Doctoral Candidates
Nerea Olivera Jurjo
Politecnico di Milano, IT
My name is Nerea Olivera, I am from Aínsa, a picturesque village in the Pyrenees, Spain. I hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Zaragoza. I later pursued a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering with specialization in biomechanics. This Master’s was completed partly at the University of Zaragoza. The remaining part of the program was at the Technische Universität in Vienna where I spent several months conducting research for my master’s thesis. This work gave me the opportunity to acquire experience in the designing of scaffolds and in biomaterials. After completing my studies, I worked at a neurotechnology development company. This experience inspired me to pursue a PhD to deepen my academic training. As part of the ReBone project, my role is to evaluate the optimal geometrical parameters for bone scaffolds and subsequently develop and implement optimization frameworks for designing personalized bone substitute implants.
Leire Viana Uribe
Politecnico di Milano, IT
My name is Leire Viana Uribe, a Biomedical Engineer from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, passionate about biomaterials and 3D printing to revolutionate personalized healthcare. I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Mondragon Unibertsitatea, where I developed a personalized 4D-printed arm orthosis for cerebral palsy during my thesis in Tuttlingen, Germany, exploring shape memory materials. During my joint Master’s studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University, I specialized in biomechanics and biomaterials, completing my thesis at the University Hospital in Brussels on the mechanical, thermal, and surface characterization of 3D-printed structures for cardiac surgical ablation. Now, at Politecnico di Milano, my work in the ReBone project focuses on the mechanical characterization of bone scaffolds, exploring how material composition, micro-architecture, and size affect their performance, with the goal of advancing the field of personalized medicine.
Maria Erato Pianou
Politecnico di Torino, IT
My name is Maria Erato Pianou, I was born in Ioannina, Greece in March 2000 and I hold a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Patras, Greece. I have gained valuable experience through internships in fields related to biomaterials at INP-ENSIACET in Toulouse, France, and Politecnico di Milano in Italy. Currently, I am a PhD Candidate at Politecnico di Torino, Italy, under the frame of the ReBone project. My research focuses on developing 3D-printed bioactive glass and glass-ceramic-based scaffolds, as well as composites with other bioceramics, using optimized architectures for bone tissue engineering applications.
Ranveer Kaur
University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, IT
My name is Ranveer Kaur, and I was born on June 12, 2000, in Patiala, India. I hold a Master’s degree in Medical Devices from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, and a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Punjabi University, Patiala. Currently, I am pursuing a Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD programme under the ReBone project at the University of Eastern Piedmont, Italy. My research focuses on evaluating bone’s scaffold interactions with cells and tissues to develop innovative solutions for bone regeneration. This work aligns with my passion for exploring the intersection of science and healthcare to improve lives. Beyond academics, I enjoy playing volleyball, reading novels, and planting flowers, which provide balance and inspiration in my life.
Hajar Souhail
University of Liège, BE
My name is Hajar Souhail, born in Ravenna (Italy) in December 1999. I’m a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Candidate at the University of Liège, working within the Laboratory of Mechanics of Biological and Bioinspired Materials. I earned my Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano in 2024, specializing in Biomechanics and Biomaterials. My research interests include computational biomechanics and bioinspired finite element modeling. As part of the ReBone project, my PhD research focuses on designing bio-inspired scaffolds and studying the biomechanical interaction of bone-scaffold constructs. The work aims to improve scaffold microstructural and biomechanical compatibility with the host bone tissue, contributing to advancements in regenerative medicine.
Giorgio Goretti
LITHOZ, AT
My name is Giorgio Goretti, born in Vigevano (Italy) on February the 23rd, 1999. In 2023, I earned a double master’s degree in Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology and Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. I am currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral student at Tampere university, conducting my research at Lithoz GmbH, a company based in Vienna, specialized in ceramic additive manufacturing. Within the ReBone project, my work focuses on optimizing the entire VAT photopolymerization (VPP) process for calcium-based materials and bioglasses, from printing parameters to thermal post processing. The goal is to enhance the overall quality of bone scaffolds to meet some challenging requirements such as mechanical reliability, biocompatibility and printing accuracy.
Elisa Zamengo
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology, AT
I am Elisa Zamengo, originally from Venice, Italy, and I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Padova, Italy, focusing on mechanics and biomaterials in the industrial field. I am pursuing my PhD as a candidate in the ReBone project at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology (Vienna, Austria). My research focuses on analysing clinical microCT images to better understand bone tissue microstructure and bone defect characteristics – key aspects for developing and improving patient-specific implants for bone substitution. Outside of research, I enjoy swimming, a sport I have practiced since I was very young. I love staying in touch with nature through hiking and mountain walks, and I’m passionate about photography and exploring the world around me. I thrive on dynamic challenges that often lead to unexpected discoveries, and I am always eager to learn and grow, both professionally and personally.
Diogo Almas
University of Salzburg, AT
I am a PhD student dedicated to advancing the understanding of cell-surface interactions to enhance biomedical solutions. My research focuses on developing computational models to predict cell behavior—attachment, alignment, and, eventually, migration patterns —on surfaces with varying properties. The aim is to develop tools to predict tissue surface geometries as a function of substrate curvature, explore growth models’ roles in tissue geometry, and describe multi-layered tissue formation. By unraveling the complex interplay between surface-stiffness and cell susceptibility, my work aims to enhance surface design for bone implants, ultimately contributing to more effective and durable implant technologies. In my free time I enjoy playing and watching football.
Elnaz Khorasani
University of Belgrade, RS
My name is Elnaz Khorasani, a Biomedical Engineer from Tehran, Iran, and currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Candidate at the University of Belgrade, participating in the ReBone project. I earned my Master’s degree from the Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy, and my Bachelor’s degree from Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran. My research focuses on developing bioactive glass-ceramic and composite scaffolds for bone regeneration. Scaffold performance will be evaluated using advanced biomimetic 3D culture systems by analyzing cell viability, differentiation, and mechanical stability under dynamic conditions such as shear and compressive stresses. This work aims to enhance scaffold functionality, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties, contributing to advancements in bone tissue engineering.
Gianni Magrini
MedApp, PL
My name is Gianni Magrini, born in Milan on August 15, 1998. I graduated from Politecnico di Milano with a Double Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology. I am currently pursuing the Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD programme as part of the ReBone project at MedApp S.A., a company based in Krakow. My contribution involves identifying anatomical landmarks of bones using physics-informed deep learning models and visualizing them in mixed reality. I am passionate about technological innovation and its applications in modern medicine. In my free time, I love traveling and photography, two hobbies that allow me to explore and capture the beauty of the world. This blend of science, creativity, and curiosity drives both my work and personal life.