20/08/2026
The story of Atefeh Ghanbari starts at Yazd University in Iran where she obtained her MSc in Artificial Intelligence, majoring in Robotics. Then she decided to choose a PhD position in Italy to work with Professor Fabrizio Riguzzi, whose research in probabilistic neuro-symbolic AI closely matches her interests, and also because she wanted to live in our country, in order to discover its culture, traditions, and way of life.
Could you briefly describe your research activities, the problem you aim to solve, and your specific work?
I work on improving reasoning in AI systems: Large Language Models perform very well on many tasks, but reliable reasoning remains a significant challenge for these models. Our research explores how Probabilistic Logic Programming can be combined with these models to improve their reasoning capabilities. I have also had the opportunity to attend external courses and scientific activities, providing access to a wide range of learning resources. These occasions have helped me build my knowledge and develop a clearer direction to my research area that was broad at the beginning.
What do you think about Ferrara and Unife?
One of the things that impressed me most about the University of Ferrara was how welcome I felt from the very beginning. From my first days here, the staff, professors, and students made me feel part of the community. After less than a year, I already feel that I belong to this community, and I hope that, in my own way, I can make a positive contribution to the University. I have also made new friends from Italy and many other countries, which has made this experience even more valuable to me. One of the best aspects of this University has been the collaborative environment, so that I can learn new things without being afraid of making mistakes. I have learned that mistakes are a natural part of both learning and research, and this has encouraged me to ask questions, explore new ideas, and keep learning. I am especially grateful to this University for creating such a supportive and welcoming environment for study and research.
