Duration: 3 years
Coordinator: Prof Loredana Zollo
CV
- Bioengineering and Robotics (Prof. Loredana Zollo)
- Biosciences and Applied Physics (Prof Letizia Chiodo)
- Intelligent Systems and Digital Technologies (Prof. Leandro Pecchia)
Educational objectives
The PhD in Bioengineering, Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems aims to train experts capable of carrying out scientific and technological research activities aimed at the well-being of the person in all areas of life, including work and social life. In this context, importance is given to the skills that characterize bioengineering, the basic sciences applied to life sciences and information technologies which, due to their pervasive nature, play an important role in innovation processes at all levels and in all areas.
In order to achieve its objectives, the Doctorate sees the presence in the Teaching Board of researchers belonging to different macro-sectors, but with scientific profiles that testify to a multi-year commitment to collaborate on the topics of the Doctorate. Furthermore, it is divided into curricula that provide for the development of complementary skills in distinct engineering, scientific and technological fields, but always focused on improving people's health, safety and quality of life, also with reference to the employment context, and on technological advancement in the context of both public and private organizations.
The doctorate is divided into three curricula:
- Bioengineering and robotics;
- Biosciences and Applied Physics
- Intelligent Systems and Digital Technologies.
The objectives of the PhD set out in the three curricula are pursued through a training offer that includes activities common to all PhD students and activities aimed at acquiring methodologies and techniques specific to specific fields. The common training activities concern the acquisition by doctoral students of advanced technical skills, necessary to carry out research activities in all areas of the doctorate, and other transversal skills. An important part of the common training offer is aimed at stimulating a multidisciplinary approach in doctoral students to problems concerning personal and social life, and is guaranteed by the presence in the board of professors in the humanities and social sciences area. PhD students will also have the opportunity to enrich their career through experiences in international research contexts.
A further element that characterizes the PhD course and contributes to the achievement of the aforementioned training objectives is the regular collaboration of the members of the board with the corporate world aimed at technology transfer and enhancement of research products. Much of the research conducted by PhD students is carried out within projects that envisage broad national and international partnerships and synergistic interaction with companies. Even in dealing with basic research topics, the methodological approach adopted in identifying the technological solution always has an orientation, at least potentially, towards applications.
At the end of the training and research path, the PhD in Bioengineering, Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems will be able to:
- develop innovative methods, tools and systems to promote personal health, well-being and safety in a social and occupational context, as well as innovations, intelligent systems and digital technologies for organisations;
- apply innovative technological solutions in contexts with limited resources and in the management of emergency scenarios such as epidemics, pandemics or wars;
- describe, plan, coordinate and implement a multidisciplinary research program interacting with different technical and scientific expertise;
- integrate scientific and technological training with epistemological and ethical knowledge, thus contributing to building a conceptual apparatus capable of facing the growing complexity of research in the "bio" field and of favoring the centrality of the person;
- critically reflect on scientific/engineering practice and its results, favoring the development of innovative ideas and the joint development of hard and soft skills.
Research Areas
The main research areas in which the PhD activities are developed are:
- The study, person-centered design and development of biomedical and robotic technologies for human interaction, networks of robotic systems and autonomous sensors, machines and systems for occupational health and safety, medical devices, of prostheses, of materials and tissues, systems and organisms.
- The development of sensors, the processing of biosignals and bioimages, the design of work environments and the functional evaluation of instrumentation, devices and medical implants.
- The safety and security of cyber-physical systems and their implications on the health and well-being of workers and users.
- The study of inorganic, organic, and biological systems of interest in different contexts, ranging from medical and biotechnological to biophysical, up to quantum technologies.
- The multiscale modeling of natural phenomena and living matter, including related technologies.
- The identification and development of theoretical-computational models of complex interactions, including network models.
- The tools for understanding the explanatory and predictive scope of contemporary models and theories of complex and multiscale systems.
- The conception, analysis, design, construction, characterization and testing of electronic devices, circuits and interfaces (low-noise and low-voltage), sensors and systems using modern communication, information and of the control.
- The design and implementation of information processing systems, the analysis of large amounts of data with artificial intelligence techniques and the Internet of Things, including aspects connected with cybersecurity issues.
- The management of organizations to foster the development and implementation of innovative products and services.
Verification tools
At the end of the first and second year, the PhD students will have to submit a written report on the activities carried out and hold a short seminar in front of the Academic Board which decides on admission to the following year. At the end of the third year, PhD students will have to write an original thesis which will be examined by two external reviewers. Admission to the Final Test is conditional on the evaluation reports of the reviewers and consists in the presentation of the Thesis in front of an Evaluation Commission made up of at least three members, of which at least two are external.
Training activities
Doctoral students are required to attend at least 60 hours of courses during the 3 years of the doctoral course.
The Doctorate course offers teaching on the topics of greatest interest for the three curricula of the course.
At least 50% of the hours must be completed by selecting training activities proposed by the Doctoral course. Doctoral students will be able to follow external training activities, subject to authorization by the Teaching Body.
Attendance of courses provided as part of the bachelor's and master's degree courses does not contribute to the achievement of 60 hours of training.
Each student enrolled in the PhD course in Bioengineering, Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems is required to attend, at least once in the three-year course, the interdisciplinary training week organized by the University Doctoral School, held annually and dedicated to cross-disciplinary training activities. Seminars are provided on: research management, European and international research systems, valorization and dissemination of results, management of intellectual property, open access to data and research products
Services available to doctoral students
Equipment and Laboratories: The University laboratories cover all the topics of interest for the doctorate, and include advanced calculation tools, both commercial and experimental mechatronic devices, a clean room for microfabrication, the main instruments necessary for carrying out chemical and biological research, microscopes with different characteristics, incubators for cell cultures and growth chambers, analytical instrumentation.
Bibliographic resources, databases, software. Doctoral students benefit from the services offered by the University Library for researchers. In addition to books and periodicals in paper form, the library has access to over 2.500 periodicals in electronic form, most of which in scientific areas of interest to the doctorate. Various services are also available which can be accessed from the internal computer network to find bibliographic material not included in active subscriptions on request. Subscriptions to journals of interest to doctoral topics are active, some in paper form, mostly in electronic form. Doctoral students have access via the University computer network to the main databases for bibliographic research in the areas of interest for the Doctorate. Numerous software packages are available for calculation (e.g. MATLAB, Comsol), for the control of measuring equipment (LabView), for mechanical design (SolidWorks).
