General aim of the PhD course in Biotechnologies is to provide a thorough background in biotechnological research, for purposes ranging from basic research to technology transfer. The programme comprises three curricula, namely “Medical Biotechnology”, “Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology” and “Biomaterials and Biodevices”.
B. Articulation in curricula
Medical Biotechnologyis mainly focused on molecular and clinical diagnostics and development of innovative and customized therapies. The topics of the PhD program spans from the development of pharmacological tools to defeat a variety of diseases to the genetic processes that lead to organ regeneration. Active areas of research include molecular cell mechanisms in cancer, pharmacology of biotech drugs, cell biology (including stem cell biology), development of new medical devices. The educational objectives of the program encompass collaborative exchanges with national and international partners and internal classes on biotechnology disciplines.
Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology focuses on active research areas such as: advanced genetic and microbial biotechnologies, cellular technologies for manipulation of stem cells, gene expression and cloning in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, biotechnological large scale production of useful bio-molecules, bio-based products, and recombinant cells; genetic, genomic, proteomic and cellular function analyses through technological approaches in silico, ex-vivo and in vivo; molecular and cellular technologies for biomedical application and for drug discovery, biotechnological strategies for industrial processes linked to chemistry, green-chemistry, biochemistry, supervision and quality control of biotechnological systems. Analysis and management of the biodiversity, environmental sustainability with special focus on the biotechnological productions.
Biomaterials and Biodevicesis primarily concerned with the design and development of smart biomaterials that, together with the synthesis of nanostructured sensors, is opening new frontiers to biotechnology. Indeed, biomaterials and bio-devices represent an emerging research area applicable in all fields of biotechnology (red, green and white), playing a significant role in food and nutrition sciences, biomedicine, agriculture, imaging and many other technological fields.
C. Educational Objectives
The objectives integrated with the three-year teaching and research activities for the thesis, on site or abroad, are:
1st year: learning of theoretical and experimental knowledge with lessons and laboratory activities, under tutoring.
2nd year: development of the research project, participation in conferences, participation in teaching and training activities.
3rd year: research and continuous updating, drafting of the experimental thesis.
D. Teaching Activity
Doctoral students must earn 30 teaching credits over the three-year period. Each student submits an annual training and teaching plan in January of the first year (two months after the start of the program) and at the end of the first and second years (October 31).
Teaching is distinct from training: while teaching is measured in credits, training contributes to the doctoral student's preparation and is recorded in their curriculum.
The 30 credits can be earned through four types of teaching:
Type A teaching – organized by the doctoral program to which the student belongs.
Type B teaching – organized by other doctoral programs, both at the University of Perugia and at other universities.
Type C teaching – transversal teaching offered by the University of Perugia.
Type D teaching – conferences and doctoral schools.
It is specified that all teaching activities must be at the doctoral level; therefore, credits cannot be obtained from bachelor's or master's degree courses.
Each doctoral student in the Biotechnology program must record their completed activities in the designated Excel file within their personal folder and store the corresponding certificates in the qualifications folder.
Further details on teaching, the credits earned for each type, and all other relevant aspects can be found in the guidelines file, available for download here.
The Doctoral Course offers doctoral students the opportunity to participate to foreign language courses held at the University Language Canter (CLA). The levels of language courses offered at the CLA refer to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The language courses may have a six-month (10 ECTS) or an annual (13 ECTS) duration. At the end of the course the level achieved in the individual language skills will be assessed.
E2. Information technology
The Doctoral Course offers doctoral students the opportunity to participate in computer and labs already offered in other University study courses. Specific courses will also be organized in modules of 1 CFU (for example the use of software for data analysis, word processing programs, archiving and import programs for bibliographic data; in-depth study on databases and their consultation). For these courses, a verification of the level of knowledge acquired will be provided.
E3. Management of research, knowledge of research systems and funding systems.
The Doctoral Course offers the opportunity to participate to 1 CFU courses on research management, knowledge of research systems and funding systems. The courses will deal with: research design and development techniques; drafting and management of financial plans for research projects; project management by stages of work progress and their reporting; management of relations with lenders. The courses include a final check.
E4. Enhancement of research results and intellectual property
The PhD course offers the opportunity to participate to six 1-CFU courses on the enhancement of research and intellectual property. The 6 courses will cover: the transition from basic to applied research; research enhancement techniques; the funding of applied research; the protection of intellectual property; the intervention of universities in favour of patents; business creation and research spin-offs. The courses include a final verification.
F. Job and career opportunities
The aim of the doctorate is to develop skills and deep understanding in the experimental design, analyses and data management in order to achieve autonomy research and project management. This will allow:
1. Allocation in the field of research (universities and other public and private research institutes);
2. Allocation in biotechnological industries, in public and private companies / entities operating in the service sector and specifically: research and development laboratories and production and quality control departments in biotechnological companies and other companies interested in biotechnological innovation such as chemical companies (fine chemicals, bioenergetics, innovative materials), pharmaceuticals, agri-foodstuffs;
3. Allocation within the NHS.
G. Agreements and cooperation with third parties
G1. Foreign universities affiliated
THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM - Israel
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY OF TORUN - Poland
G2. Other associated / affiliated Bodies / Companies
Master degree in Naturalistic and Environmental Sciences and Technologies
Details
President of the Interdegree Council: Prof. Luigi Catacuzzeno ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
Departmental Teaching Office: 075.5855643 ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
For assistance or to contact the Student Offices (administrative questions) or the Department Teaching Office (teaching-related questions), please use the Ticketing Service available at www.helpdesk.unipg.it .
For assistance or to contact the Student Offices (administrative questions) or the Department Teaching Office (teaching-related questions), please use the Ticketing Service available at www.helpdesk.unipg.it .
For assistance or to contact the Student Offices (administrative questions) or the Department Teaching Office (teaching-related questions), please use the Ticketing Service available at www.helpdesk.unipg.it .
