people
Research group members
Yuri Gardinazzi
PhD Student
Started November 2023
University of Trieste
AREA Science Park
I am a PhD student in Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at University of Trieste, doing my PhD in collaboration with AREA Science Park. I am currently visiting INRIA in the Datashape team in Sophia-Antipolis, collaborating with Mathieu Carrière.
My research focuses on Topological Data Analysis and Interpretability of Large Language Models. By background I am a Computer Scientist (Master and Bachelor from University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), passionate about multidisciplinary problems.
Recent work:
- Interpretability of LLMs using TDA (ICML’25)
- Topological Data Analysis on neuroscience data
- Complex Systems (Sensors’24)
| Google Scholar | GitHub | Personal Website |
Karthik Viswanathan
PhD Student (co-supervised)
University of Amsterdam
I am a final-year PhD student at the University of Amsterdam in the Institute of Physics, working on the interpretability of large language models. Prior to this, I was working on analyzing the large scale structure of the universe using topological data analysis.
Currently I am working on AI safety projects that include architectural modifications to externalize reasoning in LLMs and interpreting LLMs using computational mechanics.
Recent work and Interests:
- Interpretability of LLMs using geometric methods
- Architectures for Increased Externalisation of Reasoning in LLMs
- Topological Data Analysis for Cosmology
Sven Heydenreich
Postdoctoral Researcher
Starting March 2026
AREA Science Park
I am a postdoctoral researcher with a background in Mathematics and Astrophysics. My master’s degree in Mathematics focussed on algebraic topology, whereas during my PhD and Postdoc I did research in cosmology.
I recently joined Area Science Park to apply the skills acquired through the work above to study the interpretability of large ML networks using topological and geometric methods.
Research interests:
- Topological deep learning
- LLM interpretability via topological data analysis
Enrico Maria Ferrari
Pre-doctoral Fellow
Started December 2025
AREA Science Park
I am completing my Master’s degree in Mathematics for Data Science at University of Trento and am enrolled in a pre-PhD program at Area Science Park. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from University of Milano-Bicocca and have a background in statistics and stochastic processes. I am particularly interested in Topological Data Analysis. In my Master’s thesis, I investigated the integration of multiparameter persistence into neural networks to improve their explainability.
Research interests:
- TDA for explainable models by design
- Interpretation of LLMs via topological methods
- Interplay between TDA and stochastic dynamics
Ana Fló
Master's Student (MDMC Program)
Started December 2025
AREA Science Park
I am currently completing my thesis for the Master’s in Data Management and Curation at Area Science Park and SISSA. I hold an M.S. in Chemical Sciences and a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience. For several years, I have investigated cognitive development in human infants and their exceptional learning capacities during the first months of life using non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS).
In my Master’s thesis, I apply topological data analysis methods to a publicly available dataset of neural responses recorded from the primary visual cortex of mice.
Recent Research and Academic Interests:
- Neural mechanisms underlying the remarkable learning abilities of human infants
- Adoption of open data management practices
- Development and application of novel analytical techniques for neural data
| Google Scholar | GitHub |