Massimiliano Viola

Product Engineer

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland2 yrs experience

AI ML PractitionerAI Enabled

Key Highlights

Expert in generative models and computer vision.
Experience with leading AI research institutions.
Award-winning project in Text-to-3D avatar generation.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Computer Vision and Machine Learning specialist in the AI and Tech industry.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Computer VisionMachine LearningGenerative ModelsData ScienceData Analysis

Other Skills

Anomaly DetectionVideo Foundation ModelsData SamplingSynthetic Data GenerationIndustrial Image Foundation ModelsOut-of-Distribution RobustnessData Pipeline RefactoringFinancial Data Analysis3D Hand GraspingMotion SynthesisText-to-3D Avatar GenerationDiffusion ModelsVision-Language ModelsPythonData Structures

About

I am currently a visiting student researcher at Stanford, working at the intersection of 3D vision and generative models. At Cerrion (YC S22), I focus instead on computer vision methods for anomaly detection in industrial processes. Before this, I conducted research at ETH Zurich on perception and human body modeling, and interned at NVIDIA (2022), MBZUAI in Abu Dhabi (2023), and a couple of other startups. I am genuinely passionate about generative models (diffusion, flow matching) in image/video/3D space, multimodality, geese, and content creation. If we share the same interests or you just want to chat about something, including potential collaborations, feel free to reach out at mviola [at] stanford [dot] edu Since 2025, I have also been posting weekly ML articles at https://mlhonk.substack.com/, check it out!

Experience

Cerrion

2 roles

Computer Vision Engineer

Mar 2024 – Present · 2 yrs · Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland · On-site

Applied research in vision-based industrial anomaly detection using CCTV cameras, focusing on video foundation models, distillation, robustness techniques, relevant data sampling, and synthetic data generation. Advancements in these areas enabled real-time 24/7 operator alerts, automated machine shutdowns, and reduced deployment time for new customers and industries from weeks to days.

Computer VisionAnomaly DetectionVideo Foundation ModelsData SamplingSynthetic Data GenerationMachine Learning

Computer Vision Intern

Sep 2023 – Feb 2024 · 5 mos · Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland · On-site

Worked on industrial image foundation models, out-of-distribution robustness, and refactored the data pipeline. Reached performance levels sufficient for the first automatic real-time process stoppages.

Industrial Image Foundation ModelsOut-of-Distribution RobustnessData Pipeline RefactoringComputer VisionMachine Learning

Università degli studi di padova

Research Assistant

Dec 2023 – Apr 2024 · 4 mos · Remote

Explored potential Mafia infiltration in the Italian legal economy using financial and procurement data, looking at the participants in public tenders in the period between 2015 and 2023.

Data AnalysisFinancial Data Analysis

Eth zürich

Student Summer Research Fellowship (SSRF)

Jul 2023 – Aug 2023 · 1 mo · Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland · On-site

Joined the Computer Vision and Learning Group supervised by Prof. Siyu Tang. Research on 3D hand grasping and motion synthesis for both hands with articulated objects.
Acceptance rate to the SSRF program: 0.8%

3D Hand GraspingMotion SynthesisComputer Vision

Mbzuai (mohamed bin zayed university of artificial intelligence)

Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP)

May 2023 – Jun 2023 · 1 mo · Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates · On-site

Worked in the Metaverse Lab under the supervision of Prof. Hao Li on the development of a Text-to-3D avatar generation pipeline, using diffusion models and vision-language models. Winner of the best team project award.
Acceptance rate to the UGRIP program: 2%

Text-to-3D Avatar GenerationDiffusion ModelsVision-Language ModelsGenerative Models

Università degli studi di padova

Teaching Assistant for Data Structures and Programming

Mar 2023 – Jun 2023 · 3 mos · Padua, Veneto, Italy · On-site

TA for Data Structures and Programming hands-on programming labs using Python.

PythonData StructuresProgramming

Nvidia

GPU Advocate - AI

Jun 2022 – Sep 2022 · 3 mos · Remote

Joined the Open Hackathons and Bootcamps team to create educational materials for AI users. Worked on an end-to-end computer vision pipeline powered by NVIDIA software stack and frameworks.

AI EducationComputer Vision PipelineMachine Learning

Statwolf

Data Scientist

Jun 2021 – Sep 2021 · 3 mos · Padua, Veneto, Italy · On-site

Developed a Deep Learning-based solution to predict Instagram post popularity for a commercial brand. Researched ways to perform mixed training with image and video content in a data-scarce situation.

Deep LearningInstagram Post Popularity PredictionData Science

Unipiazza

Data Analyst

Jun 2020 – Sep 2020 · 3 mos · Padua, Veneto, Italy · On-site

Designed and validated a new customer segmentation method based on RFM clustering, enhancing email marketing and promotions effectiveness by making them cluster-specific.

Customer SegmentationRFM ClusteringData Analysis