PhD COURSES 2010 - 2012
FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY
Department of Agro-food Science and Techniques
Coordinator: Prof. Marco Esti
e-mail esti@unitus.it
This PhD Course on Food Biotechnology is designed for students who want to take-up the
challenge of operating in the food biotechnology field at innovative centers, innovative food
companies or government agencies and finding innovative methods and technology to
preserve or transform food products, as well as to produce and recovery microbial-produced
food ingredients, so as to improve or guarantee food safety, functionality and/or quality.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
with grant
2
without grant
2
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
2
0
2
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
Department of Agro-biology and Agro-chemistry
Coordinator: Prof. Stefania Masci
e-mail masci@unitus.it
Partner Institutions: Università “Sapienza” di Roma
Université Paul Cézanne – Aix Marseille (F)
Université de Nantes (F)
The future Ph.D. should be able to set up and accomplish a research project in the field of
plant biotechnology in every aspect. To this aim, their training includes a series of activities in
cooperation with tutors, mostly based on the development of a specific research project.
Moreover, a common basic training is foreseen, based on seminars or on attending official
University courses indicated by the tutors.
Ph.D. students will be strongly supported in order to realize possible collaborations with
national and international research institutions.
The specific research projects that will be dealt with, and that will be object of the written
exam, include:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Manipulation of starch composition for qualitative improvement of durum and bread
wheat
Differential expression in response to biotic and abiotic stresses in wheat
Molecular and proteomic characterization of allergens present in the protein fraction of
wheat kernel
Vegetable biocatalysis
Enzyme immobilization
Biotransformation
Genetic and molecular bases of the response to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants
Study of genetic and biochemical mechanisms regulating fruit development in tomato
Genetic and molecular characterization of male-sterile mutants in tomato
Linkage analysis for tomato fruit characteristics
11
12
13
14
15
16
Structural and functional characterization of gene present of chromosome 5A of wheat
Development of genetic and physical maps in different Triticeae species for the
identification of molecular markers to be used in plant breeding
Genetic and physical organization of cereal genomes by means of molecular approaches
Genetic, molecular and functional analysis of genes transferred in wheat from related
species
Study of molecular mechanisms at the basis of plant-pathogen interaction
Study of the role of plant cell wall in development and defence mechanisms
The oral exam will concern in a discussion of the written exam and of the specific scientific
experience of the candidate. The language exam (English) will take place during the oral exam
and will consist in the reading and translation of part of a scientific paper.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
with grant
4
without grant
0
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
4
1
3
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONTRACT LAW
Department of Law
Coordinator: Prof. Nicola Corbo
e-mail s_dsg@unitus.it
mariosavino@hotmail.com
This PhD course is designed for students who want to take-up the challenge of operating in the
expanding field of public procurement. The aim of the course is to train young scholars and
future lawyers or civil servants, providing them with high-level capacity of legal analysis and
implementing abilities in public and private law. The course focuses both on European and
national regulation concerning public procurement and the general discipline of private
autonomy.
The most recent developments will be analyzed, with specific regard to e-public procurement,
contracting-out, the rise of private law in the public sphere, the gradual blurring of the publicprivate traditional divide, the legal proliferation of new typologies of contracts, the discipline of
private obligations and responsibility.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
with grant
2
without grant
2
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
0
1
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Department of Ecology and Sustainable Development
Coordinator: Prof. Roberta Cimmaruta
e-mail cimmaruta@unitus.it
Partner Institutions: Università “Sapienza” di Roma
The PhD in Ecology and Management of Biological Resources is aimed at the education of
graduate students, introducing them to the advances of the ecological research with particular
regard to the sustainable management of biological resources. The fundamental theories,
methods and techniques of research, and models related to population, community and
ecosystem ecology are the basic topics of study. Focus will be also on the theory and
applications underlying monitoring and conservation of endangered genomes, species and
ecosystems. The management and monitoring of water systems will be another topic of the
course, considering both biological and geological approaches especially in freshwater habitats.
Finally, attention will be deserved to the marine environment and to the development and
application of innovative technologies for its study: researches on the oceanic processes at a
macroscale using new technologies, set-up of control and monitoring techniques for the coastal
environment based on simulation models, studies on the benthic and pelagic communities will
be some of the topics.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
10
with grant
5
without grant
5
FOREST ECOLOGY
Department of Forestry and Forestry Resources Science
Coordinator: Prof. Paolo De Angelis
e-mail pda@unitus.it
The objective of the PhD course is to provide the scientific formation necessary at highly
qualified researcher on forest ecosystems dynamics and their functions, and to equip them
with the most innovative methodology to study these processes. The pedagogic approach is
learn making research in the context of international or national research projects. The PhD
student will be part of a multidisciplinary scientific group, where he will contribute with original
research approaches. The PhD student will follow intensive advanced courses and seminars,
internal and external, to improve and enlarge his scientific background.
The different topics of the course are related to the Ecology and Silviculture, in particular on:
forest structure and functionality, biological diversity of species in relation to evolutionary and
functional processes including genomics, mass and energy fluxes, ecophysiological processes
from tree to stand level, stand dynamics and forest colonization, stand stability and
productivity in relation to environmental factors (global changes) and silvicultural treatments,
ecological restoration, agro-forestry and soil ecology, forest management and conservation of
animal biodiversity, landscape ecology.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
7
with grant
4
without grant
3
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
0
1
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
ECONOMY AND TERRITORY
Department of Agro-forestry and Rural Environment Economics
Coordinator: Prof. Alessandro Sorrentino
e-mail sorrenti@unitus.it
Partner Institutions: Università di Parma
Università di Firenze
The P.H..D. program is essentially oriented to provide theoretical and methodological tools for
advanced analysis in local development economics with particular emphasis on the resource
allocation in rural areas. The program provides for a formal training in Economics and
Quantitative Methods. Students may target their training and carry out a research program in
the following areas: agricultural and natural resources economics and policy; general
economics; applied economics in the field of environment, innovation and quality
management; quantitative methods for applied economics. Focus on the local and rural
development economics will characterise the research programs carried out by students. Each
student will be assigned to a tutor and each program will be monitored by the PhD Professor
Board.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
with grant
2
without grant
2
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
0
1
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION
Department of Environmental Sciences
Coordinator: Prof. Laura Zucconi
e-mail zucconi@unitus.it
The evolutionistic biology has two main goals: the reconstruction of the evolutive processes
towards diverse possible approaches and the study of molecular mechanisms at the base of
these processes. It is therefore important to know all the levels of the biological organization of
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes, encompassing the biological molecules, the cell and multicellular
organisms.
The basic topics studied during the degree courses will be deepened in the course of Doctorate
of “Biological and Biochemical Evolution”.
The research students will be trained in methods of phylogeny, starting from the morphecological knowledge up to the most advanced microscopic, biochemical and DNA and RNA
sequencing techniques, the study of development and embryological differentiation, the
reproductive cycles and endocrine regulation, the genetic equilibrium of the populations from
microorganisms to humans in relation to the natural selection.
Innovative techniques (analysis of polymorphic loci by protein electrophoresis, amino acid and
nucleotide sequencing, immunologic techniques, DNA-DNA hybridization) are today applied to
study genetic variability and speciation mechanisms. New metagenomic molecular techniques
enable to better understand the total microbial diversity, including the uncultivable microbial
portion.
Our aim is to train new highly prepared researchers able to organize their own research and
apply advanced techniques to evaluate the genetic variability and the environmental
adaptation, which are the first steps of the evolutive changes.
The students’ training will be based on the development of an original research project under
the supervision of one or more tutors. The students will be asked to attend seminars and will
be encouraged to spend a period of research (non less than 6 months) in a scientifically
outstanding foreign laboratory.
The doctorate involves numerous competences of biology, systematic, morpho-functionality,
biochemistry.
For an efficient preparation of the research students, the members of the College have
suggested three curricula according with the area of investigation: Organismic, Populationistic,
Bio-molecular.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
with grant
2
without grant
2
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
0
1
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
GENETICS AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY
Department of Agro-biology and Agro-chemistry
Coordinator: Prof. Giorgio Prantera
e-mail prantera@unitus.it
The research areas involved in the PhD course in Genetics and Cell Biology are the following:
structural and functional organization of chromatin, with particular emphasis on epigenetic
phenomena; genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics; structure and physiology of cells and
of their organelles; regulation of cell proliferation; cell differentiation; molecular genomics of
livestocks. The students’ training will be based on the development of an original research
project under the supervision of a tutor. The students will be asked to attend seminar cycles
and will be encouraged to spend a period of research in a scientifically outstanding foreign
laboratory. After the course completion students will have acquired basic and innovative
knowledge to be used in basic and applied research with particular regards to the
biotechnologic applications.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
10
with grant
5
without grant
5
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
1
0
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
MEMORY AND MATTER OF ART WORKS THROUGH THEIR PROCESS OF PRODUCTION,
HISTORICIZATION, CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION
Department of Studies for the Understanding and Valorisation of Historical and Artistic
Heritage
Coordinator: Prof. Maria C. Andaloro
e-mail andaloro@unitus.it
dottorato.mmarte@unitus.it
The Ph D Program aims at specify and activate research fields connected to the new needs of
cultural policies about knowledge, preservation, management and development of historical
and artistic heritage and resources. Moreover it prepares students for high quality original
research in Italian and international institutions (atheneums); as consultants in concerning
professional fields; for document, research, catalogue, archives and register (or records and
file) at the Italian Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali Superintendeces, Italian and
foreign museums, public and private institutions, research institutes.
To devolop these abilities the Ph D program contains the following specific area of research : Territory as interaction between different places of cultural heritage in Italy and in the
Mediterranean (Tuscia, central and southern Italy, Sicily, Turkey). - Strenght of images in
palinsesto Roma. Diachronical approach to the monuments and the art of Rome, since the
early antiquity to Medioeval, Modern and Contemporary ages. - Museum: past and present.
Fruition, installation and preservation systems of artworks since Modern age; expositives,
conservatives, museologics aspects of contemporary art in particolar on new media and
ephimeras. - Multidisciplinary aspects of research and analysis methods. Humanistic (Classical)
and technological issue: new methodological approach at research, knwoledge, development
and preservation of artworks in their material consistence and in their monumental and
enviromental settings.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and non European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
with grant
2
without grant
2
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
0
1
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
HORTICULTURE
Department of Geology and Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering and Hydraulics for the
Territory
Coordinator: Prof. Alberto Graifenberg
e-mail agraif@agr.unipi.it
giucolla@unitus.it
Partner Institutions: Università di Pisa
The purpose of the Ph.D. program is to provide an opportunity for advanced study and
specialization in horticulture which particular emphasis on the quality improvement of
horticultural products and sustainability of the production processes. During the Ph.D.
program, students will acquire and develop new theoretical knowledge and laboratory skills in
a series of areas of horticulture (vegetable crops, ornamental horticulture, floriculture,
turfgrass,
fruit
crops)
and
horticultural
disciplines
including
crop
production/improvement/adaptation, environmental stress physiology, molecular biology,
tissue culture, biotechnology, post-harvest, and plant growth regulators. Moreover, students
will proficiency develop an independent scientific investigation in the laboratories and facilities.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
8
with grant
4
without grant
4
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
2
0
2
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Coordinator: Prof. Maurizio Petruccioli
e-mail petrucci@unitus.it
Partner Institutions: Università di Perugia
The topics of the PhD Course on Environmental Sciences are as follows:
- Extraction of natural organic compounds of industrial interest (for cosmetic, pharmaceutical
and food applications) present in agro-industrial wastes by innovative chemical-physical
methodologies.
- Chemical valorization of natural organic compounds present in agro-industrial wastes: their
utilization as starting materials in order to obtain fine chemicals by environmentally friendly
chemical methodologies.
- New synthethic routes to the pharmacologically bioactive compounds by ecofriendly
catalytic and non catalytic procedures.
- Definition and application of novel investigation methodologies for the analysis and
assessment of quality and sustainable level of agroecosystems by means of holistic
approaches and referred to hierarchical levels of territorial, firm and cultural studies. Study
of the ecophysiological characteristics of plant deterrents aimed to set up cultural
ecocompatible systems.
- Microbial bioremediation of contaminated soils, wastes and wastewaters and consequent
impact on pollutants’ biodegradation and reduction of ecotoxicity; study of the microbial
populations, of the enzymes and of the degradation pathways involved in bioremediation
processes.
- Biotechnological valorization (with microorganisms and/or enzymes) of agriculture and
agro-industrial residues, surplus, wastes and wastewaters (production of enzymes, biofuels,
biomoleculs, etc.).
- Study of spectroscopic, nanoscopies, image analysis, morphometric techniques and of ,
statistical (multivariate and neural network) and computer modelling for the detection of
polluting agents in different media and for their effect on organisms and environment.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
With grant
2
without grant
2
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
0
1
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
SCIENCES AND
MANAGEMENT
TECHNOLOGIES
FOR
THE
FOREST
AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
Department of the Environment and Forestry Technologies, Engineering and Sciences
Coordinator: Prof. Gianluca Piovesan
e-mail piovesan@unitus.it
Partner Institutions: Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria
Università “Federico II” di Napoli
Università di Firenze
Università di Parma
The doctoral program, intended for persons seeking careers in teaching, research, or technical
leadership within land management enterprises, emphasizes strong research specialization
while maintaining an understanding and appreciation of conservation biology, broader
engineering and resource use management. Specialized areas for thesis research include
dendrology, landscape planning, forest management and silviculture, harvest planning and
analysis of forestry utilization,
soil protection, bio-environmental monitoring, genetical
analysis of forest biological diversity.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
8
with grant
4
without grant
4
Places reserved to E.U. (no Italian citizens) and no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
3
1
2
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
EUROPE HISTORY: SOCIETY, POLITICS, INSTITUTIONS (19 th – 20th CENTURY)
Department of History and Cultures of Texts and Documents
Coordinator: Prof. Gabriella Ciampi
e-mail ciampi@unitus.it
The course aims to form PhD students who are aware of the interrelation among
socioeconomic processes, the forms of politics and the institutional set-ups in the European
contemporary history. They must have in their research interests both the centuries which give
historical meaningfulness to the concept of “contemporary history” and be fullly conscious, also
though the application of a comparative method, of the general processes where the various
regional and national experiences are and of the specific differences, peculiar to each one of
them. They have to be aware of the importance of the category of interdependence has in the
historical development in recent times as basic ground of an institutional and political
dimension beyond the nation State. They must know how to use the WEB in order to acquire
elements and instruments useful for the historical research. The PhD student will be requested
to give an evidence of his abilities as researcher and interpreter of the historical processes by
writing a thesis on a relavent study case. The work will have to rely on a vast and original
documentation.
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens):
Duration
3 years
Total places
4
with grant
2
Places reserved to no European citizens on curriculum base (*):
without grant
2
Duration
Total places
with grant
without grant
3 years
1
0
1
(*) A Board of evaluators will assess the applications within 30 January 2010
APPLICATIONS
Application form to participate in the selection procedures must be compiled and sent by post
or e-mail in PDF format (olga@unitus.it or danielal@unitus.it) within 15 January 2010
No European citizens can enter the PhD course either (1) participating in the selection (written and
oral exam) or (2) being admitted after evaluation of the academic curriculum.
ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
The entrance examination consists of a written test and an interview. They test the candidate’s
knowledge, skills and aptitude to research.
The Examiners, based on report results, assign a maximum score of 60 points in each part of
the exam to each candidate.
Admission to interview is subject to e minimum score of 42/60 in the written part of the exam.
The interview is passed with a minimum score of 42/60.
TIMETABLE OF ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS TO PhD COURSES
Places available prior examinations (E.U. and no European citizens)
PhD Courses
FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONTRACT
LAW
ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Scheduled assessment
Place
Written test
27 January 2010, 14.30
Interview
28 January 2010, 14.30
Facoltà di Agraria
Dipartimento di Scienze e
tecnologie agroalimentari
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Agraria
Aula del Consiglio del
Dipartimento di Agrobiologia e
Agrochimica
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
Rettorato
Biblioteca Annesi
Via S. Maria in Gradi n. 4
Viterbo
Written test
27 January 2010, 9.00
Interview
28 January 2010, 9.00
Written test
18 January 2010, 10,00
Interview
25 January 2010, 10,00
Written test
26 January 2010, 9.00
Interview
27 January 2010, 9.00
Written test
18 January 2010, 14.30
FOREST ECOLOGY
Interview
19 January 2010, 11.30
Facoltà di Scienze MMFFNN
Aula Magna 2 - Blocco B
Largo dell’Università snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Scienze MMFFNN
Aula 9 - Blocco B
Largo dell’Università snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Agraria
Aula 12
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Agraria
Dipartimento di Scienze
dell’ambiente forestale e delle
sue risorse
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
Written test
27 January 2010,
ECONOMY AND TERRITORY
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL
EVOLUTION
GENETICS AND CELLULAR
BIOLOGY
MEMORY AND MATTER OF ART
WORKS THROUGH THEIR
PROCESS OF PRODUCTION,
HISTORICIZATION,
CONSERVATION AND
PRESERVATION
HORTICULTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
9,30
Interview
28 January 2010, 10,00
Written test
21 January 2010,
Interview
22 January 2010,
Written test
26 January 2010,
Interview
28 January 2010,
10,00
10,00
9,30
9,30
Facoltà di Agraria
Aula 3 del Dipartimento di
Economia agroforestale e
dell’ambiente rurale
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Scienze MMFFNN
Aula 10 - Blocco B
Largo dell’Università snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Scienze MMFFNN
Aula 2
Largo dell’Università snc
Viterbo
Written test
19 January 2010, 9,30
Interview
28 January 2010, 9,30
Facoltà di Conservazione dei Beni
Culturali
Largo dell’Università snc
Viterbo
Written test
25 January 2010,
Interview
28 January 2010,
Written test
25 January 2010,
Interview
26 January 2010,
Facoltà di Agraria
Aula 12
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Agraria
Aula del Consiglio del
Dipartimento di Agrobiologia e
Agrochimica
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
Facoltà di Agraria
Via S. Camillo De Lellis snc
Viterbo
9,00
9,00
10,00
14,30
SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
FOR THE FOREST AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Written test
20 January 2010, 10,00
Interview
22 January 2010, 9,00
EUROPE HISTORY: SOCIETY,
POLITICS, INSTITUTIONS (19th –
20th CENTURY)
Written test
25 January 2010, 9,30
Interview
26 January 2010, 10,00
Facoltà di Conservazione dei Beni
Culturali
Aula Magna
Largo dell’Università snc
Viterbo