EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY

Call for application 42nd cycle

Bando ordinario

Educational goals and objectives

EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The objectives are manifold and geared towards training highly qualified and competent researchers:
1. To provide students with a thorough methodological and scientific preparation to conduct original research activities in an autonomous and innovative manner.
2. To deepen specific but, at the same time, transversal knowledge with respect to different scientific/disciplinary fields, training experts capable of contributing to scientific and technological progress.
3. To support research in the field of Evolutionary Biology and Adaptation, Ecology and Environmental Health.
4. Fostering the creation of new knowledge and technologies, encouraging the development of solutions to complex societal problems with respect to emerging issues such as climate change, the effects of environmental contamination and approaches to mitigate it, sustainable development and the concept of environmental health (one-health).
5. Encourage integration between different disciplines to address research questions with a holistic approach.
6. To prepare doctoral students to work in an international context by promoting academic mobility and collaborations with institutions in other countries.
7. Train transversal skills, such as scientific communication, project management, research ethics and teamwork skills.
8. To prepare doctoral students for both academic and non-academic careers, helping them to enter professional fields that require high qualifications.
9. Promote the application of the knowledge generated to solving concrete problems, contributing to sustainable development and the well-being of society.
The PhD School therefore aims to train not only researchers, but also professionals who can positively influence society and academia.

Available Positions and Scholarships

University scholarship	4	University scholarship reserved to foreign applicants	1	Department scholarship	0
Scholarship funded by private research institution	0	Scholarship funded by private non-research institution	0	Scholarship funded by public research institution	1
Scholarship funded by public non-research institution	0	PhD position under national research programs	1	PhD position under EU research programs	0
Foreign independent candidates	0	Employee of private research institution/organisation under a cooperation agreement	0	Employee of private non-research institution/organisation under a cooperation agreement	0
Employee of public research institution/organisation under a cooperation agreement	0	Employee of public non-research institution/organisation under a cooperation agreement	1	PhD under higher education and research apprenticeship contract at a private research institution/organisation	0
PhD under higher education and research apprenticeship contract at a private non-research institution/organisation	0	PhD under higher education and research apprenticeship contract at a public research institution/organisation	0	PhD under higher education and research apprenticeship contract at a public non-research institution/organisation	0
No scholarship	0

Research topics

Founded by: Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca (MUR)

Research topic: Resolving the complexity of nanoparticle-cell interactions in real-time and at nanoscale
Description: Synthesis, functionalization and characterization of biodegradable nanoparticles based on the natural polysaccharide phytoglycogen, with controlled chemical and structural properties. The project combines physicochemical characterization, advanced nanoscopy and NMR spectroscopy to study intracellular trafficking, cytosolic protein interactions and nanoparticle-induced metabolic perturbations. The topic is framed within aging biology, mitochondrial plasticity and cellular regeneration. In young-like and aged-like cellular models, phytoglycogen nanoparticles will be investigated not only as biodegradable probes or carriers, but also as potential bioactive nanomaterials able to modulate energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, thermogenesis and cell differentiation. The project is aligned with Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Health by focusing on natural, biocompatible and degradable nanomaterials developed through a safe-by-design approach, contributing to the study of cellular adaptation to chemical and physical stressors.
Scholarship type: DOTTORANDO SU PROGRAMMA DI RICERCA NAZIONALE

CUP : E53C25001780001
Principal Investigator: Francesca Cavalieri
Program: Fondo Italiano per la Scienza (FIS2) Consolidator Grant
Project: RESNANOBIO
Grant Agreement: FIS-2023-00804
Founded by: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE - Istituto di Scienze Marine c/o Area della Ricerca di Roma Tor Vergata

Research topic: Phytoplankton diversity and the carbon cycle in the marine environment using optical methods and BGC-Argo robotic platforms
Description: Global warming, acidification and deoxygenation are altering the physical and chemical characteristics of the oceans, reducing the sea’s ability to sequester carbon in the deep. This ability depends on the combined action of physical, biological and biogeochemical processes, known as carbon pumps, which regulate the transfer of organic carbon from the surface to the deep ocean. Phytoplankton plays a key role, as it introduces energy into the ecosystem through photosynthesis, generating new biomass to sustain higher trophic levels and, at the end of its life cycle, facilitating the transport of organic carbon to the ocean depths where it will be sequestered for millennia. Phytoplankton diversity plays a fundamental role, yet one that remains poorly understood. The research activity required must focus on studying the role of phytoplankton diversity in regulating biogeochemical cycles and in the sequestration of organic carbon, primarily in the Mediterranean environment. In order to assess the processes under study at appropriate spatial and temporal scales, a synergistic methodological approach will be required, based on the study of the bio-optical properties of phytoplankton and optically active components: from culture experiments and oceanographic surveys to the use of autonomous robotic profilers, whilst also utilising satellite and climatological data.
Scholarship type: BORSISTA ENTE ESTERNO PUBBLICO DI RICERCA

Principal Investigator: Emanuele Organelli
Program: European Space Agency (ESA) - European Coordination Action on Ocean Health and Biodiversity
Project: PHYTODIVERSE - Phytoplankton community diversity and Ecosystem function from Sentinels
Grant Agreement: 4000148145/25/I-DT

Self-certification of the academic qualification obtained through Model A:

Master’s Degree
Single-cycle Degree
Specialist Degree
Old-system Degree
Degree obtained abroad corresponding to EQF Level 7
provided that they belong to the following classes: All classes

Admission Procedure

Qualifications assessment	Assessment of qualifications (Maximum 50 points): The assessment of qualifications will award the following marks for each type of qualification under consideration:: Title Criteria and Marking Scheme ENTRY QUALIFICATION (MASTER’S DEGREE, SPECIALIST DEGREE OR DEGREE UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM) The final degree mark will be assessed as follows: <100: 0 points a. 100 to 104: 2 points b. 105 to 107: 5 points b. 108 to 110: 8 points c. 110 with distinction: 10 points Average mark of exams taken during the degree course: 1. 28–30 with at least one distinction: 8 points 2. 28–30: 6 points 3. 26–27.99: 2 points 4. < 26: 0 points ABSTRACT OF BACHELOR'S THESIS 0 CERTIFICATE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY 0 CURRICULUM VITAE 0 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS 0 PUBLICATIONS Maximum score: 6 points. Full-text publications indexed in ISI, and/or oral presentations or posters presented at conferences. Account will be taken of the publication’s visibility (national/international), the candidate’s role among the co-authors, and the relevance to the scientific and disciplinary fields BIOS-01/A, BIOS-01/B, BIOS-03/A, BIOS-03/B, BIOS-05/A, BIOS-06/A, BIOS-07/A, BIOS-08/A, BIOS-14/A, BIOS-15/A, MVET-03/B, or in any case with the topics specific to the PhD programme. • Maximum score (candidate in the role of first, last or corresponding author and full relevance to the sectors and topics): 2 • Candidate in roles other than first, last or corresponding author or partial relevance to the sectors and topics): 1 • Candidate in roles other than first, last or corresponding author and limited relevance to the sectors and topics): 0 OTHER PUBLICATIONS (OTHER THAN THE ENTRY-LEVEL PUBLICATION) Maximum score: 6 points. Second-cycle Master’s degrees or Postgraduate Diplomas, Specialisation Diplomas, other degrees, eligibility in public competitions, participation in the Erasmus programme for at least 3 months, receipt of grants and/or stipends, other work placements and internships provided they are certified, within the scope of research projects relevant to the scientific-disciplinary sectors BIOS-01/A, BIOS-01/B, BIOS-03/A, BIOS-03/B, BIOS-05/A, BIOS-06/A, BIOS-07/A, BIOS-08/A, BIOS-14/A, BIOS-15/A, MVET-03/B, or in any case with the topics specific to the PhD programme. COVER LETTER 0 REFERENCE LETTER Maximum marks available: 2. Assessment criteria: relevance of the candidate’s experience and associated assessments to the topics covered in the PhD programme and to the subject of the research project. RESEARCH PROJECT Maximum score: 18 points. Candidates are required to submit a project proposal that allows for an assessment of their aptitude for research and their ability to organise and manage the various stages independently. The project proposal must not exceed 10,000 characters in length, including spaces. In particular, the following will be assessed: • the description of the state of the art; • the degree of innovation of the proposal; • the formal correctness and methodological soundness; • the inclusion of a risk analysis and mitigation strategies; • the planning of overseas placements. The content of the project, submitted for the purposes of the competition, does not constitute an obligation for successful candidates to carry out further research within the framework of the PhD programme. Candidates are required to submit a project proposal that allows for an assessment of their aptitude for research and their ability to organise and manage the various stages independently. The project proposal must not exceed a maximum length of 10,000 characters, including spaces. In particular, the following will be assessed: 1 the description of the current state of the art; 2 the degree of innovation of the proposal; 3 the formal correctness and methodological soundness; 4 the inclusion of a risk analysis and mitigation strategies; 5 the planning of overseas placements. The content of the project, submitted for the purposes of the competition, does not constitute an obligation for successful candidates to carry out further research within the framework of the PhD programme.
	does not require the presence of the candidates

Oral interview	Oral examination (Maximum marks: 50): The examination may be conducted either in person or remotely, using technical solutions that ensure the identification of participants. During the oral examination, aspects relating to the qualifications submitted and the project will be explored in depth and clarified. Marks will be allocated as follows: • Presentation and discussion of the candidate’s role in any publications of which they were the author or co-author (up to a maximum of 4 points); • Presentation and discussion of the skills acquired through any other educational experiences and their relevance to the doctoral programme (up to a maximum of 6 points); • Discussion of issues relating to the research project: o Defence of the proposed research’s contribution to evolutionary biology and ecology (up to a maximum of 8 points); o Defence of the contribution to the specific discipline to which the proposed research belongs (up to a maximum of 10 points); o Defence of the feasibility of the research, taking into account the specific themes of the PhD programme and any interactions with external groups/organisations/infrastructure (up to a maximum of 6 points); o Description of the proposed timeline and any mitigation measures (up to a maximum of 6 points); o Understanding of written English and proficiency in spoken English (up to a maximum of 10 points)
language	ITALIANO INGLESE

contacts and info

info@bee-phd.uniroma2.it