PhD in Automotive Engineering for Intelligent Mobility

Academic Year 2022-2023
Subject area Engineering Studies
Cycle 38
Coordinator Prof. Nicolò Cavina
Language English
Duration 3 years

Application deadline: Dec 14, 2022 at 11:59 PM (Expired)

2nd NRRP Call for Applications - Further PhD positions

Enrolment: From Feb 06, 2023 to Feb 16, 2023 - On www.studenti.unibo.it, PhD candidates awarding NRRP positions should use NRRP forms only

Doctoral programme start date: Mar 01, 2023

NRRP loghi

Application deadline: Aug 02, 2022 at 11:59 PM (Expired)

NRRP Call for Applications

Enrolment: From Sep 21, 2022 to Sep 29, 2022 - On www.studenti.unibo.it download NRRP forms only

Doctoral programme start date: Nov 01, 2022

NRRP loghi

Application deadline: Jun 09, 2022 at 11:59 PM (Expired)

Call for Applications

Enrolment: From Jul 21, 2022 to Jul 31, 2022

Doctoral programme start date: Nov 01, 2022

Operating centre
Bologna
Main Department
Department of Industrial Engineering - DIN
Associated Departments
Department of Computer Science and Engineering - DISI
Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering - DICAM
Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi" - DEI
Associated locations (agreements)
Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Curricula
  1. Vehicle Design, Manufacturing and Systems Integration
  2. Energy Systems, Powertrains, Vehicle Performance
  3. Vehicle Informatics and Connectivity
Research topics

Curriculum 1: Vehicle Design, Manufacturing and Systems Integration

The curriculum pursues the education of researchers and high-qualified engineers, operating in the areas of design and manufacturing of the automotive sector, and able to address issues related to design and research activities in disciplines such as:

  • Industry 4.0 and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Industrial Automation and Robotics
  • Big Data and Cloud Computing for Manufacturing
  • Materials, Lighting Technology and Design Methods for improving Efficiency and Safety of Vehicles
  • Vehicle Lifecycle Assessment. Circular Economy: Vehicle refurbish, re-use of Vehicle Parts.

Curriculum 2: Energy Systems, Powertrains, Vehicle Performance

The curriculum pursues the education of researchers and high-qualified engineers, operating in the areas of vehicle dynamics and energy management, and able to address issues related to design and research activities in disciplines such as:

  • Electrification and Power Electronics
  • Electric, Hybrid and ICE-based Powertrains
  • Advanced Combustion and Aftertreatment Systems
  • Batteries and Energy Storage Systems
  • Vehicle Energy Management and Energy Optimization
  • Vehicle Dynamics and Control

Curriculum 3: Vehicle Informatics and Connectivity

The curriculum pursues the education of researchers and high-qualified engineers, operating in the areas of vehicle digitalization and connectivity, and able to address issues related to design and research activities in disciplines such as:

  • Vehicle Human Machine Interface and Infotainment systems
  • Gamification for Improving Driver Behaviour
  • Vehicular networks, Vehicular Sensors and Big Data for Mobility
  • Automatic and Autonomous Drive
  • Connectivity for V2I - Vehicle to Infrastructure, V2V - Vehicle to Vehicle and V2G - Vehicle to smart Grid interfacing
  • Data Analytics and Advanced Prediction Models

 

 

Job opportunities and potential areas of employment
In addition to being supported by professors who, in the Departments and Universities involved, have been dealing with issues of interest for this PhD for many years, the proposal is fully integrated into the production context of Emilia Romagna - where the Automotive sector is represented by companies of worldwide importance in the production of high-end cars and motorcycles, agricultural machinery, cars and motorcycles for sports competitions, vehicle components. The Automotive sector in the Region is the first industrial sector with a turnover of more than 10 billion euros, about 200 companies and 20,000 employees. The PhD students who will complete the training course will find a high-profile employment position in the academia, in public and private research institutions, and in the industrial field, and the reference context will be regional, national and international. These figures will be the experts at a global level, both in the private and public sectors, able to drive innovation in the sectors of Automotive and intelligent, autonomous and connected vehicles in the coming decades. These include: research fellowship or university researcher; researcher at research institutions; researcher/designer in the R & D sectors, engineer responsible for testing the engine and the vehicle, software designer engineer, communication and control systems engineer, ..., of companies in the automotive sector.
Admission Board

NRRP Call - Further PhD Positions
Appointed by RD 952/2022 Prot. n. 0357333 of 02/12/2022

Surname Name University / Institution Role Email
Donnici Giampiero Università di Bologna Member
Girau Roberto Università di Bologna Member roberto.girau@unibo.it
Mirri Silvia Università di Bologna Member silvia.mirri@unibo.it
Santi Gian Maria Università di Bologna Member gianmaria.santi2@unibo.it
Ceruti Alessandro Università di Bologna Substitute alessandro.ceruti@unibo.it
De Agostinis Massimiliano Università di Bologna Substitute m.deagostinis@unibo.it
Maniezzo Vittorio Università di Bologna Substitute vittorio.maniezzo@unibo.it
Prandi Catia Università di Bologna Substitute catia.prandi2@unibo.it

NRPP Call Admission Board
Appointed by RD 1103/2022 Prot. n. 0162873 of 17/07/2022

Surname Name University / Institution Role Email
Falcone Paolo Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Member
Martini Alberto Università di Bologna Member
Mattarelli Enrico Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Member
Mora Cristina Università di Bologna Member
Pirondi Alessandro  Università di Parma Member
Tarchi Daniele Università di Bologna Member
Nicoletto Gianni Università di Parma Substitute
Pavan Paolo Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Substitute
Regattieri Alberto Università di Bologna Substitute
Rinaldini Carlo Alberto Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Substitute
Rivola Alessandro Università di Bologna Substitute
Sangiorgi Enrico Università di Bologna Substitute

* The following shall take part in the work of the Examination Board as expert members for positions linked to specific research topics:

  • Antonio Aurucci - Automobili Lamborghini SpA
  • Carlo Bussi - Ferrari SpA
  • Giuliano Domenico Ellena - Podium Engineering Srl
  • Massimo Fortini - G.D. SpA
  • Roberto Tonelli - Ferrari SpA
  • Sara Gallian - Fev Italia Srl
  • Giacomo Piero Schiapparelli - HPE
  • Claudio Domenico Arlandini - Cineca Consorzio Interuniversitario

 

Call for Application Admission Board
Appointed by RD 830/2022 Prot. n. 0127511 of 30/05/2022

Surname Name University / Institution Role email Curriculum
Falcone Paolo Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Member Vehicle Informatics and Connectivity
Gamberi Mauro Università di Bologna Member Vehicle Design, Manufacturing and Systems Integration
Martini Alberto Università di Bologna Member Energy Systems, Powertrains, Vehicle Performance
Mattarelli Enrico Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Member Energy Systems, Powertrains, Vehicle Performance
Pirondi Alessandro  Università di Parma Member Vehicle Design, Manufacturing and Systems Integration
Tarchi Daniele Università di Bologna Member Vehicle Informatics and Connectivity
Nicoletto Gianni Università di Parma Substitute Vehicle Design, Manufacturing and Systems Integration
Pavan Paolo Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Substitute Vehicle Informatics and Connectivity
Regattieri Alberto Università di Bologna Substitute Vehicle Design, Manufacturing and Systems Integration
Rinaldini Carlo Alberto Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia Substitute Energy Systems, Powertrains, Vehicle Performance
Rivola Alessandro Università di Bologna Substitute Energy Systems, Powertrains, Vehicle Performance
Sangiorgi Enrico Università di Bologna Substitute Vehicle Informatics and Connectivity
Learning outcomes

The PhD course aims to train highly qualified personnel with multidisciplinary skills, able to direct the development and research, also in the industrial field, of innovative vehicles, creating a meeting point in the third level of education between mechanical, industrial, electronics, telecommunications, controls, electrical, IT, logistics and civil engineering. The aim is to train researchers with a cultural profile aimed at the design, development and production of innovative vehicles and their integration into sustainable, intelligent and interconnected mobility systems. The skills necessary to document, expose and discuss their work in a clear and effective manner, both in Italian and in English, will also be provided. The course is divided into 3 curricula: Vehicle Design, Manufacturing and Systems Integration; Energy Systems, Powertrains, Vehicle Performance; Vehicle Informatics and Connectivity.

Activities to be carried out by Doctoral candidates

Research programs encompass experimental and numerical/modelling activities within the scientific sectors that characterize the Doctoral Program. Those activities are carried out in collaboration with other research groups, and national and international companies, with the objective of forming highly professional figures, who could directly enter the industrial or academic sector. Further, Doctoral students, depending on the specific needs of the curriculum, will follow seminars to enhance the ability of using major database of international literature and on issues concerned with data processing (such as the introduction to the use of commercial codes, the management and analysis of databases, ...), and will participate in international conferences and workshops, where they will also present the results of their research activities. One of the activities considered particularly important concerns the production of scientific publications, and the production of intermediate reports and of the final thesis.

Research training activities compliant with the Doctoral programme's learning outcomes

The research-oriented educational activity includes:

  • Development of a research project within the topic of the selected curriculum
  • Capacity building of independent scientific investigation attitude, by carrying out theoretical and experimental activities under the guidance of researchers with proven experience in the field
  • Participation in seminars and specific training courses
  • Preparation and publication of technical and scientific papers in English
  • Presentation of research results in international meetings
  • Abroad training period of at least 3 months
  • Possibility of teaching experiences to support university courses

The training provided during the course is designed to increase both scientific and soft  skills. Considering the division into three curricula, technical-scientific training is also very often oriented vertically on each curriculum. The organization of the research training activity is carried out by a team of three members of the PhD college, on behalf of the coordinator, and an online calendar is available for PhD students to be constantly updated.

Internationalization features

The research activities of PhD students are often carried out with research centers and international companies. For each PhD student a period of research and training is foreseen at foreign university, industrial reality or research center, and advanced courses are offered at the University Language Center. Thanks to scientific collaborations with international institutions, the participation of foreign students is also encouraged through the dissemination of the PhD Program and the call for application, and of the benefits offered by the proposing universities to foreign candidates. Dissemination is strengthened through the PhD web site. Furthermore, the dissemination of informative material is planned for international congresses and events. Finally, PhD students will be involved in Short Term Scientific Missions within actions financed by European Projects. Other elements of internationalization are foreseen during the activation and selection of candidates: the oral exam can be taken by telematic means for candidates residing abroad; foreign teachers and representatives of European industries participation in training activities; availability of agreements for the exchange of PhD students and the issue of co-tutored titles. In particular, a Dual/Joint Doctoral Degree Program Agreement has been signed with NCTU (Taiwan) and with the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. A co-tutelle agreement is also active with Mines Paris Tech and with Macao Polytechnic Institute.
The PhD Course was born in continuity with the new international master's degrees (MUNER), carried out in collaboration with the most important companies in the Automotive sector of Emilia Romagna. The industrial interlocutors in this field are typically multi-national, with research and development centers of significant and technologically advanced dimensions.
Finally, starting from the 37th Cycle, the PhD Program is offered in English, to complete the internationalization process.

Expected research results and products

The fundamental contribution deals with innovative and original research in the PhD student research field, which is very often focused on industrial applications. These results will be disseminated through publications, patents and participation in international conferences. Doctoral students will produce a Thesis as a final result, preferably in English, showing the innovative results achieved during the PhD period. Another desirable outcome is the organization of thematic sessions and seminars on the specific research area, and on the innovative results that have been achieved by the PhD students.
Each PhD student is required to periodically update (at least every year) their publications and the results of their research on the University IRIS database, also indicating the degree of disclosure allowed for each publication.