Associate Professor, Dr. Alvaro Cassinelli, describes himself as a “serious toy maker.” His research interests encompass a wide array of disciplines, including physics, augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, high-speed/slow-speed robotics/nanorobotics, fundamental aspects of computing, cognitive sciences, prosthetics/rehabilitation, augmented perception, and wearable technologies. He holds one trademark and five patents related to his innovations in these field.

Cassinelli earned Graduate Engineering diploma from the Télécom ParisTech in 1996, and concurrently received Doctoral Qualifying Degree (DEA/Master) in Physics from the University of Paris-XI, Telecom, and Ecole Polytechnique. In 2000, he was awarded a Ph.D. degree in Physics from the University of Paris-XI Orsay. Before he joined the School of Creative Media, Cassinelli was a research fellow and professor at the Ishikawa-Watanabe Laboratory, University of Tokyo. 

Cassinelli founded the Augmented Materiality Lab at SCM where a diverse group of scientists and artists converge, sharing a common “maker” mentality and a keen interest in delving into the spectrum of technology from research rooted in matter and objects to research that centers around humans and society. The laboratory is dedicated to exploring the physical enhancement of reality itself, exploring topics such as Programmable Matter, the Internet of Things, Smart Materials, Robotics, Smart Cities, and Responsive Architectures. It also has a keen focus on the development of prosthetics and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), along with the creation of Devices that Alter Perception (DAP) through the use of Virtual or Augmented Reality.

Cassinelli is also a new media artist who merges the realms of science and technology to craft artworks that serve as a creative manifestation of the concepts explored within the Augmented Materiality Lab’s projects. One of his latest projects is Cymatics Ground, which was created in collaboration with Associate Professor Tobias Klein. It focusses on representing public spaces through sound wave as well as the use of simulation. As an interactive installation, it enables the audience to explore the connection between geometry, shape, energy and resonance. It is described as a hybrid between a sonic sculpture and an architectural representation. 

In addition to his academic engagements, Cassinelli maintains close connections with the corporate sector. He serves as a consultant and collaborator for both medium and large enterprises such as Art+Com, Electric Factory, Omron, Samsung Electronics, Hamamatsu Photonics, Nissan Research Center, Sony Labs, and the Vision Chip Consortium in Japan, among others. Furthermore, he actively engages with startups, including EXVISION, a company that emerged as a spin-off from his former laboratory.