Archives: Team

I am Alessia Giaquinto, a PhD Student in Environmental Phenomena and Risks, with a strong enthusiasm for innovation and continuous learning. I am currently pursuing my PhD at the “Parthenope” University of Naples with Professor Giampaolo Ferraioli as Supervisor and Professor Silvio Del Pizzo as Co-Supervisor. My research focuses on the application of Artificial Intelligence techniques in the fields of Remote Sensing and Geomatics.
I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Nautical, Aeronautical, and Meteo-Oceanographic Sciences at the “Parthenope” University of Naples in 2022, graduating with top honors (110/110 cum laude), where I was first introduced to the topics I am exploring in my PhD research. I then pursued a Master’s degree in Navigation Science and Technology, specializing in Navigation and Surveying, at the same university. I graduated with top honors (110/110 cum laude) and received a career distinction in 2024.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Texas A&M University (College Station, TX), with additional coursework in Oceanography, and a Master’s in Earth Dynamics and Environmental Geology from the Università degli Studi di Padova. During my master’s, I specialized in sedimentology, paleoclimatology, and remote sensing, conducting thesis research on Pleistocene paleoclimate variability (Gelasian Stage, ~2.588 Ma) using isotopic analysis (δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C) of microfossils (foraminifera) from Gela, Sicily.

Currently, as a PhD candidate at Università di Roma Sapienza, I focus on AI-driven Earth Observation for monitoring rapidly changing landscapes. My work leverages Sentinel-1/2 data and landslide inventories to develop Deep Learning (DL) models for rapid landslide detection and mapping in Italy. As a visiting researcher, I aim to bridge geoscience with cutting-edge EO technologies to enhance hazard response and environmental resilience.

Gillian is a third year Doctoral Candidate at the University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia. As part of the Earth Observation Research Centre and the Marine Ecosystem Monitoring Lab, her research focuses on developing the knowledge, tools, and data required to accurately map and monitor kelp, from local to national extents, using satellite imagery. This project aims to support coastal ecosystem managers and inform marine policy decisions.
Before her studies in Australia, Gillian completed a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in the areas of Environmental Science and Physical Geography, respectively. Her master’s research project used leaf-level, drone, and aerial hyperspectral data to evaluate the feasibility of detecting and mapping aquatic vegetation in a freshwater environment. Upon graduation, she worked to identify and quantify fugitive methane emissions from satellite imagery at the Canada-based satellite company GHGSat

Nadine Duursma pursues a double master’s degree in Robotics and Space Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Driven by the application of autonomy and AI in space, she developed CubeSats and autonomous satellite tracking systems in the Arctic, raced 3,000 km across Australia with a solar car, and contributed to the Lunar Gateway through SSP at NASA in Houston. As part of her journey, she spent an exchange semester at Princeton University and authored a children’s book, Met Mama naar Mars, about space.

At ESA Φ-lab, Nadine focuses on AI-based Tip and Cue, a novel Earth observation strategy using a two-satellite formation. A wide field-of-view tipping satellite scans large areas to detect anomalies and cues a second satellite to zoom in. Her work involves developing software for orbital simulations, data collection, disturbance modelling, and onboard AI processing.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Computer Engineering from the University of Bologna in 2023, I am now a final-year Master’s student specializing in deep learning and computer vision. Throughout my studies, I have worked on projects spanning these fields, as well as software engineering and distributed systems, building a well-rounded technical foundation.
Driven by a strong commitment to leveraging technology for a more sustainable future, I am eager to deepen my knowledge and contribute to advancing Earth Observation techniques. As a visiting researcher at ESA phi‑lab, I am excited to apply self-supervised learning techniques to improve the focusing of SAR images, ultimately enhancing the performance of downstream tasks.

Tobia Armando La Marca received his Master’s degree (cum laude) in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Naples Federico II in 2021.

He is currently pursuing a PhD at the Scuola Superiore Meridionale, specializing in the Cosmology, Space Science & Space Technology program.

His research is centered on advanced Guidance, Navigation, and Control

(GNC) techniques for Earth observation missions, with a particular focus on Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) applications. Additionally, his work explores GNC strategies for proximity operations, including rendezvous and docking, as well as innovative GNC techniques for aerocapture maneuvers around planets such as Mars and Venus. Currently, he is a Visiting Researcher at ESA’s Phi-Lab, where he contributes to the development of tip-and-cue missions for Earth observation focusing on innovative approaches to enhance mission precision and efficiency.

I am pursuing a master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Previously, I obtained my BSc in Electrical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology. My main interest lies in applying artificial intelligence to embedded systems like satellites. Currently, my master thesis research is focused  on understanding, measuring and mitigating the domain gap in Earth Observation. The goal of the research is being able to predict the performance of models in different domains and developing models which are more robust to the domain shift. This research is a joint project between Φ-lab, Ubotica Technologies, and Delft University of Technology.