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The PhD Program in Molecular Sciences (CDSM), offered by the Department of Chemical Sciences and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, aims to train future high-level PhD graduates for research positions and/or roles requiring a high degree of autonomy and managerial responsibility in the field of chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, both in the industrial sector and in academia. Data from Almalaurea surveys confirm that both sectors (each employing about half of former PhD candidates one year after graduation) are highly relevant for the career prospects of the Program’s doctoral students. The Course aims to serve as an advanced training center, providing high scientific qualification and fostering the acquisition of an experimental approach characterized by autonomous work management and the ability to achieve original results. The 2024 stakeholder consultation, carried out by the Advisory Committee, highlighted that the ability to autonomously manage one’s work is a fundamental and cross-cutting requirement for all interviewed stakeholders (managers of chemical and pharmaceutical companies, scientific computing specialists, academics, and research institution directors).

The organization of the CDSM into two curricula (Chemical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences) allows for a selection phase and the development of a specific educational path for doctoral students conducting their research in the fields of Chemical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences, while maintaining a strongly multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary approach in doctoral training.

Course Objectives

The main objective is to train future high-level PhD graduates for research careers in the field of chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, both in the industrial sector and in academia. The Course aims to serve as an advanced training center open to young Italian and international graduates, with the primary goal of preparing PhD holders with highly qualified scientific expertise in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. This goal is pursued through:

1. planning a structured teaching program aligned with the research project that each doctoral student will pursue over the three-year period
2. placing each doctoral student within one of the active research projects in the involved Departments
3. encouraging doctoral students to pursue personal, innovative, and original research lines

The CDSM provides the necessary tools to develop students’ skills and capabilities through an advanced training program specifically designed to enhance their scientific qualifications and transversal competences. Key elements of the scientific program include advanced theoretical courses, workshops, and seminars. Transferable skills are strengthened through courses dedicated to scientific writing and oral presentation, assistance in teaching laboratory courses in Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, and access to financial resources for participation in conferences and research periods abroad.

Training Activities

The CDSM offers a series of courses aimed at improving the skills and competences of doctoral students. The training program is designed to enhance both scientific and transferable skills.

Advanced theoretical courses on relevant scientific topics are taught by members of the Academic Board and/or external (international) experts. These courses are specifically developed for the CDSM and address topics at the doctoral level. Each course lasts 24 hours (3 ECTS) and concludes with a final exam that participating students must pass.

Scientific courses are complemented by workshops and/or short lecture series delivered by renowned international experts. These events are organized ad hoc by members of the Academic Board and offer valuable opportunities for doctoral students to interact directly with leading experts in their field.

Seminars are organized monthly (CDSM Seminar – 10 per year), during which national and international experts are invited to present the latest developments in research areas relevant to the CDSM community.

Research Areas

The priority research areas on which the doctoral research activities mainly focus are:

Chemistry for Life Sciences: This area is dedicated to the synthesis and structural and conformational characterization of peptides and proteins, as well as to the study of photosynthetic systems through optical and magnetic spectroscopy.

Chemistry for Energy, Environment, and Cultural Heritage: This area focuses on the development and application of chemical knowledge and methodologies to technological challenges related to energy generation and storage (mainly renewable energy), environmental monitoring and protection, and the conservation of cultural heritage.

Materials, Nanomaterials, and Surface Science: This area concerns the development of functional inorganic, organic, and hybrid materials (both molecular and macromolecular) with the goal of controlling their chemical, optical, dielectric, electrical, and magnetic properties on the molecular scale. It also includes the study of interfaces using surface science methodologies and the investigation of nanomaterials in the form of thin films and supported nanoparticles.

Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanochemistry: This area covers both fundamental and applied studies using supramolecular (inorganic, organic, and hybrid) and colloidal chemistry methods for the self-assembly of nanostructures and nanoparticles based on molecules, atoms, and metal clusters as templating agents to obtain nanosystems with innovative chemical properties and reactivities (catalysis and sensing).

Synthesis, Reactivity, and Catalysis: Design, synthesis, and characterization of homogeneous/heterogeneous catalysts and coordination compounds, organic synthesis, and electrosynthesis.

Theoretical and Computational Chemistry: This area focuses on the original development of theoretical methods and computational implementations in chemistry. The primary objectives include modeling and simulating the structure and reactivity of molecules, interfaces, and the structure and dynamics of complex, functionalized, and soft materials using quantum and statistical approaches and computational tools applied to chemical systems.

Drug Design Strategies: Development and integrated application of molecular modeling and bioinformatics methodologies in the fields of medicinal and biopharmaceutical chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and molecular biology.

Formulation, Bioavailability Studies, and Analysis of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Preparations: Study and development of delivery systems, active targeting, and release strategies for low therapeutic index drugs and biotechnological drugs.

Professional Profile

The training provided by the CDSM gives students access to high-level research positions in the field of chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, both in the industrial sector and in academia.

Industry

The Program’s success in adequately preparing doctoral students for industrial careers is confirmed by the fact that many students quickly find employment in regional, national, and international companies operating in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. The strong industrial interest in the training provided by the CDSM is also demonstrated by the increasing number of doctoral fellowships funded by industries.

Academia

After completing the PhD program, a significant number of students continue with postdoctoral research at national and international universities, which represents the first step toward an independent academic career. The excellent level of training enables PhD graduates to successfully compete for postdoctoral positions at leading international universities.

  Curriculum

• Chemical Science
• Pharmaceutical Science

  Other information

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