Agriculture, Environment and Bioenergy

Dottorati
Doctoral programme (PhD)
A.Y. 2023/2024
Study area
Science and Technology
Doctoral programme (PhD)
3
Years
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia - Via Celoria, 2 - Milano
English
PhD Coordinator
Our planet is experiencing a decline in its non-renewable resources and is exposed to risks deriving from climate change. The agricultural sector must supply food, non-food products, ecosystemic services and energy, whilst guaranteeing safety and food sovereignty. It is therefore essential to develop advanced training courses in order to achieve efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural sector and its various territorial contexts, taking into account the various elements of the production system and their organisation in agro-ecosystems. Reference will be made to:
a) phenotypic and genotypic features and the valorisation of genetic resources;
b) containment of biotic and abiotic adversities;
c) implementation of predictive IT models;
d) bioenergy production, use of residual substances, soil and water resource conservation;
e) analysis and management of technical means, agricultural processes, multi-functionality of rural areas and of agrobiodiversity.
The programme will enable researchers to:
a) develop autonomous research;
b) prepare and propose public and private research projects on a local, national and international level;
c) identify research needs and their scientific, social and economic relevance;
d) transfer knowledge through teaching activities and the presentation of data and results;
e) transfer research results to the public and private sphere.
Classi di laurea magistrale - Classes of master's degrees:

· LM-3 Architettura del paesaggio,
· LM-6 Biologia,
· LM-7 Biotecnologie agrarie,
· LM-8 Biotecnologie industriali,
· LM-9 Biotecnologie mediche, veterinarie e farmaceutiche,
· LM-17 Fisica,
· LM-18 Informatica,
· LM-30 Ingegneria energetica e nucleare,
· LM-32 Ingegneria informatica,
· LM-33 Ingegneria meccanica,
· LM-35 Ingegneria per l'ambiente e il territorio,
· LM-40 Matematica,
· LM-42 Medicina veterinaria,
· LM-44 Modellistica matematico-fisica per l'ingegneria,
· LM-48 Pianificazione territoriale urbanistica e ambientale,
· LM-56 Scienze dell'economia,
· LM-60 Scienze della natura,
· LM-69 Scienze e tecnologie agrarie,
· LM-70 Scienze e tecnologie alimentari,
· LM-73 Scienze e tecnologie forestali ed ambientali,
· LM-74 Scienze e tecnologie geologiche,
· LM-75 Scienze e tecnologie per l'ambiente e il territorio,
· LM-76 Scienze economiche per l'ambiente e la cultura,
· LM-77 Scienze economico-aziendali,
· LM-81 Scienze per la cooperazione allo sviluppo,
· LM-82 Scienze statistiche,
· LM-86 Scienze zootecniche e tecnologie animali.
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia - Via Celoria, 2 - Milano
Title Professor(s)
Study and characterization of bean germplasm
R. Pilu
Exploiting plant extracts and plant-derived biologically active specialised metabolites as a source of new potential botanical herbicides
Low impact tecnologies for plant pathogen control
Development of innovative welfare indicators in farmed ruminants
Requirements: Knowledge of applied animal ethology and animal welfare
Feeding strategies to enhance dairy efficiency and environmental sustainability by modifying rumen microbiome (ex DM 118/2023)
Innovative methods for assessing and improving environmental sustainability and animal welfare in dairy farming
Genome-wide diversity and recombination landscape in peach
Identification of genes related to grapevine response to biotic stresses
Crop residue management effects on N2O emissions and soil organic carbon.
Study of the protein–protein interactions as component of plant responses to nitrogen availability.
Requirements: Basic knowledge of plant biochemistry and physiology.
Development of multi-source remote sensing methods for the assessment and monitoring of agri-environmental indicators
Requirements: Good knowledge of agronomy and statistics. Basic knowledge of informatics, programming and geospatial sciences
Innovation of irrigation practices through the use of measurements, models and automatic water distribution and delivery systems.
Requirements: Good background in hydrology and agricultural hydraulic; good computer and statistical skills. Knowledge of: (1) simulation models of the hydrological balance in soil-vegetation-atmosphere systems; (2) programming languages; (3) field instrumentation for the measurement of agro-hydrological variables, is strongly appreciated.
Development of agricultural machinery with sustainable mobility and management, with particular reference to robotized prototypes working through artificial intelligence routines
Requirements: Good knowledge of agronomy and statistics. Basic knowledge of informatics, programming and geospatial sciences
Bioplastic in the environment (ex DM 117/2023)
Nutrient and carbon recovery from biomasses: environmental impact measurement by life Cycle Assessment
Crop traits monitoring through remote sensing and crop modelling to support sustainable agroecosystem management".
Influence of temperature on the metabolism of aromatic compounds of yeast and malolactic bacteria for exploiting potential energy saving in fermentation (ex DM 117/2023)
Requirements: Basic knowledge in the field of microbiology and molecular biology.
Fungicide resistance in grapevine downy mildew management: from resistance mechanisms to fitness of zoxamide-resistant strains (ex DM 117/2023)
Development of new models of genomic selection and biodiversity conservation in Italian small ruminant populations
Micoviruses as biocontrol agents (BCAs) ol plant diseases
Strategies and actions to increase the efficiency of traditional irrigation systems (ex DM 118/2023)
Archaeology, sea and culture. Planning, organising and managing interdisciplinary land and undersea research (ex DM 118/2023)
Genetic characterisation of Vitis vinifera and Vitis spp. germplasm for the identification of resistance traits to biotic and abiotic stresses (ex DM 118/2023)
Assessing environmental sustainability and animal welfare on cattle farms: new methodological approaches
Application of PLF methodologies for the assessment of emotional state in farmed animals
Remote sensing of agro-environmental indicators for sustainable agroecosystems management and human health protection (ex DM 118/2023)
Genomics and epidemiology of phytoplasmas associated with plant diseases

Courses list

February 2024
Courses or activities Professor(s) ECTS Total hours Language
Compulsory
Statistical Methodologies and Analysis of Agri-Environmental Data 3 20 English
January 2024
Courses or activities Professor(s) ECTS Total hours Language
Optional
Introduction to Meta-Analysis in Agricultural and Soil Sciences 3 18 English
April 2024
Courses or activities Professor(s) ECTS Total hours Language
Optional
Climate Changes and Crop Research 3 18 English
May 2024
Courses or activities Professor(s) ECTS Total hours Language
Optional
Exploitation of Variability in Woody Crops 3 18 English
Field Training Course in Cereal Genetics 3 14 English
Senescence and Quality of Flowers and Vegetables 3 18 English
June 2024
Courses or activities Professor(s) ECTS Total hours Language
Optional
Introductory Bioinformatics and Use of a Hpc Cluster 4 24 English

Enrolment

Places available: 17

Call for applications

Please refer to the call for admission test dates and contents, and how to register.

Application for admission: from 27/06/2023 to 26/07/2023

Application for matriculation: from 25/09/2023 to 12/10/2023

Read the Call


Attachments and documents

Attachments to the call

Qualifications assessment criteria

Scores and exam schedule