Curriculum

Nicola Prodi

Personal information:
Date/Place of birth: March 1st 1971 / Reggio Emilia (Italy)
Sex/Age: Male / 51 years
Marital status: Married (with two children)
Nationality: Italian
Office: Department of Engineering, Università di Ferrara
Via G. Saragat, 1 - 44122 Ferrara (Italy)
Contacts: +39 0532974861, +39 3204232936 (Mob)
E-mail: nicola.prodi@unife.it
Qualification: Associate Professor, ING-IND/11


Positions:
01/11/2014 - present: Associate Professor, Dept. of Engineering, University of Ferrara
01/11/2005 - 31/10/2014: Researcher, Dept. of Engineering, University of Ferrara
01/11/1997 - 31/10/2005: Research Assistant, Dept. of Engineering, University of Ferrara
01/03/1995 - 30/06/1997: Junior Researcher (IMAMOTER Institute – C.N.R., Cassana, Ferrara, Italy)

Education:
21/03/2001: PhD in Technical Physics, University of Bologna
16/12/1994: MSc in Physics (cum Laude), University of Bologna
02/07/1993: Intermediate Diploma in Opera Singing at “O. Vecchi” Musical Institute, Modena
09/07/1990: Diploma in Oboe, “A. Peri” Musical Institute, Reggio Emilia

Institutional roles:
- Research coordinator for the topic “Room, Virtual and Psychoacoustics” of the MECHLAV Laboratory, Technopole of the University of Ferrara (from 2012)
- Member of the Academic Board of the Doctorate in Engineering Science of the University of Ferrara (from 2015)
- Member of the Students Professors Peer Commission of the Dept. of Eng. (2017 - 2021)
- Responsible for the Teaching Tutorship of the Dept. of Eng. (2014 – 2017)

Main research areas:
Room acoustics; hearing systems; noise control.
Selected research topics:
- Room acoustics: reverberation and propagation theory, measurements and scale models; virtual acoustics and auralization;
- Sound perception and psychoacoustics; speech intelligibility; listening effort; cognitive effects of noise;
- Acoustical properties of materials.
- Theory and measurement of sound intensity;

Supervisor of scientific research projects:

- EURAC Research, Bolzano (IT): “Evaluating the impact of facade-integrated controlled ventilation on speech intelligibility, listening effort and indoor soundscapes in educational buildings”. PhD research program (01/11/2021 – 31/10/2024); 75k€.  
- Emilia-Romagna Region: POR FESR 2014-20 – Axis 1 Action 1.2.2 (2019) – Project COMPRENDO: “Technological components for inclusion in teaching and education” (15/07/2019 - 14/02/2022); 92k€.
- Mi.S.E.: Made in Italy 2015: ALVEOPLAST- “Development of a monolithic, eco-friendly and multi-fuctional panel ” ( 01/01/2011 - 01/06/2014 ); 116k€.
- University of Ferrara: FAR2021 - FAR2020 – FAR2019 – FAR2018 – FAR2016 – FAR2014 – FAR2011. A series of yearly projects on various topics related to applied acoustics (from 01/12/2012 ongoing); 25k€.
- MIUR: PRIN 2008 - “Acoustics and safety in schools” (20/01/2010 - 22/03/2012). 31 k€.

Supervisor of research contracts:
- Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca: “Evaluation of listening effort in subjects being hearing impaired or with tinnitus”. Fondazione Ascolta e Vivi (04/02/2022-003/02/2023). 22.4k€.

- Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca: “Sound quality of Electrolux washing machines” (07/07/2021 - 07/11/2021); 10k€.

- Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca: “Sound quality of Electrolux white goods” (02/10/2019 - 01/04/2021); 58k€.
- Rimini Municipality, “Acoustical expertise of the rebuilt ‘Amintore Galli’ Theatre in Rimini” (01/12/2018 - 30/05/2019); 10k€.
- Music Conservatory "G. Frescobaldi" in Ferrara: "Acoustical measurements and design of improvements” (20/02/2019 – 20/02/2022); 7.5k€.
- Project EuropeAID /129-216/D/SER/ER “National Heritage Program”, Asmara, Eritrea (01/05/2011 - 30/05/2011); 6k€.
- UNESCO Moscow Office – “Acoustical expertise of the Teatro Bolshoi Theatre after restoration” (16/08/2011 - 10/10/2011); 4.5k€.

Participation to National and International research projects:
- INAIL BRiC ID14/2018: " ANC e AVC technology for the protection of workers and prevention of extra-auditory effects” (01/12/2019 – 01/12/2021); 160k€.
- INAIL BRiC ID26/2016: "Definition of new guidelines for design, building and certification of machines and environments" (15/06/2017 - 31/10/2019); 170k€.
- MIUR - Emilia-Romagna: "Advanced Mechanics District: VIBRACUSTICA" (01/01/2011 -31/12/2013); 565k€.
- Emilia-Romagna Region POR FESR 2007-2013: “Project MECHLAV – Laboratory for advanced mechanics” (13/08/2010 - 12/08/2013); 2.1M€.
- Emilia-Romagna Region PRRIIT Program: “Project INTERMECH – Acoustics and Vibration Laboratory” (01-11-2008 - 30-04-2010); 174k€.
- MIUR - PRIN2005: “ATLAS Resources for the fruition, valorization and safeguard of visual and acoustical characteristics of ancient theatres” (01-02-2006 - 31-01-2008); 36k€.
- ISPESL B1/DIL/04: "Study of noise in the context of schools and consequences on teachers and pupils” (01/01/2006 - 31/12/2006); 12.7k€.
- MIUR - PRIN2003: "Acoustics of large rooms for musical performance" (01/02/2004 - 31/01/2006); 94k€.
- ISPESL B1-4/DIL/05: "Exploring advanced techniques for noise control and improvement of speech intelligibility in schools” (01/01/2007 - 31/12/2007); 46k€.
- EU Project FP5 ICA3-CT-2002-EU project ERATO: "Identification, evaluation and revival of the acoustical heritage of ancient theatres and odea" (01/02/2003 - 31/01/2006); 95k€.
- EU Project FP5 ICA3-CT-1999-EU project CAHRISMA: "Conservation of the acoustical heritage by the revival and identification of the Sinan's mosques' acoustics" (01/02/2000- 31/01/2003); 72k€.
- EU Project FP5 - EU project MM1047 – THEATRON: "Theatre History in Europe: Architectural and Textual Resources" (01/07/1998 - 30/06/2001); 23k€.
- MURST - COFIN98: "Building of a room with controlled acoustics for psychoacustical research” (20/12/1998 - 20/12/2000); 27k€.

Research and teaching at International research Institutions:
- Jean-Urmacher Institut, Köln University (D) (10/09/2019)
- Univestitad des Tres de Februero, Buenos Aires (14/09/2016)
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (05/02/2015 - 14/02/2015)
- Excellence Center Hearing 4All - Oldenburg University (D) (01/07/2013)
- South China University of Technology, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, Guangzhou (01/06/2011 - 24/06/2011)
- Madrid Polytechnic University (22/03/2011; 10/02/2010)
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University (J) (25/08/2000 - 30/09/2000)
- Institut fur Technische Akustik, RWTH Aachen (D) (01/10/1997 - 06/12/1997)
- Acoustics Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, (01/04/1996 - 30/06/1996)

Publications and bibliometric indicators on SCOPUS (April 28th, 2022):
- Documents: 88
- Citations: 719
- H-index: 16

Participation to Editorial Boards of journals:
- Member of the Editorial Board of the journal “Rivista Italiana di Acustica” (03/07/2014 ongoing)
- Guest Editor of the Special Issue of the journal “Canadian Acoustics” entitled “Murray Hodgson’s Special Issue” (26/04/2019)
- Guest Editor of the Special Issue of “Frontiers in the Built Environment” entitled “Acoustics in the Built Environment: a challenge for improving the quality of life” (2021)

Invited lectures, keynotes and session organization at International Congresses:
- Invited lectures: ICA2001, ICA2004, ICA2007, Acoustics2008, Internoise2009, Internoise2010, The Acoustics of Ancient Theatres 2011, Internoise2013, ICSV22, Euronoise2015, Acoustics2017, Euronoise2018, ICA2019, EFAS2019, Forum Acusticum2020, Euronoise2021, Internoise2022
- Keynote lecture at the International Congress AIA-DAGA 2013; title: “Acoustics of Italian historical opera houses: past, present, and future”;
- Organizer of Special Sessions: ISMA2001, Internoise2013, ICSV22, Acoustics2017, Euronoise2018, ASA-CAA2018, ICA2019, Forum Acusticum 2020, Euronoise2021, ICA2022, The Acoustics of Ancient Theatres2020
- Technical Chair for Room Acoustics at International Congress ISMRA2016 in La Plata, Argentina.

Scientific advisor:

- PhD projects: Tutor  (3), Co-supervisor (5) and external advisor (6)
- Scientific advisor for the funding institution Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen (FWO) (Brussels, B)
- Member of the working groups ISOWG19/SC2 on room-acoustical measures;

Reviewer for International journals:
- American Institute of Physics Press: Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
- Elsevier: Journal of Sound and Vibration; Applied Acoustics; Building and Environment; Speech Communication
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research; Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools

- Frontiers: Frontiers in the Built Environment
- Hirzel-Verlag: Acta Acustica united with Acustica
- Wiley Online Library: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
- SAGE: Trends in Hearing, Building Acoustics
- ACM: Journal of Computing and Cultural Heritage,
- Taylor and Francis Online:  Journal of Cognitive Psychology, International Journal of Audiology
- American Psychological Association: Journal of Experimental Psychology
- Medknow: Noise and Health,
- Canadian Acoustical Association: Journal of Canadian Acoustics,

Participation to prestigious academies and centers:
- Member of the Scientific Board of the Centre "I–APPROVE – International Auditory Processing Project in Venice" of the University of Padova
- Member of the European Acoustics Association
- Associate Member of the Acoustical Society of America
- Effective member of the National Association of Acoustics (A.I.A.)

Technology transfer:
- Italian Patent n. RM99 A 000490 - "Procedures and instrumentation for the measurement of the polarization of the acoustical intensity”(01-01-1999)
- Founder of "MATERIACUSTICA Srl", spin-off company from the University of Ferrara working in the R&D area of acoustics and vibration (02-12-2004 ongoing)

- Chartered Acoustics Consultant (ENTECA N°RER/00749)

 

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