Life Sciences and Biotechnology

Unife

• Dario Balestra
• Guido Barbujani
• Sarah Beggiato
• Andrea Benazzo
• Giovanni Bernacchia
• Francesco Bernardi
• Cristiano Bertolucci
• Monica Borgatti
• Alessio Branchini
• Davide Ferrari
• Luca Ferraro
• Alessia Finotti
• Giuseppe Forlani
• Silvia Ghirotto
• Alessandra Guerrini
• Ilaria Lampronti
• Tyrone Lucon Xiccato
• Mirko Pinotti
• Silvia Sabbioni
• Gianni Sacchetti
• Bahram Sayyaf Dezfuli
• Chiara Scapoli
• Massimo Tacchini

Other university

• Dasiel Oscar Borroto-Escuela
• Caterina Casari
• Kjell Fuxe
• Andersen Jan Terje
• John Lueck

Other institution

• Danilo Licastro
• Malgorzata Filip

The PhD course in Life Sciences and Biotechnology provides unique and academically rigorous experience whilst training the PhD students to become leaders in a vast range of animal and plant life science research fields. The basis of this education is laboratory-based research and access to state-of-the-art laboratories and technological platforms, combined with coursework, in-house seminars, national and international conferences.

Moving from the study of basic biological processes, the program focuses on the analysis of biodiversity, animal behavior and evolution, life processes and biochemical, molecular and cellular mechanisms. Using state-of-the-art interdisciplinary tools and approaches to solve problems, students use the knowledge they gain through this degree program to advance new horizons in the basic and/or applied research related to biology and biomedicine, as well in the application of biotechnologies to various fields, such as the production of health products, preclinical experimentation, biological surveillance. Our discovery research cuts across many themes, we promote interdisciplinarity and close links with industry.

The PhD course in Life Sciences and Biotechnology is a practical course based on a single research project, carried out under the training and supervision of one of our Research Leaders. Assessment is by dissertation and oral examination. All students also participate in a transferable and research skills training program.

Doctoral students will attend an extremely stimulating, international research environment for motivated and outstanding young scientists offering relevant opportunities and infrastructure/facilities to match.

Doctoral students can identify potential supervisors in the area(s) that are of interest via the course website (link a collegio dei docenti). The academic staff welcome enquiries from potential research students, so they are advised to contact them directly.

There are three tracks (i.e. curricula) within the Life Sciences and Biotechnology PhD program:

• Genetics and Evolution;
• Molecular and Cellular Biology;

All tracks are focused on excellence in research and teaching in their respective areas. At the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (https://sveb.unife.it/it), our PhD program will provide all the support and facilities the students need to develop into a leading researcher in their chosen field. Doctoral students will be welcomed into a supportive community with a shared enthusiasm for original research, where diversity and multidisciplinary are championed.

Genetics and Evolution: this track focuses on the study of biological diversity and on how it has developed over time and geographical space. Furthermore, the influence of biological diversity on the behavior and relationships of living beings, including humans, is also studied. Doctoral students will be encouraged to integrate molecular data with those emerging at the populations and species levels and to employ the acquired knowledge in both basic and applied research. Hight relevance is given to the use of innovative methodologies as well as numerical and statistical analyses, with the use of the most advanced calculation and simulation tools. The track in Genetics and Evolution aims to train highly qualified experts in the analysis of biological processes, with the capability to independently conduct research related to description of biological phenomena, to collect information by using bioinformatics tools as well as to develop quantitative models and data processing.

Molecular and Cellular Biology: this track is based on a multidisciplinary research approach to specific biochemistry topics, such as molecular and cellular biology of both animals and plants. Doctoral students will be required to combine traditional approaches of molecular biology and biochemistry, such as recombinant expression of natural or engineered proteins in cells, with emerging methodologies such as the modification and editing of cellular RNA and DNA. The main components of gene expression are studied in depth, with particular reference to RNA transcription and splicing and protein synthesis. The study of models of human, animal, and plant pathologies constitutes the core of the doctoral research program. Specific biological pathways and their alterations, underlying pathologies in humans (e.g. hemophilia, thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, or other diseases, including cancer), or underlying the response of plants to environmental conditions or pathogens, constitute other track research topics.

Biotechnology: this track centers on research topics related to the production, innovation and development of biotechnological products, with a particular focus on agro-industrial products, pharmaceuticals, and wellness products. Biotechnologies will be applied to the identification and/or characterization of 1) sources of raw materials, including health-related ones; 2) diagnostic markers; 3) potential therapeutic targets; innovative therapeutic intervention strategies, including personalized ones and 5) strategies of epidemiological surveillance of emerging pathogens through next-generation sequencing technologies; the study of sustainable models of human-animal interaction, and the impact of biotechnological products on human and animal well-being. The training activity is designed to cultivate highly qualified professionals possessing the capacity to engage effectively with a diverse array of professionals and function in multiple domains related to biological, biochemical, agri-food, and health product areas.

Irrespective of the selected research topic, PhD graduates are expected to:

• employ rigorous research methodologies to original, independent experimental, theoretical, and/or computational work in basic and applied life sciences and biotechnologies.
• develop a comprehensive understanding of current scientific advances and attain mastery in their research relevant to applied bioscience, sufficient for conducting original research.
• comprehend the translation of basic science and methodology discoveries into products and processes, that benefit society.
• adhere to ethical principles in research, development, and business issues inherent in the industries correlated to life sciences and biotechnologies.

The Training Plan is specific to each doctoral student, and enables the deepening and completion of the scientific knowledge of the student.

The PhD course is founded on independent research. Research topics are mainly related to animal genetics and evolution, ethology, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology of both animals and plants, pharmaceuticals and health products, and applied botany. Graduate students will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of their chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area. The support provided by the student’ supervisory team will be vital to student experience and scholarly advancement. Graduate students and supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide students with opportunities to develop their research topic and discuss their progress.

All teaching and experimental activities are designed to provide either disciplinary or multidisciplinary skills. To enable students to enhance their professional profile, the Teaching Plan supports them throughout their research degree by including:

• highly specialized courses;
• general courses on basic research tools and soft skills;
• research seminars;
• doctoral events and activities favoring networking and collaborations.

Students must acquire at least 20 credits (CFU) by attending courses related to both basic and applied research, to achieve a high level of qualification in the following fields: biostatistics, analysis of the human genome, cellular-molecular biology, animal behavior, genetics, evolutionary fields, biotechnologies applied to animal and plant life sciences, innovative drugs and health products. PhD students must also acquire 20 CFU related to the achievement of soft skills. These activities, aimed at promoting multidisciplinary, entrepreneurship training, research project writing, principles of research ethics, sustainable development, and acquisition of research communication abilities, are planned and organized by the University Institute of Advanced Studies (IUSS) of the University of Ferrara.

Other courses (or parts thereof) made available by the faculties of the University of Ferrara or other universities, support the student’s specific training plan. Students can also take courses offered by other doctoral programs of the University of Ferrara or other universities. Seminars accepted for the Training Plan may include specialist seminars and workshops appropriate for the student’s formation that are offered by other institutions, also outside an university.

Progress is monitored by an annual review, where students have the opportunity to discuss their research design and written work with the Faculty Board.

The Faculty Board is partly composed of researchers affiliated with important international Universities/Institutions and Companies. Furthermore, the members of the Faculty Board collaborate with relevant European and extra-European research groups, thus offering to the PhD students research and education opportunities in an international environment. PhD students are required to develop part of their research project (at least 3 months; average period = 6 months) outside of Italy. As a longer-term objective (1-2 years), the Board aims to activate framework agreements and/or a co-supervision agreement for doctoral theses to encourage international relationship and the internationalization aspects of the PhD program.

Public engagement can provide substantial benefits to the researchers involved in engaging the public, as well as providing a major contribution to society. Engaging the public can also improve the quality of research and its impact, by widening research horizons. The Faculty Board strongly supports the involvement of PhD student in Public engagement activities. PhD students will study several aspects of public engagement, including different categories and levels of engagement, goals and outcomes, motivations and barriers, and the impact of training on willingness to engage, and will be invited to communicate their research to a diverse range of audiences.

The PhD students receive support from the University of Ferrara Doctoral School (IUSS - Ferrara 1391), which aims to promote the advancement of scientific knowledge, the international level of research training activities and the preparation for highly qualified scientific research.

Each student receives direct support from an academic supervisor throughout the duration of the Program. Joint meetings are planned in order to establish full cooperation as far as student guidance and work are concerned, including setting up the course and research plan.

The Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at the University of Ferrara (https://sveb.unife.it/it) provides PhD students with all the support and structures necessary to become research leaders in their chosen field. PhD students will be welcomed in a stimulating scientific environment, in which the multidisciplinary of the research topics and the research independence are supported.

The Laboratories of the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at the University of Ferrara are fully equipped for the following research activities:

-experiments on bacterial and eukaryotic animal and plant cell cultures;

-RNA and DNA manipulation;

-genetic manipulation of plant organisms;

-purification and functional characterization of enzymes;

-pharmacological/toxicological studies;

-plant growth and suspension cultures;

-extraction, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of medicinal plants and fungi;

-ethology and cognition studies in fish, reptiles, invertebrates;

-studies in the field of behavioral ecology (amphibians, mammals);

-applied ethology in ecotoxicology.

PhD students are allowed to access the libraries of the University of Ferrara and, in particular, Santa Maria delle Grazie Library (https://bibliofe.unife.it/SebinaOpac/library/BIBLIOTECA%20CHIMICO-BIOLOGICA% 20S.M.%20DELLE%20GRAZIE/UFECB) subscribed to approximately 80,000 scientific Journals. The main Journals related to the biological, naturalistic, environmental, biotechnological and pharmacological areas are available. The Department members have access to the main biological and biotechnological databases with broad coverage of all the topics of the PhD in Life Sciences and Biotechnology.

Multimedia classrooms with access to dedicated software are available on site. Each laboratory is equipped with personal computers and rooms with workstations dedicated to the activities of PhD students.