1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and describe your research area?
I am Maria Angela Pellegrino, an Assistant Professor (tenure track) at the University of Salerno. My research mainly explores methods and tools for assessing and improving the quality of semantic data, as well as the design and evaluation of technology-enhanced learning experiences that support the teaching and learning of computer science and artificial intelligence. More broadly, I am interested in Human-Computer Interaction, educational technologies, Semantic Web technologies and Data Quality.
2. How did the contact with the partners involved in the collaboration begin? What role did NEOLAiA play in this process?
The collaboration was established through direct contact with Professor Yacine Sam from the University of Tours. The NEOLAiA Alliance played a key role since Professor Sam aimed to host a researcher from one of the Alliance’s partner universities in order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by NEOLAiA to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across member institutions.
Thanks to this initiative, I had the opportunity to spend one week at the University of Tours. During my visit, I delivered 10 hours of lectures to master’s students on data quality and the Semantic Web, while also engaging in research discussions with Professor Yacine Sam and his team. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen our scientific collaboration, exchange ideas, and explore future joint research initiatives.
3. What initiative or project emerged from this collaboration?
Professor Sam hosted one of the PhD students I work with, Gabriele Tuozzo, for a one-month research stay at the University of Tours. During this period, we worked together on the topic of agentic federated SPARQL querying, combining our complementary expertise in Semantic Web technologies and intelligent systems. The outcomes of this collaboration will be submitted as a poster to the ISWC 2026 conference. Building on these preliminary results, we also plan to prepare an extended version of the work for submission to an international journal by the end of 2026.
In addition, Professor Yacine Sam and I jointly submitted a proposal to the Galileo bilateral research program to further strengthen our collaboration. We also intend to build upon this initiative by preparing a proposal for a larger international funding call at the beginning of the next academic year, with the aim of establishing a long-term research partnership between our institutions.
4. What was the main added value of working with colleagues from other universities within the Alliance?
The main added value of collaborating with colleagues from other universities within the Alliance has been the opportunity to establish long-term research relationships based on complementary expertise and shared scientific interests. Beyond the exchange of knowledge, the collaboration enabled us to combine different perspectives and research approaches, leading to new ideas and joint research initiatives that would have been difficult to develop independently.
The Alliance also provided a structured framework to transform an initial contact into a concrete collaboration, including researcher mobility, joint supervision of early-career researchers, co-authored scientific outputs, and the preparation of joint research proposals. This experience has strengthened not only my international research network but also the prospects for sustainable collaboration between our institutions.
5. What advice would you give to a researcher who has not yet taken advantage of the opportunities offered by NEOLAiA?
I would strongly encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities offered by NEOLAiA. The Alliance provides an excellent framework for establishing new international collaborations, exchanging expertise, and developing joint research and educational initiatives.
Even a short mobility period can lead to long-lasting scientific relationships, opening the door to co-authored publications, joint supervision of students, and collaborative research proposals. My advice is to actively reach out to colleagues whose research interests align with your own and to use NEOLAiA as a catalyst for transforming initial contacts into concrete and sustainable collaborations.
