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The PhD Program in Physics was established and continues to be offered to meet society’s need for advanced training in scientific and technological disciplines, specifically in the field of physics. Its goal is to provide students with academic training in various areas of theoretical and experimental physics, familiarizing them with the most recent conceptual frameworks proposed to describe physical processes as well as the latest technological, experimental, and data analysis developments.

The PhD Program in Physics is administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy “Galileo Galilei” (DFA) in collaboration with the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and is managed by a broad faculty board composed of DFA professors (covering 7 of the 8 Scientific-Disciplinary Sectors (SSD) in the Physics area) and researchers and research managers from INFN. They work on topics in both theoretical and experimental physics, taking full advantage of opportunities arising from interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches. The activities of the PhD program are monitored by an advisory committee, which includes members of the faculty board, student representatives, and representatives from social partners.

Program Objectives:
The PhD Program in Physics aims to train researchers capable of working on cutting-edge topics in both basic and applied research in a highly competitive international context. To this end, a structured educational program has been designed, including courses, seminars, participation in high-level schools, and involvement in DFA research activities, providing students with the knowledge and skills required to conduct high-level professional research in universities, public institutions, private organizations, and industry. The program aims to develop students’ ability to operate independently in scientific research, fostering originality and creativity, precision in analysis, synthesis skills, and methodological rigor. The program prepares PhD students for careers not necessarily confined to academic research but also as professional researchers and innovators across diverse fields. In addition to specialized training in the research topic of the dissertation, students develop skills applicable to various domains, thanks to a solid foundational education and the interdisciplinary nature of physical sciences.

Consistent with these objectives, the training activities are structured so that each student takes advanced courses related to their research topic while also completing at least one course in a different area, promoting a broad education encompassing tools and methodologies beyond those already known. The courses offered by the PhD program are selected annually after wide consultation with the faculty board, taking into account feedback from social partners and students, ensuring that the curriculum responds to multiple perspectives.

Additionally, the program offers presentations and seminar series on specific topics, delivered both by faculty invited for this purpose and by visiting professors, often from abroad. This approach ensures that students are exposed to continuously updated research results and facilitates internationalization through contact with foreign faculty visiting the department. Among the seminar series offered, particular attention is given to topics of broad interest across all physics sectors but also essential for a transdisciplinary perspective, such as numerical computation techniques and data analysis approaches.

Training Activities:
The PhD in Physics is a research-based program lasting three years. PhD students join the research team of a supervising professor for the duration of the program. Research activities are complemented by academic training, including internal courses as well as national and international schools, enhancing students’ knowledge in both fundamental and specialized physics.

At the end of the program, PhD students must present a written dissertation, reviewed by two experts, and defend it before a panel of specialists, which may include members from the University of Padua as well as other (inter)national institutions. Students are assigned a supervisor based on their chosen research topic, who monitors their research and training activities. Students join various research groups and typically work in teams that include undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, researchers, and faculty. Teamwork is an important opportunity for involvement in international collaborations.

As part of their research activity, students are encouraged to spend a period abroad (up to 18 months), supported by dedicated funds. The choice of host institution is made in agreement with the supervising professor. Periods abroad are funded by the PhD program and/or the research group.

Although not formally required, PhD students are encouraged to publish their research results in at least one peer-reviewed journal before completing the program.

The PhD program offers a wide range of courses across all relevant disciplines. Students must select four or more courses, each culminating in an examination. At least four exams must be completed in the first two years of the program, with at least three in the first year.

The program also includes a mandatory course on soft skills, selected from those offered by the school. These courses, worth 3 credits each and consisting of 24 hours of classroom instruction, introduce students to topics such as research proposal preparation, teaching techniques, and third-mission activities.

Failure to meet these requirements may result in the student being dismissed from the PhD program. Exceptions may be considered only in proven cases of force majeure, and the decision to grant a waiver rests solely with the PhD school.

All courses are taught in English. The complete list of courses offered each year is available on the PhD school’s website.

With agreement from the supervisor and approval of the PhD program panel, students may propose to substitute courses offered by the school with courses from other PhD programs, either within the broader University of Padua academic program or from international institutions, including international thematic training events. Participation in national and international schools related to their research program is encouraged, with funding provided by the PhD program or the research group.

Research areas:
Students may choose a specific research topic from a wide range of fields covered by DFA faculty: applied physics, astrophysics, biophysics, cosmology, gravitational wave physics, history of physics, multimessenger astroparticle physics, neutrino physics, nuclear physics, collider physics, physics education, data and complex systems physics, condensed matter physics, quantum technologies, and theoretical physics.

Professional profile:
The PhD in Physics represents a high-level cultural and professional training path, aimed at integrating students into the national and international scientific community. Throughout their training, PhD students develop adaptability and flexibility, recognized as distinctive characteristics of this program. Typical career paths include academia, national or international research institutions, private companies, banks, and organizations interested in technological and research developments, as well as teaching positions in primary and secondary schools.

Entry into academia often occurs through postdoctoral positions at international research centers, eventually leading to permanent positions in Italian, European, or non-European research institutions. International experience is crucial for fully developing research skills. The widespread success of Padua Physics PhD graduates in securing postdoctoral positions has confirmed the program as a center of excellence for training young researchers.

Beyond academia, the PhD in Physics provides strong skills in managing new experimental and numerical technologies and in problem-solving, which are highly valued in advanced private research, scientific, financial, and business management sectors. Therefore, Padua Physics PhD graduates have excellent prospects for entering the national and international private sector, where demand is growing for expertise in physics, technology, computing, and statistics across diverse fields.

Teaching career opportunities are traditionally linked to the PhD program and are supported by a dedicated physics teaching training course and ongoing structured contacts between the faculty board and schools. This includes the preparation of seminars in schools delivered by PhD students to present their departmental research activities. The interest of schools in the PhD program is also evidenced by the participation of teachers seeking a three-year leave to attend the program for further professional development.

  Other information

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