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The PhD Programme in Astronomy has been active since Cycle 1. The University of Padua is the only academic institution in Italy able to independently offer all three levels of university education in Astronomy (Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and PhD), continuing a centuries-old tradition.

Course objectives

The PhD Programme in Astronomy aims to develop:

a) skills for carrying out excellent research in planetary, stellar, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, cosmology and high-energy astrophysics, gravitational waves, and astroparticles;

b) technological skills for the design and development of astronomical instrumentation for ground- and space-based observations, also enabling placement in industries operating in optics, optomechanics, electronics, computer science, and in companies involved in developing and building astronomical instruments for space and ground observations;

c) skills for teaching astronomy and astrophysics at the university level.

The purpose of the Programme is to train highly qualified researchers to be employed in universities (Italian or foreign), in national research institutions (ASI, INAF, INFN, CNR, etc.), as well as in international agencies (ESA, ESO, NASA, etc.) responsible for the development of ground- or space-based astronomical research, or in private industries involved in the development of astronomical instrumentation and software.

A key element is the synergy with INAF, with which a specific agreement exists within the PhD programme. INAF is responsible for managing astronomical observatories and research and instrumentation development projects within international collaborations.

Educational activities

Training includes courses specifically organised for the PhD programme. In particular, each PhD student, within three years, is required to complete:

1. At least four specialised courses (16 hours, 2 ECTS credits, with a final assessment), chosen from 8–10 courses offered each year;
2. At least three monographic courses of 10 hours each, chosen from 8–10 offered annually, typically taught by external visiting professors, including international guests (courses offered by international lecturers are typically made compulsory by the coordinator);
3. Two international PhD schools on astrophysical topics, each lasting at least one week. Participation is partially covered by the PhD programme’s operating funds.

The school also offers a specific course on scientific project management. From the first year, PhD candidates contribute—often as main proposers—to preparing observing time proposals for major national and international telescopes (ground and space) and/or computing time requests. Students are encouraged to attend courses on European funding applications and take part in preparing grant proposals for their research groups.

Attendance at the weekly Journal Club (October–June) is mandatory; each PhD student must present (in English, typically at least twice a year) a recently published, peer-reviewed scientific paper on an astrophysical topic. Every year, all PhD students must give a public seminar (in English) presenting their research results.

Students are encouraged to participate in international meetings and present their findings. They are also encouraged to write scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals. All training and research activities of the PhD programme in Astronomy are conducted in English.

Research areas

The main research areas currently pursued within the training programme (both as thesis topics and specialised PhD courses) include:

1. Solar System: ground- and space-based observations and direct exploration via probes; participation in ESA and ASI missions such as BepiColombo, ExoMars, JUICE, DART (NASA), MRO (NASA), PROSPECT (ESA–Russia).
2. Exoplanets: detection and characterisation of exoplanets using ground and space instruments—planet discovery, system characterisation (mass, radius, density, orbital parameters), atmospheric studies, astrobiology. Direct participation in the design, construction, and scientific use of CHEOPS (ESA), PLATO (ESA), ARIEL (ESA), HARPS-N@TNG (INAF), SPHERE@VLT (ESO), SHARK@LBT (INAF), and HIRES@ELT (ESO).
3. Stars: stellar structure and evolution models; photometric, spectroscopic, and astrometric observations of stellar populations in clusters, in the Galactic disk and bulge, and in nearby galaxies; novae and supernovae; scientific exploitation of Gaia (ESA) data.
4. Compact objects: theory and observations; formation of compact objects, including in binaries; formation of massive black holes.
5. Milky Way: structure, kinematics, metallicity, star-forming regions, properties of the bulge, disk, and halo.
6. Magellanic Clouds: photometric, spectroscopic, and astrometric studies of their stellar populations and cluster populations.
7. Galaxies: structure, kinematics, stellar populations, dynamics.
8. Active galaxies: active galactic nuclei, quasars, blazars.
9. Galaxy clusters: structure, formation, evolution, halos.
10. Cosmology: observational cosmology at low and high redshift, cosmic microwave background, reionisation, formation of cosmic structures, dark matter, dark energy, theoretical cosmology; exploitation of EUCLID (ESA) data.
11. High-energy astrophysics.
12. Astroparticles: participation in the construction and scientific exploitation of the CTA international project.
13. Gravitational waves: formation of gravitational waves, dynamics of massive black hole mergers and resulting emission.
14. Fundamental physics from cosmic ray studies.
15. Technology: design, development, and construction of astronomical instrumentation for ground- and space-based telescopes.
16. History of Physics and Astronomy.
17. Astronomical outreach.

Professional profile

The main employment sector for PhD holders in Astronomy remains research within universities and public research institutions, both in Italy and abroad. According to the latest survey carried out (February 2019, including PhD graduates up to Cycle XXIX), 76% (144 out of 190) of our PhD graduates continued in academia or research—at various levels from postdoctoral researcher to full professor—and none were unemployed.

Specific potential career opportunities for a PhD in Astronomy include:

• research and teaching positions at universities;
• research activities in national or international research institutions and industry;
• start-up creation and development of industrial enterprises;
• work in software development;
• research and development roles in private or public organisations managing large databases;
• analysis and forecasting of complex systems for public bodies and private companies;
• more generally, roles in research, innovation, training, production, forecasting, and prevention in the advanced tertiary sector;
• technical positions in astronomical observatories or laboratories;
• work in scientific publishing;
• public outreach in planetariums, science centres, and online platforms;
• teaching in secondary schools.

  Other information

• Calls and Admissions
• The International PhD guide
• Administrative information