Mirko Gelsomini — Researcher in Human-Computer Interaction, Adjunct Professor, UX Researcher, Founder & CEO of SENSEi
I am a very active person, I enjoy my work/studies and I’m always looking for new and innovative ideas to bring to a project. I am willing and motivated to contribute to my team and projects to ensure excellent results and successful delivery of solutions and products. I am confident, curious, open minded, and very excited about break-through ideas and technologies. My research explores how interactive technologies can be designed to promote the skills of children with special needs.
Work Experience
- Founder — EDOO, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2022 – 2023). A mediated reality solution for children's skills development
- PostDoc in Empowering Technologies — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Nov 2019 – Jun 2021). Motion-based playful activities for children with cerebral palsy in Polifactory (Design School), in collaboration with Fight the Stroke
- PostDoc in Foresight Technologies — ENI S.p.A. · Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Oct 2018 – Oct 2019). Developed an A.I. tool to analyze current and future technological trends, automatically building foresighters network graphs and pre-empting the tech market.
- Councilor in Innovation and Social Policies — Municipality of Cornaredo, Milan (Italy) (May 2015 – May 2019). Supervisor of the Technology Innovation branch and discussion of relevant topics in the Municipal Council
- PostDoc in Information Technology — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2018 – Oct 2018). Contribution to the design, development and evaluation of multi-sensory environments for playful learning and inclusion in educational settings.
- PhD Visiting Research Fellow — MIT Media Lab, Cambridge (USA) (Jan 2016 – Jan 2018). Contributed to the design, development and evaluation of Robots' hardware and software to increase children's engagement and sustain conversation
- Summer Camp Activity Leader — Centro Estivo/Oratorio di Cornaredo, Milan (Italy) (2005 – 2015). Lead activities in summer camp for primary school children
- MSc Visiting Research Fellow — Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (USA) (Jun 2013 – Dec 2013). Motion-based Touchless Interaction Activities for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Private Tutor (2007 – 2013). Taught private lessons at a high school and university level to 30 teens circa per year
- Program Manager — Emblema Servizi, Milan (Italy) (2009 – 2012). Supervision of the Web development and E-learning branches
- Steward AC Milan — San Siro Stadium, Milan (Italy) (2010 – 2011). Ensuring guests enter or leave the club stadium they receive efficient and courteous assistance as well as providing basic security for the entrance
- Founder & CEO — SENSEi, Milan (Italy) (Aug 2021 – present). Multisensory Environments to foster Children’s Play, Education and Inclusion
- Researcher in Human Computer Interaction — SUPSI - University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Lugano (Switzerland) (Sep 2021 – present). Design of UIs/UXs and development of activities related to virtual reality, digital phenotyping and 3D visualization
Funded Projects
- INCLUDE-ID — Including People with Intellectual Disabilities in Cultural Institutions — SUPSI, Lugano (Switzerland) (2026 – 2030). Principal Investigator · Horizon Europe · €571,390
- SEMANTIC — Semi-automated Multimodal Analysis Toolkit for Individualized Characterization — SUPSI, Lugano (Switzerland) (2026 – 2029). Principal Investigator · SNSF · CHF 751,475
- RISE — Resilience through Immersive Sensory Environments — SUPSI, Lugano (Switzerland) (2025 – 2027). Principal Investigator · SNSF · CHF 419,297
- Multisensory and Multimodal Interactive Spaces for Learning — SUPSI, Lugano (Switzerland) (2022 – 2023). Principal Investigator · NTNU · CHF 50,000
Education
- PhD in Information Technology — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2014 – Jan 2018). Thesis: Empowering Interactive Technologies for Children with Neuro-Developmental Disorders and their Caregivers
- Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management — Harvard University, Cambridge (USA) (Jan 2016 – Jan 2017). Extensive Studies in: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Business Transformation; Marketing Management; Mergers, Acquisitions, and Restructurings;Negotiation and Organizational Conflict Resolution; Strategic Management
- Master in Engineering of Computing Systems — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Feb 2012 – Dec 2013). Thesis: Designing, developing and evaluating touch-less motion based games for educational and therapeutic purposes
- Bachelor in Engineering of Computing Systems — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Sep 2008 – 2011). Thesis: Development of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) based on GPS to promote physical activity
- Diploma of Information Systems Technician — High School Alessandrini, Vittuone, Milan (Italy) (Sep 2002 – Jul 2007). Learnt basic fundamentals of scripting and programming, electronics, networking
Teaching
- Interaction Design Studio — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2017 – 2020). Tutoring the design and development of interactive products. Teaching User Experience Development and Arduino Programming
- Technologies for Connected Products and Systems — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2018 – 2020). Teaching AI, Arduino programming and tech. feasibility
- Advanced User Interfaces — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2014 – Jun 2019). Design and Development of Interactive products using Arduino, Raspberry, Microsoft Kinect SDK, A-Frame VR Framework
- Hypermedia Applications - Web — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2014 – 2019). HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Jquery, PHP, SQL, Google API and Marketing Tools, Youtube API, Facebook API, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Website Usability
- Online Informatics — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2017 – Jun 2019). Technological project design and development, Web Usability
- Digital Interactive Technologies for Physical Interfaces — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2018 – 2019). Teaching AI, Arduino programming and tech. feasibility
- User Experience Design — SUPSI - Scuola Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano (Switzerland) (2021 – present). Usability, accessibility and user research; designing user-centered interfaces and evaluating real-world projects through hands-on activities
- Internet of Things — SUPSI - Scuola Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano (Switzerland) (2022 – present). Core concepts of IoT: device connectivity, data processing and system integration; designing and prototyping IoT solutions
- Design for Kids and Toys — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2018 – present). Teaching Technology in Connected Toys for Kids' play, learning and inclusion (E-learning Master in Kids and Toys, Design School)
Honors & Awards
- SUPSI Technology & Formation Award — Railway Quest — SUPSI, Lugano (Switzerland) (2025). 1st prize (ex aequo) · Premio tecnologia e formazione SUPSI
- Best Poster Award — ACM IUI - International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces, Los Angeles (USA) (2019). Paper: "Geniel: An auto-generative intelligent interface to empower learning in a multisensory environment"
- Winner of 3rd Place — ACM CHI - International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Montreal (Canada) (2018). Paper: "Reflex: Learning Beyond the Screen in a Simple, Fun, and Affordable Way" - Student Research Competition
- Best Video Nomination ("Golden Mouse") — ACM CHI - International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Montreal (Canada) (2018). Video Paper: "Puffy, a Friendly Inflatable Social Robot."
- Winner of "La Torretta" Award — Banca di Credito Cooperativo, Milan (Italy) (2017). The prize is given every year to those people or organizations who have distinguished themselves for their skills, projects and achievements: women and men who, in the fields of culture, work, sport and volunteering, have valorised the resources and energy in Lombardy.
- Best Video Award — ACM/IEEE HRI - International Conference on Human Robot Interaction, Vienna (Austria) (2017). Video Paper: "Engaging Children as Storytellers: Backchanneling Models for Robots"
- Best Short Paper Award — NewFriends Conference of Social Robots in Therapy and Education, Barcelona (Spain) (2016). Paper: "Attentive Robot Listener Engages Children in Language Learning"
- Microsoft Student Research Competition — ACM Assets - Conference on Computers and Accessibility, Reno (USA) (2016). Paper: "An Affordable Virtual Reality Learning Framework for Children with Neuro-Developmental Disorder"
- Best Full Paper — IEEE RO-MAN - International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (2016). Paper: "A huggable, mobile robot for developmental disorders"
- Roberto Rocca Fellowship — Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (USA) (2015). for Thesis Abroad
- Best Short Paper — ACM AVI - International Conference on Advanced Visual Interfaces, Como (Italy) (2014). Paper: "Motion-based Touchless Interaction for ASD Children"
- Scholarship for Master Thesis Abroad — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (May 2013)
- Westmar Video Contest — Westmar Student Lofts, Atlanta (USA) (Jul 2013). First prize: won a year-long free rent in Atlanta
- Scholarship for merit — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Dec 2012)
- Contest "Fausto Sartori" — Municipality of Milan, Milan (Italy) (Dec 2010). Development of an ecologic web portal
- Contest "Carta Regionale dei Servizi" — Municipality of Milan, Milan (Italy) (Dec 2009). First Prize
- Scholarship for merit — Municipality of Cornaredo, Milan (Italy) (2006). for High School
- Scholarship for merit — Municipality of Cornaredo, Milan (Italy) (2005). for High School
- Scholarship for merit — Municipality of Cornaredo, Milan (Italy) (2004). for High School
- Scholarship for merit — Municipality of Cornaredo, Milan (Italy) (2003). for High School
Certificates
- Certificate of Advanced Studies in University Teaching — SUPSI - SEDIFO, Lugano (Switzerland) (2023). CAS SUPSI in Didattica — Fondamenti per l'insegnamento e l'apprendimento in ambito universitario (10 ECTS)
- Information Engineer (State Exam) — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (2021). Abilitazione all'esercizio della professione di Ingegnere dell'Informazione — Esame di Stato
- Emergency Medical Technician — Croce Verde Cornaredo, Milan (Italy) (Dec 2015). Trained to respond to emergency situations regarding medical issues, traumatic injuries and accident scenes
- Adobe After Effects — Espero, Milan (Italy) (Mar 2014). Create motion graphics and visual effects for film, TV, video, and web
- Maxon Cinema 4d — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Mar 2014). 3d modeling and lighting
- Ielts — Southwark College, London (UK) (2012). English Certificate - Academic Version. C.E.F.: C.2
- Adobe Photoshop — Espero, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2011). Edit, composite, and create images, graphics, and art
- Adobe Fireworks — Espero, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2011). Create raster web design and layout
- Adobe Illustrator — Espero, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2011). Create vector art and illustrations
- Adobe Dreamweaver — Espero, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2011). Design and develop websites
- Adobe Flash — Espero, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2011). Design and develop web animations
- Adobe InDesign — Espero, Milan (Italy) (Jan 2011). Craft layouts and paginations
- A.C. Milan Security Certificate — San Siro Stadium, Milan (May 2009). Ensure security during A.C. Milan soccer events.
- 3D Studio Max — Politecnico di Milano, Milan (Italy) (Mar 2008). 3D Modeling, Lighting and Rendering
- E.C.D.L. — High School Alessandrini, Vittuone (Italy) (Jun 2006). European Computer Driving License: Basics of Office Suite Products + Windows O.S.
Full list of publications: Publications.