Public competition announcement for admission to the PhD programme in Agro-Food System of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in the 39th cycle – Piacenza Campus
Art. 1 Opening: For each PhD programme, for which an open competition is announced, the coordinator, duration, number of places on the course, number of scholarships, affiliated institutions, sites and calendar of competition examinations are indicated. The number of scholarships may increase as a result of funding from public and private institutions, provided that the related agreement is signed within the date of expiration of the public announcement.
An increase in the number of available scholarships may result in an increase in the number of positions opened for public competition. The activation of the PhD programme and the related selection procedures are subjected to accreditation, the verification of the maintenance of requirements by Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR).
The projects listed in Annex sub 1, which are linked to scholarships awarded pursuant to mm.dd. 117/23 and 118/23, are subjected to verification of eligibility by the Ministry of Universities and Research.
Coordinator: Prof. Paolo AJMONE MARSAN
Duration: 3 years
Positions: 45
Scholarship-based positions: 24 of which no. 14 scholarships under mm.dd. 117/23 and 118/23:
Admission requirements: PhD programmes are open, without age or nationality restrictions, to those who hold a specialised or graduate degree, or a degree awarded in accordance with the educational regulations prior to the entry into force of Italian Ministerial Decree, of 3 November 1999, No 509, as amended and supplemented, or a suitable foreign qualification. Applications may also be submitted by those who will obtain the above mention qualification, in Italy or abroad, referred to in the first paragraph by October 31st, 2023.
Scholarships and contributions Tuition fees for the Programme at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore are set out annually by the Board of Directors. PhD students are required to pay tuition fees annually amounting to € 1.516,00, to be paid into three instalments: the first (of € 516.00) upon enrolment, the second (of € 500.00) by February 28th, and the third (of € 500.00) on June 30th each year. For Italian Law, the enjoyment of a scholarship to attend the PhD Programme is compatible with other income earned, also on a regular basis, in the calendar year of the scholarship, provided that such income does not exceed the amount of the scholarship itself.
Should these income limits be surpassed, the scholarship shall be revoked for the year in question. For the verification of the income limits, scholarship assignees shall annually declare the income earned and notify exceeding of the prescribed limit. Scholarships are awarded for one year and are renewed on condition that the PhD student has completed the programme of activities planned for the previous year. The amount of the scholarship, paid in monthly instalments, is € 16,243.00 per year, before social security charges.
The scholarship is subjected to the payment of social security contributions (INPS separate management) pursuant to Art. 2, Paragraph 26, of the Italian Law 335 dated of August 8th, 1995, and subsequent amendments. The scholarship is exempt from local income tax and personal income tax (IRPEF).
The scholarship amount shall be increased by max. 50 percent, for a period not over 12 months, if the PhD student is authorised by the Teaching Panel to conduct research abroad. Starting from the first year, to each PhD student, with or without a scholarship, is granted a sum covering research activities in Italy and abroad amounting to 10% of the annual gross amount of the scholarship, equal to € 1,624.30. Those who have previously, even partially for another PhD course, benefited from it may not be eligible for a doctorate scholarship.
PhD Programme in the AGRO-FOOD SYSTEM (Coordinator: Prof. Paolo AJMONE MARSAN) Duration: 3 years Places with scholarship pursuant to Ministerial Decree 118/23 (CUP J53C23001290001):
– no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Integrating plant biostimulants to increase resilience and sustainability in crops” under the topic “Digital and environmental transitions”; – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Ecological and digital transition in the vineyard” under the topic “Digital and environmental transitions”. Places with scholarship pursuant to Ministerial Decree 118/23 (CUP J53C23001300001):
– no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “The administrative system and the function of taxation for the diffusion of medium and large agro-voltaic plants”, under the topic “Public Administration”.
Places with scholarship pursuant to m.d. 117/23 (CUP J53C23001480008): – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Development of technics and technologies for sustainable food productions”, co-financed by Capitelli F.lli Srl, Borgonovo Val Tidone (Pc); – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Evaluation of antimicrobial properties of natural botanical extracts in food application”, co-financed by Layn Europe Srl, Savona;
– no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Development of botanical extracts to replace synthetic preservatives in dressings”, co-financed by Layn Europe Srl, Savona; – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Mitigation of greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions of dairy farms with feeding strategies and manure treatments”, co-financed by SOP Srl Società Benefit, Busto Arsizio (Va);
– no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Study of natural composts able to elicitate defense responses in agricultural crops”, co-financed by UPL Italia srl, Cesena (Fc); – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Agro-ecological Improvements applied to integrated crops and animal husbandry in the Po Valley”, cofinanced by Pioneer Hi-Bred Italia Srl, Gadesco Pieve Delmona (Cr);
– no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Winter and spring cold hardiness in Hazelnut”, co-financed by Ferrero Trading Lux S.A., Senningerberg (Luxembourg); – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Factors affecting the development and the commercialization of biopesticides in selected countries in Africa and the Middle East”, co-financed by CropLife Africa Middle-East AISBL, Brussels;
– no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Development of the digital technology Block Chain for the agri-food companies”, co-financed by EZ Lab srl, Padova; – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Circular Economy in the fruit and vegetable foodchain”, co-financed by CE.DI.OR. srl, Milano; – no. 1 scholarship for the realisation of the research project on “Identifying new materials and microorganisms displaying plant biostimulant activity: integration of agronomic and omic approaches”, co-financed by ISA – Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture R&D srl, Pavia.
How to apply:
Candidates who intend to participate in the competition must submit an application to the Rector of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore by Thursday, September 14th 2023. The application form is available online at https://dottorati.unicatt.it/concorsi until 12.00 p.m. (local time) on the expiration date of the present public announcement. In the application form, to be filled in online only, available in Italian and English, candidates shall precisely declare under their responsibility:
- which finalized scholarship or favourite research area they intend to compete for;
- the intention to compete only for a place without a scholarship;
- their personal information: surname, first name, fiscal code (for Italian nationals only), date and place of birth, citizenship, residence and domicile elected for the purposes of the competition;
- for graduate students: university degree, date it was obtained and name of the conferring university;
- for undergraduate students: university degree, candidates are studying towards, expected date it will be obtained and name of the conferring university (whether in
- Italy or abroad);
- foreign languages known. On pain of exclusion, candidates must complete their application with the following documents – upload format .pdf or .jpg:
- detailed curriculum vitae (only English version);
- for graduate students: a copy of the Master’s degree document with final mark and exam transcripts, and exam transcripts (Italian or English version);
- undergraduates: certified proof of enrolment a Master’s degree programmes with exam transcripts (Italian or English version);
- a motivational letter, only English version (max. 30 lines), indicating reasons for application, expectations and fields of interest;
- a research project, only English version (max. 2,000 words), indicating topic, hypotheses and methodology deemed most suitable for the development of a research project in the selected curriculum. The project must be countersigned by a university professor or researcher in national or international scientific institutions. In the absence of countersignature, a letter of introduction, only English version, by university professors or researchers in national or international scientific institutions has to be included in the application;
- copy of an identification document, duly signed;
- card-size photograph;
- for students with a qualification obtained or to be obtained abroad in NON-EU countries: translation, legalisation and Declaration of Value required at the offices of the Italian Consulate/Embassy in the country where the qualification was obtained or will be obtained. EU students may submit the Diploma Supplement of their home university as an alternative to the Declaration of Value.
- Applications may further contain – upload format .pdf or .jpg:
- certification of any other qualification, such as postgraduate and specialisation degrees, obtained in Italy or abroad, with exam transcripts;
- a copy of any other qualification deemed useful for the purposes of assessment, and a list thereof on unstamped paper;
- a list, on unstamped paper, of publications deemed relevant for the purposes of assessment, and a copy of the publications that candidates intend to make known to the Panel.
- Applications may further contain any of the following certificates attesting English language knowledge:
- BEC (Business English Certificates);
- British Chamber of Commerce;
- CAE (Certificate in Advanced English);
- CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English);
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System);
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
The application will only be complete and valid after:
- having uploaded all mandatory documents and any optional documents;
- having paid the selection fee of € 100.00 (non-refundable) to be paid online;
- downloading the application file, which will be generated automatically by the system;
- uploading the .pdf file of the application itself on the portal.
Applicants are asked to confirm what they have submitted at each step by clicking on the ‘continue’ icon, at the bottom right corner. As proof of the validity of the application, the candidate will receive a confirmation email from the PhD Office.
In the event of non-receipt of the e-mail, the candidate will have to log back into the portal to complete the procedure and finalise the application. The University reserves the right to adopt, even after the competition examinations have been held, measures for the exclusion of candidates who do not meet the requirements or who have not complied with the provisions of the notice of competition.
Applicants with disabilities, for the purposes of the competition, must specify in their application the aid required in relation to their disability, pursuant to Italian Law No. 104 of 5 February 1992.
Contact email: dottorati.ricerca-mi@unicatt.it