veterinary sciences and food safety
The PhD course in Veterinary Sciences and Food Safety promotes the development of innovative and interdisciplinary research in the field of Veterinary Medicine.
Learning
Course Objectives
The PhD Course in Veterinary Sciences and Food Safety (SVSA) is supported by the Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Nutrition (BCA) and the Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), and is campused at the Agripolis campus.
The mission of the PhD course is to support PhD students in the development of their research projects, ensuring a suitable environment for the achievement of learning outcomes and fostering collaboration and scientific competitiveness. Candidates can come from different educational paths (Veterinary Medicine, Biological and Biotechnological Sciences, Agricultural and Animal Sciences); however, for projects of a clinical nature, access is reserved for graduates in Veterinary Medicine.
The main objective of the course is to stimulate PhD students to carry out research activities progressively independently, albeit under supervision, through a problem-solving approach. PhD students are also called upon to develop the ability to conduct systematic studies and to place them critically in the context of general scientific knowledge related to the specific field of research.
Educational activities
The training course provides for the provision of transversal and multidisciplinary teaching, aimed at providing doctoral students with advanced and flexible skills, also useful in professional fields other than those traditionally related to the veterinary sector.
PhD students meet regularly with their supervisor and, at the end of each year of the course, are required to draw up a report on the progress of research activities, which is presented to the Academic Board in the form of a seminar.
The presentation of research results at scientific conferences of national and international importance is also strongly encouraged. Starting from the XXIX cycle, it has been introduced as a mandatory requirement for admission to the evaluation of the PhD dissertation by the Board
of the Professors to have published, or in any case obtained the final acceptance, of at least one scientific article relating to their research project in an international journal, as first author.
Research lines
The PhD Course in Veterinary Sciences and Food Safety develops research activities in a wide spectrum of scientific fields, with an interdisciplinary and translational approach. The main lines of research include:
- Veterinary Basic Sciences
- Veterinary epidemiology, hygiene and public health
- Food Safety & Food Science
- Animal models for the study of human diseases
- Animal diseases
- Biology and pathology of aquatic species
Within these areas, research activities are divided into specific research topics, including:
- Analytical, environmental and molecular pharmacotoxicology
- Biology and pathology of aquatic, wild/exotic and domestic animals
- Ethology and animal welfare
- Food science and technology and nanobiotechnology
- Infectious and parasitic diseases, including zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance
- Physiology, reproduction and medicine of farm animals
- Regenerative medicine and physiology, reproduction and small animal medicine
- Genomics, 3D in vitro modelling and intercellular communication in veterinary pathology
- Diagnostic imaging
- Innovative teaching methodologies
- Translational Medical Research
The complete and updated list of research topics is available on the dedicated page: https://www.dottorato.veterinaria.unipd.it/research-topic
Professional profile
The PhD course trains highly qualified figures, able to operate in different professional contexts at national and international level. PhDs can continue their careers in academia, continuing their research activities at universities and public and private research centers.
PhDs in Veterinary Sciences and Food Safety (SVSA) also find opportunities to be included in the National Health Service and in reference bodies and institutions, such as the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes, the National Institute of Health, the Local Health Authorities (ASL) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), where control, surveillance and prevention activities are accompanied by significant research activity.
Further career opportunities include the veterinary clinic, laboratory diagnostics, pharmaceutical and agro-industrial industries, as well as biomedical research, with the possibility of holding positions of responsibility in research, health control, animal welfare protection and management positions.
The course maintains a marked professionalizing characterization, similar to the "Professional PhDs" widespread in Europe, favoring the inclusion of PhDs even outside the traditional academic path. In this perspective, a qualifying objective of the course is to maintain a strong inclination in the application of research programs and to provide useful tools and skills for access to differentiated careers, not limited to the figure of the pure researcher.
Contacts
Veterinary Science and Food Safety
DEPARTMENT DI ANIMAL MEDICINE, PRODUCTION AND HEALTH - MAPS
Via dell' Università 16, 35020 Legnaro
Massimo Milan (coordinator)
Administrative contacts