Elena Zaffini

Graduated Master’s student in Energy Engineering (Power Generation) with a strong focus on wind energy applications. Highly motivated and proactive, with a keen interest in contributing to cutting-edge projects, expanding technical expertise and addressing complex engineering challenges. Solid background in energy systems, complemented by experience in experimental and numerical methodologies, project management and interdisciplinary teamwork. Strong communication, organizational and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to integrate quickly into new teams and adapt effectively to dynamic environments.

Language: english

Supervisor: Paolo Schito 

Co-supervisor: Tiziano Leone 

Topic: experimental study at the Politecnico di Milano Wind Tunnel on novel free-stream velocity sampling methods for wind power plants, combining CFD simulations (OpenFOAM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to enhance measurement accuracy and support wind farm optimization.

Description: 

Development of a machine-learning–enhanced Actuator Line Model for accurate angle-of-attack estimation in wind turbine simulations. Introduced the First Valid Radius (FVR) concept and a Flow-Aware Sampling (FAS) method based on CNNs and attention mechanisms, improving robustness under unsteady inflow conditions. Integrated the model into OpenFOAM (libTorch) for real-time predictions and validated it on 2D and fully 3D blade configurations, outperforming state-of-the-art approaches.

Authors:  Elena Zaffini, Tiziano Leone, Paolo Schito, Alberto Zasso. 

Title: Enhancing the Actuator Line Method through Flow-Aware Sampling

Language: English

Publication place: European academy of wind energy (eawe)

Date of publication: June 2026

• English (UK): Written: C1 – Spoken: C1
• TOEIC, CEFR level B2 (score 840) – Issued on 2023-03-03
• Cambridge English Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International (First), B2 – Issued on 2019-06-15
• Goethe-Zertifikat A2, Fit in Deutsch 2 – Issued on 2015-07-07

International experiences since high school have strengthened my adaptability, intercultural communication, and teamwork skills. Through study exchanges in Europe (UK, Germany, Sweden), Erasmus at Politecnico di Milano, and volunteering in Tanzania and Kenya, I developed a strong appreciation for culture diversity and social engagement. Sports and long-distance trekking further contributed to my resilience, discipline, and collaborative mindset.

My studies at Politecnico di Milano and Erasmus at KTH strengthened my organizational, time-management, and teamwork skills. I also led a successful fundraising campaign during a volunteering experience in Tanzania, managing finances and resource allocation for a construction project.

Travel, volunteering and outdoor activities