The training objectives that the PhD course in Biological and Natural Sciences aims to develop are:
Year 1
- Acquisition of theoretical and experimental knowledge through lectures and laboratory activities.
Year 2
- Development of the research project,
- Participation in conferences,
- Involvement in educational and training activities.
Year 3
- Involvement in educational and training activities,
- Research and preparation of the experimental thesis.
These objectives will also be complemented with teaching and research activities for the thesis, both at the institution and abroad.
PhD Training Plan (download)
The doctoral student will establish the training plan in agreement with the supervising professor. The training plan (180 credits) consists of:
- a) Carrying out, under the guidance of a supervisor, an individual research program approved by the PhD board and related to a disciplinary field within those provided by the PhD Course. The research activities carried out by the PhD student must be presented at the end of the three years in at least 3 scientific publications submitted to international indexed journals (ISI-SCOPUS journals), of which at least one already accepted for publication. At least in one paper the PhD student has to be the first author or corresponding author. The research program must include a period abroad at a certified University/research institution lasting at least six months (even non-continuous).
- b) Engaging in complementary educational and training activities useful to carry out the research activity, in which the PhD student must earn at least 30 credits. These activities include:
- Attendance (and passing of any final exams) of specific courses (activities A and B, Tables A and B at the end of this file) on topics related to the two curricula of the PhD organized within the framework of the PhD in Biological and Naturalistic Sciences or other equivalent courses organized by other doctoral programs, including those abroad. The number of ECTS credits that can be acquired is indicated next to each course in the table. At the end of the three years the PhD student has to gain at least 12 ECTS belonging to activities A and B.
- Attendance (and passing of final exams) of courses related to soft skills (Table C, Table at the end of this file). The number of ECTS credits that can be acquired is indicated next to each course on the calendar. At the end of the three years the PhD student has to gain at least 6 ECTS belonging to activities C.
- Participation to the Summer School organized by the PhD board or to any other national or international schools related to the themes of the two curricula of the PhD (1 ECTS credits per day) or to national (0.5 ECTS credits per day) or international (1 ECTS credits per day) conferences on topics related to the two curricula of the PhD (activity D). At the end of the three years the PhD student has to gain at least 3 ECTS belonging to activities D.
- Participation to national (0. 5 ECTS per 6 hour) or international (1 ECTS per 6 hour) seminars (activity D) given by members of the PhD board of the PhD topics or by national and international experts on topics related to the two curricula of the PhD course.
- Scientific dissemination activities (scientific oral presentation personally given by the doctoral student) are recommended (no credits for this activity).
- The doctoral student can engage in supplementary teaching activities, didattica integrativa (maximum 30 hours each year) or tutoring activities (terza missione o tutoraggio) (maximum 30 hours each year) (no credits for this activity).
- At the end of the PhD program, the PhD student must have obtained an English language certificate at level C1. Phd students have the opportunity to participate in foreign language courses at the University's Language Center (CLA) and obtain certified assessment in individual language skills.
All training activities organized and/or suggested by the PhD program will be scheduled on the PhD website and communicated to students and PhD board via email. At the following link each student can find useful information about the PhD course in UNIPG https://www.unipg.it/didattica/percorsi-post-laurea/dottorati-di-ricerca
At the beginning of the PhD course (within the first 4 months), each PhD student presents its Individual training plan containing the research activities he intends to pursue and the educational activities he intends to follow. Before the 10 October of each academic year, the PhD student must submit to the coordinator the Annual Report (first/second) report concerning all the training and research activities carried out; the report, shared with the tutor, consists of a file containing the research results achieved within the framework of the PhD project and a brief report on other training and supplementary teaching/tutoring activities carried out during the same period, along with the report related to the credits obtained in the training activities. The reports will be evaluated by the PhD board, which, after consulting with the PhD student and the tutor regarding progress in thesis development, will, in case of a positive evaluation, allocate the respective credits (up to 30-40 ECTS credits for the annual report on research activities and/or thesis writing). The individual Phd course ends with the writing of the thesis. The thesis, written in English, must contribute to advancing knowledge or methodologies in the chosen field of study.
PhD students have a budget for research activities in Italy and abroad, with an amount not less than 10% of the scholarship. This amount is managed directly by the Department to which the doctoral program belongs. The research budget can be used for reimbursement of expenses incurred for missions or conference registrations, seminars, schools, expenses for thesis preparation, expenses for organizing seminars and conferences with external lecturers, purchase of consumables, services, and maintenance of equipment and instruments. In this context, a small amount of euros per doctoral student can be used for organizing the annual Summer School of the PhD in Biological and Natural Sciences (held every year) and other activities aimed at implementing the individual training plan of the PhD students.