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Nice to meet you, I am Prof. Massimo Stella!

I joined the University of Trento as Professor on Direct Call from Abroad, previously I was permanent faculty in Data Science at the University of Exeter, UK. Before that, I had my own business working on promoting cognitive data science solutions for international companies and research partners. Before that, I did a postdoc in Data Science at FBK, in Trento, and got a PhD in Complex Systems Simulation with a focus on cognitive science from the University of Southampton, UK (2017). My original background is in mathematical physics, as I hold a BSc and an MSc in Physics from the University of Salento. I am an alumnus of the Santa Fe Institute and hold a professional master’s in Teaching in Higher Education (2022, University of Exeter, UK).

I currently lead the CogNosco Lab at the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science (DIPSCO), University of Trento, together with prof. Luigi Lombardi, who hosts the Quantitatve Psychology Laboratory, the physical space hosting our human capital! CogNosco originates from the hard work of many talented early-career researchers with a passion for cognitive modelling, psychometrics, cognitive networks and artificial intelligence. These are also the main areas where my expertise and research lines fall into.

As a psychometrician and cognitive data scientist in M/PSI-03, the tools I designed for investigating psychological data combine complex networks and AI while being grounded in cognitive and psychological theories like frame semantics or mental search through spreading activation:

– Multilayer lexical networks, i.e. models of cognition encompassing multiple aspects of conceptual knowledge;

– Behavioural forma mentis networks, i.e. models of semantic memory recalls nuanced by affective data;

– Textual forma mentis networks, i.e. interpretable AI models for assessing knowledge and framings in texts.

I also co-direct the Center for Data Analysis Techniques in Cognitive Science (CEDAT). Hosted by DIPSCO and financially supported by its Department of Excellence recognition (by MUR in Italy), our CEDAT aims to promote methodological techniques among psychologists and cognitive scientists. Last but not least, I am an ASPIRE Fellow and was elected to the Executive Board of the Complex Systems Society.

A Quick Glance into my Research in Cognitive Data Science:

I am formally trained in public speech (thanks to theatrical training) and enjoy giving vibrant presentations about my research outputs and my life as a cognitive data scientist. Here are a few examples on YouTube:

– the CRI Seminar Series – (Read the paper I presented here);

– Network Science and Education 2020 – (Papers available here and here);

– Warm-Up to the Conference on Complex Systems 2020 – (Website here).