The present PhD program aims to train highly qualified professionals capable of designing, conducting, and promoting research activities in the fields of biotechnology, intelligent and sustainable technologies for the management of natural resources, agri-food systems, and the environment more broadly.
This goal will be achieved through training in both basic and applied research, providing interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and cross-sector scientific skills. These competencies will integrate principles of the circular economy, digital transition, and green technologies, in order to support the process of vertical and horizontal integration across value chains.
Although the training program is a natural continuation of studies in agricultural and food sciences, it also incorporates competencies in biotechnology as well as engineering and logistics as applied to agricultural and food systems.
Thematic Areas:
The PhD program is structured into two curricula, with both shared and curriculum-specific learning activities, covering the following themes:
- Sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and biodiversity
- Innovative technologies for food quality and safety
Given the strong interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature—even within each curriculum, as shown by the wide range of scientific sectors involved—the program includes, in addition to mandatory courses, elective courses tailored to individual research projects. These may also be complemented by training activities at research institutions and other universities, both in Italy and abroad.
Topics addressed include Advancements in sustainable agriculture and the circular economy; Renewable energy; Technological innovation; Food safety and traceability; Digitalization of production systems; Optimization of production processes; Environmental and land protection.
The program specifically aims to train researchers capable of:
a) Identifying research needs in the fields of natural resources, agriculture, the environment, and the agri-food system, and understanding their scientific, social, and economic relevance;
b) Designing, planning, and independently conducting high-level basic and applied research programs, and participating in public and private funding opportunities at local, national, and international levels;
c) Quantifying and allocating research costs;
d) Writing and critically reviewing scientific publications;
e) Disseminating research results and knowledge through teaching and data/result presentations;
f) Transferring research outcomes to both public and private sectors;
g) Critically analyzing processes and developing innovative technological solutions;
h) Assessing the impact of innovation on existing processes and estimating its cost-benefit ratio;
i) Evaluating the sustainability of production processes and innovations;
l) Developing the ability to manage processes, including complex ones, either independently or in coordination with others;
m) Selecting appropriate evaluation tools to support public decision-making.
Educational Objectives:
The research objectives of this PhD program, in line with the sustainable development priorities identified by the United Nations General Assembly, the targets set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the goals of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), focus on two main macro-areas:
Topics related to agriculture, natural resources, and the environment and more specific areas concerning food processing technologies and transformation processes. In both areas, the program addresses cross-cutting themes such as green technologies, ecological transition, and digital innovation.
In particular, this PhD course aims to advance knowledge through training in both basic and applied research, carried out within an attractive and intellectually stimulating institutional environment, where PhD student can develop autonomy and responsibility valuable to their future careers.
It promotes opportunities for interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary training, also through active collaboration with industry. The program contributes to strengthening transnational and international research relations by requiring a mandatory mobility period abroad and activating joint PhD programs (co-tutelle).
It also provides for the acquisition of transferable skills, in order to facilitate their application and development in both scientific and professional contexts.
At the end of the program, the PhD graduate will represent a highly qualified figure capable of identifying research needs and understanding economic and social dynamics. They will play an innovative professional role aimed at bridging these needs.
- This professional may::
- Conduct research and transfer its results;
- Develop and manage research projects independently at regional, national, or international levels;
- Hold senior positions in public or private organizations, with a focus on managing complex systems.
- The PhD graduate will be able to take on leading roles in:
- Production
- Research and development
- Commercialization
- Executive and managerial functions
- Depending on the area, these roles may be carried out within:
- Public institutions (e.g., universities, research centers, public administrations).
Private for-profit organizations (e.g., agri-food companies, food distribution, import-export businesses, R&D units, chemical industries, companies developing analytical instruments, equipment, biotechnological solutions, and energy production technologies) and Non-profit organizations (e.g., sustainable planning and development agencies, NGOs, etc.)
Educational Activities:
The academic program comprises lectures, seminars, and workshops
Scheduled courses
"Within the first six months, each doctoral student must submit their Individual Study Plan, which should include the mandatory courses and at least two additional courses (for a total of 4 ECTS), selected from those offered by the doctoral program or by other external institutions."
"List of courses"
Planned Courses:
- Information systems and experimental data processing
- Advanced statistics
- Green economy: economic, social and environmental aspects
- Research Methods: Theoretical Aspects and Applications to the Agri-food Sector
- Trends in analytical techniques for quality and safety controls in the agro-food sector
- Precision Livestock Farming: challenges and opportunities
- Impact of microbial communities in food and environment
- Parasitic contaminants of raw vegetables and fruits and public health
- Geographic information system
- Enzyme assays in plant cell extracts: a practical approach
- Machine vision for food quality inspection
- Programming Basics
- Microstructural analysis of food and agricultural products.
- Sustainable agriculture and food production
- Synchrotron radiation, basics and application in environmental samples
- MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES: APPLICATIONS IN ANIMAL, PLANT AND MICROBIAL GENETICS
- Microbial Processes for the Valorization of Agro-Food and Industrial Waste.
Coordinator
Maria Luisa Amodio
Members of the Academic Board
Marzia Albezio
Lerina Aversano
Antonietta Baiano
Nicola Bellantuono
Luciano Beneduce
Antonio Bevilacqua
Antonia Carlucci
Mariangela Caroprese
Sergio Castellano
Giancarlo Colelli
Giulia Conversa
Maria Rosaria Corbo
Biagia De Devitiis
Laura De Palma
Antonio Derossi
Antonio Elia
Zina Flagella
Francesco Fornelli
Matteo Francavilla
Giuseppe Gatta
Giacinto Salvatore Germinara
Annunziata Giangaspero
Beatrice Giannetta
Marcella Michela Giuliani
Francesco Lops
Concetta Lotti
Rosaria Maria Teresa Marino
Annalisa Mastroserio
Giovanni Messina
Massimo Monteleone
Giovanni Giuseppe Normanno
Sandra Pati
Enrico Vito Perrino
Maurizio Quinto
Antonella Santillo
Agostino Sevi
Mario Soccio
Giuseppe Spano
Antonio Stasi
Antonia Tamborrino
Rosaria Viscecchia
Members from foreign universities and other institutions
Pavlos Tsouvaltzis, University of Florida (USA)
Maria Teresa Sanchez, Universidad de Cordoba (Spagna)
Hamid El Bilali, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM-BARI)
Pasquale De Vita, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA)
PhD Student Representative on the Board
The PhD program fosters dialogue and engagement not only with the national and international scientific community, but also with civil society and local communities. To this end, it organizes seminars, conferences, and public events involving faculty members, doctoral students, and external stakeholders, both within the Department and in collaboration with public and private institutions, associations, schools, research centers, and other local organizations.
Throughout their academic journey, doctoral students are strongly encouraged to actively participate and take a leading role in initiatives aimed at disseminating research beyond the academic sphere, thereby making a meaningful contribution to the Department’s Public Engagement activities. In particular, PhD candidates are directly involved in programs for the Development of Transversal Skills and Career Guidance (PCTO).
In order to optimize the procedures for authorization and reimbursement of missions for participation in scientific initiatives in Italy and abroad, it is necessary to follow the following steps:
- Send an email, preferably with at least seven days' notice, to the Coordinator and the secretariat requesting authorization for the mission, in accordance with the designated tutor. If available, attach the event flyer or other documentation related to the initiative you intend to participate in.
- Once you have received approval from the Coordinator via email, send the authorization request form training activities for PhD students request form reserved for doctoral students to the Administration and Accounting Service - email grazia.sepielli@unifg.it for the necessary internal procedures. The form should be completed and signed in each section.
- For the mission, it is possible to request a cash advance, for which the form must be completed and attached to the aforementioned mission assignment
- At the end of the mission, submit the duly signed reimbursement request form to the Administration and Accounting Service – email grazia.sepielli@unifg.it, along with all the original supporting documents for the mission.
- Travel, meal, and accommodation expenses, receipts, and invoices must be submitted in their original form, accompanied by boarding passes, even if electronic.
Authorization for the mission is always necessary, regardless of any subsequent request for expense reimbursement
The PhD program requires a mandatory period of training abroad, whose activation procedure should be addressed to the University Doctoral Office.