PhD in Agrobiodiversity
Pisa, Italy
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2024
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
The PhD Programme in Agrobiodiversity is a four-year residential Course. It aims at the enhancement of human resource capacities in the utilisation and management of genetic variation in agricultural and natural systems, to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems and the conservation of genetic resources for the well-being of present and future generations.
The Programme is structured into two curricula:
- Plant genetic resources;
- Functional biodiversity in agroecosystems.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships are for the duration of the relevant Ph.D. Programmes and confirmed annually upon admission to the following year by approval from the Advisory Board of the individual Programme. Ph.D. scholarships are awarded following the ranking order, except for scholarships linked to specific topics or research projects, which may be awarded to the first eligible candidate(s) identified by the Selection Committee.
The annual budget for each student comprises a scholarship of € 16,243.00 (€ 18,800.00 for the PhD Programmes in robotics and Emerging Digital Technologies), including social security charges payable by the recipient and paid in monthly instalments in arrears, and housing grant of € 2,200/year.
Scholarships cannot be combined with other scholarships for any reason whatsoever, except for those granted by national or foreign institutions, aimed at supplementing the student's research activities with visits abroad. Doctoral students who have previously received a Ph.D. scholarship in Italy, even partially, are not eligible for another Ph.D. scholarship.
Curriculum
The goal of this four-year PhD Programme is to enhance human resource capacities in the use and management of genetic variation in agricultural and natural systems, to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems, and the conserve genetic resources for the well-being of present and future generations. Candidates can choose between two curricula:
- Curriculum A – Plant genetic resources
- Curriculum B – Functional biodiversity in agroecosystems
Here below are listed a few examples of research areas dealt with in this Ph.D. programme:
- Genetic variation in single genes and entire genomes of agricultural and forestry plants and their wild relatives.
- Mechanisms that control the variability in genes and/or groups of genes, such as those involved in resistance to pathogens and/ or pests and tolerance to environmental factors.
- Role of functional biodiversity in maintaining genetic diversity, including evolution and co-evolution of pests/pathogens and host plants.
- Role of functional diversity, including interactions between pests/ pathogens/ weeds and domesticated/volunteer/wild plants, in agroecosystem health.
- Plant and crop physiology, including plant stress physiology and post-harvest physiology.
- Application of agrobiodiversity solutions at genetic, species, and habitat levels to improve crop performance, crop protection, sustainable crop/agroforestry management, and multifunctional land use.
Career Opportunities
Research and counselling in national and international organisations. The Programme is intended for students willing to pursue an academic career but also provides professional research skills to work in public and private research institutions. Most of our previous PhD students now work as research fellow or have tenure track in national and international institutions.