PhD in Health, Safety and Green Systems

Academic Year 2021/2022 PON Scholarships Call
Subject area Biological, Geological and Agricultural Sciences
Cycle 37
Coordinator Prof. Patrizia Tassinari
Language English
Duration 3 years
Positions 4 positions. More information in the PhD Programme Table.
Application deadline Oct 20, 2021 at 11:59 PM (Expired)
Enrolment period From Nov 05, 2021 to Nov 12, 2021
Doctoral programme start date Jan 01, 2022
Operating centre
Imola
Main Department
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences - DIBINEM
Associated Departments
Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology - FaBiT
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences - DISTAL
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC
Department of Architecture - DA
Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering - DICAM
Research topics

The PhD programme has a strongly transdisciplinary character, aiming at meeting the growing demand from the social, productive and institutional context for researchers, decision makers and policy makers capable of systematising the various scientific and professional domains in the field of Health, Safety and Green Systems. The PhD programme trains specialists in relation to specific thematic areas related to complex problems, aggregating - with a strongly integrated approach - disciplines and methodologies related to different scientific fields. In particular, with reference to concepts like urban health, health-focused green systems, promotion of physical activity, rehabilitation, better health and active living in urban environments, the PhD programme is clearly focused on sustainability issues, addressing various of the UN SDGs. The central disciplines of the PhD programme are: medical and health profession sciences, botanical-pharmaceutical sciences, chemical extraction sciences, toxicology, phytocosmetical and nutritional sciences, agricultural sciences, architectural and civil and environmental engineering sciences, in their different articulations (food production and processing, production, management and design issues related to green systems and urban and territorial systems), and in their mutual relations. The PhD programme thus consists of different complementary areas, developed cross-cutting the thematic clusters related to health, safety, and green systems: prevention and promotion of health and safety in the areas of living, working, caring, recreation and sociality; recycling of vegetable matrices for developing new products for the drug, phytocosmetics and food supplements industry; quality control of food supplements based on medicinal herbs or other raw materials; toxicity and safety of no-food supplements and environment; production, design and sustainable management of green areas; resilient cities; biodiversity and ecosystem services; spatial planning.

Job opportunities and potential areas of employment
With reference to the professional activities classified by the Italian ISTAT, for the PhD candidates of this programme there are work opportunities in the intellectual, scientific and highly specialised professions (Large Group 2), for which a high level of knowledge is required to analyse and represent complex situations and problems, define possible solutions and make relevant decisions, promoting and conducting scientific research. Other work opportunities can be within the legislators, entrepreneurs and senior management (Large Group 1). These professions require a level of knowledge necessary to define and implement strategies for political, institutional and economics direction and regulation; as well as the definition and formulation of government policies, laws and norms; planning, direction, coordination and evaluation of policies and objectives; orientation of general activities in companies or organisations, either in public and private sectors. The employment sectors and types of employment include very diversified sectors: companies, public institutions, sector and professional associations, schools, public and private research bodies, technology transfer and innovation sector entities. In particular, the PhD programme aims to respond to the growing demand from the social, productive, institutional (political, administrative and management) context, also at the international level and in developing countries, of researchers and policy makers able to systematise the aforementioned scientific and professional fields, since these professional figures do not exist at present time. Their analysis capacity and their transdisciplinary vision will allow to guide complex studies and decision-making processes, directing specific insights and bringing to a result synthesis, with important consequences in terms of reduction of direct and indirect costs in health and territorial governance, and therefore giving space for economic growth.
Admission Board

Name Surname University Role email
Patrizia Tassinari Università di Bologna Member
Alessandra Zambonelli Università di Bologna Member
David Neil Manners Università di Bologna Member
Stefania Toselli Università di Bologna Member
Stefano Benni Università di Bologna Member
Maria Luisa Dindo Università di Bologna Substitute
Roberta Roberti Università di Bologna Substitute
Lisa Berti Università di Bologna Substitute
Daniele Torreggiani Università di Bologna Substitute
Alberto Barbaresi Università di Bologna Substitute
Learning outcomes
The PhD programme trains a professional figure with multidisciplinary methodological, scientific and technological skills, capable of integrating planning of sustainable urban projects and programming of decision-making processes and activities related to health promotion and life quality. The scientific programme gives this figure the ability to systematise various research domains, with innovative approaches that jointly consider the fields of study related to green systems, landscape, medical and health sciences, pharmaceutical, environmental toxicology, architectural and civil and environmental engineering sciences. The PhD programme also allows to assess the relevant environmental and social implications, and to develop new approaches for the identification of active principles included in plant matrices, quality control of botanicals, green chemistry and revitalisation of territorial resources, in order to address in an integrated way to health, urbanisation and environmental management issues.
Activities to be carried out by Doctoral candidates
PhD candidates can carry out research at all levels (in the field, in the laboratory, in productive and territorial levels) required by the chosen topic for PhD thesis. Research and training projects will be based on integrated multidisciplinary contributions that bring together the methods, approaches, languages and knowledge of the medical, chemical, botanical, food, toxicological, agricultural and architectural areas, and those at the interface at the base of the "health - safety - green systems" nexus. In particular, PhD candidates will be included in specific interdisciplinary research projects, result of a collaboration between the different scientific areas involved, also through specific agreements already in place regarding the topics of the PhD programme, activated in collaboration with different bodies. These collaborative activities aim to promote specialisation in individual specific areas, and at the same time to develop such in-depth studies within a research design suitable to allow a high level of integration for enhancing transdisciplinary relationships and overcoming sectoral visions. The course will involve training and research skills and laboratory structures of the various departments involved, as well as the University laboratory resources located in the Imola district of the University of Bologna (Imola district greenhouses; bio-toxicology, microscopy, microbiology, pharmaceutical, chemical-analytical laboratories of the Lolli complex), and also of other laboratory resources that may become available through agreements with local bodies and organisations that are already collaborating with the University of Bologna for training courses, research and experiments. For a profitable management of the study issues and research lines, each candidate will be assigned to two or more supervisors belonging to different disciplinary fields.
Research training activities compliant with the Doctoral programme's learning outcomes
The PhD training programme includes participation in specific courses and seminars on the PhD themes provided by both members of the Academic Board and other teachers, also external to Unibo, and by internationally renowned professors, external experts and highly qualified professionals of institutions and companies. The plan also provides the acquisition of credits to be chosen from study courses, courses common to more PhD programmes, and training activities on soft skills on subjects consistent with the educational objectives of the PhD programme. Planning of the courses will also benefit of synergies with already activated courses, with particular attention to crosscutting themes like: bibliographic services for research, statistical tools, academic writing, IPR and European funds. In order to foster collaboration between different disciplinary knowledge, each PhD candidate will be assigned, according to their background and specific research interests, to two or more supervisors belonging to the different subject areas, as well as to possible Italian or foreign co-supervisors, who will work together in order to support and stimulate an interdisciplinary approach throughout the student's path. Annual checks of the progress of research by PhD candidates are foreseen. During the year, there will also be joint meetings for the presentation of the activities conducted by the PhD candidates to foster the discussion and exchange between the various PhD candidates and professors/researchers from an interdisciplinary point of view. The supervisors and the Academic Board will ensure that the training plan of each PhD candidate is suitable to combine the study of specific issues of one or more specific scientific domains, with an integrated interdisciplinary vision. PhD candidates with scholarships are required to spend a period abroad in qualified research facilities, with the aim of encouraging the exchange and the inclusion of young researchers in the international scientific community.
Internationalization features
The PhD programme in Health, Safety and Green Systems promotes internationalisation with agreements, currently in progress or programmed, with foreign research institutions, aimed at offering, for example, double degree titles or co-tutelle, through a minimum 3-months period of stay abroad and active participation in international research projects. Several foreign universities have expressed their willingness to stipulate framework co-tutelle agreements aimed not only at the joint supervision of PhD candidates, but also at the release of a double degree. A framework co-tutelle agreement has already been signed with the University of Copenaghen (Faculty of Science), and a Dual Doctoral Degree Programme has been signed with the National Chiao Tung University Hsinchu, Taiwan. Moreover, other foreign institutions have finalised the signing of letters of intent (Agricultural University of Athens, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy; University of Lincoln, School of Chemistry), and other bilateral agreements are being finalised. The PhD programme also actively aims to increase the applications by foreign applicants, through active and informative support to interested foreign persons, a connection with other countries' university training institutions, collaboration with funding institutions for foreign candidates, as well as integrating courses/seminars provided by highly qualified foreign teachers and experts on these topics into the training of PhD candidates.
Expected research results and products
The research products of the PhD candidates will be evaluated using the criteria adopted by the University of Bologna and, in particular, with reference to articles (publications) in journals indexed in ISI and/or Scopus, and/or in band A journals, book chapters, national and international conferences proceedings, patents. In order to stimulate the scientific productivity of PhD candidates, training sessions and minimum qualitative-quantitative standards for the production of scientific articles are foreseen during the course: in order to be admitted to the final dissertation, it is mandatory that PhD candidates have at least one scientific article accepted or published in an indexed ISI and/or Scopus and/or band A journal. This article should be consistent with the research activities carried out during the three-year period of attendance to the PhD programme. The admission of PhD candidates to the second and third year of the course will be decided by the Academic Board, in close collaboration with the PhD candidates' supervisors. The criteria for admission to the following year include:
- attendance and positive evaluation for the didactic activities foreseen by the PhD programme (see section "Research Training Activities")
- obtained skills in the context of the scientific investigation addressed
- acquisition of a rigorous scientific methodological approach and autonomy in conducting experimental activities.
Doctoral programme Academic Board
Name Surname University/Institution Qualification
Sabrina Angelini Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Stefano Benni Università di Bologna Ricercatore Confermato
Assunta Bertaccini Università di Bologna Professore Associato Confermato
Lisa Berti Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Alessandra Bordoni Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Marco Alvise Bragadin Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Roberta Budriesi Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Maria Luisa Dindo Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Irene Faenza Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Maria Pia Fantini Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Marcello Lanari Università di Bologna Professore Associato
David Neil Manners Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Marco Menchetti Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Laura Mercolini Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Elena Mucelli Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Paolo Pillastrini Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Ferruccio Poli Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Patrizia Tassinari Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Stefania Toselli Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Valeria Vignali Università di Bologna Professore Associato
Stefano Zaffagnini Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario
Alessandra Zambonelli Università di Bologna Professore Ordinario