I created this website because I wanted to try some web development. It doesn't have a specific purpose. It's just my corner on the Internet where I like to share some thoughts. I hope you like it. If not, I'll live with it.

Main quest

My name is Andrea. I was born and raised in Rome, Italy, and currently live in California. I have 3 beautiful sisters (Fosca, Gea, Assia) which are much smarter than me, and a dog (Zeno) which is much cuter. All my family lives in Italy.

I am leading the mechanical design for the hand of Phantom, Foundation's humanoid robot, giving a stab at the hardest problem in robotics: dexterous manipulation in real-world environments.

I previously worked at Tesla for 2 years, trying to solve the same problem (manipulation) for Optimus, and developing some of Tesla's core charging technologies (Wireless Charging, Supercharging) to accelerate the adoption of EVs and enable autonomous charging for self-driving cars.

I have a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin and a MS in Systems Engineering from MIT. Before MIT I worked for 3 years at GE Aerospace, graduating from a rotational program in manufacturing operations (OMLP).

I am passionate about the creation of new technology. I measure a man’s worth by how positively he impacts society and future generations, and I think in this day and age building new technology is a good way to maximize such impact.

Resume

Side quests

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

I’ve been practicing martial arts (Boxing, Muay Thai) since I was 16 years old, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2016. Jiu Jitsu clicked because on top of being extremely effective, it’s the martial art where pattern recognition and problem solving count the most, hence the best suited for a nerd like me.

Jiu Jitsu taught me a lot about myself and about life. What counts on the mat is the hours you’ve put into training, your creativity, and the strength of your will. You can’t bullshit your way into tapping a good opponent, and the feedback for mistakes is immediate and painful.

When I first joined MIT, the school did not have a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club. I barely had money for college and couldn't afford a gym membership, so I decided to start one. In a short amount of time, the club grew way beyond my wildest expectations, and when I left MIT it counted 5 instructors and daily classes. We got a lot of engagement from the MIT community, including MIT researcher and podcast host Lex Fridman, now a stable guest at the club who I'm lucky to call a friend.

The club still runs today with new instructors and students, which is awesome, and it continues the mission of helping students deal with stress and depression, while turning them into nerd assassins.

Mentorship

In the last few years, I’ve found fulfillment in helping STEM students and recent graduates with the struggle of deciding what to do with their future. I don’t claim to know much about anything in life, nor that my path is one they should follow, but I’ve learned a thing or two about making big choices that feel terrifying in the moment. If sharing my experience with people who can relate helps even just one of them find the courage to make a scary leap, that’s effort well spent.

I mostly offer this kind of mentorship through the Silicon Valley Fellowship and Lead the Future, but not exclusively. If you think I can help you in any way, send me an email or reach out on LinkedIn. If I don't respond, please understand that I work a lot, and it's sometimes hard to carve out the time. Make your message clear and well written, and pour some soul into it. I'm not saying you need to craft the perfect email to get my attention (I'm a nobody), but being able to express what you think and feel in writing is a killer skill that you should put some effort into.

Contact

Email: andrea.e94@gmail.com
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