Phd programme

PhD School Systems, Energy, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering

Coordinator: Paolo Pietro ARENA

Duration: 3 years

Description and Objectives of the PhD Program

The PhD program is the natural evolution of cycles from XXIX to XXXIX, following the aggregation of PhDs in Systems Engineering, Energy Engineering, and Computer and Telecommunications Engineering. This program has been active since 1996 under various names. It integrates historical training areas, developed and evolved throughout its history, with local and global needs.

The educational paths include specific tracks in Electronics, Automation Engineering, Control of Complex Systems Engineering, Instrumentation, Sensors and Wireless Sensor Networks, Internet of Things, Big Data, Mechanics, Materials, Bioengineering and Bio-Robotics, Microsystems, Generation, Transmission, Utilization, Management and Control of Energy, Information Systems, Telecommunications, and Electromagnetic Fields, with a focus on topics related to Smart Systems, Cities, and the Environment.

The different paths characterizing out PhD School grow in an organic and symbiotic way, giving the course almost unique characteristics of multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity compared to other doctorates of the same type in other Italian universities. The contamination of different disciplines significantly increases communication skills and stimulates innovative research themes between the different specificities of the area 09-Industrial and Information Engineering, creating the conditions for students to learn to integrate different basic knowledge to solve complex problems, creating a transdisciplinary approach.

The educational program spans three years, during which research activities in one of the aforementioned specific fields are accompanied by educational activities aimed at completing the skills necessary to carry out the assigned research project. Additionally, a mandatory study period abroad is included to complement the activities at the main institution with essential aspects of internationalization.

The program develops diverse profiles corresponding to the various scientific disciplines covered by the PhD program. The corresponding expertise is acquired through adequate technical-scientific preparation, achieved both through proper training and the execution of a research project, which may also take place at national and international centers of excellence or within industrial contexts.

The overall activities of the program aim to guide PhD students toward developing research topics, both basic and applied, preparing them to participate in competitive selections in academic and industrial fields. In particular, this involves profiles requiring advanced technical skills and the ability to design, draft, and coordinate research projects at both local and international levels, driving the strategic development of enterprises.

Participation in national and international conferences is considered equally important. This is ensured by the high scientific profile of the PhD academic board, supported by foreign professors who have long been involved in the training and research activities of the PhD students.

Expected Job and Career Opportunities

The activities undertaken by PhD students will enable them to position themselves in the job market, both for the development of innovative applications and for achieving new results in fundamental research. For this reason, graduates will have potential career opportunities in both academic and industrial fields.

Moreover, PhD graduates will receive appropriate training that prepares them over time to take on high-level managerial roles in areas related to the PhD’s themes. These topics strongly influence strategic sectors with significant economic and social impact, such as industrial activities, transportation systems,  service sectors, energy production and management, environmental resource management, bioengineering, and ICT.

The involvement of industrial partners, some of whom have been collaborating actively with members of the PhD Academic Board for years, ensures the rapid transfer of research innovations into technological applications, while University guarantees both

cutting-edge advancements and a solid scientific foundation.

The sectors where employment opportunities are expected include:

• Business services
• Energy and materials
• ICT
• Research and development
• Environment and territory
• Academia
• Education