PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology

Academic Year 2020-2021
Subject area Biological, Geological and Agricultural Sciences
Cycle 36
Coordinator Prof. Giovanni Capranico
Language English, Italian
Duration 3 years
Positions 10 positions. More information in the PhD Programme Table
Application deadline May 21, 2020 at 01:00 PM (Expired)
Enrolment period From Jul 28, 2020 to Aug 06, 2020
Doctoral programme start date Nov 01, 2020
Operating centre
Bologna
Main Department
Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology - FaBiT
Mobility abroad
3 months
Research topics
  • Cancer genome instability (Prof. Capranico)
  • Molecular biotechnology of phages for the development of theranostic vector platforms (Prof. Danielli)
  • Computational and functional genomics (Prof. Ferrè)
  • Computational transcriptomics of human gene networks (Dr. Giorgi)
  • Genetic factors of autism syndromes (Prof. Maestrini, Dr. Bacchelli)
  • Molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases (Prof. Monti)
  • Gene expression regulation in cancer (Prof. Perini)
  • Cancer modelling in Drosophila (Prof. Pession)
  • Mitochondria disfunctions in neurodegenerative diseases and mitochondria gene mutations in cancer (Prof. Porcelli, Dr. Ghelli)
  • Molecular and genetic basis of bacterial pathogenesis (Prof. Scarlato)
  • Molecular mechanisms of redox signalling and energy metabolism regulations in plants (Prof. Trost, Prof. Sparla)
  • Phylogenetic and functional characterization of human and environmental microbial communities: study of the interactions between microorganisms and their habitat (Prof. Vitali)
  • Structures, functions and interactions of metallo-proteins (Dr. Zambelli)
Job opportunities and potential areas of employment
The PhD will be able to:
- carry out research and development in public and private research institutions, and in biotech incubators;
- coordinate activities in various fields of cell biology and biochemistry;
- promote and develop scientific and technological innovation in the field of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biomaterials and vaccines, as well as in the field of science communication;
- carry out activities in laboratories of molecular diagnostic services and technical advice;
- carry out activities in laboratories involved in the development of cellular or animal models for strategy and research;
- fulfil the role of manager in public/private scientific institutions in the biomedical field (fund raising and intellectual property);
- launch biological/biotechnology spin-off - teach in schools, once completed additional specific training.
Admission Board

Surname Name University Role email
Maestrini Elena Università di Bologna Member elena.maestrini@unibo.it
Scarlato Vincenzo Università di Bologna Member vincenzo.scarlato@unibo.it
Zambelli Barbara Università di Bologna Member barbara.zambelli@unibo.it
Capranico Giovanni Università di Bologna Substitute giovanni.capranico@unibo.it
Giorgi Federico Manuel Università di Bologna Substitute federico.giorgi@unibo.it
Vitali Beatrice Università di Bologna Substitute b.vitali@unibo.it
Learning outcomes
The aim of the PhD programme is to train a highly skilled professional, capable to conduct scientific investigations, analyse and interpret experimental results, formulate and test scientific hypotheses, communicate the results achieved, and in organizing and planning both basic and applied research issues driving modern Biology. The programme consists of both lecture courses and research activities, and aims to provide students with more in-depth general knowledge of Cell and Molecular Biology. At the same time, it provides training in experimental research in a specific topic. The flexibility of the programme allows the adaptation to the specific interests of each candidate, with training focusing in one of the many areas of modern biology.
Activities to be carried out by Doctoral candidates
Topics common to all the PhD programmes of the Department:
- Handling of Radioisotopes in Biology (12 hours). Lecturer: Prof. A. Danielli
- Basic course in Science of Laboratory Animals (12 hours) Organizer: Dr. Valentina Vasina
- English for academic purposes (20 Hours). Organizer: Prof. Monica Turci
- Introduction to research funded by the European Union and Enhancement Protection of Intellectual Property (6 Hours). Organizer: ARIC - Dr. Simone Maccaferri and Dr Maria Grazia Fumo

Specific courses for the PhD program:
- No. 2 annual workshops on the topics of Research in Molecular and Cellular Biology (16 hours). Organizer: Prof. V. Scarlato
- Calorimetry and light-scattering: Theory and applications for the characterization of proteins in solution (14 hours). Lecturer: Dr. B. Zambelli
- Course on a specific topic of the PhD thesis (20 hours): Each supervisor will held a course on the subject of the research thesis
- Seminars organised by the FABIT Department (30 hours/year taught by teachers/experts in the field). Organisers: Prof. Anna Maria Porcelli and Giovanni Capranico.
- Interdisciplinary seminars organised by the Institute for Advanced Study of the University of Bologna (20 hours/year held by teachers/experts in the field )
- Tutoring activities in the teaching laboratory courses Degree and / or Master's Degree related to the research topics addressed (maximum 60 hours/year).
Research training activities compliant with the Doctoral programme's learning outcomes
The training programme includes activities common to all students, as well as individual and specific activities, aimed both at the acquisition of skills in planning, implementation, and critical interpretation of the obtained experiments, and at executing a specific research project decided in agreement with the faculty members of the PhD programme. Candidates develop and consolidate their knowledge acquired through cycles of seminars, specific theoretical courses, participation in conferences, discussion of experimental results both within the research group (Journal clubs and date clubs) and within the Faculty with the participation of supervisors and all candidates.
Internationalization features
Each candidate will spend a period of time in a research institution abroad. The attractiveness of the PhD programme at the international level is very good, with more than 10% (4 of 38) of the candidates enrolled in the last four cycles, 2 of which being recipient of Marie Curie fellowships and 1 of Ciência sem fronteiras fellowship.
Expected research results and products
The PhD candidate must be an author of publications in scientific international journals with impact factor and/or of publications in international journals without impact factor and/or of chapters in books and/or of reports in the form of oral or poster presentation at international/national conferences and/or international/national patents.
Doctoral programme Academic Board
Surname Name University/Institution Qualification
Bacchelli Elena Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Capranico Giovanni Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Ciarrocchi Alessia Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova - Reggio Emilia (Italy) Primo Ricercatore
Danielli Alberto Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Ferrè Fabrizio Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Ghelli Anna Maria Università di Bologna Ricercatore Confermato
Giorgi Federico Manuel Università di Bologna Ricercatore A Tempo Determinato - Art.24 Co.3 Lett. B) - L.240/2010
Maestrini Elena Università di Bologna Professore Associato Confermato
Monti Barbara Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Perini Giovanni Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Pession Annalisa Università di Bologna Professore Associato Confermato
Porcelli Anna Maria Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Scarlato Vincenzo Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Sparla Francesca Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Trost Paolo Bernardo Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Vitali Beatrice Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Zambelli Barbara Università di Bologna Ricercatore Confermato