The Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) has established an interdisciplinary PhD programme in collaboration with the Open University (OU; Milton Keynes, UK), in the form of an OU Affiliated Research Centre at the IIT (ARC@IIT). The PhD programme confers Doctorates in Health, Sustainable and Human Technologies, with research activities carried out in the framework of the OU Affiliated Research Centre at IIT in Genova.

Programme. The PhD in Health, Sustainable and Human Technologies is a programme of excellence, which comprises taught modules (delivered on site or remotely) a) in disciplinary subjects, b) in transferable skills including IP protection and commercialization, and c) in the major challenges our societies face (energy supply, sustainability, mental health, ageing, epidemics).

The maximal duration of projects is 4 years; an intermediate examination takes place before the end of the first year and must be passed to allow progression to the remainder of the programme.

The opportunities. We invite applications from outstanding candidates.

If you wish to carry out a research at the forefront of nano, life and robotic technologies under the supervision of internationally leading scientists, please find below a list of available PhD projects (with the expected starting date); this includes a succinct description, the specific requirements (including background of the applicants) and the contact details of the main supervisor.

List of openings for PhD positions expected to start on the 1st October 2021:

1. Neuroscience of Music 
   Project title: On the neurobiological origins of musicality and its socio-communicative functions
   Main supervisor: Giacomo Novembre (Neuroscience of Perception and Action)
   The selection is in the shortlisting stage for the interviews
    
2. The Social Brain
   Project title: Brain Circuits of Social Cognition and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
   Main supervisor: Francesco Papaleo (Genetics of Cognition)
   Apply
    
3. Magnetic materials for curing cancer
   Project title: Scale up synthesis of magnetic nanomaterials for magnetic hyperthermia application
   Main supervisor: Teresa Pellegrino (Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications)
   The selection is in the shortlisting stage for the interviews
    
4. Controlled neuronal network building blocks
   Project title: Engineering 3D functional scaffold for tuning neuronal functionalities and activity at the nanoscale
   Main supervisor: Francesca Santoro (Tissue electronics)
   Apply
    
5. Computational Plasmonics
   Project title: Optical nanoantennas for computational imaging.
   Main supervisor:  Cristian Ciracì (Computational Nanoplasmonics)
   Apply
    
6. Neuroelectronic wireless micro-devices
   Project title: Development of neuroelectronic sensing and actuating micro-scale devices with wireless power and data transfer
   Main supervisor: Luca Berdondini (Microtechnology for Neuroelectronics)
   Apply

Prospective students must use the links in the project titles and submit the following documents before the deadline:

• 2-page CV, which includes studies and expertise;
• 1-page research statement, which includes the choice of a project from the list above and a justification of the choice. Only if robustly justified, the student may signal their interest also for a second project, but there is no guarantee that this will be taken into account by the selection;
• a transcript of undergraduate and postgraduate studies;
• a valid IELTS certificate, obtained no more than two years before the proposed registration;
• contact details of two referees.

All applications are first checked for eligibility; invalid or insufficient IELTS, absence referee details or insufficient grades are reason for rejection at this stage. Applicants are then short-listed on the basis of their ranking in essential and desirable criteria. Short-listed applicants will be notified and will receive an application package that describes in detail all subsequent steps of the recruitment; we regret not to be able to inform all unsuccessful candidates at this stage; no communication by the above date is intended as a notification that the application is no longer under consideration, but candidates are free to contact ARC@iit.it to obtain a feedback about their application. Short-listed candidates will attend an interview (live or Skype) on a date of mutual convenience. The interview will comprise a 15’ presentation in English, followed by a 20’ questioning; candidates will be selected on the basis of the combined ranking of interview performance and application. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be informed.

Successful applicants will be asked to submit to the Open University the documents necessary for the final registration; IIT will then cover the registration fees and provide a gross salary of €18.700 per annum for the duration of the student registration in the graduate programme.

Please note that the details and CVs of the successful applicants will be shared with the Open University. The data that you provide will be used exclusively for the purpose of professional profiles’ evaluation and selection, and in order to meet the requirements of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia. Your data will be processed by Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, based in Genoa, Via Morego 30, acting as Data Controller, in compliance with the rules on protection of personal data, including those related to data security. Please also note that, pursuant to articles 15 et. seq. of European Regulation no. 679/2016 (General Data Protection Regulation), you may exercise your rights at any time by contacting the Data Protection Officer ((phone +39 010 71781 - email: dpo[at]iit.it).