Dr Federico Colecchia
Senior Lecturer in Creative Electronics and Programming

Summary

I have over 20 years of experience in research and development across academia and the private sector, specialising in emerging technologies. I have worked on multidiscplinary research projects in close collaboration with clinical organisations such as the UCL Hospitals NHS Trust, large industry partners such as QinetiQ, and international research organisations such as the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

Formerly project leader in the private sector (pharmaceutical consulting), I have collaborated closely with clinicians, biologists, statisticians, mathematicians, sociologists, psychologists, educationalists, and engineering designers, thereby developing a robust understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration dynamics and a deep appreciation of knowledge exchange and research exploitation pathways.

I am a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Health and Wellbeing Lead as well as Co-Head of External Engagement and Partnership with the Brunel Centre for AI, and a Member of the Peer Review College of the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

I have considerable experience working with businesses and am available to explore opportunities for joint R&D bids, consultancy, and student projects.

I am inviting applications from self-funded PhD candidates. These PhD projects are self-funded, so candidates applying for a full-time project need to have access to funds of their own to cover the university fees as well as living and accommodation expenses in London for the duration of the project (3 years full time). Information about Brunel PhD fees and PhD research funding can be found at the links below. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions: Federico.Colecchia@brunel.ac.uk. Brunel PhD fees: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-fees-explained (College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences).  Brunel research degree funding: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding.

Applications are invited with reference to the PhD project topics listed below. Candidates interested in developing a PhD project idea of their own are very much encouraged to contact me at Federico.Colecchia@brunel.ac.uk.

• Design for early detection of symptoms of anxiety and depression in university students
• Design of digital technology solutions to promote mental health
• Design of virtual immersive environments to enable inclusive multimodal experiences
• Design of virtual immersive environments for advanced anatomy training
• Machine learning to accelerate health research
• User-centred design of digital interfaces to accelerate health research
• User-centred design to address health screening anxiety.

Qualifications

PhD in Physics, University of Padova, 2001

Advance HE Fellow (FHEA), University College London, 2018

Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2023

Responsibility

Health and Wellbeing Lead, Brunel Centre for AI: Social and Digital Innovation

Co-Head of External Engagement and Partnerships, Brunel Centre for AI: Social and Digital Innovation

Programme Director -- Integrated Product Design MSc, Brunel Design School

Year 3 Tutor, Brunel Design School

Postgraduate Academic Induction Champion, Brunel Design School

Member of the Brunel Concordat Implementation Group