PhD in Agrobiosciences
Pisa, Italy
PhD
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
The Ph.D. in Agrobiosciences is a three-year program that aims at educating highly competent researchers with an interdisciplinary background who will be able to face research frontiers in plant sciences.
The programme is structured in two curricula: i) Genomics and crop production and ii) Agriculture and environment, offering training in frontier topics of plant sciences, including molecular biology, plant genomics- cs and biotechnology, and environmental and agronomic sciences.
The course allows doctoral research students to carry out research in a stimulating and supportive environment, being directly involved in research activities in the laboratories of the Institute of Life Sciences: BIOLabs, LANDLAB, and PLANTLAB.
To assist in the delivery of learning outcomes, an assessment of an individual student's progress is made via a standard series of review protocols including the drafting of yearly reports, delivery of seminars, and preparation of a thesis submitted to a review process by highly qualified experts in the field. Upon recommendation of the referees, the student is admitted to the final examination for the award of the Doctoral Degree.
Scholarships are for the duration of the relevant Ph.D. Programmes and confirmed annually upon admission to the following year by approval from the Advisory Board of the individual Programme. Ph.D. scholarships are awarded following the ranking order, except for scholarships linked to specific topics or research projects, which may be awarded to the first eligible candidate(s) identified by the Selection Committee.
The annual budget for each student comprises a scholarship of € 16,243.00 (€ 18,800.00 for the PhD Programmes in robotics and Emerging Digital Technologies), including social security charges payable by the recipient and paid in monthly instalments in arrears, and housing grant of € 2,200/year.
Scholarships cannot be combined with other scholarships for any reason whatsoever, except for those granted by national or foreign institutions, aimed at supplementing the student's research activities with visits abroad. Doctoral students who have previously received a Ph.D. scholarship in Italy, even partially, are not eligible for another Ph.D. scholarship.
Doctoral research students are expected to develop research and techniques skills, including the ability to address research problems and formulate and test hypotheses and a full understanding of relevant research methodologies and the- techniques. Students will also be trained to develop communication skills for effective writing and oral presentation of research outcomes to a range of audiences.
Different mechanisms will be applied to achieve this goal, including supervisor support and mentoring, institute support, workshops, conferences, elective training courses, formally assessed courses, and in-formal opportunities.
Doctoral research students are also required to undergo a 3-6 month research period aboard, as a visiting scholar at a foreign University or Research Center deemed relevant for their Ph.D. project.
Students are expected to make a substantial, original contribution to knowledge in their area, normally leading to published work.
Research activities of the students are carried out in BIOLabs, LANDLAB, and PLANTLAB, equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory instruments and technologies and open field facilities.
The Programme aims to use a high-level teaching and research path to train persons of high scientific and professional profiles who are just as able to successfully enter:
- National and International public and private research institutions.
- Organisations and companies working with advanced technologies in the field of plant biotechnology and crop production.
- Organisations and companies working in the organization and planning of sustainable agriculture at a farm and territorial level.
The PhD in Agrobiosciences is a three-year Programme structured in 2 curricula:
- Genomics and crop production: Plant biotechnologies; Plant genetics and physiology; Plant genomics; Crop production sciences; Advanced technologies in horticulture; Quality of crop production.
- Agriculture, Environment, and Landscape: Sustainable and multifunctional agriculture; Organic and integrated agriculture; Quality of crop production; Functional biodiversity in agroecosystems; Plant/soil Interactions and soil fertility; Biomass, energy, and industrial crops; Water-related agro-ecosystem services.
The programme aims to apply innovative teaching and research methodologies to train brilliant and highly motivated young searchers who will be able not only to carry out solid and high-quality academic research- ch, but also to undertake professional ca- reers within a wide range of international, national, and regional entities, in both the private and the public sectors in the field of plant biotechnology and crop production.