Plant and animal sciences

The PhD Program in Plant and Animal Sciences aims to equip PhDs with the skills needed to carry out innovative and highly qualified research activities in the field of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology at Universities, public or private Research Institutions, companies, Italian or foreign, in line with the guidelines shared at national, European and international level, with an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach. The achievement of this objective is guaranteed by the research training path that is proposed to PhD students with the supervision of one or more tutors and by the presence of a large Scientific and Advisory Board

that includes professors from different scientific fields related to the agricultural, biological chemical sciences, professors from foreign universities, researchers from research institutions and private companies.

To achieve this objective, the Scientific and Advisory Board intends to:

(1) provide PhD students with in-depth knowledge on one or more research topics in the field of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology;

(2) train them with an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, encouraging PhD students to update themselves, and develop autonomy, originality and methodological rigour also thanks to periods of study and research at other national and international universities and research institutions;

(3) stimulate them to acquire and consolidate the ability to disseminate the results achieved to the scientific community, through participation in national and international conferences and publication of research results in international peer-reviewed journals, listed in the international Scopus and Web of Science databases;

(4) develop the ability to communicate results also to a non-expert audience to foster the dissemination of research.

PhDs in Plant and Animal Sciences have the necessary skills to carry out highly qualified research activities, address complex and multidisciplinary problems to fill high-level research and professional positions in various application sectors, with particular reference to agronomy, agri-food industry, biotechnology, animal husbandry, and plant health, in public (universities, research institutes such as ENEA, CNR, CREA) and private entities (small, medium, and large enterprises; private companies; consulting firms; schools and educational institutions).

The acquisition of the scientific approach to solving problems and designing innovative solutions, the high level of multidisciplinary scientific training, and the professionalism of PhDs in Plant and Animal Production Sciences will contribute to the advancement of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology at national and international level, both in the academic and industrial fields.

PhD students are selected through a competitive evaluation procedure, announced at least once a year and started by the publication of a specific call for applications, in compliance with the relevant ministerial provisions.

The announcement, issued by the Decree of the Rector, and written in Italian and English, is published on the University’s PhD web page (link: https://www.unitus.it/post-laurea/dottorati-di-ricerca/). Admission is open to candidates having a Master’s Degree obtained under the Italian regulations DM 509/99 or DM 270/2004, or a degree from an order before DM 509/99 (Old Regulations) or an equivalent foreign degree that in the country of achievement allows access to the Doctorate programme, and which must be recognized. For doctoral cycles starting on November 1^st, undergraduates who are expected to graduate by the end of October can be admitted conditionally after the competitive examinations with other candidates.

Admission to the PhD Programme is limited, within the limits of the positions advertised annually, and based on funding availability within the specific Doctoral cycle. The exam diary, indicating the day, month and time in which the admission exams are held, is published on the University website and it is valid for all purposes as an official call for candidates. Candidates who are not residents in Italy may choose to take the interview by videoconference, after submitting a specific request. The elements for evaluating candidates are.

(a) qualifications;

(b) research project developed;

(c) interview, aimed at ascertaining the candidate’s preparation and aptitude for research;

(d) knowledge of the English language.

Coordinator

Prof. Roberta BERNINI

E-mail: roberta.bernini@unitus.it; dottorato.spva@unitus.it

Administrative and Teaching Headquarters

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), Via San Camillo De Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

 Head of Department

Prof. Simone SEVERINI

E-mail: direzione.dafne@unitus.it

Administrative Office

Dr. Cristiana COLETTA

E-mail: cristiana.coletta@unitus.it

Ms. Emanuela FURLAN

E-mail: furlan@unitus.it

Dr. Lorenzo STENTELLA

E-mail: lorenzo.stentella@unitus.it

Teaching Office

Dr. Lorena REMONDINI

E-mail: remondini@unitus.it

Representative of PhD students

Dr. Antonella CARDACINO

E-mail: antonella.cardacino@unitus.it

PhD course bodies and committees

Information is available on the University’s PhD webpage

During the three-year period, PhD students develop one or more research topics, also in collaboration with other universities, public/private research institutions and companies, with an innovative and multidisciplinary approach, concerning agronomy, animal husbandry, biotechnology, genetic improvement/breeding, plant protection, soil science, nanotechnology in agriculture, in-plant production of high value-added recombinant products, the study of natural substances, the valorization of agro-industrial by-products, the design and development of methodologies for the synthesis of bioactive molecules, the use of biosensors for environmental monitoring and management of the production chain, the study of the role of the environment on agricultural production, territorial and landscape planning, aspects related to the technological and nutritional quality of products, food and production safety, models for product and process innovation of the agri-food system, and the characterization and valorisation of agro-biodiversity.

The PhD Program in Plant and Animal Sciences pursues mobility and internationalization objectives by encouraging doctoral students to spend periods of study and research at international universities, research institutions and companies.

Internationalization allows doctoral students to enrich their cultural education. Unless required by specific research projects on which PhD positions are encumbered, such as those of the PNRR, the Scientific and Advisory Board strongly recommends that Doctoral students spend a period abroad at Universities and/or Research Institutions of high scientific qualification of at least three months not only to study in depth some aspects inherent to the research project but also to develop the ability to move in an international environment, improve language skills and/or learn new ones. During this period, PhD students can establish/consolidate a network of contacts that will accompany them in the years following the achievement of the degree.

 The duration and purposes of the research and study period abroad are agreed in advance with the Supervisor(s) and subsequently authorized by the Coordinator (for periods up to six months) or by the Scientific and Advisory Board (for periods longer than six months). To meet the costs of such mobility, PhD students have access to the research budget and the 50% scholarship surcharge, as per the current ministerial regulations on PhDs.

Mobility abroad of at least three months is propaedeutic for PhD students to acquire the additional Doctor Europaeus certification. In addition to this requirement, a positive evaluation of the thesis work must be issued by at least two referees belonging to universities of European countries, appointed by the Scientific and Advisory Board. The final examination committee must include at least one member coming from a university institution in a European country other than Italy who has not already served as a reviewer. The discussion of the thesis is made in an official European language other than Italian. Some PhD students have obtained this certification.

Below is a list  of the Universities and Research Institutions of high scientific qualification which have established scientific collaborations with the members of the Scientific and Advisory Board and can host PhD students:

• Agricultural Research Institute, Department of Vegetable Crops, Nicosia, Cyprus
• Agroscope, Nyon, Switzerland
• Anhui Agricultural University, Anhui, China
• Aarhus University, Department of Food Science, Denmark
• Atatürk Horticultural Central Research Institute, Yalova, Turkey
• Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, Ukraine
• De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
• Chinese Academy of Sciences, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Beijing, China
• Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China Botanical Garden, The Guangzhou, China
• French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Bordeaux, France
• Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Santiago, Chile
• Istinye University, Turkey
• Istanbul Teknik University, Turkey
• National Center for Animal and Plant Health, San José de las Lajas, Cuba
• Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Horticulture Agricultural and Life Sciences, USA
• Purdue University, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, USA
• Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Dummerstof, Germany
• Research institute owned by the Government of Catalonia, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, Spain
• Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
• Sichuan Provincial Institute of Natural Resources Science, Chengdu, China
• Szent istván University, Budapest, Hungary
• Tamworth Agricultural Institute, Department of Primary Industries, Australia
• Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Darmstadt, Germany
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
• Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brasil
• Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brasil
• Universidad de La Frontera, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Temuco, Chile
• Universidad de Talca, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Talca, Chile
• Universidad Catolica Portuguesa Escola Superiror de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal
• Universität für Bodenkultur, Agricultural University, Wien, Austria
• University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic
• University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany
• University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
• University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia
• University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
• University of Helsinki, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Finland
• University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Agriculture, Czech Republic
• University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia
• University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien, Austria
• University of Utrecht, Department of Biology, The Netherlands
• University College Cork, Ireland
• University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
• University of Tartu, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Estonia
• University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology, Gainesville, USA
• Virginia Tech, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Blacksburg, USA

 The PhD programme in Plant and Animal Production Sciences also promotes the exchange of lecturers with national and international universities (e.g. with Argentina).

On Friday 21 February 2025, from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., at the Aula Magna Giovanni Giovannozzi Sermanni of the Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), the first edition of the event ‘Seeds of Innovation: SPVA PhD Research Symposium’ was successfully held.

The protagonists were the PhD students of the PhD Course in “Science of Plant and Animal Production”, coordinated by Prof. Roberta Bernini, who, with the presentation of their research activities, wanted to promote the sharing of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary knowledge, stimulate scientific collaborations between the different research groups of the DAFNE, and involve the Interested Parties (public/private research bodies and companies carrying out research activities).

The event also represented an information day on the PhD Course in “Plant and Animal Production Sciences” and on DAFNE’s research topics for Italian and international students interested in embarking on a doctoral course after their Master’s degree.

In conclusion, the Scientific Committee awarded Drs. Antonella Cardacino and Matteo Nava the prize for the best oral communication and Dr. Federico Brugneti for the best poster. In addition, it awarded Drs. Giuliana Bruno, Nicolò Di Sora, Chiara Fabrizi, Francesco Giovanelli and Valeria Poscente a mention for communication skills and technology transfer of research activities.

The event was funded by the DI.Ver.SO Departments of Excellence Project and sponsored by the Rome Technopole Foundation.

The detailed programme and the contributions presented are available at the following link.

Programme of educational activities for PhD students of the PhD Course in ‘Science of Plant and Animal Production’ – AA 2025/2026

(1) Teaching activities ‘planned’ by the Teachers’ Board, compulsory for PhD students to acquire a transversal, collegial education

January/February 2026

Compulsory attendance of the following courses for PhD students distinct from those taught in the first- and second-level study courses, for which a final examination is envisaged, the modalities of which will be defined by the individual lecturer. The courses will be delivered in English in presence; on specific request, online delivery may be envisaged for PhD students who are carrying out research activities outside the Lazio Region or a period of study and research abroad. Teaching materials will be made available to all PhD students. The calendar will be available at the beginning of the academic year.

Courses dedicated to first-year PhD students (41st cycle) – AA 2025/2026

Title: Natural organic products: structural features and applications – 8 h

Teacher: Prof. Roberta BERNINI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

Natural organic products include many compounds, generally classified into primary and secondary metabolites. They perform a multiplicity of biological actions, which are interesting and beneficial to humans as well, and often represent model molecules for organic and pharmaceutical chemists. The course aims to provide PhD students with the necessary skills to apply natural products in the agronomic, food, cosmetic, phytotherapeutic and pharmaceutical sectors for human well-being and environmental sustainability in accordance with green chemistry.

Title: Biochemical mechanisms of plant defence – 8 h

Teacher: Prof. Laura BERTINI – Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia.

The course involves an in-depth study of plant defence mechanisms and is divided into four different sections connected to each other. The defence mechanisms based on innate and adaptive immunity, i.e. that induced by particular stimuli of a biotic or abiotic nature, will be addressed from a physiological and molecular point of view. Subsequently, the main defence mechanisms that the plant implements to counteract adverse stimuli will be examined and among these the effect of priming will be analysed, which represents a sort of immunisation that prepares the plant for a more effective and sudden response. Finally, the role of plant hormones in the defence response and their interaction and integration will be analysed. During the lectures, audiovisual aids such as PowerPoint presentations will be used. Furthermore, some recent scientific works will be provided to students and discussion on particular case studies will be stimulated.

Title: Integrative breeding for climate-smart crops – 8 h
Lecturer: Prof. Ljiljana KUZMANOVIĆ – Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.
In the face of current climatic changes, crop production must face serious challenges to maintain high yield rates and provide sufficient food for the growing population. This course aims to provide an overview of the effects of climate change on current yields and new challenges in breeding productive and more resilient cultivars. It also aims to illustrate the analysis through integrated breeding approaches of the main genetic and physiological factors for yield formation, under optimal and abiotic stress conditions. Therefore, an overview of methodologies for phenotyping physiological parameters and their integration with classical and advanced omics strategies in breeding processes will be provided. The final objective is to familiarise students with the multidisciplinary method of analysing a complex genetic trait and the related genotype-environment interaction, essential for selecting improved and more resistant plant types.

Title: Design and management of EU projects – 8 h
Lecturer: Dr. Massimo ROMANELLI – Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.
The training aims to provide a basic understanding of EU grants and will enable PhD students to acquire the theoretical and practical basics of project management, to improve their skills and increase access to European Research and Innovation Funds.

Title: Practical aspects of measurements and statistical data analysis – 16 h
Lecturer: Dr. Luca ROSSINI – Service d’Automatique et d’Analyse des Systèmes, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Measurements and data analysis are the milestone of scientific work. This course aims to explore the key steps from experimental testing to the synthetic representation of results. For this purpose, three macro-arguments will be the main focus of this course: the concept of measurement, the main statistical methods for the analysis of biological data, the software for data analysis.

Corsi dedicati ai Dottorandi di Ricerca del secondo anno (40° ciclo) – AA 2025/2026
Title: Introduction to Machine Learning with R – 8 h
Lecturer: Dott. Luigi BIAGINI – Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.
The course is designed for PhD students who wish to get a quick but complete introduction to machine learning using the R programming language. The course offers a mix of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, focusing on key machine learning techniques essential for research. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of supervised and unsupervised learning methods, with particular emphasis on practical implementation using R. The course is structured to provide hands-on experience, allowing students to apply machine learning algorithms to real-world datasets.

Title: NMR Spectroscopy for the characterisation of simple organic molecules – 8 h
Lecturer: Dott. Andrea FOCHETTI – Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.
The course is structured to provide PhD students with the basic knowledge to correlate/predict Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra with the structure of small organic molecules useful for their characterisation. Topics include basic NMR theory of one- and two-dimensional experiments; criteria for interpretation of NMR spectra; prediction of NMR spectra for small organic molecules of application interest.

Title: Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of agro-livestock systems – 8 h

Teacher: Dott. Giampiero GROSSI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia. The course is designed to provide students with the basics of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), with particular attention to the application of this methodology for environmental assessments of agro-livestock systems. The course is structured in two main parts. The first part (4) focuses on the theory of LCA, covering the fundamental principles, the regulatory framework, environmental footprint assessment techniques and methodologies for life cycle analysis. Students will learn how LCA can be used to make more informed and sustainable decisions in the agri-livestock sector. The second part of the course (4) is dedicated to the practical application of LCA. Students will have the opportunity to develop a case study using dedicated software.

Title: Enhancing agricultural productivity and monitoring with digital data collection and smart technologies – 8 h

Teacher: Dott. Pierluigi ROSSI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

In modern agricultural context data collection practices are crucial for crop & animal health, soil conditions, weather patterns and energy consumptions. Technologies related to wireless communication and Internet of Things (IoT), smart sensors, low-energy devices, batteryless radio-frequency tags, and low-cost single board microcomputers provide a wide range of useful solutions for interoperable data acquisition and decision making for agricultural businesses. The aim of the course is to show how hardware works and how to prepare it according to any research goal, including practice with devices and instruments at the Laboratory of Digital Technologies Applied to Agriculture at DAFNE Department.

Title: Nanotechnology in crop management – 8 h

Teacher: Dr. Daniele SCHIAVI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The course aims to provide a basic knowledge of the use of nanotechnology in agriculture, to define the correct approach to the scientific research in this area of growing transversal interest. The course includes a brief discussion of general topics, such as the scientific and legal definition of nanotechnology and nanomaterial, the different methods of synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, and specific topics related to the use of nanomaterials in the agri-food sector, from soil and water remediation, to crop nutrition and protection, genome modification and smart packaging. To obtain an evaluation, students will present case studies obtained from known scientific literature or given by the teacher, highlighting the critical aspects and those scientifically valid, and proposing further experimental approaches on the topic under discussion.

Title: Omics and bioinformatics in plant disease studies – 8 h

Teacher: Dr. Silvia TURCO – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The course aims to provide PhD students with a comprehensive understanding of key omics techniques—genomics, metagenomics, and transcriptomics—with a strong applied focus in the field of plant pathology, plant science, and plant-pathogen interactions. Through a combination of theoretical lectures and practical exercises, students will develop the skills needed to analyze and interpret complex biological datasets and manage high-throughput sequencing data. This course heavily emphasizes the use of bioinformatics tools accessible through the Linux command-line interface and the R programming language, equipping students with essential computational skills for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and visualization. All hands-on exercises and data analyses will be performed using the DAFNE Department High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters, providing students with experience in real-world computational environments. A core objective is to enable students to independently plan genomic, metagenomics and transcriptomic experiments, implement bioinformatics pipelines, and critically evaluate results within the context of plant-microbe systems. The course fosters interdisciplinary integration of bioinformatics, molecular biology, and genetics, empowering students to address multidimensional problems related to plant health, disease resistance, and microbial ecology. Students will gain practical experience in managing and analyzing large-scale biological data, learning how to choose and adapt the right tools for different types of research questions. They will also develop the ability to clearly present their methods and results in both written and oral form, addressing both scientific and general audiences. By the end of the course, students will be able to continue learning independently, identify areas where they need to improve, and keep up with new developments in bioinformatics.

Seminari dedicati a tutti i Dottorandi di Ricerca (39°, 40° e 41° ciclo) – AA 2025/2026

Frequenza obbligatoria dei seguenti seminari dedicati ai Dottorandi di Ricerca. I seminari saranno erogati in lingua inglese in presenza e online. Il calendario sarà disponibile all’inizio dell’AA.

Title: Breeding and genetic strategies for low-asparagine cereals to reduce the risk of acrylamide contamination in foods

Speaker: Dott.ssa Elena Baldoni – Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR

Title: Soil microorganisms and roots get together to improve plant resilience

Speaker: Dott.ssa Raffaella Maria Balestrini – Istituto di Bioscienze e Bioricerche, CNR

Title: Fisiologia post-raccolta dei prodotti ortoflorovivaistici

Speaker: Dott. Gianluca Burchi – Centro di Ricerca Orticoltura e Florovivaismo, CREA

Title: Green chemistry approaches for industrial-scale processes

Speaker: Dott. Andrea FOCHETTI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia

Title: Wheat kernel proteins and relationship with quality

Speaker: Prof.ssa Stefania Masci – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia

Title: Current applications and emerging technologies in tissue culture for plant propagation and improvement

Speaker: Dott.ssa Stefania Nin – Centro di Ricerca Orticoltura e Florovivaismo, CREA.

Title: Enhancing crop resilience under future climate change: insight from physiological strategies

Speaker: Prof.ssa Xiao Wang

Title: Applications of geostatistics for environmental data

Speaker: Prof. Simone Priori – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia

Title: Difficult plants: the problem of recalcitrance in plant tissue culture

Speaker: Prof. Cristian Silvestri – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia

Title: Targeted mutagenesis in wheat microspores using CRISPR/Cas9

Speaker: Prof. Pankaj Bhowmik – National Research Council of Canada

Title: The role of cell technologies in variety development of vegetable crops

Speaker: Dott.ssa Chiara Volpi – Manager aziendale, Enza Zaden

Title: Isolation of nitrogen fixing bacteria and its use in legume crops

Speaker: Prof. Germán Tortosa Muñoz

(1) Attività didattica “integrativa”, a scelta per i Dottorandi per approfondire tematiche di interesse specifico, individuale.

Novembre 2025/ottobre 2026

Frequenza di attività formative (corsi, seminari, giornate di studio …) erogate dall’Ateneo o dagli altri Corsi di Dottorato, finalizzate al perfezionamento linguistico ed informatico; alla gestione della ricerca, della conoscenza dei sistemi europei e internazionali; alla valorizzazione dei risultati della ricerca e della proprietà intellettuale; alle iniziative nell’ambito del Gender Equality Plan e a quelle finalizzate a favorire l’autonomia, l’inclusione e la partecipazione alla vita universitaria delle persone con disabilità per garantire loro integrazione e benessere. Frequenza di attività formative nell’ambito del progetto Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2023-2027 “Digitali, Intelligenti, Verdi, Sostenibili (Di.Ver.So)” del Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE) e dei progetti di Ateneo “Rome Technopole Innovation Ecsosystem”, “Centro Nazionale Agritech” e “Centro Nazionale Biodiversità”.

Aggiornamento del 23 maggio 2025.

Programme of training activities for doctoral students of the PhD Course in ‘Plant and Animal Sciences’ in the 2024/2025 academic year

November 2024/October 2025

Attendance of training activities (courses, seminars, study days etc.) provided by the University or by other PhD courses, aimed at improving linguistic and IT skills; research management, knowledge of European and international research systems; exploitation of research results and intellectual property; initiatives under the Gender Equality Plan and those aimed at promoting autonomy, inclusion and participation in university life of people with disabilities to ensure their integration and well-being. Attendance of training activities within the Departments of Excellence 2023-2027 project ‘Digital, Intelligent, Green, Sustainable (Di.Ver.So)’ of the Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE) and of the University projects ‘Rome Technopole Innovation Ecsosystem’, ‘National Agritech Centre’ and ‘National Biodiversity Centre’.

 January/February 2025

Attendance of the courses organized specifically for PhD students, distinct from those taught in first- and second-level study courses, and which include a final examination.

First-year Courses for PhD students of the XL cycle See calendar

Title: Advanced methodologies applied to food transformation processes – 8 h

Teacher: Dr. Ilaria BENUCCI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The course is aimed at providing PhD students with knowledge in the field of kinetic models to be applied to enzyme-catalysed processes, batch and sigmoidal microbial growth. Innovative tools for the development of synthetic indices and data interpretation will be described, to develop professional, specific and advanced skills inherent in the management of biotechnological processes (mediated by enzymes and microorganisms) of different agri-food chains.

Title: Natural organic products:  structural features and applications – 8 h

Teacher: Prof. Roberta BERNINI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

Natural organic products include a large number of compounds, generally classified into primary and secondary metabolites. They perform a multiplicity of biological actions, which are interesting and beneficial to humans as well, and often represent model molecules for organic and pharmaceutical chemists. The course aims to provide PhD students with the necessary skills to apply natural products in the agronomic, food, cosmetic, phytotherapeutic and pharmaceutical sectors for human well-being and environmental sustainability in accordance with green chemistry.

Title: Plant defense mechanisms – 8 h

Teacher: Prof. Laura BERTINI – Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia.

The course involves an in-depth study of plant defense mechanisms and is divided into four different sections connected to each other. The defense mechanisms based on innate and adaptive immunity, i.e. that induced by particular stimuli of a biotic or abiotic nature, will be addressed from a physiological and molecular point of view. Subsequently, the main defense mechanisms that the plant implements to counteract adverse stimuli will be examined and among these, the effect of priming will be analysed, which represents a sort of immunization that prepares the plant for a more effective and sudden response. Finally, the role of plant hormones in the defense response and their interaction and integration will be analyzed. During the lectures, audiovisual aids such as PowerPoint presentations will be used. Furthermore, some recent scientific works will be provided to students and discussion on particular case studies will be stimulated.

Title: Integrative breeding for climate-smart crops – 8 h

Teacher: Prof. Ljiljana KUZMANOVIĆ – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

In the face of current climate changes, crop production must cope with serious challenges to maintain high-yielding rates and provide sufficient food for the growing population. The present course aims to give an overview of the climate change effects on the current yields and of new challenges in breeding for productive and more resilient cultivars. It also intends to illustrate the analysis via integrated breeding approaches of main genetic and physiological factors for yield formation, under optimal and abiotic stress conditions. Hence, an overview of methodologies for phenotyping physiological parameters and their integration with classical and advanced omics strategies in breeding pipelines will be given. The ultimate goal is to familiarise students with the multidisciplinary method of analysing a complex genetic trait and the related genotype-by-environment interaction, essential for selecting improved and more resilient plant types.

Title: EU project design and management – 8 h

Teacher: Dr. Massimo ROMANELLI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The training aims to provide a basic understanding of the EU grants and will allow PhD students to acquire the theoretical and practical fundamentals of project management, improve their skills and increase access to European Research and Innovation Funds.

Title: Practical aspects of measurements and statistical data analysis – 16 h

Teacher: Dr. Luca ROSSINI – Service d’Automatique et d’Analyse des Systèmes, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Measurements and data analysis are the milestones of the scientific work. This course aims to explore the key steps from the experimental trials to the synthetic representation of the results. For this purpose, three macro arguments will be the main object of this course: the concept of measurement, the main statistical methods for biological data analysis, and software for data analysis.

Second-year courses for PhD students of the XXXIX cycle See calendar

Title: Introduction to machine learning using R – 8 h

Teacher: Dr. Luigi BIAGINI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The course is designed for PhD students who want to gain a rapid yet thorough introduction to machine learning using the R programming language. The course offers a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, focusing on key machine-learning techniques essential for research. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of both supervised and unsupervised learning methods, with a particular emphasis on practical implementation using R. The course is structured to provide hands-on experience, enabling students to apply machine learning algorithms to real-world datasets.

Title: NMR spectroscopy for the characterization of simple organic molecules – 8 h

Teacher: Dr. Andrea FOCHETTI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The course is structured to provide PhD students with the basic knowledge to correlate/predict Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra with the structure of small organic molecules useful for their characterization. The topics include basic NMR theory of one- and two-dimensional experiments; criteria for interpreting NMR spectra; prediction of NMR spectra to small organic molecules of applicative interest.

Title: Enhancing agricultural productivity and monitoring with digital data collection and smart technologies – 8 h

Teacher: Dr. Pierluigi ROSSI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

In the modern agricultural context data collection practices are crucial for crop & animal health, soil conditions, weather patterns and energy consumption. Technologies related to wireless communication and the Internet of Things (IoT), smart sensors, low-energy devices, batteryless radio-frequency tags, and low-cost single-board microcomputers provide a wide range of useful solutions for interoperable data acquisition and decision-making for agricultural businesses. The course aims to show how hardware works and how to prepare it according to any research goal, including practice with devices and instruments at the Laboratory of Digital Technologies Applied to Agriculture at DAFNE Department.

Title: Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of agro-livestock systems – 8 h

Teachers: Prof. Andrea VITALI, Dr. Giampiero GROSSI – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The course is designed to provide students with the basics of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), with particular attention to the application of this methodology for environmental assessments of agro-livestock systems. The course is structured in two main parts. The first part (4) focuses on the theory of LCA, covering the fundamental principles, the regulatory framework, environmental footprint assessment techniques and methodologies for life cycle analysis. Students will learn how LCA can be used to make more informed and sustainable decisions in the agri-livestock sector. The second part of the course (4) is dedicated to the practical application of LCA. Students will have the opportunity to develop a case study using dedicated software.

Seminars dedicated to PhD students

January/July 2025

Attendance of the following seminars provided for PhD students.  See calendar

Title. Nanoscale Digital Twins: a tool for simulating the impact of the environment on human health and for designing new therapeutic approaches

Speaker. Dr. Caterina Arcangeli – ENEA, Division Health Protection Technologies

Digital twins are a cutting-edge computational tool used across many industries to provide accurate virtual representations of objects or processes. This technology is also emerging in the biomedical and nanobiotech fields. At the nanoscale, a digital twin is a virtual model of molecules, nanoparticles, or complex nanoscale devices. These digital twins can simulate the properties, and interaction processes of nanoscale entities under various conditions. They provide insights into how environmental factors impact human health and can be used to design and test new drug delivery systems, nanoscale medical devices, or other therapeutic approaches. In this seminar, we will showcase recent research activities utilizing this computational approach. Specifically, we will present examples of digital twins: (a) simulation of the molecular dynamics of recognition and binding of certain biological targets by atmospheric particulate matter, environmental pollutants and food-derived bioactive molecules, and (b) the computer-based design of a theranostic platform for anticancer therapy.

Title. Microbiome-based approaches for a sustainable agriculture

Speaker. Dr. Anna Maria Bevivino – ENEA, Division Biotecnhology and Agroindustry

The use of beneficial microbes for improving plant growth and yield, and increasing plant resistance to pathogens as well as biotic and abiotic stresses, represents a promising tool that may respond to the challenges for modern agriculture. Nevertheless, in open field numerous biotic and abiotic factors may hinder their plant growth-promoting efficacy and reproducibility, limiting their successful use in agriculture. The lesson will be focused on the microbiome-based solutions for sustainable agriculture. In the frame of the SIMBA Project, microbial consortia composed of compatible Plant Growth Promoting Microbes (PGPM) with different functions were identified by a bottom-up approach. High-throughput pyrosequencing was applied to examine the effects of microbial consortia inoculation on the non-target rhizosphere soil microbiome at different plant growth stages and fertilization levels. In this context, non-target effects of inoculation with microbial consortia, alone or in combination with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar as carrier, on rhizosphere soil microbiome were evaluated.  The diversity, composition, and relative abundance of bacterial community in rhizosphere soil were represented at different sampling times during the maize growth, via Illumina high-throughput sequencing. Also, the whole genome sequencing of microbial strains composing the microbial consortia was performed to evaluate the risk assessment and identify the PGP traits.

Title. Spotlight back on plant suspension cultures – New applications, alongside agronomic production

Speaker. Dr. Silvia Massa – ENEA, Division Biotecnhology and Agroindustry

Plant tissue culture is a biotechnological method that implies multiplying and cultivating plants, their parts, and cells. From its beginnings, it has applications in research fields such as morphogenesis, and cell signalling, but also in agronomical production, germplasm preservation, and for extracting natural-based pharmacological principles. Through the seminar, new applications for this consolidated biotechnological application will be proposed. Among these, protein-based pharmaceuticals, innovative cosmetics, and food production will be shown. Indeed, climate change is posing a threat to plant health and productivity, with at least 12 crops at risk of extinction. Plant cell culture could address this issue by providing innovative food biomass, and ensuring sustainable plant food production. This introduces the concept of ‘plant cellular agriculture’.

Title. The monitoring of surface and groundwater and the classification of the quality status according to consolidated law on environment

Speaker. Dr. Caterina Cossio – ARPALAZIO, Dipartimento Stato dell’Ambiente, Servizio Monitoraggio delle Risorse Idriche, Unità Risorse Idriche di Viterbo.

In the legislative field, at an international level, the reference standard regarding water bodies is the EU Directive (2000/60/EC), also known as the Water Framework Directive. This standard identifies not only a new methodology for monitoring but also for improving water quality. In this context, in Italy, Legislative Decree 152/2006 applies which defines the protection of all water, surface, marine and underground. The rule binds member states to protect improvement and restoration of surface waters to achieve their “Good” environmental state, based on the quality of the animal and plant communities present, and the chemical quality of the water. Water bodies are the basic units to refer to for planning monitoring and management activities measures necessary to achieve or maintain the environmental objective imposed by the law. it is therefore important to know the procedural process from monitoring planning to the return of information to the European community, the role of institutions at the national and regional levels and the tasks of the national network system (SNPA), for informed access to environmental information and development of targeted support research activities.

Title. From soil pollution to water pollution: the effects of agriculture on the quality of surface and groundwater

Speaker. Dr. Caterina Cossio – ARPALAZIO, Dipartimento Stato dell’Ambiente, Servizio Monitoraggio delle Risorse Idriche, Unità Risorse Idriche di Viterbo

Soil pollution consists of the presence of chemical and toxic agents that alter the soil, with direct consequences on the food chain, health and well-being, on the health of water and of human beings and nature. The chemical agents that pollute the soil can be of natural or synthetic origin. As long as they have negative effects on the soil and living organisms, it is possible to speak of soil pollution.

Agriculture is one of the main sources of soil pollution and in particular intensive agriculture. The pesticides used to combat the main attacks on plants do not only cause soil pollution but also water and marine pollution.

The European regulatory framework defines at various levels the steps for monitoring planning and management activities of the measures necessary to safeguard soil, water and biodiversity.

The contribution of research is fundamental and it is therefore important to know the paths that lead to returning information to Europe to develop methodologies for assessing environmental quality in line with the objectives set.

Title: Introduction to Machine Learning: Enhancing Research with R

Speaker: Dr. Luigi Biagini – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

This machine learning (ML) seminar is designed specifically for PhD students interested in gaining a foundational understanding of ML concepts and their applications using R. The course will cover supervised and unsupervised ML techniques, providing practical examples and hands-on experience. For supervised ML, one will focus on LASSO and Boosting. LASSO is a method that performs variable selection and regularization to enhance prediction accuracy and interpretability. Specifically for LASSO, we will introduce practical applications with example code in R. Conversely, Boosting is a technique that improves the overall performance of a model by combining the predictions from multiple simpler models, correcting errors iteratively. The unsupervised ML section will explore the use of Neural Networks, which are particularly useful for applications in scientific fields. By the end of this course, participants will understand the principles of ML that can be applied to their research projects.

Title: Dechipering sulfur interaction with essential and non-essential elements in the rhizosphere

Speaker: Dr. Eleonora Coppa – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, requiring a 70% increase in food production. Healthy soil is the major factor for agriculture production, but soil resources are finite and non-renewable over the human time scale. Both natural forces and mostly anthropogenic activities led to soil degradation and consequently limited access to high-quality soil for the provisioning of essential ecosystem services. Over the last 50 years, reduced industrial sulfur emissions, S-free mineral fertilizers, decreased organic fertilizer use, and changes in cropping systems have led to widespread global soil S deficiency. Sulfur is crucial for plant growth, stress mitigation, and for its interaction with other nutrient uptake and metabolic pathways. S deficiency can impair plant responses to environmental stresses like nutrient deficiency or toxicity. Moreover, the interaction of S with other elements can be utilized as a starting point for obtaining high-quality crops and overcoming health problems related to micronutrient deficiency in humans. These evidences highlight the importance of discussing the interactions S has with other elements (essential or not) in the rhizosphere.

Title. Small organic molecules for agro-industrial applications

Speaker. Dr. Andrea Fochetti – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

The seminar is addressed to PhD students and describes organic molecules employed in the agro-industrial industry at different stages. “Sustainable Agriculture” and “Organic Farming” are topics that will be briefly discussed, to then explore bio-pesticides and growth modulators, as well as preservatives to enhance food safety and shelf-life. All the topics will be analyzed according to the circular economy perspective, giving the students an overall view of the potential organic chemistry applications in the field.

Title. Applications of nanotechnology for innovative gene-delivery systems for plant protection strategies

Speaker: Dott.ssa Sara Francesconi – Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia.

Nanotechnology is the science that investigates nano-scaled materials, which are of particular interest for agricultural applications. Particularly, plant diseases are mainly managed by the application of synthetic and xenobiotic compounds, which can be toxic for the environment, and thus must be drastically reduced in the next year. In this scenario, nanomaterials can be a powerful tool to have innovative, third-generation and targeted agrochemicals. Nanomaterials can easily link nucleic acids (both DNA and RNA) to transiently or stably transform plants, by donating a gene resistance. Interestingly, the gene delivery technique by using nanomaterials could be a powerful tool to “spray” and transiently express on plants a resistance gene or to stably donate to plants that resistance gene, bypassing in vitro transformation and regeneration. Moreover, by exploiting the novel CRISPR-Cas techniques, this tool will allow us to obtain non-GMO resistant varieties.

Updated November 20, 2024

Training Activities Program for the PhD Course in “Plant and Animal Sciences” – AY 2022/2023

February/July 2023

 Mandatory attendance of the following courses for PhD students (Schedule provided in Table 1). Details can be found at the following Link.

First Year

EU Project Design, 6 hours

Dr. Massimo ROMANELLI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Advanced Methods Applied to Food Processing, 8 hours

Dr. Ilaria BENUCCI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Active Principles in Plants, 8 hours

Prof. Roberta BERNINI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Defense Mechanisms in Plants, 8 hours

Prof. Carla CARUSO

Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia

Genetics and Physiology of Yield of Relevant Crop Species and Climate Changes, 8 hours

Dr. Ljiljana KUZMANOVIC

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Second Year

Genetic and Protein Engineering Techniques Applied to Animal and Plant Productions, 8 hours

Dr. Laura BERTINI

Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia

Metabolomics Approaches for Characterizing and Enhancing Agri-Food Products, 8 hours

Dr. Federica GEVI

Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia

Innovative Molecular Techniques for Studying the Microbiome of Milk and Cheese, 8 hours

Dr. Francesca LUZIATELLI

Department for Innovation in Biological, Agri-Food and Forestry Systems, University of Tuscia

Characterization of Amino Acid Sequences Using Mass Spectrometry, 8 hours

Prof. Anna Maria TIMPERIO

Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia

November 2022/October 2023

Participation in the following seminars (Schedule provided in Table 2):

European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy. What Short-Term Impacts for Italian Farms, and What Strategies in the Medium-Long Term?

Prof. Raffaele CORTIGNANI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Point-of-Care Tools for Plant Pathogen Detection

Dr. Sara FRANCESCONI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

The Role of Endogenous Enzymes in the Evolution of Sensory Characteristics of Plant-Based Foods

Prof. Katia LIBURDI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Enhancing the Nutritional Quality of Major Food Crops Through Classical and New Breeding Techniques

Dr. Samuela PALOMBIERI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Modeling Pests and Diseases: An Overview from Theoretical to Practical Aspects

Dr. Luca ROSSINI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

Protoplast Technology for DNA-Free Genome Editing

Dr. Cristian SILVESTRI

Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia

High-Performance Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Assess the Impact of the Environment on Human Health and for the Design of New Therapeutic Approaches

Dr. Caterina ARCANGELI

ENEA-Casaccia

Microbiome-Based Approaches for Sustainable Agriculture

Dr. Annamaria BEVIVINO

ENEA-Casaccia

Plant-Based Production of Veterinary Vaccines and Diagnostics

Dr. Selena BASCHIERI

ENEA-Casaccia

The Two-Faced Plant Viruses: From Plant Pathogen to Smart Nanoparticles

Dr. Chiara LICO

ENEA-Casaccia

Plant Cell Cultures: Back to the Future

Dr. Silvia MASSA

ENEA-Casaccia

Preclinical Research Models and Their Applications in Drug Discovery

Dr. Francesca PALONE

ENEA-Casaccia

November 2022/October 2023

Attendance of training activities (courses, seminars, study days…) provided by the University or other PhD programs, aimed at improving language and computer skills, research management, knowledge of European and international systems, enhancing research outcomes and intellectual property. Also, initiatives related to the Gender Equality Plan and those aimed at promoting autonomy, inclusion, and participation in university life for people with disabilities to ensure their integration and well-being.

Update: March 1st, 2023

Training Activities Program for the PhD Course in “Plant and Animal Sciences” – AY 2021/2022

November 2021/October 2022

Participation in seminars/webinars/workshops organized by the Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE) as part of the Excellence Departments Project “Sustainability of Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean Environment in a Context of Global Change (SAFE-Med)” (Law 232/2016). These events will cover interdisciplinary research topics related to the project. Additionally, participation is expected in seminars/webinars/workshops from the University of Tuscia and the Netval Network on topics such as research funding, enhancing research outcomes, intellectual property protection, designing academic spin-offs, open access, and research digitization. PhD students will also attend seminars/webinars/workshops proposed by members of the Academic Board on national and international research projects related to the PhD’s research themes.

May/June 2022

Mandatory attendance of the following courses dedicated to PhD students in Plant and Animal Production Sciences (subsequently distributed among the active PhD cycles):

• Metabolomic approach for the characterization and enhancement of agri-food products, 1 ECTS
• Amino acid sequence characterization using mass spectrometry, 1 ECTS
• Experimental designs, 1 ECTS
• Genetics and physiology of yield of relevant crop species and climate change (in English), 1 ECTS
• Defense mechanisms in plants, 1 ECTS
• Advanced methods applied to food processing, 1 ECTS
• Basic statistics, 1 ECTS
• Advanced statistics, 1 ECTS
• Genetic and protein engineering techniques applied to plant and animal productions, 1 ECTS
• Innovative molecular techniques for studying the microbiome of milk and cheese, 1 ECTS
• The courses are distributed among the active PhD cycles as outlined in Table 1 and are delivered in May/June 2022 according to the schedules provided in Table 2.

In addition to the above courses, PhD students can attend any other course offered as part of Master’s Degree programs or other PhD programs at the University or other universities, as well as AFS courses provided by DAFNE in English. In this case, students must contact the lecturer in advance to verify their availability and follow the lecturer’s guidelines for the final assessment.

The Academic Board has decided that by the end of the three-year PhD program, and preferably within the first two years, PhD students must complete courses totaling at least 18 ECTS. Attendance must be proven by a certificate issued by the lecturer, and verification is entrusted to the tutors.

Update: April 5th, 2022

Training Activities Program for the PhD Course in “Plant and Animal Sciences” – AY 2020/2021

For the XXXVI cycle of the PhD Program in Plant and Animal Production Sciences initiated in the academic year 2020/2021, the Faculty Board has established the following training activity program.

November 2020/October 2021

Participation in seminars/webinars/workshops organized by the DAFNE as part of the “Excellence Departments” project on “Sustainability of Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean Environment in the Context of Global Change – SAFE-Med” (Law 232/2016) covering interdisciplinary research topics related to the project. This includes seminars/webinars/workshops from the University of Tuscia and the Netval Network focused on obtaining research funding, enhancing research outputs, protecting intellectual property, designing academic spin-offs, promoting open access, and digitizing research. Additionally, seminars/webinars/workshops proposed by members of the Faculty Board on national and international research projects related to the research themes of the PhD program will be included.

May/July 2021

Mandatory attendance for the following courses dedicated to doctoral students in Plant and Animal Production Sciences:

• Metabolomic Approach for Characterization and Valorization of Agri-food Products, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Francesca Gevi)
• Characterization of Amino Acid Sequences Using Mass Spectrometry, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Anna Maria Timperio)
• Experimental Designs, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Mario Augusto Pagnotta)
• Genetics and Physiology of Yield of Relevant Crop Species and Climate Change, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Ljiljana Kuzmanovic)
• Plant Defense Mechanisms, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Carla Caruso)
• Advanced Methodologies Applied to Food Transformation Processes, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Ilaria Benucci)
• Basic Statistics, 1 CFU (Instructor: Dr. Bruno Bellisario)
• Advanced Statistics, 1 CFU (Instructor: Dr. Bruno Bellisario)
• Genetic and Protein Engineering Techniques Related to Plant and Animal Production, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Laura Bertini)
• Innovative Molecular Techniques for Studying the Microbiome of Milk and Cheese, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Francesca Luziatelli)
• Theory and Practice of Scientific Communication, 2 CFU (Instructor: Dr. Maria Flora Mangano)

The courses have been distributed among the active doctoral cycles (XXXIV, XXXV, and XXXVI) as indicated in Table 1, and will be conducted from May to July 2021 according to the schedules provided in Tables 2 and 3.

Additionally, courses in English (or other foreign languages) are available as part of the educational offerings from DAFNE and the University.

October 2021

Participation in doctoral candidates’ days during which the research and training activities carried out will be presented.

The Faculty Board has determined that at the end of the three-year PhD program, preferably within the first two years, doctoral candidates must have attended courses to achieve at least 18 CFU. Attendance must be demonstrated by a certificate issued by the instructor, and verification is entrusted to the tutors.

Update: April 14th, 2021

Training Activities Program for the PhD Course in “Plant and Animal Sciences” – AY 2019/2020

November 2019/October 2020

Participation in seminars/webinars/workshops organized by the DAFNE as part of the “Excellence Departments” project on “Sustainability of Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean Environment in the Context of Global Change – SAFE-Med” (Law 232/2016), focusing on interdisciplinary research topics related to the project. This includes seminars/webinars/workshops from the University of Tuscia for obtaining research funding, enhancing research outputs, protecting intellectual property, designing academic spin-offs, promoting open access, and digitizing research. Additionally, seminars/webinars/workshops proposed by members of the Faculty Board on national and international research projects related to the research themes of the PhD program will be included.

May/July 2020

Mandatory attendance for the following courses dedicated to doctoral students in Plant and Animal Production Sciences:

• Metabolomic Approach for Characterization and Valorization of Agri-food Products, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Francesca Gevi)
• Characterization of Amino Acid Sequences Using Mass Spectrometry, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Anna Maria Timperio)
• Experimental Designs, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Mario Augusto Pagnotta)
• Genetics and Physiology of Yield of Relevant Crop Species and Climate Change, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Ljiljana Kuzmanovic)
• Plant Defense Mechanisms, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Carla Caruso)
• Advanced Methodologies Applied to Food Transformation Processes, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Ilaria Benucci)
• Statistics, 2 CFU (Instructor: Dr. Cinzia Franceschini)
• Genetic and Protein Engineering Techniques Related to Plant and Animal Production, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Laura Bertini)
• Innovative Molecular Techniques for Studying the Microbiome of Milk and Cheese, 1 CFU (Instructor: Prof. Francesca Luziatelli)
• Theory and Practice of Scientific Communication, 2 CFU (Instructor: Dr. Maria Flora Mangano)

The courses have been distributed among the active doctoral cycles (XXXIII, XXXIV, and XXXVI) and were conducted from May to July 2020.

Additionally, courses in English (or other foreign languages) were available as part of the educational offerings from DAFNE and the University.

October 2020

Participation in doctoral candidates’ days during which the research and training activities carried out were presented.

The Faculty Board has determined that at the end of the three-year PhD program, preferably within the first two years, doctoral candidates must have attended courses to achieve at least 18 CFU. Attendance must be demonstrated by a certificate issued by the instructor, and verification is entrusted to the tutors.

Update: April 14, 2020