Rita Laezza

RITA

Index:

About me

From February 2024, I’ve worked as a Project Assistant and Postdoctoral Fellow at Chalmers University of Technology, where I researched intelligent rehabilitation systems within the Automation group, division of Systems and Control of the Electrical Engineering (E2) department.

My academic journey has been shaped by a strong interest in healthcare robotics and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). During my Master’s studies at the FKA Biomechatronics and Neurorehabilitation Lab, I focused on implementing Deep Learning methods for myoelectric control, with applications in robotic prosthetics and neuromuscular rehabilitation.

I completed my PhD in April 2024, researching robotic manipulation of deformable objects using learning-based methods, with a focus on Reinforcement Learning (RL). My graduate studies, which began in February 2019 in the Mechatronics group, were funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation as part of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP).

With my background in Biomedical Engineering and Robotics, I am passionate about bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications in healthcare robotics. I maintain active collaborations with academic partners while pursuing opportunities to translate research innovations into real-world impact.

Research Interests

During my postdoctoral work, I contributed to the AURORA project (Adaptive User-Centered Robotic Rehabilitation), developing customizable rehabilitation equipment to optimize patient recovery through improved data collection and active support of physiotherapy exercises.

My ongoing research interests center on advancing myoelectric control systems, a field I’ve pursued since my Master’s thesis and continued exploring during my PhD and Postdoc. I am particularly interested in the transition from supervised learning to more interactive approaches, such as Reinforcement Learning, and in fostering collaboration between academia and industry to accelerate the development of practical applications in this field.

Teaching experience

Academic degrees