PhD in MATERIALS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Educational goals and objectives

MATERIALS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Access to renewable and sustainable energy sources, the conservation and protection of the environment, and the ability to ensure an adequate quality of life for a population with an increasingly longer life expectancy are among the major challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. Materials play a crucial role in the development of new technologies for sustainable development in the energy, environmental, and medical fields. The aim of this PhD program is to train experts in the field of materials for sustainable development, with applications in environmental, energy, and biomedical sectors, who can find employment not only in academia or research but also in industrial and professional sectors. The PhD program is strongly intersectoral and interdisciplinary, allowing for diverse research activities with the common goal of contributing to sustainable development. A non-exhaustive list of possible research topics includes: 1. Materials for energy production and storage devices (polymer, solid oxide, and microbial fuel cells; flow batteries; lithium-ion batteries) 2. Materials for sensors for environmental and clinical applications 3. Materials for solar thermal and thermodynamic applications 4. Study of structure–function relationships of materials using neutron spectroscopy techniques 5. Materials for bio-nanotechnologies 6. Materials and devices for diagnostics, restoration, and conservation of cultural heritage 7. Polymeric materials for environmental and biomedical applications Admission to the PhD program is competitive. Required candidate qualities include a strong inclination toward research, the ability to work in teams, adaptability to a multicultural environment, and a good command of the English language. Thanks to the numerous international collaborations of the faculty members, part of the doctoral students’ research activities are carried out at qualified foreign universities or research institutions. The research topic is chosen by mutual agreement with the Board of Faculty, in accordance with the program’s themes and the student’s background and aptitudes. Training activities include advanced institutional courses offered by the Board of Faculty and other PhD programs; departmental and interdepartmental seminars; laboratory activities; research-related activities; and training and research activities (international courses, Summer/Winter Schools, workshops) independently selected by the doctoral candidate, agreed upon with the Tutor, that verifies their consistency with the educational pathway and/or the PhD thesis project. Possible activities include participation as a speaker at national and international workshops and conferences related to the doctoral candidate’s specific research areas, as well as the organization of study days, workshops, and national and international conferences at public or private research institutions, including contributions aimed at publication in specialized journals.

Available Positions and Scholarships

University scholarship	4	University scholarship reserved to foreign applicants	0	Department scholarship	1
Scholarship funded by private research institution	0	Scholarship funded by private non-research institution	0	Scholarship funded by public research institution	2
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	3	Employee of public non-research institution/organisation under a cooperation agreement	0	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	1

Research topics

Founded by: MUR

Research topic: Development of DNA-based networks for sensing and drug-delivery applications
Description: This PhD project aims to develop and characterize nucleic acid-based networks (DNA or RNA) that, by mimicking the behavior of protein-based biological networks, can specifically recognize diagnostic biomarkers and produce therapeutic molecules on-demand. The main objectives are structured as follows: i) Design of networks that mimic the behavior of protein-networks, such as dimerization networks, and that respond to the presence of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA); ii) Study and characterization of synthetic networks capable of recognizing specific diagnostic targets, including proteins, enzymes, antibodies, and environmental stimuli; iii) Development of strategies to control the behavior of these networks and their efficiency in producing DNA-based therapeutic molecules. The research activity will involve the characterization of these DNA-based networks using spectrophotometric, fluorometric, microscopic, electrophoretic, and electrochemical techniques. The ideal candidate should have an interdisciplinary background in chemistry, biology and biotechnology, along with laboratory experience.
Scholarship type: DOTTORANDO SU PROGRAMMA DI RICERCA NAZIONALE

CUP : E53C25001970001
Principal Investigator: Erica Del Grosso
Program: FIS 2 - Fondo Italiano per la Scienza
Project: Dynamic DNA-based networks for biosensing and drug-delivery applications
Grant Agreement: FIS-2023-03520
UpB: DELGROSSOE24FIS2
Lenght: 3
Amount: € 1326820,00
Founded by: Fondazione AIRC

Research topic: Development and characterization of DNA-based nanostructures controlled by tumor-targets
Description: This PhD project aims to develop and characterize nucleic acid-based (DNA or RNA) nanomachines and nanostructures to specifically recognize various tumor biomarkers. The goal is to design systems capable of selectively responding to these targets through different mechanisms such as structural reconfiguration, aimed to generate diagnostic signals or enable controlled drug release. The primary objectives are structured as follows: i) Design of nanomachines and nanostructures capable of recognizing specific tumor targets, including proteins, antibodies, and small molecules; ii) Development of strategies to achieve structural reconfiguration of DNA systems that can be adapt to different clinically relevant targets; iii) Development of strategies to load DNA nanostructures with therapeutic molecules and study of their release processes. The research activity will involve the characterization of these DNA systems using spectrophotometric, fluorometric, microscopic, electrophoretic, and electrochemical techniques. The ideal candidate should have an interdisciplinary background in chemistry, biology and biotechnology, along with laboratory experience.
Scholarship type: BORSISTA DIPARTIMENTALE

CUP : E83C25003900007
Principal Investigator: Erica Del Grosso
Program: My First AIRC Grant - 2025
Project: Theranostic DNA-based nanoscaffolds for tumor-sensing and targeted drug-release
Grant Agreement: 31996
UpB: DELGROSSOE26AIRC
Lenght: 5
Amount: € 499367,00
Founded by: ISTITUTO DI SCIENZE BIOMEDICHE DELLA DIFESA

Research topic: Genomic, taxonomic, and structural characterization of lytic bacteriophages for the development of biosensors aimed at the detection of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains
Description: The PhD project aims to develop a systematic characterization of phage sequences, to contribute to research in the field of phage therapy in response to the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To achieve this, an integrated and modular bioinformatic pipeline will be implemented, structured into the following phases: i) identification and selection of phage sequences through the analysis of high-throughput Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data; ii) functional characterization of the identified sequences and analysis of their interactions with specific bacterial hosts; iii) structural and morphological modeling of the selected phages. The pipeline will be supported by the development of a structured, queryable and continuously updated relational database, designed to integrate the genomic, functional and structural information produced throughout the different stages of the project. The resulting data will inform the design and preliminary validation of a phage-based biosensor aimed at enabling rapid, specific and label-free detection of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial pathogens, representing a complementary diagnostic tool to phage therapy. Specific skills: interdisciplinary background in molecular biology, biotechnology and bioinformatics, with proficiency in programming, genomic and metagenomic analysis of NGS data and database management.
Scholarship type: BORSISTA ENTE ESTERNO PUBBLICO DI RICERCA

Founded by: ISTITUTO DI SCIENZE BIOMEDICHE DELLA DIFESA

Research topic: Lung organ-on-chip for the study of tuberculosis: a translational approach to regenerative medicine
Description: This PhD project aims to develop and validate a physiologically relevant model of patient-derived lung organoids (Patient-Derived Organoids, PDOs), integrated with organ-on-chip technologies, for the study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, with the goal of elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying host–pathogen interactions and contributing to the development of innovative therapeutic and regenerative strategies. The project will be structured in the following phases: i) generation and characterization of human lung organoids from patient biopsy samples, through the optimization of culture conditions and the analysis of their morphological, cellular, and molecular features; ii) validation of the model by comparison between organoids and native lung tissue, through transcriptomic and immunohistochemical analyses aimed at verifying the preservation of the structural and functional properties of the original tissue; iii) study of organoid functional responses to Mtb infection, focusing on inflammatory processes and immune responses. The organoid model will be integrated with organ-on-chip technologies, which enable the simulation of the lung microenvironment through microfluidic systems capable of reproducing flows, gradients, and mechanical stimuli, thereby making the experimental system physiologically representative of the in vivo condition.
Scholarship type: BORSISTA ENTE ESTERNO PUBBLICO DI RICERCA

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: LM-Sc.Mat. Scienze dei Materiali, LM-6 Biologia, LM-7 Biotecnologie agrarie, LM-8 Biotecnologie industriali, LM-9 Biotecnologie mediche, veterinarie e farmaceutiche, LM-17 Fisica, LM-20 Ingegneria aerospaziale e astronautica, LM-21 Ingegneria biomedica, LM-22 Ingegneria chimica, LM-23 Ingegneria civile, LM-24 Ingegneria dei sistemi edilizi, LM-28 Ingegneria elettrica, LM-29 Ingegneria elettronica, LM-30 Ingegneria energetica e nucleare, LM-33 Ingegneria meccanica, LM-35 Ingegneria per l'ambiente e il territorio, LM-53 Scienza e ingegneria dei materiali, LM-54 Scienze chimiche, LM-70 Scienze e tecnologie alimentari, LM-71 Scienze e tecnologie della chimica industriale, LM-75 Scienze e tecnologie per l'ambiente e il territorio, LM-46 Odontoiatria e protesi dentaria, LM-10, 82/S Specialistiche in scienze e tecnologie per l'ambiente e il territorio, 81/S Specialistiche in scienze e tecnologie della chimica industriale, 78/S Specialistiche in scienze e tecnologie agroalimentari, 62/S Specialistiche in scienze chimiche, 61/S Specialistiche in scienza e ingegneria dei materiali, 38/S Specialistiche in ingegneria per l'ambiente e il territorio, 36/S Specialistiche in ingegneria meccanica, 33/S Specialistiche in ingegneria energetica e nucleare, 27/S Specialistiche in ingegneria chimica, 26/S Specialistiche in ingegneria biomedica, 25/S Specialistiche in ingegneria aerospaziale e astronautica, 20/S Specialistiche in fisica, 9/S Specialistiche in biotecnologie mediche, veterinarie e farmaceutiche, 8/S Specialistiche in biotecnologie industriali, 6/S Specialistiche in biologia