Industrial engineering
Covering the entire field of Industrial Engineering through its five curricula, the programme aims to develop a diverse and comprehensive range of high-level scientific and engineering skills
Further information
The PhD course in Industrial Engineering aims to train high-level researchers capable of addressing and solving complex problems in the field of industrial engineering through the acquisition and application of advanced knowledge, innovative methodologies and multidisciplinary skills.
The PhD in Industrial Engineering is designed to provide rigorous and multidisciplinary training, combining advanced theory and practical application. The programme draws on a highly qualified body of lecturers and state-of-the-art infrastructure, including research laboratories and centres of excellence. PhD students have the opportunity to collaborate with research institutes, industries and international organisations, fostering knowledge exchange and technology transfer.
The programme encourages an entrepreneurial and innovative approach, stimulating the development of cutting-edge solutions and the creation of new business opportunities in the field of industrial engineering. In addition, the PhD supports the development of PhD students’ professional and transferable skills, including project management, communication skills and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
Through a pathway of excellence, the PhD in Industrial Engineering aspires to contribute significantly to the technological and scientific progress of the industrial sector, promoting sustainable growth and training highly qualified experts capable of addressing global and local challenges with creativity and expertise.
Course objectives
The PhD course aims to train highly qualified professional figures capable of operating in roles of responsibility and coordination (a) in predominantly technical functional areas of the manufacturing and process industry, (b) in advanced services and (c) in public and private research centres.
Specific objectives:
I) Advanced Research. To promote original and innovative research in key areas of industrial engineering. Each curriculum is designed to address specific challenges:
- Electrical Engineering: development of advanced technologies for electrical systems and electronics.
- Energy Engineering: solutions for the sustainable production, management and distribution of energy.
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering: innovations in industrial chemistry and environmental management.
- Materials Engineering: study and development of new materials and production technologies.
- Mechanical Engineering: design and optimisation of mechanical systems and production processes.
II) Excellence in Training. To offer rigorous and in-depth training, combining advanced theory and practical application, in order to prepare PhD students to become leaders and innovators in the industrial and academic sectors.
III) Professional Development. To support the development of PhD students’ professional and transferable skills, including project management, communication skills and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
IV) Collaboration and Networking. To facilitate collaborations with research institutes, industries and international organisations in order to foster knowledge exchange and technology transfer.
V) Innovation and Entrepreneurship. To encourage an entrepreneurial approach among PhD students, stimulating the development of innovative solutions and the creation of new business opportunities in the field of industrial engineering.
The PhD programme aspires to contribute significantly to the technological and scientific progress of the industrial sector, promoting academic excellence and sustainable growth through the training of highly qualified experts capable of addressing global and local challenges with creativity and expertise.
In addition, the presence of high-level corporate partners contributing to the funding of numerous positions is intended to support more effective technology transfer through the development of projects in close collaboration with companies and by encouraging the recruitment into Italian companies of talents thus trained in innovation. In this way, the knowledge developed in University can bear fruit not only at scientific level but also at industrial level, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of the companies participating in the projects and employing PhD graduates.
Training activities
Within the PhD Course in Industrial Engineering, the heterogeneity of the training pathways enables PhD students to engage with a broad range of skills, stimulating the convergence and integration of a wide set of academic disciplines in highly innovative and interdisciplinary projects. The degree courses, structured into more than 25 courses, are also characterised by great multidisciplinarity, an element that derives directly from the wide variety of research topics developed by the approximately one hundred members of the Board of Lecturers.
In this sense, the Course makes it possible to activate ever new research pathways within the various research groups: the influence of different pathways can enable the emergence of new ideas and the development of new branches of knowledge, with a strong multidisciplinary character. Collaboration with PhD students from previous cycles also enables the establishment of an effective and efficient working method.
Research areas
The programme is structured into five distinct curricula, each designed to cover a key sector of industrial engineering:
- Electrical Engineering: this curriculum focuses on the development of advanced technologies for electrical systems and electrical machines, addressing topics such as electromagnetic compatibility, sustainable mobility, simulation of electrical phenomena, power system design, energy storage, design of electromagnetic devices, control systems and renewable energy.
- Energy Engineering: the curriculum aims to find solutions for the sustainable production, management and distribution of energy. Topics covered include renewable energy, energy efficiency, fluid machines for energy production, energy sustainability in buildings, and energy management.
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering: this pathway is dedicated to innovation in industrial chemistry and environmental management. Research areas include the design of sustainable chemical processes, the design of pharmaceutical processes, recycling of polymeric materials, life cycle assessment, water management and air pollution.
- Materials Engineering: the Materials Engineering curriculum deals with the study and development of new materials and associated production technologies. Main topics include advanced materials, nanotechnologies, materials characterisation and innovative production processes.
- Mechanical Engineering: this pathway focuses on the design and optimisation of mechanical systems and production processes. Topics covered include applied mechanics, robotics, industrial automation, manufacturing, and computer-aided design.
Professional profile
PhD graduates who complete the PhD programme in Industrial Engineering acquire advanced and multidisciplinary skills that make them highly competitive in the labour market. Employment opportunities are varied and extend across different sectors, thanks to the specialised training in the five curricula offered: Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Materials Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
In the academic sector, PhD graduates are prepared to pursue careers as researchers and university lecturers, contributing to scientific progress through the conduct of innovative research and the training of future generations of engineers. Universities and research institutes, both national and international, represent an important destination for future PhD graduates, who may obtain postdoctoral or lecturer positions.
The technical and analytical skills developed during the PhD also open the door to research and development (R&D) roles in high-technology industries. Companies in the sectors of manufacturing, automation, robotics, electronics, energy, advanced materials and industrial chemistry are constantly seeking experts capable of innovating and improving production processes. The training of PhD graduates prepares them for leadership positions such as R&D directors, senior engineers, technology consultants and project managers, contributing to technological innovation and the improvement of operational efficiency.
In the industrial field, the skills acquired enable graduates to take on strategic roles in management and consultancy.
Positions such as production managers, process engineers, systems analysts, and engineering management consultants are common among PhD graduates in Industrial Engineering. These professionals are able to optimise production processes, improve product quality, reduce operating costs and implement sustainable solutions.
The public sector and governmental organisations offer further opportunities, especially for those PhD graduates interested in contributing to technological and environmental policy and regulation. Positions in government agencies, standardisation bodies, and international organisations make it possible to influence legislation and public policies concerning energy, environment, transport and infrastructure.
In addition, the growing global focus on sustainability and the energy transition has created high demand for experts in environmental and energy issues. PhD graduates can find employment in companies operating in the renewable energy sector,
in waste management, water treatment and environmental consultancy. Roles such as sustainability specialists, energy consultants and green project managers are examples of career opportunities that combine technical skills with a strong focus on environmental responsibility.
Finally, many PhD graduates choose the path of entrepreneurship, founding start-ups and innovative companies that develop new technologies and products. The entrepreneurial approach encouraged during the PhD provides the tools needed to transform innovative ideas into commercial realities, contributing to economic growth and technological development.
In summary, the PhD programme in Industrial Engineering offers graduates a wide range of professional opportunities in the academic, industrial, public and entrepreneurial fields, making them key players in the global technological and industrial landscape.
Curriculum
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Contacts
Industrial Engineering
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (dII)
Via Gradenigo - No. 6a, 35131 Padua
Andrea Ghiotti (Coordinator)
andrea.ghiotti@unipd.it
Administrative Contacts
dottorato.dii@unipd.it