The programme

Overview

Doctoral Program in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies

Main features of the program

The PhD program in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies aims to build a large teaching and research area, focused both on nanoscience and the most recent and innovative physico-chemical technologies, in particular in their applications to biomedicine, forensic sciences, and materials science.
The PhD course combines scientific and research areas in the chemical, physical and biological fields, already consolidated in our University, with the most advanced expressions of biomedical morphology/morphometry and forensic sciences. In this context, attention is paid to Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies, whose highly innovative application areas are of great interest at the international level. Moreover, these areas have been the main research field for many teachers at the University of Verona since several years. The development of particularly innovative multidisciplinary training courses allows a strong integration between basic and clinical-applicative disciplines, with guaranteed employment feedback not only in the academic field, but also in agreement with the needs of the national and international labor market in the area of advanced technology.
The PhD program in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies includes three specific courses, strongly integrated one each other, both in terms of didactic training and theoretical and experimental research, such as:
1. Morphological and Clinical Nanomedicine
2. Forensic Sciences and Technologies
3. Nanomaterials and Chemical, Physical and Analytical Technologies

Program objectives

The training offered by the PhD course in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies is highly integrated with scientific research, obtained through common teaching activities on topics of general importance, associated with tutorial training activities on specific topics for the three courses. The research activity will also have characteristics promoting specialization in a given area, while maintaining a high level of interaction and integration between the various cultural areas, in order to guarantee a solid core of multidisciplinary knowledge.
The most important objective of the PhD student's training activity is therefore the acquisition of both theoretical and experimental skills, allowing the development of critical skills and mental attitude, to autonomously advance the scientific knowledge on frontier topics concerning their discipline. Students will develop an interdisciplinary/translational research approach across the chemical, physical, biological, anatomical-morphological and forensic sciences. They will also be able to effectively communicate the achieved results to the scientific community as well to corporate entities.
Students will attend to lectures and training courses, including specific basic and/or applied research projects, also with translational inspiration. Training in these areas will help the students gaining direct experience in designing experiments, collecting experimental data, processing them and drafting a scientific report and/or publication. In close connection between the addresses, the training will also include the communication of results (oral presentation in national and international conferences and scientific article writing) and the acquisition of procedures and methods to apply for research funding from public and private founders.

Career perspectives

The PhD course in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies gives an answer to the growing demand for multidisciplinary and advanced scientific and technological skills, not apart from an in-depth knowledge of the application and regulatory fields, including ethical and bioethical issues, all concepts the future researcher will face with in the next future.
Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies represent very important strategic areas for modern technological applications. Due to their typical multidisciplinary and international nature, they can favor collaborations with prestigious international research centers. International scientific collaborations at the highest level are already active among the members of the PhD Teaching Committee.
The job opportunities for a PhD are mainly in the research sector, not only in the University context, in private structures, in large European, national and international research infrastructures, but also in a dense network of companies involved in applied research programs and technological innovation both in Italy and abroad. Nonetheless, the training offered by the PhD course in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies also opens up new and interesting employment prospects as technology consultants for businesses, officials of government and European agencies, experts in research development, technology transfer and entrepreneurs.

Research topics by curriculum

Morphological and Clinical Nanomedicine
    • Conventional and advanced in vivo imaging techniques for biomedical, experimental, clinical and forensic investigations
    • Advanced microscopy for biomedical and nanobiotechnology applications
    • Imaging techniques for the study of anthropometry and body composition

Forensic Sciences and Technologies
    • New techniques of mass spectrometry applied to chemical-toxicological, forensic and genetic analysis
    • New technologies of capillary electrophoresis and massively parallel sequencing applied to forensic genetic
    • New electrophoretic and electrokinetic technologies in Forensic Science
    • New biomarkers of substance abuse
    • Imaging in Forensic Medicine and Science

Nanomaterials and Chemical, Physical and Analytical Technologies
    • Design and development of nanostructured materials and new contrast media for multimodal imaging
    • Preparation and chemical, physical and electronic characterization of thin films and thin film devices for energy and biomedical applications (i.e. photovoltaic cells, sensors)
    • Preparation and characterization of biocompatible and biodegradable nanomaterials based on biopolymers for biomedical and environmental applications
    • Design and development of luminescent molecules and materials for biomedical and technological applications
    • Preparation and characterization of porous nanostructured materials for energy, environmental and sensing applications
    • Preparation of nanomaterials and characterization of their interactions with biomolecules for application in the biomedical field
    • Physics applied to cultural heritage and environment: optical techniques (interferometry and imaging) for surface metrology and material analysis

 



Faculty Board of PhD in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies

Coordinator
Speghini Adolfo
Type of body
PhD committee
Department
Diagnostica e Sanità Pubblica
Records and documents present in the year:

October 14, 2024

May 14, 2024

April 8, 2024

February 20, 2024

QA Board of PhD in Nanoscience and Advanced Technologies

Coordinator
Speghini Adolfo
Type of body
Quality Assurance Board
Department
Diagnostica e Sanità Pubblica
Tasks

Further information on MYUNIVR

Records and documents present in the year:

May 8, 2024

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.