Training and research

The training path of PhD students

Training/Educational Activities

The organization of research training activities is coordinated by a Teaching Committee, formed by members of the PhD Board and supported by the Advisory Board, and is subsequently approved by the Board. An online calendar is available for PhD students to be constantly updated and the training offer is presented during the meeting at the beginning of the Doctoral Cycle. In case of changes relating to the scheduling of the teaching offer, PhD students are informed by email and the online calendar is updated. The research training activity proposed to PhD students is divided into different forms, and is aimed at acquiring high-level skills, both scientific and methodological, to carry out research activities within and outside the academic field:

-participation in disciplinary, multidisciplinary and transversal seminars and training courses;

- preparation and publication of scientific papers in English;

- presentation of research results in international forums;

- possibility of teaching experiences to support university courses;

- development of the ability to independently study scientific topics, through the performance of theoretical and experimental activities and the support of researchers with proven experience in the field.

The training provided during the Course is designed to increase both scientific and transversal skills. The latter in particular are strengthened by offering courses, seminars, and workshops organized by the University specifically for PhD students, on topics such as linguistic and IT improvement, didactic innovation, management, dissemination and valorization of research and intellectual property, knowledge of European and international research systems, open access to data and research products, fundamental principles of ethics, gender equality and integrity also considering the professional opportunities of PhDs. Considering the division into three curricula, the technical-scientific training is instead typically designed by the Teaching Commission of the Doctoral Course, and isalso very often oriented vertically on each curriculum. From an organizational point of view, no course is indicated as mandatory, to ensure a customizable training for the individual PhD student, and PhD students are left free to select other types of courses and seminars functional to the specific research activities (courses on specific tools or software; Masters’ courses provided by the University of Bologna, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, the University of Parma or other universities; courses provided by associations such as MUNER, AIMSEA, ...; courses provided by companies; ...). At the same time, the Board recommends that doctoral students concentrate their research training activities in the first two years of their doctorate, both because the skills acquired can be usefully applied during the doctoral course, and because in the last year a greater level of commitment to research activities is usually required, both for writing the thesis and preparing research products such as journal articles and participation in conferences.

Finally, the courses are held in English and the delivery methods, based on the objectives and contents, can take one of the following forms: • In presence • In hybrid mode • Online • In asynchronous mode (throughrecordings).

An online calendar is available for students at https://teamup.com/ksphw6rx1efzrmdvde to check the educational activity at any time

Research Activities

Experimental and numerical research activities are carried out within the sectors that characterize the Doctorate (mechanical, electrical, electronic, industrial, controls, telecommunications, IT, logistics and civil engineering). These activities are conducted in close collaboration with research groups and national and international companies, with the aim of creating high-profile professionals who can be directly inserted into the academic and industrial communities. Furthermore, depending on the specific needs of the curricula, doctoral students attend seminars to enhance their ability to use the main databases of international literature and IT systems (such as the introduction to the use of commercial software, the management and analysis of databases, ...), and participate in international conferences and workshops, in which they also present the results of their activity. One of the activities considered particularly important concerns the production of scientific publications, and the production of intermediate reports and of the final thesis. From the point of view of the products and results expected from the doctoral students' research activities, the fundamental contribution concerns innovative and original elements in the research sector in which the doctoral student is involved, often with applications in the industrial sector. These results are disseminated through publications, patents and participation in international conferences. The candidates produce as a final result a PhD thesis in English, reporting the innovative results achieved during the three-year period. Another expected result is the organization of thematic sessions and seminars on the research areas and the innovative results achieved by them. Each PhD student is required to periodically update (at least every year) their publications and the results of their research on the University's IRIS database, also indicating the degree of disclosure permitted for each of their publications. The Board has also established that at least four scientific works must be published by the PhD student before admission to the final exam, at international conferences or in scientific journals. In particular, at least two articles must be published in international journals of high scientific qualification in the given field/sector (Q1 or Q2). In terms of protection of intellectual property, in the case of scholarships financed or co-financed by private companies, the agreement/contract underlying the financing also regulates these aspects, and a copy of the same is delivered to the PhD student upon assignment of the position. In general, doctoral theses will be publicly available for consultation on the institutional repository 'AMS Doctoral Theses' after the results of the final exam have been registered and validated by the offices. By agreement with his or her supervisor, the PhD student can set an "embargo" period when uploading the thesis file during which the thesis will not be visible. The embargo, duly justified, can last up to a maximum of 36 months. If there are constraints with third parties deriving from agreements stipulated in the context of research projects that provide for an embargo longer than 36 months, it is necessary to attach to the declaration the documentation of the signed agreement with the corresponding indication of the agreed embargo period.

Research training activities planned for doctoral students in line with the educational objectives of the doctorate

Research training activities include:

  • development of a research project within the theme of the chosen curriculum
  • development of the ability to study scientific topics independently, by carrying out theoretical and experimental activities and assisting researchers with proven experience in the field
  • participation in specific seminars and training courses
  • the preparation and publication of scientific articles in English
  • presentation of research results in international conferences
  • a training period abroad of at least 3 months
  • the possibility of didactic experiences supporting university teachings