The PhD in Engineering Physics and Materials is designed to train the next generation of top-tier researchers, capable of thriving in multidisciplinary environments and leading cutting-edge research projects.
This three-year program offers an internationally competitive education, including study periods at prestigious partner universities or innovative companies. Our PhD curriculum bridges information technologies, material sciences, and bio- & nanotechnologies, equipping you with the expertise to tackle today’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges.
As a PhD candidate, you will:
The training project in Engineering Physics and Materials includes a subdivision between two curricula:
Each of the two curricula will give the doctoral student the opportunity to study scientific topics that are closer to information technologies or to the technologies of bio and nano materials
The curriculum in Information Technologies focuses on cutting-edge research lines that lie at the intersection of theoretical physics, applied physics, materials science and information engineering. Students will be exposed to a wide range of topics, from quantum technologies to advanced materials, from electronics to optics, from photonics to optoelectronics, from statistical mechanics to complex systems to artificial intelligence. Particular emphasis will be placed on emerging technologies such as quantum ones and new devices for the Internet of Things (IoT). The program is developed in close synergy with the Department's research laboratories and with important national and international industrial and academic collaborations, offering PhD students the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research. The curriculum aims to prepare researchers capable of developing concrete technological solutions applicable in industrial contexts, integrating design and development skills. Particular attention will be paid to practical innovation and the technological impact of discoveries, with the aim of responding to market needs and future industrial developments in the field of physics and engineering.
The Bio and Nano Materials Technologies curriculum integrates advanced biology skills with materials science, chemistry, physics and computer science. In addition to the main topics of nano and biomaterials/technologies development, the course includes the analysis of complex systems for biology and bioinformatics. This includes the development of new bio-compatible and bio-derived materials, the development of in vitro systems using bio and nanomaterials, the study of biological systems and interactions between cells and materials at the nanometric scale, the development of new drugs and the implementation of nanotechnologies and data analysis for precision medicine, advanced diagnostics and personalized therapy. The program offers a solid training in big data analysis and modelling, combined with skills in the creation and manipulation of bio and nanomaterials, with the aim of preparing researchers for new challenges in the field of bio and nanotechnologies and personalized medicine. The program is developed in close synergy with the Department's research laboratories and with important national and international industrial and academic collaborations, offering PhD students the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research. PhD students will be trained to develop innovative solutions using bio and nanotechnologies for applications in the healthcare and industrial fields, addressing the growing needs of diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, with a particular focus on the development of bio/eco-compatible and sustainable solutions.
PhDs who choose the information technology curriculum will find opportunities in strategic sectors related to technological innovation and industry. Outgoing professionals can access research positions in universities and research centers, where they can conduct studies on new materials (such as low-dimensional materials, superconductors and semiconductors), optical technologies, quantum technologies and next-generation devices management of complex systems characterized by a large amount of data. They will be able to find positions within industries and companies with research and development (R&D) departments. PhDs will be highly sought after for R&D in sectors such as microelectronics, optoelectronics, photonic technologies and the creation of advanced sensors, both by local and foreign companies. Among the most qualified companies to welcome PhDs in this curriculum are companies specialized in materials engineering, electronics, photonics, nanotechnology and energy. Their knowledge of advanced materials and engineering processes will allow them to design and optimize components for energy-saving systems, as well as the manufacturing of cutting-edge electronic devices. With the growing interest in eco-sustainable solutions and low-impact materials, PhDs can also find employment in companies engaged in the development of green technologies and the circular economy. Many of them will be involved in technology startups or consulting firms, thanks to their ability to manage innovation and translate scientific discoveries into industrial applications.
PhDs who choose the bio and nano materials technologies curriculum will be able to count on multiple career opportunities thanks to their interdisciplinary training that integrates biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and materials science. The professional profiles emerging from the program essentially belong to three areas: the academic world, the business world, research centers and technology transfer/startup creation, through the contacts of the teaching staff with technological incubators. The professional figures emerging from the doctoral program will have a strong propensity towards the development of bio and nanotechnology applications in the field of new advanced materials, also for applications in the biological field, life sciences and in the quantitative analysis of biological models. The profession most suited to the skills and training is that of researcher in public and private structures where figures capable of independently managing research projects involving the interaction of specialists from various disciplines are required. The typical structures in which PhDs can be employed will be universities, hospitals, research centers, chemical, innovative materials, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and international agencies and public institutions in which they will perform roles such as R&D manager, quality control, project or laboratory manager and coordination of operational units for technological and healthcare development. The PhD who chooses this curriculum will also be able to hold positions of scientific-managerial responsibility in other service activities and industrial sectors of advanced technology both in the field of nanotechnology, biotechnology and analysis of "big data", such as that of the biomedical sectors, advanced materials, pharmaceutical chemistry and biotechnology and personalized medicine. Rapidly expanding sectors such as new technologies, bioinformatics, precision medicine increasingly depend on transversal and quantitative skills and on the ability to develop multidisciplinary projects to accelerate the development of new nanomaterials and latest-generation drugs.
