Alon Rosen: Leading the Department of Computing Sciences Towards Excellence
Alon Rosen, the new Director of Bocconi University’s Department of Computing Sciences, brings a rich academic background and a strong belief in the power of theory. An Italian-born Israeli, he was raised in the Veneto region in a period when local entrepreneurship was thriving. He later moved to Israel, studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute, specializing at Harvard and MIT.
His expertise lies in cryptography, a discipline where theoretical rigor is essential—systems must be proven secure, not just tested for weaknesses. While acknowledging that the astounding recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence were driven by practice, he believes deeply in the power of theory: he sees theory as a tool that fosters flexibility, helping researchers identify the fundamental components of complex problems. “Theorists are very good at asking the right questions,” he says, emphasizing that solid theoretical training allows researchers to adapt to new challenges. “Still, one should be careful to not become too inward looking. An empirically guided approach ensures tighter connections with reality.”
Building an interdisciplinary Department
Bocconi’s Department of Computing Sciences has already made significant strides in just a few years under its first Director, Riccardo Zecchina, gaining international recognition and attracting top talent. Besides having 7 ERC grant winners among its members, a recent call for just two positions of assistant professor resulted in an impressive 227 applications. The department focuses on a diverse range of fields, including statistical physics, machine learning, neuroscience, computational biology, natural language processing, and theoretical computer science, reinforcing its interdisciplinary approach.
Alon Rosen describes himself as a facilitator, continuously working to fine-tune the department’s structure and operations. His priorities include attracting exceptional students and faculty, securing funding, and fostering a collaborative environment. He believes that a successful academic department must be more than a collection of researchers—it should provide the conditions for intellectual growth and innovation.
Leadership with a purpose
A firm believer in academic freedom, Alon Rosen maintains that “you can’t tell scientists what to do.” He sees a professor’s role as not just conducting research, but more generally preserving, advancing, and disseminating knowledge. “We were lucky to recruit brilliant young scientists. We now just need to not interfere with their talent and ambition.”
His leadership style is results-driven. “People sometimes think I’m assertive, but I’m not—I just want to get things done,” he says. While he is focused on making things happen, he also believes in maintaining perspective: “Let’s not take ourselves too seriously,” he adds, reminding us that even in the pursuit of scientific excellence, passion and enjoyment should remain at the core.
Looking ahead
Rosen’s vision for the department is clear: to create an ecosystem that nurtures talent and prepares the next generation of AI and computing science leaders. He wants Bocconi to be a place where ambitious students and researchers can thrive, with access to the resources and intellectual community needed to push boundaries. “I would not be at Bocconi but for two outstanding scientists who convinced me to come and work here: Riccardo Zecchina, the first Department director, and the late Luca Trevisan. They united academic rigor and human touch, each in his own way. Returning to live in Italy was like closing a circle for me, and I’m glad I found such an outstanding group of scientists at Bocconi.”
