Federica Semproni

I am a biomedical engineer and postdoctoral researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, working within the Digital Futures initiative. My research focuses on the development of implantable sensing technologies for the monitoring of cardiac valve function, with the broader goal of enabling continuous and minimally invasive assessment of cardiovascular dynamics.

I received my B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, completing my M.Sc. with honours in 2020, and obtained a Ph.D. in BioRobotics from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA) with honours in 2024. My research path has been characterized by an interdisciplinary and translational approach, combining soft robotics, mechatronics, biomedical signal processing, implantable sensing and actuation, and experimental validation.

During my M.Sc., I conducted research at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital of Harvard Medical School, where I developed machine learning-based tools for video-based motion analysis in rehabilitation, focusing on children with cerebral palsy and stroke survivors undergoing robotic rehabilitation. This experience introduced me to the integration of engineering technologies with real-world clinical needs.

During my Ph.D. at the BioRobotics Institute of SSSA, I investigated novel active monitoring strategies for implantable medical devices, with a particular focus on implantable volume sensing and soft hydraulic actuation for native and artificial urinary bladders. My work covered the entire development cycle, from conceptual design and prototyping to benchtop characterization and in vivo validation in animal models, strengthening my expertise in soft robotics, materials, electronics, and system-level integration.

As a visiting Ph.D. researcher at Stanford University, I extended my research to cardiovascular applications, working on implantable sensing and electrohydraulic actuation systems for circulatory support, as well as implantable technologies for monitoring cardiac and vascular mechanics. This experience broadened my perspective on the application of soft and bioelectronic technologies across different organs and strengthened my expertise in cardiovascular biomechanics, implantable sensing, and translational prototyping.

Before joining KTH, I continued my work at SSSA as a postdoctoral researcher, developing an integrated silicone-based artificial urinary bladder, including sensing and actuation components, passive and active valves, and control electronics. Across my research experiences, I have pursued a curiosity-driven and interdisciplinary approach to biomedical engineering, with a particular interest in developing implantable technologies that bridge engineering innovation and clinical needs.

My current research at KTH builds on this background by focusing on implantable sensors for cardiac valve monitoring and on the development of technologies capable of providing clinically relevant information from within the body.