Ms. Maria Ferrara

After completing her academic training within the framework of the Alta Scuola Politecnica, Maria Ferrara earned a Ph.D. with honors in Energetics in 2019 and currently works as a researcher at the Polytechnic University of Turin. In this role, she is involved in teaching and research activities in the fields of building physics, energy use and comfort in buildings, energy systems design and energy planning. In 2021, she obtained the Italian national scientific qualification for the position of Associate Professor (sector 09/C2) and since 2023 she is part of the Academic Senate of the Polytechnic University of Turin. Invited as visiting researcher at INSA-Lyon (France, 2014) and Princeton University (USA, 2016-2017), she currently participates in international research and collaboration programs promoted by the International Energy Agency. Furthermore, she serves as the coordinator of a multidisciplinary project on social innovation for smart and sustainable communities. Since 2022, she is member of the elective Board of Directors of IBPSA-Italy, the Italian section of the International Association of Building Performance Simulation. In recognition of her research achievements, she has received several awards, including the prestigious Ermenegildo Zegna founders' scholarship and the appointment as a Siebel Scholar for academic excellence and demonstrated leadership in the field of Energy Science.