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Data & Process Science Researcher

I bridge process mining, machine learning, and explainable AI to enable transparent what-if and prescriptive analytics, with applications in healthcare and industry.

Process Mining Explainable AI Data-Driven Simulation Machine Learning
Francesco Vinci
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Process Mining Explainable AI Data Science Machine Learning Business Process Simulation Healthcare AI XAI BPM
Python Docker Flask FastAPI PyTorch PostgreSQL GitHub Actions LangChain Open Source REST APIs MLOps

About me

Research Fellow at the University of Padua, Department of Mathematics "Tullio Levi-Civita".

Name
Francesco Vinci
Role
Research Fellow (Assegnista di Ricerca)
Office
Room 2CD8, Via Trieste 63 — 35121 Padova

I'm Francesco, an AI and process science researcher at the University of Padua. My work bridges process mining, machine learning, and explainable AI to enable transparent what-if and prescriptive analytics in real-world settings. I focus on data-driven process simulation models for operational decision-making, with applications in healthcare and industry, and develop open-source tools to translate research into practice.

Process Mining

Extracting insights from event logs to discover, monitor, and improve processes.

Machine & Deep Learning

Predictive and generative models applied to process analytics and real-world challenges.

Interpretability

Transparent, explainable models for trustworthy decision support.

Mathematics

Formal frameworks, probabilistic models, and mathematical foundations.

Data Science

End-to-end pipelines from data acquisition to actionable insights.

Process Simulation

Data-driven discrete-event simulation for what-if analysis.

Programming

Python, SQL, R, JavaScript, C, C++

ML & AI

PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, XGBoost, SHAP, River

MLOps & Infrastructure

Docker, Git, GitHub Actions, Flask, FastAPI, AWS

Agentic AI & LLMs

LangChain, prompt engineering, Claude Code, agentic workflows

Data Engineering

PostgreSQL, MongoDB, REST APIs, XES/OCEL event logs

Visualization

Matplotlib, Plotly, pandas, Jupyter

1998

Born in Messina

2016

Moved to Padua

2020

B.Sc. Mathematics

University of Padua

2022

M.Sc. Data Science

University of Padua

2026

Ph.D. Computer Science

University of Padua

Now

Research Fellow

University of Padua

Curriculum Vitae

Work experience, education, and achievements.

10/2025 — Present

Research Fellow — University of Padua

Research on the discovery and enhancement of process simulation models using explainable machine learning techniques, generative and agentic AI, with applications to the optimization of healthcare processes, particularly in emergency medicine.

10/2022 — 09/2025

Ph.D. Researcher — University of Padua

Research in process mining, process simulation, and data-driven modeling, with a focus on the discovery, repair, and improvement of simulation models using event data. Leveraged data science and AI techniques for online model adaptation and process optimization, with applications to business and healthcare processes.

03/2025 — 09/2025

Visiting Researcher — RWTH Aachen University

Visited the Process and Data Science (PADS) group, conducting research on white-box process simulation models. Developed ProSiT, a tool for configurable process simulation. Supervised by Prof. Wil van der Aalst.

09/2024 — 03/2025

Visiting Researcher — Fraunhofer FIT

Visited the Fraunhofer Process Mining Group in Aachen, conducting research on white-box simulation models and their adaptation in online settings. Supervised by Prof. Wil van der Aalst and Dr. Gyunam Park.

04/2023 — Present

Teaching Assistant — University of Padua

Teaching Assistant for the Database course in the B.Sc. in Computer Science, supporting students during laboratory sessions on PostgreSQL and pgAdmin.

03/2022 — 08/2022

R&D Data Science Intern — Danieli Automation

Developed a framework combining supervised and unsupervised machine and deep learning methods for video anomaly detection to identify sticking events in the continuous casting process of steel manufacturing.

10/2022 — 09/2025

Ph.D. in Brain, Mind & Computer Science — University of Padua

Curricula: Computer Science for Societal Challenges and Innovation

Thesis: Towards Reliable and Explainable Process Simulation Models: Discovery, Refinement, and Applications

Supervisor: Prof. Massimiliano de Leoni — Cosupervisor: Dr. Silvia Gabrielli

Thesis Reviewers: Prof. Marlon Dumas, Prof. Andrea Marrella

10/2020 — 09/2022

M.Sc. in Data Science — University of Padua

Thesis: Semi-supervised Deep Learning methods for Video Anomaly Detection applied to sticking identification during steelmaking continuous casting process

Supervisor: Prof. Michele Rossi

10/2016 — 02/2020

B.Sc. in Mathematics — University of Padua

Thesis: Enlargement of filtrations in discrete time and applications to finance

Supervisor: Prof. Claudio Fontana

12/2025

23rd International Conference on Service-Oriented Computing (ICSOC 2025) — Shenzhen, China

Speaker: Reliable and Configurable Process Simulations via Probabilistic White-Box Models (main conference)

Speaker: ProSiT: A Tool for Interactive and Transparent Process Simulations (demos & resources)

09/2025

23rd International Conference on Business Process Management (BPM 2025) — Seville, Spain

Speaker: Online Discovery of Simulation Models for Evolving Business Processes (main conference)

10/2024

7th International Workshop on Process-Oriented Data Science for Healthcare (PODS4H 2024) — Lyngby, Denmark

Speaker: Healthcare Process Optimization via Simulations: An Emergency Department Case Study (poster)

10/2024

6th International Conference on Process Mining (ICPM 2024) — Lyngby, Denmark

Attendee

09/2024

22nd International Conference on Business Process Management (BPM 2024) — Krakow, Poland

Speaker: Repairing Process Models Through Simulation and Explainable AI (main conference)

07/2024

12th European Big Data Management & Analytics Summer School (eBISS 2024) — Padova, Italy

Organizer

09/2023

21st International Conference on Business Process Management (BPM 2023) — Utrecht, The Netherlands

Speaker: Investigating the Influence of Data-Aware Process States on Activity Probabilities in Simulation Models (main conference)

07/2023

11th European Big Data Management & Analytics Summer School (eBISS 2023) — Barcelona, Spain

Attendee

10/2025 — Present

Research Fellow — University of Padua

Research on the discovery and enhancement of process simulation models using explainable machine learning techniques, generative and agentic AI, with applications to the optimization of healthcare processes, particularly in emergency medicine.

10/2022 — 09/2025

Ph.D. Researcher — University of Padua

Research in process mining, process simulation, and data-driven modeling, with a focus on the discovery, repair, and improvement of simulation models using event data. Leveraged data science and AI techniques for online model adaptation and process optimization, with applications to business and healthcare processes.

03/2025 — 09/2025

Visiting Researcher — RWTH Aachen University

Visited the Process and Data Science (PADS) group, conducting research on white-box process simulation models. Developed ProSiT, a tool for configurable process simulation. Supervised by Prof. Wil van der Aalst.

09/2024 — 03/2025

Visiting Researcher — Fraunhofer FIT

Visited the Fraunhofer Process Mining Group in Aachen, conducting research on white-box simulation models and their adaptation in online settings. Supervised by Prof. Wil van der Aalst and Dr. Gyunam Park.

04/2023 — Present

Teaching Assistant — University of Padua

Teaching Assistant for the Database course in the B.Sc. in Computer Science, supporting students during laboratory sessions on PostgreSQL and pgAdmin.

03/2022 — 08/2022

R&D Data Science Intern — Danieli Automation

Developed a framework combining supervised and unsupervised machine and deep learning methods for video anomaly detection to identify sticking events in the continuous casting process of steel manufacturing.

10/2022 — 09/2025

Ph.D. in Brain, Mind & Computer Science — University of Padua

Curricula: Computer Science for Societal Challenges and Innovation

Thesis: Towards Reliable and Explainable Process Simulation Models: Discovery, Refinement, and Applications

Supervisor: Prof. Massimiliano de Leoni — Cosupervisor: Dr. Silvia Gabrielli

Thesis Reviewers: Prof. Marlon Dumas, Prof. Andrea Marrella

10/2020 — 09/2022

M.Sc. in Data Science — University of Padua

Thesis: Semi-supervised Deep Learning methods for Video Anomaly Detection applied to sticking identification during steelmaking continuous casting process

Supervisor: Prof. Michele Rossi

10/2016 — 02/2020

B.Sc. in Mathematics — University of Padua

Thesis: Enlargement of filtrations in discrete time and applications to finance

Supervisor: Prof. Claudio Fontana

07/2021

World Data League

Finalist

04/2021

Youth in Action — Fondazione Italiana Accenture

Premio Promotori Winner

03/2022

Youth in Action for SDGs 2022 — Milan, Italy

Fondazione Italiana Accenture — Sustainability & Innovation

11/2021

Web Summit 2021 — Lisbon, Portugal

Tech conference — Startups, AI & Innovation

ICSOC 2025Shenzhen, China
BPM 2025Seville, Spain
PODS4H & ICPM 2024Lyngby, Denmark
BPM 2024Krakow, Poland
BPM 2023Utrecht, Netherlands
eBISS 2023Barcelona, Spain
Web Summit 2021Lisbon, Portugal
Visiting ResearcherAachen, Germany
Home BasePadova, Italy
Born HereMessina, Italy

Publications

Peer-reviewed papers in process mining, AI, and simulation.

Software Tools

Open-source tools to translate research into practice.

Open Source

PetriNetBPS

Python framework for business process simulation based on Petri Nets. Automatically learns simulation parameters from event logs, including transition probabilities, resource allocation, and working calendars.

Python pm4py Process Mining Simulation
Open Source

MLProcessModelRepair

Repair framework for Petri Net process models combining simulation and Explainable AI. Identifies structural differences between real and simulated traces to pinpoint and correct model inaccuracies.

Python pm4py SHAP Process Mining Explainable AI
Open Source

StartTimestampEstimator

Python framework for estimating activity start timestamps in event logs where only completion times are recorded. Includes evaluation benchmarks.

Python pm4py Process Mining
Open Source

SPN Simulator

Stochastic Petri Net simulator. Reads PNML models and event logs, learns stochastic firing patterns using machine learning, and generates synthetic execution traces conforming to observed process behavior.

Python pm4py Simulation
Open Source

franvinci.github.io

This personal website. Built with vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

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Get in touch

Interested in my research, projects, or a collaboration?

Room 2CD8, Via Trieste, 63 — 35121 Padova

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