Renata Longo is Professor of Medical Physics at the Department of Physics of the University of Trieste. She is the director of the Master of Advances Studies in Medical Physics run jointly by University of Trieste and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). She is member of the council for the doctoral school in Physics at the University of Trieste.

Her main scientific topics are x-ray phase-contrast imaging with synchrotron radiation and advanced MRI techniques for neuroimaging. She is the leader of the university scientists participating at the collaboration "Mammography with synchrotron radiation: the clinical trial" involving Elettra –Sincrotrone Trieste, the University Hospital and the University of Trieste.The collaboration completed the first clinical study based on a phase-sensitive imaging technique. Her research currently receives funding from INFN (Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics) for the development of the breast computed-tomography (CT) with synchrotron radiation. The aim of the collaboration is to perform the first clinical study in phase-contrast breast CT.

Prof. Longo has authored more than 120 ISI papers (h-index 23). She serves on numerous national and international advisory boards, review panels, and editorial boards.