Access to renewable and sustainable energy sources, environmental conservation and protection, and the ability to ensure an adequate quality of life for a population with an increasingly long life expectancy constitute some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century. Sustainable development requires the widespread implementation of technologies and devices capable of mitigating the environmental impact associated with pollutant emissions arising from the use of fossil fuels, as well as the development of innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of the aging population. In this context, materials science plays a central role in the advancement of sustainable technologies in the energy, environmental, and biomedical sectors. The development of such technologies necessitates a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach integrating expertise in chemistry, physics, materials science, biology, medicine, nanotechnology, and related disciplines.
The PhD Programme in Materials for Sustainable Development is primarily devoted to the study and development of advanced materials for applications in low-environmental-impact energy production and storage systems, environmental monitoring technologies, and biomedical devices and materials for sensing and diagnostic applications. The programme aims to train highly qualified researchers and professionals with expertise in materials for sustainable development and their applications in the environmental, energy, and biomedical fields. Graduates will be equipped to pursue careers not only in academia and research institutions, but also in industrial and professional sectors.
The PhD Programme is strongly interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral, thereby enabling a wide range of research activities united by the common objective of promoting sustainable development. A non-exhaustive list of research topics includes:
-
Materials for energy production and storage devices, including polymer electrolyte fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, microbial fuel cells, flow batteries, and lithium-ion batteries
-
Materials for sensing technologies in environmental and clinical applications
-
Materials for bio-nanotechnology applications
-
Investigation of structure–property relationships in materials through advanced spectroscopic techniques
-
Materials and devices for diagnostics, restoration, and conservation of cultural heritage
-
Polymeric materials for environmental and biomedical applications
Admission to the PhD Programme is competitive. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong aptitude for research, the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, adaptability to multicultural environments, and a good command of the English language. Owing to the extensive international collaborations established by the faculty members, part of the doctoral research activity is carried out at leading foreign universities and internationally recognized research institutions.