A distinctive characteristic of the PhD course in Biomedical sciences and biotechnology at the University of Udine is the possibility to perform research activities in a multidisciplinary environment. Four main thematic areas are offered to students that apply to the PhD program. Fields of study include: i) Biochemistry and Structural Biology ii) Immunology and Cancer Biology iii) Human Anatomy and Physiology iv) Cell and Tissue Imaging. The ambition of the PhD program, common to all research fields is to prepare students for careers in academia, in research institutes and in the expanding areas of biotechnology in the private sector, including biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The course aims to produce PhD graduates with substantial analytical, critical and evaluation skills necessary for the execution of successful research.

Admission to the doctoral programme is on competitive basis without limits of citizenship. Applicants are expected to be highly motivated young graduates (holders of a 5 years university degree), Italian candidates hold a laurea specialistica (five years), or equivalent degree. The faculty board must validate degrees granted by foreign universities.
Selection of candidates is based on academic records, oral discussion of undergraduate activities and on an oral examination to test the applicant’s basic scientific knowledge. Interviews are held in Italian or in English, according to the applicant’s requests. It is mandatory to carry out part of the interview in English. Students are encouraged to read about the research interests of potential faculty mentors on PubMed and eventually, in the personal web sites.

The main monitoring activity takes place daily at the bench by working in close contact with the research supervisor (tutor/mentor). Additionally, the Ph.D. program provides an external reviewer (a highly recognized scientist in the same research field of the student), with aim to discuss, on annually based meeting, the research progress. The external reviewer must fill an evaluation form in which, scores are provided on the overall quality of the research project and on the skills and knowledge of the student. Finally, Ph.D. students are expected to meet yearly with the faculty board to discuss research progress. Annual reports and journal club are also important to hone the communication skills of the students.

The PhD course offers an educational program structured on three different activities: “Spring seminars”, “Summer courses” and Fall journal club”. A range of advanced summer courses specifically organized for doctoral students in the fields of biochemistry, biophysics, exercise physiology, structural, functional, computational, cellular and molecular biology. Students will take at least four advanced courses within the first two years. Topics are determined yearly by the faculty board to suit specific students needs.
“Spring Seminars” are held by scientists from all over the world on late-breaking scientific developments in different fields including: genetics; molecular, cellular, and structural biology; neuroscience; cancer, exercise physiology and bioinformatics., Topics of spring seminars are determined yearly by the faculty board to suit specific students needs. In addition students present program-specific journal clubs on hot multidisciplinary topics.

A dissertation based on original investigation and showing familiarity with tools and methods of research, must be written in English at the end of third year. To be admitted to the final examination, the PhD student must: i) submit the dissertation to the Ph.D. committee ii) have published at least one paper on peer-reviewed scientific journal indexed in PubMed with impact factor, possibly as first author iii) have obtained an average score above 6 in the overall judgment (scale 1-10) as formulated by the external reviewer iv) have attended to (at least) an international congress. For the final examination, the PhD committee includes one member of the faculty board and at least 2 scientists form other institutions.

Only 50% of the PhD positions in every call are covered with an institutional fellowship. The remaining 50% could be covered with a fellowship supported by the supervisor using personal research funds. The annual gross salary of the institutional fellowship is 16.067,94 €. Additional information can be found
http://www.uniud.it/ricerca/finanziamenti/dottorato/Informazioni_generali

At the Università di Udine is active the “Centro Convegni and Accoglienza”. This facility can provide assistance to get acquainted with university and its facilities, to help in finding a place to live and eat at reasonable prices. Information can be found at the following URL
http://www.uniud.it/ateneo/organizzazione/amministrazione/amministrazione_centrale/ceco/servizio-residenzialita