PHD PROGRAMME TABLE 40TH CYCLE

PROGRAMME’S NAME VETERINARY SCIENCES

DURATION 3 years
PROGRAMME START DATE 01/11/2024 (DD/MM/YYYY)
LANGUAGES Italian, English
COORDINATOR Prof. Carolina Castagnetti ([email protected])
CURRICULA 1. Basic Sciences
2. Animal Production and Food Safety
3. Animal Health
4. Clinical Sciences
PhD POSITIONS 10
ADMISSION PROCEDURE Qualifications and research proposal evaluation
Oral examination

Available Positions and Scholarships

Pos. n. Financial Description Curriculum Positions linked to a specific research topic
Support

1 PhD Totally funded by the 3 Image-analysis and artificial intelligence for

scholarship University of Bologna the characterization of tumors in dogs, cats
general budget and horses (Supervisor: Prof. Barbara Bacci)
2 PhD Totally funded by the 3 Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) at the
scholarship University of Bologna companion animals (dogs, cats and horses)
general budget and bats interface: epidemiological,
diagnostic and clinical-pathological aspects
(Supervisor: Dr. Andrea Balboni)
3 PhD Totally funded by the 2 Implementation of the use of neglected and
scholarship University of Bologna underutilized fish species for the production
general budget of innovative food products by dry-Curing
(Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Serraino)
4 PhD Totally funded by the 2 Comparison between two methods of
scholarship University of Bologna performing FMT (orally and rectally) in dogs
general budget suffering from chronic non-diet-responsive
enteropathy, through evaluation of clinical
parameters and analysis of the fecal
microbiota (Supervisor: Prof. Giacomo Biagi)
5 PhD Totally funded by the 4 Assisted reproduction and regenerative
scholarship University of Bologna medicine: a possible partnership for
general budget improving fertility (Supervisor: Prof. Barbara
Merlo)
6 PhD Funded by the University 4 Novel endoscopic and surgical techniques for
scholarship of Bologna general budget the management of most common urological
and by the Department of disease in the dog and cat: clinical application

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 Veterinary Medical from a translational approach (Supervisor:
Sciences Prof. Luciano Pisoni)
7 PhD Totally funded by the 4 Environmental Pollution sentinels in the
scholarship University of Bologna MEDiterranean - DEEP-MED (Supervisor: Prof.
general budget Annalisa Zaccaroni)
8 PhD Totally funded by the 1 Study of the physiologic and bioenergetic
scholarship University of Bologna mechanisms of mammalian sperm in vitro
general budget capacitation (Supervisor: Prof. Marcella
Spinaci)
9 PhD Totally funded by the 1 Microscopic and macroscopic evaluation of
scholarship University of Bologna the digestive and reproductive system in the
general budget blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Supervisor:
Prof. Maurizio Mazzoni)
10 PhD Totally funded by the 1 Biochemical characterization of dairy industry
scholarship University of Bologna by-products and their valorization in the
general budget perspective of circular economy (Supervisor:
Prof. Giulia Andreani)
The number of positions and scholarships may be incremented in case additional funding becomes available,
notwithstanding the terms of the application process in the Call. Any amendment, update or integration of the
Programme Table will be published on the University website, even after the Call for applications has expired. Any
further PhD positions shall be integrated in the PhD Programme Table within ten days before the oral examination.

All PhD positions winners shall fulfill the learning and research obligations decided by the Academic Board and the
obligations foreseen in the relevant regulations, funding schemes and eventual agreements, and in the Call for
Applications.

Admission Exams
DATE AND TIME RESULTS
Qualifications and Applicants’ participation is not required Available from 02/07/2024
research proposal
evaluation
Oral examination Date: starting from 16/07/2024 – 9.00 a.m. CEST Available from 22/07/2024
Place: In presence, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Via
Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO). Remotely, using
Microsoft Teams
The results of the qualifications and research proposal evaluation shall be available on the webpage Studenti Online
(select “summary of the requests in progress” > “see detail” and open the .pdf file at the bottom of the page) together
with the oral examination detailed schedule. No personal written communication will be sent to applicants
concerning the examinations results.

During the oral examination, applicants may express their interest in one or more positions linked to specific
research topics.

Required and Supporting Documents to be attached to the application

All the documents listed below shall be drawn up in English or in Italian. In case of documents originally issued in any
other language (e.g. identity document, qualifications), an official translation is required.
Only qualifications obtained during the last 5 calendar years shall be taken into consideration, except for the University
Degree. The Admission Board will assess the relevance of the supporting documents to the PhD Programme.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Identity document Valid identity document with photo (i.e. identity card, passport)

Curriculum Vitae No specific CV format is required

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 Degrees Documents attesting the awarding of the first and second cycle degrees, the exams taken and
the marks obtained (see Art. 3 of the Call for Applications)
Research proposal Multi-annual research proposal, with special emphasis on the activities to be completed
during the first-year course. The proposal must meet the following requirements:
- it must mention on the cover page the topic-specific position the applicant is interested to
and the proposal is about (see above, table “Available Positions and Scholarships”, column
“Positions linked to a specific research topic”);
- it cannot exceed 6,000 characters, including spaces and formula possibly used. This figure
does not include: the title of proposal, the outline, references and images (such as graphs,
diagrams, tables, etc. - if present);
- it must include: the state of the art; description of the proposal; expected results;
articulation of the proposal and implementation times; outlining of the criteria meant to be
used to assess the research results; references.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Thesis abstract Abstract of the second cycle degree thesis. Graduands applicants may submit the draft of the
thesis. Abstracts cannot exceed 5,000 characters, including spaces and formula possibly used.
The above figure does not include: the title of the thesis, the outline, references, and images
such as graphs, diagrams, tables etc.
Publications Lists of indexed publications (DOI number required, if present)

Evaluation criteria*
Scores will be expressed in points out of 100, as follows.

1. Qualifications and research proposal evaluation

Minimum score for admission to the oral examination: 30 points, Maximum score: 50 points
Qualifications Second cycle (Master’s) degree final mark. Graduands shall be evaluated 10 points max
evaluation according to the Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
Indexed publications 5 points max
Research proposal Scientific value and ground-breaking nature of the proposal 15 points max
evaluation Structure of the proposal 10 points max
Proposal feasibility 10 points max
Please, note that the Admission Board will evaluate the research proposal, only if consistent with the specific
research topic linked to the PhD position chosen by the applicant.

2. Oral examination
Minimum score for eligibility: 30 points, Maximum score 50 points
English language proficiency 5 points max
Research proposal presentation 20 points max
General knowledge of the PhD programme’s main research topics and of the research topics linked 25 points max
to the available PhD positions
Oral examination aims to assess the suitability of the applicant for scientific research as well as the general knowledge
of the PhD programme’s main research topics and of the research topics linked to the available PhD positions.
During the oral examination, the applicant’s English language proficiency shall be assessed.
The oral examination is carried out in Italian or in English.
* Possible further evaluation criteria will be available on the University website, selecting the relevant PhD Programme
> “More information”.

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Via Irnerio 49 | 40126 Bologna | Italia | Tel. + 39 051 2094620 | [email protected]