PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Augusto Smerzi

Augusto Smerzi is a physicist whose work connects machine learning with quantum sensing and precision measurement. He earned a physics doctorate at the University of Catania in 1994 and coauthored work on entanglement and quantum metrology. A 2020 method he coauthored used neural networks for Bayesian estimation in quantum sensors, and in 2024 he co-led research that measured a supersolid's superfluid fraction through Josephson oscillations. He was a research director at CNR-INO in 2022, and as of October 2026 he is a Chair Professor at Shenzhen Technology University and a CNR-INO research director at LENS.

Works
267
Citations
15,828
h-index
56
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 22 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1994

    A physics doctorate at Catania

    He earns a physics doctorate from the University of Catania in 1994.

  2. 2012

    Fisher information and entanglement

    In 2012, he coauthors a study that sets Fisher-information bounds for several classes of multiparticle entanglement and links genuine multiparticle entanglement to the highest sensitivities in quantum interferometry.

  3. 2018

    A review of quantum metrology

    In 2018, he coauthors a review of theory and experiments on entangled atomic ensembles and quantum-enhanced precision measurement.

  4. 2020

    Neural networks for quantum sensors

    In 2020, he coauthors a method that frames parameter estimation as a classification task and uses artificial neural networks for Bayesian estimation in quantum sensors.

  5. 2022

    Research director at CNR-INO

    In 2022, he is a research director at CNR's Institute of Optics in Florence, with expertise in quantum interferometry.

  6. 2024

    Measuring a supersolid

    In 2024, he and Giovanni Modugno coordinate research that measures a supersolid's superfluid fraction through Josephson oscillations.

  7. 2025

    Squeezing under phase noise

    In 2025, he coauthors research on differential phase measurements with two spin-squeezed atom interferometers under common-mode noise spanning the full 2π range. The study reports sensitivities below the standard quantum limit.

  8. As of October 2026

    Chair Professor at Shenzhen Technology University

    As of October 2026, he is a Chair Professor in Shenzhen Technology University's College of Engineering Physics and a CNR research director at the LENS section in Sesto Fiorentino.

Career

  1. Since 2026Shenzhen Technology UniversityChair Professor
  2. Since 2011University of FlorenceCNR Research Director
  3. 2016–2022Shanxi University
  4. 2003–2016University of Trento
  5. 2001–2026National Research CouncilResearch Director
  6. 2001–2008Triad National Security
  7. 1997–2008Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati
  8. 1995–1997University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  9. 1991–1996Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare

Education

  1. 1994University of CataniaPhysics doctorate

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

  1. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Florence. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes University of Florence. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  3. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes University of Florence. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.
  4. The United States employs an estimated 48% of people shaping AIIncludes National Research Council. We estimate where the people shaping AI work today, how universities, companies and research institutes split across countries, and how country shares have changed since the 1960s.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Augusto Smerzi yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Augusto Smerzi-深圳技术大学 sztu.edu.cn. Checked 22 October 2026.
  2. Fisher information and multiparticle entanglement arxiv.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  3. Quantum metrology with nonclassical states of atomic ensembles arxiv.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  4. A machine learning approach to Bayesian parameter estimation arxiv.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  5. Premio Nobel per la fisica: il commento di Augusto Smerzi (Cnr-Ino) cnr.it. Checked 22 October 2026.
  6. Un passo avanti nella conoscenza dei "supersolidi" cnr.it. Checked 22 October 2026.
  7. Squeezing-enhanced accurate differential sensing under large phase noise arxiv.org. Checked 22 October 2026.
  8. Summer School - The 29th International Conference on Atomic Physics icap29.com. Checked 22 October 2026.
  9. Smerzi Augusto ino.cnr.it. Checked 22 October 2026.