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The PhD in Materials Science and Technology (MST) represents the third and highest level of education in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Padua, and serves as the natural continuation of the Master’s degrees in Materials Science and Materials Engineering. The programme is administratively based in the Department of Chemical Sciences (DiSC), but relies on a faculty board composed of professors from the Department of Physics and Astronomy (DFA) and the Department of Industrial Engineering (DII).

The programme adopts a highly multidisciplinary training approach that combines knowledge and skills in chemistry, physics, and engineering, integrating and applying them to specific interdisciplinary fields such as nanotechnology, sensing, microelectronics, energy conversion and storage, and materials for health.

The course responds to the need to train highly qualified young researchers capable of addressing the scientific and technological challenges emerging at the global level, which require advanced, cross-cutting, and interdisciplinary expertise in the development of innovative materials and the application of new technologies. The programme aligns closely with national strategic priorities (Key Enabling Technologies, Industry 4.0/5.0) and European priorities (Green Deal, EU Circular Economy Action Plan, Horizon Europe—health mission and cluster 5) regarding research, innovation, and the transition toward sustainable and digital production models. Consultations with industries and research and innovation centres have confirmed the growing need for professional profiles able to address in an integrated manner the development, characterization, and application of innovative materials and processes across several strategic sectors (e.g., energy, sustainable manufacturing, micro and smart electronics).

Course objectives

The MST PhD programme aims to train, at the international level, young researchers in the most advanced fields of science and technology of innovative functional materials, as well as in the development of new processes and technologies related to the use and application of materials.

The training pathway includes the development of specific skills such as:

• in-depth knowledge of synthesis methods and processing technologies essential for producing and manipulating materials;
• the use and refinement of advanced material characterization techniques capable of providing detailed information on structure, properties, and behaviour;
• the ability to critically correlate material structure with physicochemical properties, in order to design targeted and innovative solutions for specific applications;
• the development of computational modelling skills and the design of new materials, integrating theory with experimental practice.

These educational goals are particularly relevant in today's global scenario, characterized by complex technological challenges requiring the development of innovative materials able to provide concrete solutions to socially significant problems. These challenges are outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which include crucial issues such as access to clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, innovation in industry and infrastructure, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.

The MST programme also includes a cultural framework aligned with European research and technological development guidelines (Green Deal, EU Circular Economy Action Plan, Horizon Europe) and national strategies (SNR 2021–2027). Its purpose is to train key figures who will work in energy, ecological, and digital transitions, the circular economy, sustainable manufacturing, quantum technologies, health-related technologies, and Industry 4.0 and beyond.

The educational objectives are achieved through a highly qualified and multidisciplinary pathway aimed at developing an integrated and in-depth understanding of innovative materials and their applications in strategic sectors such as energy transition, catalysis, nanophotonics, micro- and optoelectronics, sensing, nanomedicine, regenerative medicine, and microfluidics.

MST students acquire skills ranging from hypothesis formulation to experimental or computational design, and to the critical analysis of complex data. This is enabled both by their individual research project—focused on a current and innovative topic in materials science—and by specific modules dedicated to advanced characterization techniques, which incorporate elements of innovative teaching. These include project-based learning applied to real-world problems, intensive practical laboratory sessions, and modules focusing on the critical interpretation of data.

Furthermore, MST doctoral candidates have access to additional technical courses dedicated to transversal tools such as Python programming, machine learning, recycling and circular economy, as well as a wide range of soft-skills courses aligned with the seven areas of the European Researcher Development Framework. These include research management and organization, scientific communication in multidisciplinary and international contexts, teamwork and collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

The multidisciplinary and transversal skills developed during the programme not only prepare doctoral candidates to conduct advanced research but also make them highly competitive and immediately employable in the global job market, which increasingly requires flexibility, the ability to work in international teams, critical thinking, and continuous innovation. This strong alignment with emerging trends in production and technological research provides a solid foundation for roles in academia, research centres, and high-tech industries.

The programme benefits from an extensive network of collaborations with external entities, international institutions, and industrial partners that greatly enrich the educational experience. These include:

• National and international research institutions: CNR, INSTM, INFN, CNISM;
• Major scientific facilities: ESRF, SOLEIL (FR), DESY (DE), PSI (CH), ELETTRA (IT), MAX IV LAB (SE), DIAMOND (UK), CERN (CH), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA), MBI (Singapore);
• Companies and industrial districts in the fields of energy, advanced chemistry, sustainable materials, and materials for health.

Educational activities

The programme consists of a three-year research-based training period, during which students work on an innovative research topic, and a teaching-based component comprising advanced courses—including lectures, practical activities in advanced laboratories, and data analysis—as well as specialized seminars. The extensive training offer is designed to provide cognitive tools and skills essential for addressing today’s complex challenges, from energy and digital transitions to the sustainability of production processes, adopting a critical and flexible approach and fostering continuous cross-fertilization among different disciplines.

A key element of the programme is the development of transversal and personal skills, aligned with the seven competency areas identified by the European Directorate for Research and Innovation. These abilities are essential to support doctoral candidates in transitioning from academia to technological and industrial innovation, with particular attention to the needs of the local territory, characterised mainly by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Doctoral candidates work on research topics that reflect the expertise of the three promoting departments (DiSC, DFA, DII) and of the Faculty Board, composed of experts in chemistry, physics, and engineering. This contributes to creating a highly interdisciplinary training environment where different scientific and methodological approaches coexist and integrate, enriching both study and research experiences.

Research Areas

The main research topics include:

• Nanostructured and functional materials
• Advanced synthesis and characterization (optical, spectroscopic, electronic, mechanical)
• Photocatalysis, catalysis, and sustainable processes
• Devices for energy, sensing, and electronics
• Biomaterials, nanomedicine, and regenerative medicine
• Microfluidics, photonics, optoelectronics
• Multiscale computational modelling of materials
• Materials for Industry 4.0 and quantum technologies

Research activities within the departments are also conducted in collaboration with institutions involved in Materials Science and Technology:

• At DiSC, DFA, and DII: research groups from CNR;
• At DFA: groups affiliated with the National Interuniversity Consortium for Physical Sciences of Matter (CNISM) and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN);
• At DiSC and DII: research groups belonging to the National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM).

The MST PhD strongly promotes internationalization through collaborations with centres of excellence and major European and international research infrastructures, and through opportunities to carry out research stays at synchrotrons and large-scale facilities. Thanks to participation in European projects, thematic workshops and conferences, and study visits to other universities, doctoral candidates are integrated into highly collaborative and diverse cutting-edge scientific environments where they develop advanced technical abilities and transversal skills.

Professional Profile

The PhD in Materials Science and Technology stands out for its ability to train researchers with a high-level inter- and transdisciplinary preparation, capable of operating effectively both in academia and research institutions and in the industrial and production world. The integration of advanced scientific expertise, applied technical skills, and transversal abilities is one of the programme’s main strengths, making MST PhD graduates versatile and employable across various professional sectors.

Academia and Research Institutions

Academic environments and major research institutions represent a natural career path for MST PhD graduates, who enter with a solid and multidisciplinary profile. They can work on the design, synthesis, and characterization of new materials, as well as on the development of innovative analytical and modelling methodologies. Their expertise in understanding relationships between (nano)structure and functional properties enables them to address emerging scientific challenges and contribute to advancing materials science globally.

They are also well-equipped to work in advanced research infrastructures—such as synchrotron light laboratories or technology development centres—where high-level technical and theoretical preparation, as well as the ability to work in international and multidisciplinary teams, is essential.

Industry

In the industrial sector, the MST PhD prepares professionals with in-depth technical skills and a broad vision, suited for key roles in R&D departments across companies of all sizes. MST PhD graduates are reference figures for the design of innovative materials, quality control, product certification, and the management of raw materials, including sustainability and recyclability assessments.

By integrating scientific knowledge with an applied perspective, MST-trained professionals act as bridges between research and industrial innovation, contributing to raising the technological readiness level (TRL), even in “low-tech” production sectors. They address concrete needs of the industrial landscape by transforming scientific know-how into high-value solutions.

They also play central roles in companies developing advanced functional materials, critical materials, or “safe-by-design” technological solutions, where the interdisciplinary expertise of MST graduates enables them to address complex issues that integrate chemical, physical, engineering, and environmental aspects.

Management, Technology Transfer, and Intellectual Property

The MST programme places strong emphasis on developing key transversal skills for career progression, including intellectual property management, technology transfer, complex project planning and management, and scientific and technical communication. These competences enable graduates to take on coordination roles, facilitating collaboration between universities and industry.
Their ability to effectively communicate research results, prepare project proposals, and participate in national and international funding calls is increasingly valued across both public and private sectors.

Employability and Career Sectors

MST PhD graduates have secured positions in highly qualified contexts in Italy and abroad, including:

• Universities and public or private research centres, ranging from basic research to pre-industrial development;
• Companies in the energy sector, including those active in the energy transition and in the development of materials for energy storage and conversion;
• Companies working in recycling and the circular economy, engaged in the sustainable management of materials and the recovery of resources from industrial and urban waste;
• Industries developing advanced materials for biomedical, construction, and environmental applications;
• Organizations and institutions for material certification and intellectual property management.

These outcomes confirm the strong alignment between the programme’s training objectives and labour market needs, as well as the high employability rate of MST doctoral graduates, who increasingly represent strategic figures for the country’s technological and sustainable development.

  Other information

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