National PhD in Food System
Administrative and coordinating University: Università di Torino
Programme Coordinator: Luca Simone Cocolin

The agro-food sector in Italy represents a driving sector for the country's economy, at the center of the main national and European Union economic chain. The approach to food production in the last twenty years has changed radically, passing from a concept of the supply chain to one of a system in which multidisciplinarity becomes a fundamental element for the formation of figures able to face current and future challenges, above all in terms of sustainability and protection of the planet. Already since 1995, in Italy, there is the national coordination in Food Science, Technology and Biotechnology which constitutes a network of 20 different Italian universities whose collaboration has proved to be fundamental for the cultural and scientific growth of doctoral students. Given its strategic importance, the food system deserves attention by dedicating a National Research Doctorate to it, which addresses research issues that can provide the entire system with new solutions for producing food in a more sustainable way and which is healthy and rich from a nutritional point of view.

The aims to be pursued in this national doctorate are the following:

• prepare joint training courses capable of responding to the needs of the labor market and research;
• promote internationalization through cultural exchanges with European Doctoral schools/networks/courses in Food Science, Technology and Biotechnology in order to facilitate the mobility of researchers abroad (international mobility);
• promote the mobility of doctoral students between the universities that adhere to the agreement (national mobility), including in the course programs periods of study and research at the same partner institutions;
• optimizing human resources by promoting the mobility of teachers between the consortium offices for carrying out seminars, lessons, research activities, etc.;
• continue organizing the annual itinerant Workshop on "Developments in the Italian PhD Research in Food Science, Technology and Biotechnology", in order to discuss. deepen and disseminate the most advanced research activities in the Food Science and Technology sector;
• strengthen the interaction between the academic and productive worlds through the promotion of the professional figure of the PhD in Food System, in order to increase the competitiveness of the agro-food system at national and international level.

 
The National PhD in Artificial Intelligence is the first national initiative on this topic and is made of 5 federated PhD programs that bring together 61 universities and research institutions. The 5 PhD programs share a common basis in the foundations and developments of AI, and each one has an area of specialization in a strategic sector of AI application. Each PhD program is organized by a lead university, in collaboration with the National Research Council CNR.
Representative person at UniTO: Marco Grangetto

National PhD in Blockchain e tecnologie DLT
Coordinator: Università of Camerino
Representative person at UniTO: Claudio Schifanella

National PhD in Catalysis
Coordinator: University of Perugia
Representative person at UniTO: Giancarlo Cravotto

National PhD in Earth Observation
Coordinator: University of Roma La Sapienza
Representative person at UniTO: Enrico Borgogno

National PhD in European Studies
Coordinator: University of Genova
Representative person at UniTO: Marina Belluati (member of the Doctoral School Board), Stefano Montaldo

The PhD programme aims to deepen the scientific knowledge of the European integration process in its long-term evolution, from a historical, political, economic-social and legal point of view.

It qualifies itself for a strongly interdisciplinary methodological approach, in the conviction that the study of Europe, of its history, of its public policies, of its economic and commercial achievements and of its institutions can only be effectively tackled through the interaction between the various disciplines, in their different articulations. Such an approach is explained by the complex institutional architecture of the European Union and its peculiarity compared to other international organisations and to federal-type states themselves, with the coexistence of elements of an international and associative nature and of components of a state and constitutional character. The articulated history of the process of European construction, in which multiple factors have intertwined, provides further illustration of this complexity. Knowledge of a Europe on the move, which questions previous territorial, pluralist, regionalist and 'integrated' arrangements, which makes room for models of flexible statehood and variants of belonging, requires the adoption of a diachronic conception of reality, a methodology capable of modulating itself on change and adequate tools to interpret European society in the complex phenomenology of its behaviour.

The PhD is organized in three curricula: "History of the Idea of Europe and European Integration", "European Economic and Social Policies", "Multilevel Governance and Fundamental Rights". Interdisciplinary training will be ensured, on the one hand, by the organisation of cycles of lectures and in-presence events at the various consortium universities and by joint online courses; on the other hand, by an annual Summer School with an interdisciplinary character in collaboration with the European Studies University Association (ECSA Italy).

National PhD in Gender Studies
Coordinator: University of Bari
Representative person at UniTO: Giovanna Maina

National PhD in Image, Language, Figure: Forms and Modes of Mediation
Coordinator: University of Milano
Representative person at UniTO: Massimo Leone

National PhD in Innovation in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infections at epidemic-pandemic risk
Coordinator: University of Siena
Representative person at UniTO: Stefania Bruno

National PhD in Heritage Science
Coordinator: University of Roma La Sapienza
Representative person at UniTO: Gianluca Cuniberti

National PhD Programme in Kinesiology and Sport Sciences
Coordinator: University of Verona
Representative person at UniTO: Alberto Rainoldi

The National PhD Programme in Kinesiology and Sport Sciences has been created with the aim of making a significant and concrete contribution to the scientific growth of an area of research that, although relatively recent, is already widespread in many Italian universities. Studies connected to the multiple expressions of human movement, from its earliest development to high-level sport, have been achieving an ever-increasing educational and scientific importance in the national and international scientific scene. The Italian context, with the important turning point of the introduction of study courses in Kinesiology and the creation of dedicated academic positions, has progressively expanded to an increasingly larger number of locations (over 40 universities to date). The related research activities have developed as well, focusing on specific themes among the multiple areas of study related to movement and sport sciences. Thanks to the high level achieved, Italian universities are placed among those that give an important contribution to the growth of scientific knowledge worldwide.

The modern interpretation of Kinesiology draws a diversified framework of scientific competences that can be divided into 3 different macro-areas. The first one is the study of sports performance and training methodologies. The second one is adapted physical activity for primary and secondary prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases: the social and health objective is an integral part of this area. Finally, Kinesiology aims at studying and identifying the best strategies for PE teaching at schools, emphasizing its importance for future generations, creating new teaching tools that can offer sustainable scenarios both socially and economically.

These three-macro areas can be further divided into basic mechanisms and intervention models in further areas. The transversal nature of the training model is complemented by the organization into six paths  (curricula) having as their core: sports performance, adapted physical activity, sport as a tool for inclusion and movement education, within specific frameworks responding to the new challenges underpinned by the National Recovery and Resilience Programme.

Programme objectives

The National PhD Programme in Kinesiology and Sport Sciences aims at training experts with high-level knowledge and skills, capable of using advanced cultural, methodological and technical tools intended for the scientific development of Kinesiology in the academic field and to obtain skills to be applied to highly qualified professional activities in public and private structures/entities/centres. In particular, this three-year study pathway will offer scientific training tools, both theoretical and applied, that will enable to gain high skills in designing, conducting and managing   scientific trials on sport performance, injury prevention, and the maintenance of the best physical efficiency at different ages and although any pathologies that may affect humans during all phases of life. In addition, the National PhD Programme in Kinesiology and Sport Sciences aims at training professionals with an in-depth knowledge of methodologies and techniques of motor education for people with disabilities, in order to improve their sport performance and increase the social inclusiveness offered by movement activities and sports carried out in codified and/or natural environments. Finally, this Programme will offer specific competences for professional educators, who will be able to prove scientifically the best PE teaching strategies towards school populations of different ages and genders.

National PhD in Learning Sciences and digital technologies
Coordinator: University of Foggia
Representative person at UniTO: Barbara Bruschi

PhD Candidates will study the neuroscientific basis of learning, the main pedagogical-didactic theories and digital design with the aim of developing new technologies, analyzing large-scale educational data, designing new training and docimological methods. A special focus will be dedicated to the training of people with disabilities in formal, informal or non-formal contexts and to educational and rehabilitative strategies in vulnerable populations or in conditions of social disadvantage.
PhD Candidates enrolled in the doctoral course in Learning Sciences and digital technologies will be able to explore the use of technologies for solving complex problems through the realization of theoretical and empirical studies. Students will develop their specialist knowledge through participation in relevant research projects that will involve both the academic and industrial / professional communities. Participation in research projects conducted within our laboratories and research centers, laboratories of affiliated entities (industries, schools, hospitals, clinical centers-IRCCS) and public and / or private research institutes will be promoted. This will make it possible to address, through research, issues that have important repercussions on the well-being of individuals and on active participation in the various reference contexts; it will allow the development of skills in the construction of research projects and in the use of the results obtained for the implementation of interventions and good practices capable of transforming training practices also in an inclusive perspective. Students will therefore be able to apply the outcomes of a theoretical or technical work in an innovation mediated by technologies aimed at promoting educational experiences that increase the quality of life of children, adolescents and adults, in different contexts.

National PhD Programme in Life Course Research
Coordinator: University of Firenze
Representative person at UniTO: Andrea Graziani

National PhD Programme in Materials, Sustainable Processes and Systems for the Energy Transition
Coordinator: Politecnico of Torino
Representative person at UniTO: Marco Zanetti

National PhD in One Health approaches to infectious diseases and life science research
Coordinator: Università di Pavia
Representative person at UniTO: Ezio Ferroglio

National PhD in Photovoltaics
Coordinator: University of Salerno
Representative person at UniTO: Claudia Barolo
The National PhD on Photovoltaics is proposed to respond to the request that comes from many parts, not only at a national level, but also at the international one. Photovoltaics, in fact, represents one of the pillars of the energy transition and play a key role in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal. The recent international crisis and its effects on Europe's supply of fossil fuels is leading to a further acceleration of the transition, to the advantage of technologies, including photovoltaics, which have reached great technological maturity and which can provide answers to the demand for energy in a short time.
The proposal for the National Doctorate is part of this trend, aimed at the third-level training of professional figures who will strengthen the Italian R&D and industrial chain in the photovoltaic sector. The doctorate will be organized in curricula, which will cover the following aspects:

• solar cells technologies and lifecycle
• design and integration
• monitoring and diagnosis
• power electronics and control
• solar intermittency and storage
• distributed generation and grid connection

National PhD in Polar Sciences
Coordinator: Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Representative person at UniTO: Marco Giardino

National PhD in Processi e tecnologie fotoindotte
Coordinator: University of Perugia
Representative person at UniTO: Annamaria Deagostino

National Doctoral Italian School of Religious Studies (DREST) is the first and only PhD Program in Religious Studies in Italy.

• Coordinator: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
  Representative person at UniTO: Graziano Lingua
  
  DREST aims to be a center for education and the enhancement of specialized knowledge concerning religious experience, its normative and theological expressions, its heritage of sources, and the latter’s interpretations. DREST’s goal is to create an open scientific community, appealing to the finest national and international scholars and candidates who, given the current environment of growing religious illiteracy and “religious climate change”, are able to produce scientific knowledge concerning diverse beliefs and approaches to the past.
  The program includes six curricular areas:
• Buddhism and Religions of Asia
• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Law and Religion
• Transdisciplinarity and Technological Frontier Research

Launched by 31 universities and research centres in Italy, DREST offers 43 scholarships in 23 cities for resident fellows with one mandatory semester abroad. 

For further details and the Call for applications: https://drest.eu/

National PhD in RNA Therapeutics and Gene Therapy
Coordinator: University of Napoli, Federico II
Representative person at UniTO: Benedetta Bussolati

National PhD in Scientific, Technological and Social Methods enabling Circular Economy
Coordinator: University of Padova
Representative person at UniTO: Mario Chiesa

The national PhD Program in “Scientific, Technological and Social Methods Enabling Circular Economy” is activated at the University of Padua and is sponsored by a consortium comprising 22 Italian universities and the Edmund Mach Foundation in Trento.
This study track, with its strong multidisciplinary features, aims to train young and qualified researchers with highly developed technical-scientific, socio-economic, managerial and legal skills and abilities. They are trained to propose innovative and effective solutions favouring the transition from the linear production economy model to the circular economy model.
In order to cover all components of the value chain of Circular Economy, the PhD programme is divided into three curricula spanning all thematic aspects, both transdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary, underlying the circular model.
The first curriculum, “Circular Anthropogenic Environment and Society“, focuses on economic, management, statistical, psycho-social, legal and regulatory topics, besides aspects of urban and land planning and management, including water resources, and related activities (e.g., tourism and land use).
The second curriculum, “Technical Materials for Circularity“, centres on technical-scientific and engineering subjects, with particular emphasis on echnical solutions to close the life cycle of materials and products of anthropogenic origin.
The third curriculum, “Circular Biomaterials and Biorefinery“, has has biomaterials, biomass and the agri-food sector as its main focus.

National PhD in Space Science and Technology
Coordinator: University of Trento
Representative person at UniTO: Nicolao Fornengo

The National PhD Program in Space Science and Technology aims to train young PhD’s in the field of science, engineering, technology and international relations in the space sector through the development of knowledge, skills and competencies in the research areas of interest of the twenty-seven participating Universities and Research Institutions. 
Curricula:

1. Observation of the Universe
2. Earth and the Sun-Earth system
3. Planetary Sciences
4. Astrobiology, Life Sciences and Space Medicine
5. Space sensing and instrumentation
6. Engineering and satellite platform technologies
7. Economics, law and space diplomacy

•  

National PhD in Sustainable Development and Climate change is set up by the School for Advanced Studies IUSS of Pavia in partnership with 30 Italian Universities. The Program lasts 3 years and is meant to prepare futures generations to redesign a resilient society, able to address climate change and its impacts, and to propose new sustainable development models, which cannot be longer conceived in terms of mere economic growth. The Program focuses on the study of the complex interconnections among technological progress, natural resources availability, migrations, rights, well-being and quality of life of the present and future generations, climate change, territorial specificities, and water and food access.

For further details and the Call for applications: http://www.iusspavia.it/phd-sdc

National Phd in Systems Medicine
Coordinator: Universy of Milano
Representative person at UniTO: Alberto Bardelli

National Phd in The new public administration: data and human resources
Coordinator: Bicocca Universy of Milano 
Representative person at UniTO: Paolo Biancone

National PhD in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience
Coordinating institution: Università degli studi di Camerino
Representative person at UniTO: Andrea Calvo