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Objectives of the Course
The mission of the LERH program is to understand the processes that govern natural and agricultural ecosystems and their relationship with economic-social processes and to train managers, researchers and operators in integrated strategies for the management of natural and food resources, in order to promote the sustainable rural and agri-food development and ensure the broader social benefits. Specific attention is paid to the dynamics linked to environmental and climate changes.

Research topics
The five research areas of the LERH Program are: agricultural, forestry and food economics and policy; Forest ecology and forest management; Hydrology, Water Resources, Soil and Soil Conservation; Agricultural and forestry mechanization and operations management; Viticulture and oenology, food quality and nutrition.
The disciplinary fields covered by the LERH course are therefore broad and range from individual biological organisms to natural and managed ecosystems, from natural to agricultural and landscape systems, and from the conservation of resources to their use in order to provide, in a sustainable way, a flow of goods and services to consumers and society through food and non-food supply chains. Understanding and effectively managing agricultural, forestry and environmental resources in times of profound change requires a long-term vision and multidisciplinary approaches involving the entire teaching staff, which works with experts from different disciplines and with a strong focus on international collaborations.

Training path:
The training activities are centered on the study of the components that contribute to the determination of the quantity and quality of agro-forestry systems and the protection of the environment (soil, climate, plants, water, phytosanitary interventions, biodiversity).
Expected occupational and professional opportunities
Overall, the training transmitted by the doctorate course allows good employment opportunities both in public and private research and experimentation institutions, and in the highly specialized technical-scientific freelance sectors, in companies and organizations in which problems have to be faced of high complexity. The experience gained in the LERH doctoral course demonstrates how the high scientific qualification and the excellent aptitude acquired for group collaboration make doctorates figures appreciated for inclusion in the academic world. In fact, statistics demonstrate how the doctorates of the last cycles have found their place both in Italy and abroad, in the academic world and in international institutions. Professional outlets in national and regional public bodies and in the advanced tertiary sector have also been significant, in particular in the field of planning and consultancy in engineering companies, IT services and numerical cartography relating to land management, but also in the activity of Freelance profession with high technological and training content.

Professional developments
There are many employment prospects for PhDs:
- research in public and private structures, in Italy and abroad; research and teaching in universities;
- high and qualified professional activity in public and private institutions and companies operating in the forestry and agro-industrial sector.

  Other information

• PhD Programmes Calls and Admissions
• PhD Programmes
• The International PhD guide
• More informations