PhD in Chemistry

Curriculum 1: Chemical Sciences
The research topics of the curriculum Chemical Sciences include all areas of chemistry, from computational chemistry (e.g., modelling of molecular materials, computational photochemistry and photophysics, spectroscopy), to physical chemistry (e.g., study of solid state and liquid crystals), electrochemistry (e.g., electrochemistry of molecular materials and for energy, electrochemical analysis techniques), photochemistry (e.g., systems for energy conversion, photoreactive materials, sensors and luminescent tracers), study of polymers (e.g., production of polymeric materials for biomedical applications), analytical sciences (e.g., analytical methods based on advanced separative techniques, bioanalytical, environmental and cultural heritage chemistry, biosensors), organic chemistry (e.g., chemistry of radicals and host-guest systems, organic synthesis, synthesis by enzymatic catalysis, development of materials and methods for "Green Chemistry"), structural and solid state chemistry (e.g., "Crystal Engineering", development of materials for biomedical applications, synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials), and molecular spectroscopy (e.g., Raman, electron and rotational spectroscopy). For many topics, the research has important multidisciplinary implications, in particular as concerned nanotechnological and biomedical applications.

Curriculum 2: Industrial Chemistry
The research topics of the curriculum Industrial Chemistry relate to the areas of industrial chemistry, chemistry of materials (e.g., polymers and ceramics) and processes, analytical and environmental chemistry. The research activities include the development of new, more environment-friendly industrial processes (by operating on a laboratory scale or in pilot plants), the innovation or improvement of the industrial production of chemical substances by introducing "sustainable" processes ("Green Chemistry"), the study of methods for the reduction of pollutants and for the production of fuels, the synthesis of polymeric materials of industrial applications and for the conversion of energy, the development of new catalytic materials (e.g., organometallic compounds or metal complexes) and their evaluation in industrial applications in order to their determine characteristics, reactivity, and role, and the study of use of renewable sources (e.g., biomass) for the production of chemicals, fuels or energy, the application of advanced analytical techniques for the characterization of materials for energy storage and production and for the development of sensors, the electrochemical synthesis of catalysts of industrial interest.

The following shall take part in the work of the Examination Board as expert members: Lorenzo Grazia (Polynt S.p.A., lorenzo.grazia@polynt.com), Marzia Mazzacurati (Basf Italia S.p.A., marzia.mazzacurati@basf.com), Stefano Zampolli (CNR, zampolli@bo.imm.cnr.it), Matteo Monticelli (Pollution, matteo.monticelli@pollution.it).