Name: Federico Visi
Area of study: PhD Performing Arts
Award: Santander Postgraduate Internationalisation Scholarship 2013/14; Internationalisation Mobility Support Santander Universities Scholarship 2014/15
With a particular interest in combining his studies with music, interactive systems, performing arts, and visual media, Federico was awarded a Santander Postgraduate Internationalisation Scholarship in 2014 to develop a music and visual media model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) known as Unfolding|Clusters.
'This project is innovative and has real world benefits. It can help communicate the behaviour of ALS to the wider audience, which remains a main goal.'With the award, Federico travelled to the US to work collaboratively with a biotechnology researcher in University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
'Developing such an exciting project in an international and stimulating environment at UCLA has been a great experience and has affected me positively on a personal level, inspiring future ideas and projects.'Through this scholarship, and with an interdisciplinary background in communications, media, design, and music, Federico has been a part of a significant collaboration and exhibition held at the Art|Sci Centre in the US with Giovanni Dothel and Duncan Williams.
Currently studying for his PhD at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research at the University of Plymouth, supported by a Humanities and Performing Arts funded scholarship, Federico is committed to, and proud of, the research he has been able to undertake thus far:
‘I am working on a research project about music, gestures and body motion under the supervision of Professor Eduardo Miranda. I am following my own research proposal based on interests that I developed through several years of study and practice.’
‘Alongside my main research project, last year’s music and visual media installation project, modelled after scientific data related to the progress of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – made possible by the 2014 Santander Postgraduate Internationalisation Scholarship – has allowed me to travel to Los Angeles to work with researchers at UCLA and present the installation.’Having had his research accepted in peer-reviewed journals, given presentations at international conferences, and shared his research in AV magazine and on BBC Radio, Federico’s academic pursuits continue to be ground-breaking, valued, and relevant.
‘The Myo Gesture Control Armband is an innovative wearable device that allows one to control desktop computers, smart phones and tablets with arm gestures. It does so by monitoring the electrical activity in the arm muscles through medical grade electromyography (EMG) sensors.’After being selected to receive a scholarship, Federico was able to develop software tools that harness the technologies made available by the Myo armband, collaborating with a Music Technology research group at New York University.
‘Developing this project at NYU has allowed me to collaborate with a world-class research group, to design, implement and test the Myo application, and to disseminate the results through academic publications, presentations, and actual music performances.’
‘This opportunity has greatly benefited my main doctoral research. The results of this collaboration have been integrated into my PhD project, enriching it with the results, adding international relevance to my final thesis, and strengthening my dissertation.’
Discover the range of bursaries, awards and scholarships funded by our graduates - helping you make the most of your time studying with Plymouth.
Cutting-edge research in topics including the interface between music, computers, and the brain within a vibrant contemporary music community.
Find out more about the scholarshipsOpen to University of Plymouth students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) and staff who wish to undertake a period of research, study or work based learning in any country within the Banco Santander network.
