Orthogonal School

The main activity of the ELICSIR Foundation is the design and implementation of the Orthogonal School, a two-year excellence program for talented and motivated students who are simultaneously pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or closely related fields (such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Cybersecurity) at a public Italian university, and who are in good standing with their academic progress.

The Orthogonal School is made possible by a generous grant from Schmidt Sciences.

Objectives

The Orthogonal School offers educational paths that complement those typically available in university programs, specifically tailored for the field of computer science, with the aim of developing several transversal skills:

1. being able to read scientific and technical material in depth

2. being able to speak in order to communicate ideas effectively, for example, by learning how to deliver high-level presentations

3. being able to write high-quality technical reports, scientific articles, and project proposals, including entrepreneurial ones

4. learning independently in order to achieve a specific goal that is ambitious and medium- to long-term

5. conceiving scientific research as a driver of economic and social prosperity, transforming technical and scientific knowledge into successful products and services

6. conducting independent and original research

Resources for Students

The Orthogonal School offers its students:

1. a scholarship for the two-year Master’s degree program

2. personalized educational paths, guided by mentors and established researchers who oversee their development

3. a series of meetings throughout the year, which include seminar-style activities combined with moments of project collaboration and synthesis of experiences gained during the personalized educational paths. These meetings also aim to develop a strong sense of identity and community among students and mentors. The meetings take place on weekends. Accommodation and travel expenses are covered by the School (up to a maximum limit, set for each event).

4. financial and organizational support for an internship at a prestigious academic institution or at a leading international company or startup

Participation in the Orthogonal School is based on a selective procedure.

Announcements and Admission Requirements

Participation in the Orthogonal School is based on a selective procedure and is reserved for students enrolled in a Master’s degree program with a focus on computer science at a public Italian university.

Call for Admission to the 1st Cycle (Academic Year 2024/25)

Board of the Orthogonal School

• Lorenzo Alvisi, Cornell University

• Ozalp Babaoglu, Università di Bologna  (Chair)

• Gianfranco Bilardi, Università di Padova

• Alessandro Panconesi, Sapienza Università di Roma

Coordinator of the orthogonal academic year

• Bruno Codenotti, CNR

the Mentors of the Orthogonal School

The team of Mentors is being updated

• Paolo Boldi, Università Statale di Milano

• Valeria Cardellini, Università di Roma Tor Vergata

• Flavio Chierichetti, Sapienza Università di Roma

• Barbara Di Camillo, Università di Padova

• Matteo Frigo, Google

• Zeynep Kiziltan, Università di Bologna

• Elena Loli Piccolomini, Università di Bologna

• Vittorio Maniezzo, Università di Bologna

• Giovanni Manzini, Università di Pisa

• Alberto Montresor, Università Statale di Trento

• Antonio Norelli, Oxford University

• Lorenzo Orecchia, University of Chicago

• Andrea Pietracaprina, Università di Padova

• Nicola Prezza, Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia

• Geppino Pucci, Università di Padova

• Daniele Venturi, Sapienza Università di Roma