Crop Science
The PhD Course in Crop Science aims to train PhDs able to address, with multidisciplinary approaches and innovative methodologies, the study of plant production, both at the level of the plant itself, and of the interactions it has with the environment, with insects, microorganisms and with various human activities.
Deepening
Course objectives
Durante the PhD Course, the student must:
- acquire high-level skills through the in-depth study of one of the research areas included in the Course;
- acquire methodologies and techniques of research and data analysis useful for their field of study;
- devise and carry out original research;
- engage in communication activities of their results (e.g. through presentation at conferences and conventions and through scientific publications);
- write a dissertation and discuss it orally at the end of the three years.
For first and second year doctoral students, the Course organizes every year, in addition to the on-campus training activity, a Winter or Summer School whose aims are the deepening of the research topics of the PhD and the development of "soft skills", in particular both oral and written scientific communication.
All teaching activities, on campus and in the Winter School, are held in English.
Educational activities
All teaching activities, on campus and in the Winter School, are held in English.
Durante the first year, students are required to participate in the course's syllabus of teachings and seminars. At the beginning of the first year, each student will be assigned a supervisor, with whom to agree on the research topic.
Students of the PhD Course should refer to their supervisor regarding courses, seminars, conferences, mobility periods abroad and any other matter related to their research activity. In later years, as the work becomes more specialized, students will agree with the supervisor on the research activities to be carried out.
At the end of each year, at the request of the secretariat, PhD students will have to submit a detailed report on the activities carried out.
Research lines
PhDs will be able to address, with multidisciplinary approaches and innovative methodologies, the study of plant production, both at the level of the plant itself, and of the interactions it has with the environment, with insects, microorganisms and with various human activities.
The scales of intervention of the research groups involved range from the cell to the ecosystem, including a large number of specializations in which it is possible to identify three main areas and a transversal connecting element:
Plant Area: studyof the physiological basis of plant productivity through genetic, genomic and proteomic approaches
Plant-microorganism and plant-environment interaction: role of microorganisms in establishing collaborative relationships with the plant, in particular symbiotic microorganisms and/or cenobionts of plant species of agricultural interest; antioxidant systems and mechanisms involved in adaptations to environmental stresses; interactions between pathogenic microorganisms, insects and plants.
Plant-environment-human interaction: effect of anthropogenic interventions on ecological balances; alternative and sustainable technologies; biological and integrated defense against weeds, microorganisms, fungi and insects; microorganisms for the removal of pollutants of both organic and inorganic nature; 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 are expected to be trained, in addition to those in the academic field, coincide with highly qualified technicians who are highly differentiated in relation to the line of research followed, however the new doctors will have a solid general training that sees the cultivated plant as a common element. Finally, for employment purposes, the launch of initiatives aimed at the development of independent professional activities is of particular importance, also linked to the organization of spin-off proposals (companies born from research projects whose members are structured and precarious staff within the Departments) or start-ups (highly innovative new companies).
Contacts
Crop Science
Department of AGRONOMY ANIMALS FOOD NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT - DAFNAE
Via dell'Università - N. 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD)
Administrative contacts
phdcs.dafnae@unipd.it