Chiara Pollastrini is involved in the international project SMARTTEST, funded by the HORIZON programme. She will be part of Professor Martin Černý’s team at the Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering.
What led you to study bioengineering and biomedical engineering?
I decided to follow this path because since high school I have always been fascinated by programming, mathematics and biology, and biomedical engineering seemed to combine all these passions.
Moreover, the idea of creating something innovative that could improve people’s health or quality of life has always been extremely motivating for me. Biomedical engineering allows me to bring together two major interests of mine: medicine and engineering.
What has been your academic and professional path so far?
I obtained my bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering in 2022 and my master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in March 2025, with a master’s thesis which focused on the use of radar systems for detecting vital signs such as heartbeat and respiratory rate in humans or animals. My work with radar actually started here at VSB, thanks to an internship in 2024. That experience introduced me to this fascinating field and really encouraged me to continue in this direction. After completing my master’s degree, I worked for a company for a few months to further develop the topic of my thesis. However, I soon realises that I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and deepen my research here at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava.
How did you learn about the SMARTTEST project, and what motivated you to join it?
Since I was already working with radar technology during my internship and thesis, I used to keep myself updated on new discoveries and projects in this field. When I came across the SMARTTEST opportunity on LinkedIn, I immediately thought, this is the right chance.
The project involves the collaboration of 11 PhD candidates across Europe, working together to advance research in radar technologies and contribute to the SMARTTEST goals.
It seemed like a unique opportunity to work closely with other researchers and supervisors, broaden my knowledge, and be part of an international and multidisciplinary environment.
Another aspect that really motivated me was the strong emphasis on mobility and collaboration with hospitals, companies, and universities across Europe and beyond.
Why did you decide to continue your research in Ostrava?
I decided to start my PhD here because my previous experience was extremely positive. During my internship, I had the chance to visit the laboratories, see the available technology, and I found everything very modern and advanced. I also received excellent supervision and support from my mentors.
VSB offers the opportunity to explore different environments, such as the HealthLab, a fully sensored smart home designed to simulate a real living space for people with disabilities, as well as collaborations with hospitals and nursing homes.
I believe that this diversity of experiences and research contexts is one of the university’s main strengths and one of the key reasons why I chose to continue my academic journey here.
Could you describe what your research within the SMARTTEST project focuses on?
My research within the SMARTTEST project focuses on studying changes in daily activity patterns and circadian rhythms in individuals with chronic diseases. I find it very exciting to conduct this research in environments like HealthLab.
In particular, my goal is to customize and validate an algorithm pipeline for recognizing daily living rhythm changes in the context of ambient assisted living, aimed at elderly or living-alone adults suffering from chronic conditions that alter their daily habits.
Through this work, I hope to contribute to improving the understanding of how daily behavior and health conditions are connected, and how non-contact radar technologies can help monitor these aspects unobtrusively.
How could your work contribute to the early detection of health problems in elderly or chronically ill individuals?
I believe radar technology represents a key step toward the future of health monitoring, especially for elderly people or those with chronic diseases, because it is completely contactless.
Thanks to radar systems, it is possible to measure several vital parameters, such as heart rate, respiration, and even body temperature, continuously and without disturbing the person being monitored.
This kind of technology could provide valuable information about a person’s health status and enable early detection of potential problems.
With the support of the SMARTTEST network, its supervisors, and the ongoing collaboration among PhD researchers, I believe this work could significantly improve health assessment in clinical and home environments, and in the future, such systems might be installed in hospitals or private homes for continuous monitoring.
Do you perceive any differences between the academic environment in Italy and in the Czech Republic?
Yes, I’ve noticed some differences. In Italy, lectures are often quite traditional and mainly focused on theory, while in the Czech Republic classes are usually smaller, more interactive, and oriented toward practical applications.
In Italy, laboratory work is mostly connected to the thesis or to a few specific courses, but the theoretical foundation is very strong. Also, here, communication with professors feels more informal, which makes it easier to ask questions, share ideas, and receive feedback.