The Data Research Camp 2026 is a free, five-day meeting organized by the Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications and the Florence Center for Data Science of the University of Florence.
The Camp will be held in Florence, Italy, from July 20 to July 24, 2026.
The event is designed for young scholars with an interest in statistics and data science and their application to the extraction of knowledge from complex data. Participants will work in teams under the supervision of senior researchers with extensive experience in various areas of statistics. Each team will be challenged to develop innovative methods and models to analyze a common dataset, with the objective of addressing scientific questions motivated by an applied research problem. The program aims to foster collaboration, methodological development, and the exchange of ideas in a stimulating research-oriented environment.
In the current era of big data and data science, data are generated at an unprecedented pace, offering vast opportunities for discovery while simultaneously posing new scientific and methodological challenges. The new generation of researchers in Statistics will be called upon to address these challenges by contributing to the advancement of modern statistics and data science through the development of novel tools and methodologies capable of fully harnessing the potential of data.
The objective of the Data Research Camp is to bring together researchers in statistics and data science in an intellectually stimulating setting that encourages the exchange of ideas, promotes discussion, and fosters new scientific connections and interdisciplinary collaborations.
The Camp is expected to have both short- and long-term impacts, laying the groundwork for new interdisciplinary research directions and leading to cutting-edge contributions to modern statistics from both methodological and applied perspectives.
The Research Camp is supported by the excellence program “Rethinking Data Science (ReDS): advances in causal inference and statistical learning across domains” and it is endorsed by the PhD programs in Statistics of the University of Florence , Bocconi University, University of Bologna, University of Padova and Politecnico di Milano.
The Data Research Camp 2026 builds on the success of three previous editions. The 2024 edition was organized by the Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications and the Florence Center for Data Science at the University of Florence, while the earlier 2019 and 2022 editions were organized by the Department of Statistical Sciences of the University of Padua (see the websites of the 2019 and 2022 editions).
Submit your application
The event is free of charge, and complimentary accommodation in double rooms is provided for all participants; however, participation is limited to 28 available places. Applicants are required to submit a Curriculum Vitae and one letter of reference as part of the application process. Please include in your curriculum vitae a description of your main research interests and topics, highlighting their coherence with the Data Research Camp, as well as details on your computational skills. Selected participants will be responsible only for covering their own travel expenses.
Deadline: March 6, 2026
Venue
The Camp will be held from July 20 to July 24, 2026, at the Centro Studi Ricerca e Formazione (CISL) in Florence. Participation in the workshop is free of charge, and complimentary accommodation in double rooms will be provided to all participants. Selected participants will be responsible only for covering their own travel expenses.
How to get to the meeting venue
Centro Studi Ricerca Formazione(CISL)
Via della Piazzuola, 71 – 50133 Firenze
segreteria@centrostudi-cisl.it
Via della Piazzola runs parallel to Camerata hospital; after approximately 400 meters, you will reach the CISL Centro Studi.
How to reach the Camerata hospital:
Airplain
Airport Firenze Peretola + Tramway (Line T2) to the city center (get off at the “Libertà” stop) + Bus line 7 (direction Fiesole, Ospedale di Camerata stop)
Airport Pisa Galileo Galilei + Train or shuttle to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station + From Santa Maria Novella Station, exit on the luggage storage side (Platform 16) to take Tramway (Line T2) to the “Libertà” stop + Bus line 7 (direction Fiesole, Ospedale di Camerata stop)
Train
From Santa Maria Novella Station, exit on the luggage storage side (Platform 16) to take Tramway (Line T2) to the “Libertà” stop + Bus line 7 (direction Fiesole, Ospedale di Camerata stop).
Car
Leave the highway at the FIRENZE SUD exit and turn left, following the signs for Fiesole, until you reach Via di San Domenico. Via della Piazzuola is located on the left-hand side, immediately after the Ospedale di Camerata. Access to the Centro Studi parking area is via number 69/A.
Senior Group Leaders
Leopoldo Catania
Aarhus University, Denmark
Andreas Groll
Dortmund University, Germany
Mohammad Jafari Jozani
University of Manitoba, Canada
Omiros Papaspiliopoulos
Bocconi University, Italy
Davide Risso
University of Padova, Italy
Laura M. Sangalli
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Veronica Vinciotti
University of Trento, Italy
Organizing Committee
Alberto Cassese (University of Florence – Florence Center for Data Science)
Daniele Castellana (University of Florence – Florence Center for Data Science)
Anna Gottard (University of Florence, Director of the Florence Center for Data Science)
Alessandra Mattei (University of Florence – Florence Center for Data Science)
Fabrizia Mealli (European University Institute – Florence Center for Data Science)
Carla Rampichini (University of Florence – Florence Center for Data Science)
Francesco Sera (University of Florence – Florence Center for Data Science)
Organizing Secretariat
Marta Mascalchi
University of Florence
marta.mascalchi@unifi.it
Scientific Committee
Antonio Canale – University of Padova
Alberto Cassese – University of Florence
Daniele Castellana – University of Florence
Anna Gottard – University of Florence
Alessandra Luati – Imperial College London and University of Bologna
Alessandra Mattei – University of Florence
Fabrizia Mealli – European University Institute
Raffaella Piccarreta – Bocconi University
Carla Rampichini – University of Florence
Nicola Sartori – University of Padova
Piercesare Secchi – Politecnico di Milano
Francesco Sera – University of Florence
(Preliminary) Programme
Monday, July 20
12:00 – 15:00: Registration and check in
13:00 – 14:00: Lunch
15:30 – 17:00: Problem presentation
17:00 – 17:30: Break
17:30 – 19:00: Working groups
19:30 – 20:30: Dinner
Tuesday, July 21
08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast
09:00 – 13:00: Working groups
13:00 – 14:00: Lunch
14:00 – 18:30: Working groups
19:30 – 20:30: Dinner
Wednesday, July 22
08:00 – 09:00: Breakfast
09:00 – 13:00: Working groups
13:00 – 14:00: Lunch
14:00 – 16:00: Plenary intermediate presentations
16:00 – 18:30: Working groups
19:30 – 20:30: Dinner
Thursday, July 23
08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast
09:00 – 13:00 Working groups
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 18:30 Working groups
19:30 – 20:30 Dinner
Friday, July 24
08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast
09:00 – 13:00 Plenary presentations and closing session
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch