As the result of an agreement between the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia - Italian Institute of Technology - and the University of Genoa the call for the three year Doctoral School on “Life and Humanoid Technologies” has been opened.

Call

Notice of public examinations – deadline for application 23th September 2011

The School is organized in four different Courses:

1. Drug Discovery;
2. Nanosciences;
3. Neuroscience and Brain Technologies;
4. Robotics, Cognition and Interaction Technologies.

Information about Research Themes and purposes of each Course are detailed in the following annexes:

• Drug Discovery: A1;
• Nanosciences: A2;
• Neuroscience and Brain Technologies: A3;
• Robotics, Cognition and Interaction Technologies: A4.

Please note that in the application the selection of the Doctoral Course and the Research Theme of interest is mandatory.

Online application available from August 16, 2011 at 12.00 (Italian time) to September 23, 2011 at 12.00 noon (Italian time)

PROPOSING DEPARTMENT: Department of Innovation Engineering

COORDINATOR: Prof. Giuseppe GIGLI

Public competition by examination for admission to the XXVII cycle of Doctorate of Research Courses at the University of Salento – Call for entrants.

For more details and to apply download the pdf document.

RESEARCH TOPICS

The proposed Doctorate, called “Bio-Molecular Nanotechnologies,” is aimed at giving an interdisciplinary education across a wide spectrum on the nanotechnologies applied to biomolecules and organic materials, as well as biomolecular interactions on the nanometric scale. The main objective is to develop nanostructured materials through advanced mechanical, chemical and electronic functionality and to assess its cellular toxicity with a view to the standard certification of nanosafety. The research and educational activity will be multidisciplinary and will be broken down into 5 platforms that reflect the scientific plan 2009-2011 of IIT (http://www.iit.it)

Smart Materials

The activity will develop along four lines:

1. Nanocomposites based on colloidal nanoparticles and nanofibers, including nanocomposites of polymers with wet-chemically synthesized nanocrystals and nanofibers composites
2. In-situ preparation of nanocomposites with non-wet chemical methods
3. Functional responsive composite-materials-Materials responsive to external stimuli and functional polymers combined with biological molecules
4. Smart Surfaces, including self-assembled structures, surface topography and chemistry control and surface interaction with biological structures

Environment, Health and Safety (EHS)

The activity will develop according to the following main lines:

1. Development of nanomaterials with controlled size, shape, composition, surface chemistry and other physical-chemical properties
2. Quantitative and qualitative studies on the cellular uptake of nanoparticles
3. Toxicogenomics, proteomics and advanced imaging of the cellular systems after intake
4. Development of procedures and protocols for metrologically controlled in vitro and in vivo studies for future regulatory rules (e.g. ISO/TC229).

Energy

Four main research areas will be pursued:

1. Hybrid solar cells based on 3D network of cross-linked nanorods/tetrapods
2. Hybrid Tandem Solar Cells
3. Nanocrystal solar cells based on Cd-free materials
4. Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSC)

Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS)

The research activity will develop the following projects:

1. Artificial Hair Cells MEMS Sensors: lateral line sensing in fish robots and for acoustic prosthesis
2. Transducers for synaptic signal sensing

Integrated Multiscale Computational Technology (IMCT)

The research and educational activity will be based on the following lines:

1. Modelling of nanocrystals;
2. Modelling of organic-inorganic interfaces;
3. Developing of embedding schemes

ORDINARY PLACES - 16 made up of:

8 Places with study bursaries - Study bursaries financed by IIT

8 Places without study bursaries

METHOD OF SELECTION:

1. Research project pertaining to the ITT scientific plan
2. Interview

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

• the evaluation of the research project will be held on October 26th, 2011, at 15:00 at the Centre for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Via Barsanti, 1 – 73010 Arnesano (Lecce)
• the interview will be held on October 27th, 2011, at 09:00 at the Centre for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Via Barsanti, 1 – 73010 Arnesano (Lecce)
  Knowledge of the English language will be checked during the interview.
  Candidates resident abroad can request, on the application to take part in the competition, that the interview is conducted remotely via a Skype video call.

The examinations may be done in Italian or English at the discretion of the candidate.

The educational qualifications required for entry to the competition, if not possessed by the date the call for entrants expires, may be handed over by the candidate by no later than October 22nd, 2011, and given to this administration, according to the methods under article 3 of this call for entrants, by October 22nd, 2011

Maximum points attainable for each examination:
Research project: max 50/100
Interview: max 50/100
Candidate who have passed the first test with a score of at least 25/100 will be accepted for interview.

Think IIT!

Nanochemistry, Advanced nanostructures, Nanophysics and Computer Imaging

The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) aims to promote both basic and applied, advanced research and to encourage the development of the Italian economic system. The IIT's main goals are the creation and dissemination of scientific knowledge and strengthening of the competitive capacity of the Italian technological system in an international context. The research doctorate courses conducted in the IIT have a strong interdisciplinary mould, and students will be given the chance to carry out research activities at the IIT in Genoa, under the guidance of IIT researchers, using international, cutting-edge methodologies and instrumentation and coming into contact with a research situation and with international scholars, among whom recent Nobel Prize winners.

Nanochemistry

The IIT's Nanochemistry facility aims to develop nanostructures, produced with chemical approaches, for applications in diverse sectors, such as for instance medicine (magnetic and fluorescent imaging, cellular separations, release of drugs, multi-modal approaches to diagnosis and therapies for tumours) energy conversion and storage (photovoltaic cells, batteries) and optoelectronics. One of our objectives is that of developing new strategies for nanostructure assembly, of discovering new collective properties which originate from such assemblies and of exploiting these properties in practical applications. The present staff has about 30 researchers, among whom chemists, biologists, physicists and engineers. The facility collaborates with diverse research groups in Italy and abroad.

Advanced Nanostructures

The activity of Advanced Nanostructures regards the design, manufacturing and measuring of nanodevices obtained with both top-down techniques, such as for instance lithography, and bottom up ones, such as auto-aggregation on a nanometric scale. The nanostructures manufactured are thought up both to study basic problems, as in nano-optics and quantal transport, and also for applications in the bio-medical, energy and materials science fields. Great interaction is envisaged with all the IIT departments and also with the other Italian offices. The clean room, of about 550 m2, is equipped with advanced systems of lithography, layering and PECVD. Furthermore, diverse measuring instruments are available for the physical characterisation of the devices. As far as the modelling is concerned, we have numeric software for planning and analysis in FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) of the nanostructures that will be produced.

The research activity is on an international basis both through direct collaboration with the great European and American universities and through the projects financed by the European Union. By 2011 the nanostructure facility will have a staff of about 30 researchers.

Nanophysics

The IIT's nanophysics unit develops new strategies of organisation of nanostructures capable of giving life to various typologies of nanoparticle architecture, it designs and produces devices for characterisation which goes from single molecules or nanoparticles, to more complex nanostructured systems up to systems on a micrometric/millimetric scale as in living organisms. Furthermore, it integrates the planning and basic knowledge levels on 2D and 3D nanostructured systems orientating itself toward 4D applications (x, y, z, t) in polyvalent fields: high-density, tri-dimensional memorisation and therapeutical applications through functional modification of surfaces and nanoscopic exploration of living organisms. The design, production and use of instrumentation and advanced methodologies in the field of spectroscopy, optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and optical nanoscopy are all key research points.

Finally, the study of fundamental properties and the applicative potential of new nanostructured, biological or hybrid materials at the nanoscale level are all of great importance.

Computer Imaging

Pattern analysis, Learning, and image Understanding Systems laboratory (PLUS Lab)

The PLUS lab concentrates its activities on analysis and learning of images and patterns, for the purpose of developing intelligent systems for real applications in the fields of surveillance and security, analysis of biomedical data and bioinformatics. Furthermore, it represents a reference point for the other IIT departments and laboratories with high complex data analysis needs.

In particular, one of the main objectives is that of designing and developing innovative video surveillance systems characterised by the use of intelligent sensors and advanced functionalities of video analysis. To this end, PLUS goes ahead with cutting-edge research relative to systems of computer vision and pattern recognition, as well as biometrics, multi-modal data fusion and multisensory integration, sensors' networks and integrated artificial vision.

Thanks to the versatility of the techniques it deals with, the laboratory also sets itself the objective of exploring new strategies in the analysis of biomedical images and in bioinformatics.

Our offer

• three-year scholarship for the PhD course;
• international cutting-edge research laboratories;
• equipping with personal work instruments and access to international scientific journals;
• seminars, periodic meetings and thematic workshops;
• foreign language courses and training for scientific publication;
• constant contacts with international scholars and participation in schools of in-depth study;
• international and interdisciplinary working environment.

Our requirements

• a degree obtained with an excellent score, according to the regulations envisaged by law in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Engineering, Computer Science/Informatics, with no age or citizenship limit, in possession of civil and political rights in the states of belonging or origin;
• good knowledge of the English language;
• high scientific motivation and potential predisposition for research.

Contacts

• Prof. Alberto Diaspro (Nanophysics)
• Dr. Liberato Manna (Nanochemistry)
• Prof. Enzo Di Fabrizio (Nano manufacturing)
• Prof. Vittorio Murino (Computer Imaging)
• info : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  

We seek highly motivated Italian or international candidates with an educational background in psychology, neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience or related fields. Applications should include a CV, a statement of research experience and interests, and names of 2 referees. Please send your application by E-mail both to Dr. Lorella Battelli ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and Ms. Sara Maistrelli ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). The deadline for the application is December 31, 2011.

The Italian Institute of Technology (http://www.iit.it) is a private law Foundation, created with special Government Law no. 269 of September 30th 2003, with the objective of promoting Italy's technological development and higher education in science and technology. Research at IIT is carried out in highly innovative scientific fields with state-of-the-art technology.

In order to comply with the Italian law (art. 23 of Privacy Law of the Italian Legislative Decree n. 196/03), we have to kindly ask the candidates to give their consent to allow IIT to process their personal data.

We inform you that the information you provided will be used solely for the purpose of assessing your professional profile to meet the requirements of the IIT Foundation.
Your data will be processed by the IIT Foundation, with headquarters in Genoa, Via Morego, 30, acting as the Data Holder, using computer and paper based means, observing the rules on protection of personal data, including those relating to the security of data.
Please also note that, pursuant to art. 7 of Legislative Decree 196/2003, you may exercise your rights at any time as a party concerned by contacting the Data Manager.

The Italian Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively seeks diversity in the workforce.