Michaela Saisana is a Senior Scientific Officer
and Project Leader at the Joint Research Centre
of the European Commission (Italy). She
conducts and coordinates research (COIN-team
of 10 post-doc researchers) on multidimensional
measures for evidence-based policy making on
social, economic, health and environmental
issues. Invited speaker on the role of statistical
coherence tests, uncertainty and global
sensitivity analysis for the development of
multidimensional measures on over 200
international conferences and workshops. She
has been organizing the JRC Annual Training
on Composite Indicators and Multicriteria
Analysis since 2005. She has audited over 60
well-known composite indicators, upon invitation of the United Nations,
Transparency International, World Economic Forum, INSEAD, World
Intellectual Property Organization, and other. She has co-authored two books:
2008 OECD/JRC Handbook on Composite Indicators and 2008 Global Sensitivity
Analysis-The Primer (Wiley). Her publications deal with sensitivity analysis,
composite indicators, multicriteria analysis, multivariate analysis, data
envelopment analysis and multi-objective optimization (20 peer-reviewed
publications, 60 working papers & contributions to monographs). In 2004 she
was awarded the European Commission – JRC Young Scientist Prize in Statistics
and Econometrics in recognition of her research on composite indicators. She has
a PhD and an MSc in Chemical Engineering.
Contact:
michaela.saisana@jrc.ec.europa.eu
European Commission-Joint Research Centre
Econometrics and Applied Statistics,
TP 361, Enrico Fermi, 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), ITALY
Tel: +39-0332-786572
Peer-reviewed articles
1. Cohen, A., Saisana, M., 2014, Quantifying the Qualitative: Eliciting Expert Input to
Develop the Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool, Journal of Development
Studies 50(1): 35-50.
2. Paruolo P., Saisana M., Saltelli A., 2013, Ratings and Rankings: voodoo or science?. J
Royal Statistical Society A 176(3), 609-634.
3. Saisana, M., and Saltelli, A., 2011, Rankings and Ratings: Instructions for use, Hague
Journal on the Rule of Law 3(2), 247-268.
4. Saisana M., D’Hombres B., Saltelli A., 2011, Rickety Numbers: Volatility of university
rankings and policy implications. Research Policy 40, 165–177.
5. Munda G., Saisana M., 2011, Methodological Considerations on Regional
Sustainability Assessment based on Multicriteria and Sensitivity Analysis. Regional
Studies 45(2), 261-276.
6. Saltelli, A., D'Hombres, B., Jesinghaus, J., Manca, A.R., Mascherini, M., Nardo, M.,
Saisana, M., 2010, Indicators for European Union Policies. Business as Usual? Social
Indicators Research 102(2), 197-207.
7. Munda G., Nardo M., Saisana M., Srebotnjak T., 2009, Measuring uncertainties in
composite indicators of sustainability. Int. J. Environmental Technology and
Management 11, 7-26.
8. Cherchye L., W. Moesen, N. Rogge, T. Van Puyenbroeck, M. Saisana, A. Saltelli, R.
Liska, S. Tarantola, 2008, Creating Composite Indicators with DEA and Robustness
Analysis: the case of the Technology Achievement Index. Journal of Operational
Research Society 59, 239-251.
9. Saisana M., Saltelli A., 2008, Expert Panel Opinion and Global Sensitivity Analysis for
Composite Indicators, Lecture Notes in Computational Science and Engineering 62, 251275.
10. Sarigiannis D.A., Saisana M., 2008, Multi-objective optimization of air quality
monitoring. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 136 (1-3), 87-99.
11. Brand D. A., M. Saisana, L. A. Rynn, F. Pennoni, A. B. Lowenfels, 2007, Comparative
Analysis of Alcohol Control Policies in 30 Countries. PLoS Medicine 4(4), 752-759.
12. Tarantola S., Nardo M., Saisana M., Gatelli D., 2006, A new estimator for sensitivity
analysis of model output: An application to the e-business readiness composite
indicator. Reliability Engineering & System Safety 91(10-11), 1135-1141.
13. Saisana M., Saltelli A., Tarantola S., 2005, Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis
techniques as tools for the analysis and validation of composite indicators. Journal of
the Royal Statistical Society A 168(2), 307-323.
14. Dubois G., Galmarini S., Saisana M., 2005, Geostatistical Investigation of ETEX - 1:
Structural Analysis. Atmospheric Environment 39, 1683-1693.
15. Sarigiannis D.A., Saisana M., 2005, Satellite-assisted optimization of ambient air
quality monitoring networks. Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and
Technology.
16. Saltelli A., Nardo M., Saisana M., Tarantola S., Liška R., 2005, Agregované indikátory
- kontroverze a její možná řešení (English title: Composite Indicators – controversy
and the way forward). Statistika 2, 93-106
17. Saisana M., Dubois G., Chaloulakou A., Spyrellis N., 2004, Interpretation of
probability risk maps: limitations and perspectives. Environmental Science and
Technology 38(5), 1275-1281.
18. Baur D., Saisana M., Schulze N., 2004, Modelling the Effects of Meteorological
Variables on Ozone Concentration – A Quantile Regression Approach. Atmospheric
Environment 38(28), 4689–4699.
19. Chaloulakou A., Saisana M., Spyrellis N., 2003, Comparative assessment of neural
networks and regression models for forecasting summertime ozone in Athens. Science
of the Total Environment 313 (1-3), 1-13.
20. Saisana M., Dubois G., Chaloulakou A., Kassomenos P., Spyrellis N., 2003,
Streamlining environmental monitoring networks: application to nitrogen dioxide in
north Italy. Systems Analysis Modelling Simulation 43(2), 241-250.
21. Saisana M., Dubois G., Chaloulakou A., Spyrellis N., 2002, Spatial Correlation
Analysis of Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations in the Area of Milan, Italy. Proc. of the
First Biennial Meeting of the International Modelling and Software Society, Switzerland,
June 2002, A. E. Rizzoli and A. J. Jakeman Eds, p.536-541.
22. Sarigiannis D., Soulakellis N., Schäfer K., Tombrou M., Sifakis N., Assimakopoulos
D., Lointier M, Bossioli E., Dantou A., Saisana M., 2002, ICAROS: An integrated
computational environment for the assimilation of environmental data and models
for urban and regional air quality. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus 2 (5-6), 641-654.
Selected working papers & contributions to monographs


Saisana, M., Saltelli, A., 2014, JRC Statistical Audit of the WJP Rule of Law Index®
2014 (p.188-198). In the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index® Washington, D.C.:
The World Justice Project.
Saisana, M., Rossetti, F., 2013, JRC Statistical Audit on the Global Talent
Competitiveness Index (p.77-87), in Lanvin B., Evans, P. (Ed), The Global Talent
Competitiveness Index, INSEAD.

Saisana, M., Philippas, D., 2013, Joint Research Centre Statistical Audit of the 2013
Global Innovation Index (p.55-67), in Dutta, S., Lanvin, B. (Ed), The Global
Innovation Index 2013 - The Local Dynamics of Innovation, Cornell University,
INSEAD, and WIPO.

Saisana, M., Weziak-Bialowolska, D., 2013, JRC Statistical Audit on the Environment
and Gender Index (p.143-153), in IUCN The Environment and Gender Index (EGI)
2013 Pilot. Washington, D.C.: IUCN.

Hoskins, B.L., Saisana, M., Villalba, C., 2013, Measuring Youth Civic Competence
across Europe in 1999 & 2009, EUR 26487 , European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy

Sevigny, E. L., Saisana M., 2013, Developing the U.S. Drug Consequences Indices,
2000-2009. Washington, DC: Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office
of the President.

Hardeman, S., van Roy, V., Vertesy, D., Saisana, M.,
2013, An analysis of national
research systems (I): A Composite Indicator for Scientific and Technological Research
Excellence, EUR 26093, European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana, M., 2012, Monitoring SMEs’ performance in Europe. Indicators fit for
purpose, EUR 25577, European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana, M., Saltelli A., 2012, Corruption Perceptions Index 2012. Statistical
Assessment, EUR 25623, European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana M., Philippas D., 2012, Sustainable Society Index (SSI): Taking societies’ pulse
along social, environmental and economic issues, EUR 25578 EN, European
Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana M, Hoskins B, Harrison Villaba C., 2012, The 2011 Civic Competence
Composite Indicator. EUR 25182, European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana M., 2010, ELLI-Index: a sound measure for lifelong learning in the EU, EUR
24529, European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana M., Saltelli A., 2010, Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis of the 2010
Environmental Performance Index, EUR 56990, European Commission, JRC-IPSC,
Italy.

Saisana M., Saltelli A., 2010, The Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool
(MPAT): Robustness issues and Critical assessment, EUR 24310, European
Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana M., 2010, The Luxembourg Competitiveness Index: Analysis &
Recommendations, Perspectives de Politique Économique No 15, October 2010,
Ministère de l’Économie et du Commerce extérieur, Observatoire de la Compétitivité,
Luxembourg.

Saisana M., Annoni, P, Nardo M., 2009, A robust model to measure African
Governance: Robustness Issues and Critical Assessment, EUR 23274, European
Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy

Saisana M., 2008, The 2007 Composite Learning Index: Robustness Issues and Critical
Assessment, EUR 23274, European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.

Saisana M., D’Hombres B., 2008, Higher Education Rankings: Robustness Issues and
Critical Assessment, EUR 23487, European Commission, JRC-IPSC, Italy.