Before you write
Send your email to simone.scardapane@uniroma1.it and start the subject with [Thesis], [Research], [PhD], [Internship], [Visit] or [Company]. Please include:
- who you are and what you are studying or working on;
- your CV (students: also your transcript);
- which of our papers or research topics caught your interest, and why;
- a short project idea, if you have one.
Write it yourself. Templated or clearly AI-generated emails usually go unanswered. A few sentences in your own words are worth more than a polished pitch.
I read every message, but I can’t reply to all of them. If you wrote something specific and haven’t heard back after a week, one reminder is fine.
Students at Sapienza
I’d like to contribute to research, even outside a thesis. Where do I start?
Yes, you can, and this includes B.Sc. students. Before writing, spend some time with our recent publications, the ΣNAIL research areas and my course material, to get a feel for what we work on.
A short project idea helps, but you don’t need one. We can brainstorm a topic together, or simply agree on a learning path. We can start small and grow from there.
When should I ask about a thesis?
When you have time to work on it. Topics in this field change quickly, so it’s better to start when you can commit than to reserve a topic months in advance.
Can you supervise a thesis I’m doing in a company?
Sometimes. I receive many of these requests, so I give priority to topics that match our current research or an ongoing collaboration.
Where can I find an industrial thesis?
The Industrial Liaison Program of the Master’s Degree in Data Science collects internships, stages and thesis opportunities with partner companies (Sapienza login required).
PhD applicants
I’d like to do a PhD with you. How does it work?
PhD positions at Sapienza are assigned through a public call. It usually opens around May, for programs starting in November; see the PhD admissions page. I can supervise students in two programs:
The application needs a clear research project. Say which potential advisor it fits and why: a proposal written with our group in mind stands out more than a generic one.
Internships and visits
Do you offer funded internships?
Not at the moment. You’ll need external funding, for example Erasmus+ or a scholarship from your home institution. Contact me well in advance, with a clear research project and how it would fit our research.
Can I do a self-funded internship?
Yes, in principle. As for funded internships, I give priority to students whose interests clearly match our topics. Prior research experience, ideally a publication, helps.
Postdocs and visiting researchers
Can you host a fellowship application?
Yes, I’m happy to discuss hosting applications for fellowships that require a host institution, such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships. Get in touch well before the deadline, with a draft of the project and how it connects to our work.
Companies
How can we collaborate?
We encourage research collaborations funded by companies. Sapienza’s rules and templates for research contracts with external partners are on the contratti conto terzi page (in Italian). Past and ongoing collaborations are listed on the grants page. Write to me with a short description of the problem you have in mind.