PhD Programme in “Industrial Engineering” – Brochure a.a. 2021-22
Read MorePHD INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
University of Rome "Tor Vergata"
GENERAL PRESENTATION
Postgraduate training plays a fundamental role in the employment prospects of any young graduate student. The technological and innovative goals of modern industry are more and more complex and require a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach. It is therefore of the utmost importance to integrate multiple specific skills in areas ranging from engineering to physics, involving chemistry, biology and medicine. This entails a necessary remodeling of the training courses, providing specialist knowledge, scientific methodology, flexible mentality and ability to work in organized research teams in order to solve complex problems and make the most of the potential of Industry 4.0.
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Read MoreTHE PROGRAM
MAIN OBJECTIVES AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Basically the main goal of the PhD programme is to train students to become “problem solvers”. In order to do so, academic and specialist courses are given, as well as seminars, schools and guided research activities. The duration of this whole set of training activities is 3 years. It is intended to provide the students with quite a few skills in their specific area of interest, such as: theoretical knowledge, experimental abilities, technological expertise, methods for calculus, modelling and simulation.
The outcome of the process, is hopefully to form proactive professionals able to “tune” their skills with the increasingly complex demands from the market, in search of constant and challenging technological innovations.
As a matter of fact, beside the connection with Italian and international Universities and research Institutes, the PhD programme in Industrial Engineering is strongly related to and supported by public and private companies as well. They greatly appreciate the ability to deal with design, production and characterization in the field of technological applications. This is why quite often our PhD students find out career opportunities soon after their PhD final exam and the achievement of their Doctoral Degree. Indeed, most of our former PhD students are now employed in R&D branches of important companies, while others work in research institutes and universities.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY, INTERNATIONAL AND INTERSECTORAL APPROACH
Meeting the needs of a changing labour market requires greater emphasis on the EU Triple-I recommendations on doctoral training: to be international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral. In order to fulfil such requirements, several research fields are covered by expertise of the members of both scientific and advisory panels of the PhD program. They belong to quite a few different Scientific and Disciplinary Sectors (see the SSD list below), ranging from engineering to physics, involving chemistry, biology, medicine, management and law.
In addition, carrying out study and research activities at external laboratories is strongly recommended in the PhD training program. Joint PhD paths with International Institutions, as well as Joint and Double PhD, Exchange and Erasmus+ programmes are supported by the “Tor Vergata” University PhD School. More specifically, well assessed cooperation and/or formal agreements are active between the PhD Programme in “Industrial Engineering” and the following Universities, Research Institutions and private companies (also listed below in alphabetic order):
GENERAL PRESENTATION
Postgraduate training plays a fundamental role in the employment prospects of any young graduate student. The technological and innovative goals of modern industry are more and more complex and require a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach. It is therefore of the utmost importance to integrate multiple specific skills in areas ranging from engineering to physics, involving chemistry, biology and medicine. This entails a necessary remodeling of the training courses, providing specialist knowledge, scientific methodology, flexible mentality and ability to work in organized research teams in order to solve complex problems and make the most of the potential of Industry 4.0.
TRAINING AND RESEARCH
The PhD education program prescribes the acquisition of 12 credit points per year during the first two years. This is achieved by joining courses to be chosen in agreement with the assigned tutor, so to personalize the training program according both to the student expectations and the need of acquiring a specific background. Personalized training plans will be devised for PhD students by their tutors, in order to provide them with the best and most appropriate learning and training opportunities. Training also includes lectures, seminars, schools and guided research activity. PhD students are also strongly encouraged to attend courses aimed at improving the level of their knowledge of the English language.
Even though a certified knowledge of the English language is not a stringent requirement for admission, students are advised that the entrance exam includes an assessment of the knowledge of the English language, several of the above mentioned training courses will be given in English and the PhD thesis has to be written in English. Preparatory courses, which are mandatory for the students during their first year. Basically 5 of such courses are offered:
- “How to design and report your experiments”;
- “Collection, analysis, discussion and publication of experimental data in a scientific report/paper”;
- “Protecting technological and business innovations. An introduction to intellectual property and patenting”;
- “Writing and proposing a research project”;
- “English course”;
Academic general courses, normally delivered by our or other Italian and foreign Universities.
“On demand” specialist PhD courses, to be chosen among the courses given by members of the PhD panel and experts cooperating in the doctoral activities.
Go to the list of PhD Modules
Summer Schools, Workshops, Company Training Courses
At the beginning of the Doctoral Program each student is assigned a tutor who supervises the course of his/her studies. The tutor is appointed by the PhD panel. During the whole period of the PhD program, the tutor supervises and supports the preparation and training of the student, and takes care to verify the good quality of his/her research activities. The tutor will manage to schedule periodical meetings with the student, in order to assess the progress in the research program.
In general, the first year of the programme is mainly devoted to a review of the available literature related to the research project the PhD students proposed in their enrolment procedure, preliminary research on its experimental feasibility, together with the acquisition of basic technical and scientific knowledge on standard methodologies.
In the second year, specific experiments have to be designed and realized by the students under the supervision of their tutor, so to end up with a set of comprehensive and self-consistent experimental datasets.
The third year is mainly devoted to the analysis, elaboration and discussion of the gathered experimental results, as well as to the writing of the final thesis.
At the end of each year, a general assembly of the PhD program is organized. All of the students are asked to give the PhD panel an oral presentation, summarizing their latest experimental activities and results. An overall evaluation is performed by the tutors and the members of the PhD panel. Upon approval of the presented work, the students are allowed to enter the following year of their PhD program. For students in their 3rd year, such an approval implies the admission to the PhD final exam.
The main cultural and scientific themes of the PhD programme in Industrial Engineering are:
- Materials and Productive Processes
- Energy and Environment
- Micro-technologies and Devices for Biomedical and Nuclear applications
- Mechatronics
- Design and Technology for Medicine and Sports
- Chemical, Mechanical, Thermal and Optical Measurements
- Technology and Methods for Cultural Heritage
Educational and Scientific Regulations of the Doctoral Program in Industrial Engineering
Scope
This regulation governs the organizational, educational, and scientific aspects of the Doctoral Program in Industrial Engineering. The current Regulation for Doctoral Research Courses of the University of Rome Tor Vergata rules what not expressly mentioned here.
Training Activities for Ph.D. Students
The doctoral program in Industrial Engineering requires each student to acquire a minimum of 12 educational credits in the first year and 9 credits in the second year. No educational activities are scheduled for the third year. The Doctorate offers approximately twenty educational courses (3 credits each), covering specific topics related to the doctoral program. In December of each year a survey is conducted among all first and second-year students. Based on the preferences expressed, a minimum of 6 courses, including the mandatory one titled "From data to divulgation: the scientific path," will be activated for all Ph.D. students.
Furthermore, educational credits can be obtained through participation in schools, specialized university courses, update courses, workshops, and conferences related to the Ph.D. student's educational path, after the previous tutor’s agreement. It is the responsibility of the tutors to verify and certify the actual completion of educational and training activities, referring to the duration of these activities according to:
- schools/courses: 1 educational credit for every 7 hours;
- workshops and conferences: 1 educational credit for every 14 hours.
The 21 prescribed educational credits must be acquired by the end of the second year. In exceptional cases, following a motivated request, it is possible to complete the educational training during the third year. In any case, admission to the final examination is not allowed without acquiring the 21 prescribed credits.
Scientific Production of Ph.D. Students
It is the Ph.D. students’ responsibility, in agreement with their tutor, to disseminate the results of the research activity through publications in national and international scientific journals, presentations at national and international conferences, and seminars. In particular, it is mandatory:
- For the admission to the 3rd year, the student must be among the authors of at least one work on topics related to doctoral activities, submitted to a journal indexed on Scopus and/or WoS.
- For the admission to the final examination, the student must have, at least, one publication in a journal indexed on Scopus and/or WoS on topics related to the thesis work, and at least one accepted paper.
In addition, to be eligible for “excellent” grade in the final examination, it is necessary to have a minimum of three papers published or accepted in journals indexed on Scopus and/or WoS by the date of the thesis defense.
Monitoring of the Ph.D. Activities
Each Ph.D. student is assigned an academic tutor who is a member of the Doctoral Board. In the case of doctoral activities mainly carried out in other institutions or labs, an additional tutor from these institutions/labs is assigned. It is the tutors' responsibility to agree on the Ph.D. students’ training and research program, and continuously supervise their activities. Every year, in September, all the Ph.D. students’ are asked to fill in a report summarising their scientific and educational activities.
This form is signed by the tutor(s), who certify its content. At the end of each academic year, usually in October, PhD students are required to present the results of their work before a committee appointed by the Coordinator.
Based on the activity report and the audition, the Committee expresses a judgment and proposes to the Board the admission or non-admission to the next year. For third-year students, the Committee will also evaluate the whole activities carried out during the Doctoral Program and proposes to the Board the admission or non-admission to final examination.
Final Exam
The Doctoral thesis, in its final form and written in English, must be submitted to the Coordinator by December 15 after the conclusion of the third year of the Ph.D. program (unless there are suspensions or extensions approved by the Board). The Coordinator will submit the thesis for evaluation to at least
two referees. They must be not affiliated with the Board or with the institution awarding the doctoral degree, possess a high level of qualification and, at least one of them, must be a university professor. According to the regulations of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, the final examination must take place within six months of the end of the Doctoral Program.
This regulation comes into effect starting from the 39th cycle of the Doctoral Program.
APPLICATION AND ENROLMENT
The call for admission to the 40th cycle A.A. 2024/2025 of the doctoral program is now open.
Application deadline: July 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM (CEST).
REQUIREMENTS
The call is open to Italian and International citizens. They are requested to have achieved a second level degree obtained in Italy by October 31st 2024, or a similar academic title obtained abroad, equivalent for duration and content to the Italian title. The admission to the programmes will be established according to: (i) the evaluation of the candidates’ curricula, (ii) the proposal of a possible PhD research project, which the candidates can submit contextually with their application to the admission announcement and (iii) an interview with a committee of selected members of the PhD scientific panel.
CALL FOR APPLICATION
The call for application to the 36th cycle of the PhD programmes of Rome “Tor Vergata” University is available at the following websites:
CONTACT PERSONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prof. Gianluca Verona Rinati
Coordinator of the PhD Programme in Industrial Engineering
Tel.: +39 06 7259 7227
E-mail: gianluca.verona.rinati@uniroma2.it
Dr. Giovanni La Rosa
Director of the PhD School Office
Tel. : +39 06 72592582
e-mail: giovanni.larosa@uniroma2.it
Web: http://dottorati.uniroma2.it
Mrs. Lorena Gerosi
Collaborator of the PhD School Office
Certificates, Fellowships, Front Office
Tel. : +39 06 72592564
e-mail: lorena.gerosi@uniroma2.it
Mrs. Serena Sposato
Collaborator of the PhD School Office
Foreign students, Announcements, Front Office
Tel. : +39 06 72594128
e-mail: serena.sposato@uniroma2.it