Mission and objectives
In this page
The general domain of the Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology is the study of biological diversity and its evolution, including the behavior and relationships of living things (including humans) among themselves and with the environment.
This field is evolving very rapidly, in part because of the speed with which system-scale data acquisition techniques have advanced, from genomics and metagenomics to metabolomics, allowing access to a detail of description of biological systems never before seen.
This field is evolving very rapidly, in part because of the speed with which system-scale data acquisition techniques have advanced, from genomics and metagenomics to metabolomics, allowing access to a detail of description of biological systems not seen to date.
Research in these areas is done by integrating the analysis of microbial, animal and plant communities and their interactions with the environment in the context of evolution.
Research projects also address topical areas such as the intervention of humans and human activities on the ecosystem, including climate change, land use change, and urbanization.
Addressing challenges in this area requires new interdisciplinary figures with skills and employment prospects ranging from basic research to green industry.
Course Objectives
The Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology aims to train highly qualified experts in the analysis of biological processes and management of biological resources, capable of independently conducting research at the level of empirical description of phenomena, data processing, information gathering using bioinformatics tools, and development of quantitative and predictive models.
Great emphasis is placed on the use of innovative methods, both in field work and in laboratory analysis. The doctoral student will therefore be trained in the application of quantitative biology, genomics, metagenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics techniques to the study of ecosystems seen as complex systems.
The doctoral training thus involves the acquisition of highly interdisciplinary skills.
The doctoral program is structured to provide:
- proper theoretical and applied training in the basic disciplines (animal and plant biology, physiology, ecology, genetics, biostatistics and bioinformatics) and, depending on the specific choices of the doctoral students, in the more specialized disciplines (neuroscience, behavioral biology, ethology, molecular evolution, plant biology applied to the morpho-functional, environmental, agro-industrial, pharmaceutical and cultural heritage conservation fields);
- internship opportunities at Italian and foreign research institutions and public facilities in the working environment where they can apply the methodologies and skills acquired in the research phase;
- tools and mastery of techniques for writing scientific reports and research programs, and for effective communication of science.
Teaching and training activities are organized both by fostering interaction and collaboration among doctoral students and through the offering of advanced and continuing education courses aimed at the acquisition of numerical and statistical skills, bioinformatics techniques and data analysis, and modeling of biological systems also through the use of the most appropriate computational and simulation tools. In addition to this is specific training in the field of research management and knowledge of European and international research systems, exploitation of research results and intellectual property.
Last update
05.02.2025