Research stay report by Tina Salerno

This year, we had the pleasure of hosting visiting PhD student Tina Salerno. We encourage you to read the report from her stay.

Research stay report:

My research stay at the Digital Justice Center of the University of Wrocław took place from 1 July 2025 to 1 January 2026. This period represented one of the most meaningful and enriching experiences of my academic and professional journey, allowing me to combine advanced research, interdisciplinary dialogue, and personal growth within a highly stimulating international environment.

From the very beginning, I was welcomed with great openness, professionalism, and genuine curiosity by the team of the Justice Digital Center, who created a collaborative and intellectually vibrant working atmosphere. Despite linguistic and cultural differences, integration was immediate, thanks also to the continuous support of the Center’s staff and early-career researchers, who made my stay not only productive but also deeply human.

During my time as a visiting researcher, I developed a research project focused on the assessment of the intrusiveness of artificial intelligence systems in international criminal investigations, proposing new criteria to balance fundamental rights, security needs, and evidentiary reliability in technologically advanced investigative contexts. Daily exchanges with scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds played a crucial role in refining both the theoretical framework and the practical implications of my research, significantly enriching my PhD path in Cybersecurity carried out at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca and the University of Bologna.

Throughout the stay, I actively participated in the scientific life of the Center, contributing to research discussions, academic meetings, and informal exchanges that proved extremely stimulating. This experience further strengthened my interest in international cooperation in criminal justice and emerging technologies, an area in which the Justice Digital Center stands out as a center of excellence.

Beyond academic activities, my experience in Wrocław was profoundly enriching on a personal level. I particularly appreciated the city’s spiritual dimension: long walks along the Oder River allowed me to reconnect with nature, while its churches—remarkable for their beauty and atmosphere—became places of reflection and inspiration. During this period, I also rediscovered my passion for poetry, finding in Polish culture and its romantic vision of human relationships a powerful source of creative inspiration. One of my poems was published in the volume “Alì penne d’autore – poesie d’amore”, an experience I consider an integral part of this research stay.

This period will remain a lasting milestone in both my professional and personal life. I would like to sincerely thank the Digital Justice Center and its entire team for their hospitality, trust, and the valuable opportunities provided. I truly hope this experience marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration and I look forward to returning to Wrocław in the future.