The programme

Overview

The course was created to address the need to develop sustainable agri-food supply chains, aiming to ensure food security for present and future generations, while preserving natural resources and mitigating environmental impact. The programme was designed in the framework of the “Departments of excellence” initiative, a special grant awarded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) to the best departments of Italian universities, to finance five-year development projects, and recognised to the dept. of Biotechnology, for the second time, for the years 2023-2027.
The course aims to train professionals with high autonomy in research, prepared to tackle challenges in sustainability of the agri-food sector, improve production system efficiency, enhance the nutritional quality and safety of food, and verify its authenticity.
Within the course, the theme of agricultural and food sustainability is covered comprehensively: from field to production, from process control to consumption, including strategies that involve smart technologies, engaging students in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary journey that provides advanced tools to face challenges in the agri-food sector.
The three-year programme is focused on research activities and is complemented by classroom teaching. The research pathway includes both basic research activities, aimed at developing innovation and acquiring knowledge in sustainable agrifood, and applied research activities, which strengthen the dialogue with the companies and the technological transfer of innovation.
The research activities are complemented by transversal activities through the educational offerings and consist of expert seminars proposed by the Academic Board, as well as offerings from the Doctoral School with advanced courses, including language courses, courses for statistical data processing, and interdisciplinary seminars.

The doctoral training focuses particularly, though not exclusively, on biotechnologies with the aim of developing and implementing biotechnological tools to achieve a neutral or positive environmental impact in the food supply chain, with particular reference to primary production and transformation processes. 
The course aims to provide scientific and cultural tools to develop innovative solutions to the problems of mitigating the impact of climate change and adapting production to it; for the reduction of agricultural inputs; for food safety, nutrition, and public health aimed at ensuring sufficient high-quality, healthy, and sustainable food for all; and for reducing production costs while achieving high-quality standards.
The cultural areas covered by the PhD program are:

  • Biotechnologies for improving the sustainability of primary production and food processing, aimed at optimizing both primary production through innovations in field and confined cultivation, and its transformation into consumer products.
  • Innovation and development of new technologies or products in agri-food systems to reduce the environmental impact of production and create a circular economy system that values waste or by-products.
  • Biotechnologies for the use of bioresources and biomolecules in the agri-food sector, focusing on the possibility of extracting/recovering bioactive molecules from various biological sources, such as microorganisms and plants, considering natural biodiversity, for applications throughout the agri-food supply chain.
  • The development of innovative systems for monitoring and controlling processes and products, supporting innovative processes and ensuring a flow of information for the prompt processing and rationalization of these processes, as well as artificial intelligence systems for decision support in process management.

Doctoral candidates must acquire a number of educational credits through specific courses (8 ECTS) and elective courses offered by the School (8 ECTS). Each year, seminars and thematic minicourses on the major topics of the PhD program are offered by experts in the field, both academic and from the production sector. Supplementary educational activities are planned, such as tutoring in exercises, for a maximum of 3 ECTS/year in the first two years.
Doctoral candidates are required to spend a mandatory training period abroad, lasting from 6 to 12 months, with the aim of strengthening international relations between researchers and qualified research institutes, as well as promoting the research of shared biotechnological solutions among the partners of doctoral exchange agreements on agrifood sustainability issues.
There is also the possibility of training mobility in selected industrial settings, for a period of at least 1 month and up to 6 months, with the aim of promoting bidirectional relationships to improve the understanding of the needs of the production sector and to pursue an approach based on the search for innovative solutions.

The Ph.D. program in Smart Agrifood Sciences prepares professionals with specialized skills in the course topics, aimed at conducting research, providing guidance, and communicating on issues related to mitigating the impact of climate change and adapting production to it; ensuring food safety and quality; reducing production costs; and achieving high-quality standards. 
A Ph.D. in Smart Agrifood Sciences is qualified to carry out scientific activities in academia, public and private research centers, or consortia, where expertise in conducting agro-food biotechnological research is required.
Ph.D. holders in Smart Agrifood Sciences are also suited to enter industrial and production environments, including agri-food companies, as experts in the research and development of new products, processes, and technologies; food protection; quality management in the food industry; and the development of new products for food companies. They also find employment in consultancy activities within the sector, including specialized roles in food safety, quality, or industry regulations.
Additionally, Ph.D. holders in Smart Agrifood Sciences are qualified to engage in regulatory and compliance roles within organizations overseeing business practices in the field. Careers in communication and dissemination are also attainable, focusing on raising awareness among the public and private sectors on food safety and sustainability issues.
The research is supported by modern infrastructures and laboratories located at the Department of Biotechnology, including: the Sensory Analysis Laboratory, the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, the Metabolomics Laboratory, the Analytical Chemistry and Molecular Imprinting Laboratory, the Food and Enological Microbiology Laboratories, the Food Chemistry Laboratory, the Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory, the Entomology Laboratory, the Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, the Transcriptomic and Genomic Analysis Platform, the Experimental Field, the Experimental Winery, the Sensor Platform, Drones, 15 centrifuges, 13 UV-VIS spectrophotometers, plant growth phytotrons, 1 greenhouse, 1 sonicator, chemical and microbiological hoods (including biohazard hoods), and lyophilizers.
The Department of Biotechnology boasts an advanced IT system, with individual research groups having access to remote computing resources. Access to the university network is available via credentials. The Department of Biotechnology provides computing workstations and specific computational resources for molecular modelling, genome sequencing, and transcriptomic and proteomic analyses.
 



Faculty Board of PhD in Smart Agrifood Sciences

Coordinator
Bossi Alessandra Maria
Type of body
PhD committee
Department
Biotecnologie
Records and documents present in the year:

April 29, 2024

March 28, 2024

March 14, 2024

QA Board of PhD in Smart Agrifood Sciences

Coordinator
Ugliano Maurizio
Type of body
Quality Assurance Board
Department
Biotecnologie
Tasks

Further information on MYUNIVR

Records and documents present in the year:

The Italian University system

schema_qualita

First-cycle degrees: Bachelor’s degree programme

First-cycle degrees are aimed at enabling students to achieve a command of general scientific methods and content, and to acquire specific professional knowledge.
Admission requirements: secondary school diploma after completing 13 years of study in total and passing the relevant State examination, or equivalent foreign qualification; admission may be subject to further assessment.
Duration: three years.
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 180 CFU; doing an internship and preparing a dissertation/thesis may also be required. Upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree, graduates may continue their studies by enrolling in a Master’s degree or other second-cycle degree programmes and courses.
Academic title: upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree (Laurea), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore”.

Second-cycle degrees: Master’s degree

Second-cycle degrees aim to provide students with an advanced training and knowledge to take on highly-skilled roles.
Admission requirements: applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree, or a foreign equivalent qualification; curricular admission requirements for each course may vary depending on each University.
Duration: two years.
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 120 CFU, as well as preparing and presenting a dissertation/thesis.
Academic title: upon completion of a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore magistrale”. Single cycle/Combined Bachelor+Master’s degrees
Some courses (Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy, Architecture and Building Engineering-Architecture, Law, Primary Education) are offered as Single cycle/Combined Bachelor+Master’s degrees (Corsi di Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico).
Admission requirements: applicants must hold a secondary school diploma or equivalent foreign qualification; admission is subject to passing an admission test.
Duration: five years (six years and 360 CFU for Medicine and Surgery, and Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics).
Graduation: in order to obtain the degree, it is necessary to gain at least 300 CFU, as well as preparing and presenting a dissertation/thesis. Upon completion of a Single-cycle degree, graduates may continue their studies by applying for a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca) or other third-cycle courses.
Academic title: upon completion of a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale), graduates are awarded the title of “Dottore magistrale”.

Third-cycle degrees

PhD programmes: these courses enable students to gain reliable methodologies for advanced scientific research through innovative methodologies and new technologies, and generally include internships abroad and lab activities at research laboratories. Graduates wishing to apply for a PhD programme must have a Master’s degree (or a foreign equivalent qualification) and pass an open competition; PhD programmes have a minimum duration of three years. In order to complete the programme, students must produce a research thesis/dissertation and present it at a final examination.
Academic title: upon completion of a PhD programme, students are awarded the title of “Dottore di ricerca”, or “PhD”.
Postgraduate specialisation courses: these are third-cycle courses aimed at enabling students to develop advanced knowledge and highly-specialised skills, such as in the medical, clinical and surgical fields. To be admitted to these courses, applicants must have a Master’s degree (or a foreign equivalent qualification) and pass an open competition. Postgraduate specialisation courses may last from two (120 CFU) to 6 years (360 CFU) depending on the type. Academic title: upon completion of this programme, graduates are awarded a “Diploma di Specializzazione”.

Professional Master’s programme

1st-level Professional Master’s programmes: these courses enable students to further enhance their scientific knowledge and professional skills. In order to apply, applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree, or foreign equivalent qualification. The minimum duration is one year (60 CFU). Please note that completing this course will not provide you with direct access to a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca), or other third-cycle courses, as these courses are run and managed by each University at the local level. Upon completion of this programme, students are awarded a “Master universitario di primo livello”.
2nd-level Professional Master’s programmes: these courses enable students to further enhance their scientific knowledge and professional skills. In order to apply, applicants must have a Master’s degree, or foreign equivalent qualification. The minimum duration is one year (60 CFU). Please note that completing this course will not provide you with direct access to a PhD programme (Dottorato di Ricerca), or other third-cycle courses, as these courses are run and managed by each University at the local level. Upon completion of this programme, students are awarded a “Master universitario di secondo livello”.

Other useful things

Crediti Formativi Universitari (CFU/ECTS credits): Italian university courses are based on the CFU system. 1 CFU is equal to 25 hours of study. The average annual academic workload for a full-time student is generally assumed to be 60 CFU. CFU and ECTS credits serve the same purpose and generally have the same value.
Degree class: Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes that have the same learning objectives and activities are grouped into “degree classes". The educational content of each programme is set autonomously by each university; however, universities are required to include certain educational activities (and the corresponding number of CFU credits) set at the national level. These requirements are established in relation to each degree class. Degrees in the same class have the same legal value.
Double/Joint degrees: the Italian universities may establish degree programmes in partnership with other Italian or foreign universities. Upon completion of these courses, graduates are awarded a joint or double/multiple degree, one from each Partner University.