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(cycle XLII) Technologies and Science for Human Health (PhD course) - (ciclo XLII) Dottorato in Tecnologie e Scienze per la Salute dell'Uomo

PhD course description and objective

The PhD Programme in "Technologies and Sciences for Human Health" was accredited for the 39th cycle (Academic Year 2022/2023) and has continued its activities through the 40th and 41st cycles, following the strategic guidelines established by the founding Academic Board.

The aim of the PhD Programme is to train highly qualified researchers in the field of Technologies and Sciences applied to Human Health, providing students with open-mindedness, methodological rigor and a multidisciplinary approach to research. This objective is pursued through advanced training in experimental research in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology and Medicine, all aimed at generating knowledge applicable to the improvement of human health.

Research and teaching activities are carried out, whenever possible, in synergy by research groups with internationally recognized scientific expertise, within a well-established network of national and international collaborations involving universities, research institutions and industrial partners.

The research activities of the PhD Programme encompass a broad range of topics related to human health, spanning both fundamental research in nanosciences, biology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and medicine, and applied research in the industrial, food, environmental, diagnostic and therapeutic sectors. These research areas have significant scientific and societal impact and are fully consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

To ensure that the educational project remains aligned with the continuous scientific and technological advances in the relevant disciplines, the PhD Programme has benefited from regular consultations with stakeholders, also in coordination with the Doctoral School of the University of Palermo, to monitor emerging training needs and research competencies relevant to the Programme. Discussions conducted by the Quality Assurance Committee and the PhD Academic Board with representatives from academia, healthcare institutions and industry have contributed to the continuous enhancement of the educational offer. In this context, the Programme has also benefited, in recent cycles, from additional PhD scholarships funded by the Sicilian Regional Government to support advanced training and research projects consistent with the strategic priorities of scientific and technological innovation for human health.

PhD students acquire research planning and implementation skills by participating in innovative research projects and are trained in the organization and management of experimental scientific research. Specialized training activities are designed to foster critical thinking, advanced experimental skills and the ability to independently manage research within a multidisciplinary and international environment.

Significant support in terms of research infrastructure and laboratory facilities is provided by the participating Departments and by the ATeN Center of the University of Palermo, an integrated research laboratory infrastructure unique in Europe in the field of technologies applied to human health, offering state-of-the-art facilities ranging from the synthesis and characterization of materials to in vivo testing (Ministerial Decree No. 1082 of 10 September 2021 – PNIR 2021–2027). 

MAIN RESEARCH TOPICS 

• Molecular Biophysics;
• Medical Physics;
• Theranostics;
• Materials and Nanotechnology for Human Health;
• Biotechnologies Applied to Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals;
• Study of the Mechanisms of Oncogenesis;
• In Vivo Models of Toxicology and Disease and Their Application in Preclinical Testing of Bioactive Molecules;
• Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics;
• Development and Validation of Systems and Technologies for Prosthetic Applications;
• Study of the Mechanisms of Genomic Instability and Their Impact on Human Health;
• Development and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Devices for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications. 

Administration

A 6 months’ research period abroad is required during the PhD program. In order to receive the expected 50% fellowship increase, the PhD board approval should be required in advance.

Missions and refunds: the rules of STEBICEF department have to be strictly followed ( https://www.unipa.it/dipartimenti/stebicef )

contact: missioni.stebicef@unipa.it

Rules and regulations  

Doctor Europaeus

University may grant the certification of "Doctor Europaeus," in addition to the title and the national value of its Doctoral Programme on a proposal of the Academic Board in respect to individual requests from one or more graduate students, provided the following four conditions:

(a) positive assessment of the thesis given by at least two professors from two European universities different from each other and from the university where the thesis is discussed;

(b) at least one member of the final examination commission must belong to a different university in a European country respect to that where the thesis is discussed and of those of the professors referred to in point (a);

(c) discussion of a part of the thesis in one of the official languages of the European Union different from that of the country where the thesis is discussed;

(d) performance of the research presented in the thesis during a stay of at least 3 months even not continuous in a European country different from the one where the candidate is registered.

Verified the compliance with all the requirements, the certification issue of Doctor Europaeus occurs simultaneously with that of Doctor of Research.

https://www.unipa.it/didattica/dottorati/dottorato-internazionale/doctor-europaeus/