Crop Science

The PhD programme in Crop Science aims to train researchers capable of addressing, through multidisciplinary approaches and innovative methodologies, the study of crop production, both at the level of the plant itself and of the interactions it has with the environment, insects, microorganisms and the various human activities.

Course objectives

During the PhD Programme, students must:

1. acquire high-level skills through in-depth study of one of the research areas included in the Programme;
2. acquire research methodologies and data analysis techniques useful for their field of study;
3. design and carry out original research;
4. engage in activities to communicate their results (e.g. through presentations at conferences and meetings and through scientific publications);
5. write a thesis and defend it orally at the end of the three years. 

For first- and second-year PhD students, each year the Programme organises, in addition to the in-house training activity, a Winter or Summer School whose aims are the in-depth study of the PhD research topics and the development of “soft skills”, in particular both oral and written scientific communication.

All teaching activity, both in-house and in the Winter School, is conducted in English. 

Training activities

All teaching activity, both in-house and in the Winter School, is conducted in English. 

During the first year, students are required to take part in the Programme’s courses and seminars. At the beginning of the first year, each student will be assigned a supervisor, with whom they will agree on their research topic.

Students on the PhD Programme must refer to their supervisor regarding courses, seminars, conferences, periods of mobility abroad, and any other matter relating to their research activity. In subsequent years, as the work becomes more specialised, students will agree with their supervisor on the research activities to be carried out.

At the end of each year, at the request of the administration office, PhD students must submit a detailed report on the activities carried out.

Research lines

PhD graduates will be able to tackle, using multidisciplinary approaches and innovative methodologies, the study of plant production, both at the level of the plant itself and of its interactions with the environment, with insects, microorganisms, and with the various human activities.

The scales of intervention of the research groups involved range from the cell to the ecosystem, encompassing a large number of specialisations in which three main areas and one cross-cutting connecting element can be identified:

Plant area: study of the physiological bases of plant productivity through genetic, genomic, and proteomic approaches

Plant-microorganism and plant-environment interaction area: role of microorganisms in establishing collaborative relationships with the plant, in particular symbiotic and/or cenobiont microorganisms of plant species of agricultural interest; antioxidant systems and mechanisms involved in adaptation to environmental stress; interactions between pathogenic microorganisms, insects, and plants.

Plant-environment-human interaction area: effect of human interventions on ecological balances; alternative and sustainable technologies; biological and integrated control of weeds, microorganisms, fungi, and insects; microorganisms for the removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants; selection and genetic improvement of microorganisms for the enhancement of residual biomass through conversion into high value-added products (e.g. biofuels and bioplastics); 

Professional profile

The professional roles that the Programme aims to train for, in addition to those in the academic field, correspond to highly qualified technical profiles that differ significantly according to the research line followed; however, newly qualified PhD graduates will have a solid general background in which the cultivated plant is the common element. Finally, of particular importance for employment purposes is the launching of initiatives aimed at developing independent professional activities, including those linked to the organisation of spin-off proposals (companies arising from research projects whose partners are permanent and temporary staff within the Departments) or start-ups (highly innovative new companies).

• Calls and rankings
• Administrative information
• Guide to the PhD
• Opinion of PhD candidates and PhD graduates

Syllabus

Crop Science

Department of AGRONOMY ANIMALS FOOD NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT - DAFNAE
Via dell'Università - N. 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD)

Serena Varotto (Coordinator)
serena.varotto@unipd.it

Administrative contacts
phdcs.dafnae@unipd.it