing conditions. Besides key mechanical properties, additional functionalities–characteristic of natural and living tissues–are required, from lightweight to sensing external stimuli, or shape morphing. This talk will review several natural examples of multifunctionality to provide inspiration for the design of novel multifunctional systems: from biological and biomineralized tissues to plants and marine systems. | |||
 Barbara Mazzolai Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) Barbara Mazzolai is the Associate Director for Robotics and the Director of the Bioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa. Her research focuses on bioinspired soft robotics, blending biology and engineering to drive innovation. She has coordinated several EU-funded projects, including PLANTOID, GrowBot, and I-SEED, and in May 2021, she launched her ERC Grant, "I-Wood," focusing on Forest Intelligence and robotic networks inspired by the Wood Wide Web. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Tübingen and Stuttgart, Germany), the SAB of the Max Planck Queensland Centre (MPQC) for the Materials Science of Extracellular Matrices, and the Advisory Committee of the Cluster on Living Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (Freiburg, Germany). In 2017, she was a Visiting Faculty member at the Aerial Robotics Lab, Department of Aeronautics, at Imperial College London. Currently, she is a member of the Administrative Committee (AdCom) of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and serves as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Soft Robotics Journal. In 2020, she obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification for Full Professor in Bioengineering. From 2024, she has been an adjunct professor in Soft Robotics at the Department of Mechanics at the Polytechnic of Milan. | A vision towards bioinspired sustainable robotics Natural organisms are inherently adaptive, continuously learning, and evolving. By studying their life processes and evolutionary strategies, engineers can extract key principles to design functional embodiments and energy-efficient behaviors—essential for artificial machines operating in unstructured and challenging environments. With this vision, our approach draws inspiration from plants and soft-bodied animals to develop robots with high morphological adaptability, distributed sensory systems, and energy-efficient mechanisms. Specifically, in this talk, I will explore how nature provides insights into multifunctional materials for morphological adaptation and computation, mechanisms for movements through growth, strategies for climbing and adhesion, multi-sensory information processing, distributed architectures of functionalities, and novel sustainable energy sources. These bioinspired robots—eco-robots—have potential applications in environmental exploration, monitoring, precision agriculture, and expanding our understanding of natural phenomena. | |||
 Miguel Castilho Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands Miguel Castilho is an Associate Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands. He leads a multidisciplinary group focused on biomaterials engineering and biofabrication for in vitro human disease models and in-situ tissue regeneration, particularly for musculoskeletal tissues. Miguel received a PhD (cum laude) in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Lisbon in 2015. He was a post-doctoral researcher at University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) until 2018 and an Assistant professor there until 2021. In 2021, he became a tenured Assistant Professor at TU/e while keeping an adjunct appointment at UMC Utrecht. In 2024, he was appointed Associate Professor. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles, and his contributions have been recognized by various awards including the 2017 Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine Young Investigator Award, the 2023 Jean Leray award from the European Society for Biomaterials and more recently the 2024 Robert Brown Award from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society. In addition to research, he pioneered and coordinates a Biofabrication facility and spearheads a collaborative Master's program in regenerative medicine between Eindhoven and Utrecht, educating students from different backgrounds, including engineering and biology | Engineering cell microenvironments for medicine through bio-inspiration This talk will demonstrate how different tissue and organ functions, such as contractility (in cardiac and skeletal muscle), filtration of waste products from the blood (in the kidney), and load-bearing (in bone and articular cartilage), can be restored using high-resolution scaffold systems and 3D (bio)printing strategies. In particular, the importance of rational design and engineering of scaffold microarchitecture, morphology, and bioactive moieties' binding affinity will be discussed. Additionally, bio-inspired scaffold systems that allow in vitro modeling of life-threatening diseases, like bone marrow fibrosis—a condition characterized by the continuous replacement of blood-forming cells with excessive scar tissue—will be introduced. Finally, increasingly complex 3D bioprinting strategies will be discussed for high-throughput production of scaffold systems with spatial and on-demand control of mechanical properties and geometric changes, opening new perspectives for advanced control of cell and organoid fate. | |||