Ilaria Cinelli

Ilaria Cinelli, PhD, FAsMA, is a senior engineer whose passion for space and biomedical engineering has driven her to remarkable achievements. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Pisa, Italy, and pursued a structured doctorate in neural engineering from the National University of Ireland, Galway (Republic of Ireland). Her dedication to space exploration led her to complete the prestigious Space Studies Program of the International...See more

Ilaria Cinelli, PhD, FAsMA, is a senior engineer whose passion for space and biomedical engineering has driven her to remarkable achievements. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in biomedical engineering from the University of Pisa, Italy, and pursued a structured doctorate in neural engineering from the National University of Ireland, Galway (Republic of Ireland). Her dedication to space exploration led her to complete the prestigious Space Studies Program of the International Space University at TU Delft, Netherlands, and a postdoc in neuromodulation at Tufts University, USA. Ilaria's leadership and contributions in the space sector are highly esteemed, reflecting her significant impact. Her achievements include being recognised as a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), serving as the President of the Aerospace Human Factors Association, and currently holding the role of Member-at-Large on the AsMA Council. As an experienced Commander of multiple analogue missions, she was invited to join the prestigious Mars Society Steering Committee. Ilaria also plays a pivotal role on the AdCOM and serves as the European representative of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, showcasing her broad influence and expertise. Ilaria's significant impact in the space domain and her commitment to empowering women in the field have been widely recognised. In 2020, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs' Space4Women network designated her as a Mentor and Role Model. Her achievements include being named one of the 100 women who will change the world by La Repubblica and acknowledged as one of the 15 women who made a remarkable impact in Italy by Il Sole24Ore in 2021. Her visionary approach to space traffic management led to her selection as one of the top 12 ASCEND Diverse Dozen 2021 finalists by The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In 2023, the European Patent Office honoured her as one of the 50 tech voices in Europe, the sole representative for healthcare and space exploration, further highlighting her professional achievements and impact in the field. See less