phd programme in agriculture, food and environmentagricultural, food and agro-environmental...
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UUNNIIVVEERRSSIITTÀÀ DDII PP IISSAA
PhD programme in
Agriculture, Food
and Environment
PhD programme in Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment
University of Pisa
Postal address:
Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa
Italy
Internet: http://www.agr.unipi.it/phd-programme-in-agriculture-food-and-environment-3/
Compilation & Final editing: A. Pardossi, A. Cavallini (University of Pisa)
Design: B. Sereni (University of Pisa)
January 2019
The information contained in this brochure is subject to change
The University of Pisa (UNIPI) is one of the most important universities in Italy and has a
long tradition of excellence in terms of education and scientific research. The Department
of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE) is dedicated to research at the frontiers of
agricultural, food and agro-environmental sciences. The Director of DAFE is currently Prof.
Alberto Pardossi ([email protected]) and the teaching staff consists of nearly 70
professors and researchers.
The PhD programme in Agriculture, Food and Environment is a three-year post-graduate
research course at DAFE. The official language of the PhD course is English. The
Coordinator of the PhD programme is currently Prof. Andrea Cavallini
([email protected]). The Phd programme has as central theme 'Food sustainability'.
Its scope is articulated around three main areas: 1) biological basis of food sustainability;
2) sustainability of food production systems; 3) food quality and safety.
The course aims at training researchers with an up-to-date, excellent disciplinary ground
and with a deep understanding of the systemic implications of their specific field of activity
and awareness of the importance of mutual learning with enterprises, administrations and
civil society. The PhD programme encourages the development of a common systemic
approach through its training program, which will be centered upon the principles of
sustainability science, and through its partnership strategy. In this sense, specific
agreements with external institutions and/or with some firms are established for specific
research themes, with double (university and external institution) supervision. After
graduation, the PhD student is expected to be a highly qualified and skilful researcher in
the field of basic or applied research. The job placement of PhD graduates is in public or
private research centres in the sectors of agriculture, food industry and environment.
At present, the Doctorate Board includes 21 professors at the University of Pisa and 3
senior scientists at various research institutes in Italy or abroad. Currently, 36 graduate
students are attending the course or are waiting for the final examination; ten students
come from foreign universities.
Doctorate Board
SURNAME & NAME INSTITUTION QUALIFICATION EMAIL RESEARCH INTERESTS
1. ANGELINI, Gabriella
Luciana UNIPI Full Professor [email protected]
Agronomy; crop production and
quality of food and non-food species
2. ARDUINI, Iduna UNIPI Researcher [email protected] Botany applied to agro-ecosystems
3. BARTOLINI, Fabio UNIPI Researcher [email protected] Agricultural economics; bioeconomy;
modelling farmer behaviour
4. BRUNORI, Gianluca UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Agricultural economics; bioeconomy;
agricultural and food policy
5. CANALE, Angelo UNIPI Researcher [email protected] Integrated pest management; insect
behaviour
6. CAVALLINI, Andrea UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Plant genetics and genomics
7. CHERUBINI, Paolo
Swiss Federal Institute
for Forest, Snow and
Landscape Research
Senior
Researcher [email protected]
Tree physiology; silviculture and forest
ecology
8. GIOVANNETTI, Manuela UNIPI Full Professor [email protected]
Soil microbiology; mycorrhizal
symbioses; rhizosphere beneficial
bacteria
9. GUCCI, Riccardo UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Physiology and management of fruit
trees; olive trees; oil quality
10. GUGLIELMINETTI,
Lorenzo UNIPI Researcher [email protected] Plant physiology; plant proteomics
11. LOCONTO, Allison-Marie INRA (France) Senior
Researcher [email protected]
Agricultural economics; institutional
innovations in conformity assessment
systems
12. LUCCHI, Andrea UNIPI Ass. Professor [email protected] Integrate pest management
13. MASSAI, Rossano UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Management of fruit crops; fruit quality
14. MAZZONCINI, Marco UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Agronomy; crop production and
organic agriculture
15. MELE, Marcello UNIPI Associate
Professor [email protected]
Lipid metabolism in ruminants; rumen
fermentation and methane emission;
milk and meat quality.
16. NALI, Cristina UNIPI Associate
Professor [email protected]
Air pollution and global change; tree
hazard assessment
17. PARDOSSI, Alberto UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Greenhouse and nursery
management; hydroponic technology
18. PEZZAROSSA, Beatrice CNR Senior
Researcher [email protected]
Trace elements in the soil-plant
system; soil quality
19. PISTELLI, Laura UNIPI Researcher [email protected] Plant physiology; herbs and officinal
plants
20. RAFFAELLI, Michele UNIPI Associate
Professor [email protected]
Machines for soil tillage, conservation
and no tillage, physical weed control,
soil disinfection with physical methods
21. RANIERI, Annamaria UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Food quality, plant stress physiology
and biochemistry
22. SERRA, Andrea UNIPI Researcher [email protected] Animal food production and quality
23. VANNACCI, Giovanni UNIPI Full Professor [email protected] Fungal plant pathogens; biocontrol of
plant diseases; Mycology
24. ZINNAI, Angela UNIPI Associate
Professor [email protected] Food technology
Programme overview
The PhD programme essentially consists in conducting an original research work under
supervision and writing a dissertation (thesis) concerning the following topics:
- food science and technology;
- genomics, proteomics and metabolomics of species of agricultural interest;
- multifunctional agriculture;
- plant and animal production systems, even in urban environment;
- plant physiology, ecology and biochemistry;
- plant, animal and microbial biotechnologies;
- technologies for plant and soil protection and environmental bioremediation.
Each PhD student is supported by a supervisor at DAFE. The PhD students also supervise
MSc students and participate in educational activities such as courses, seminars, summer
schools and congresses organized by the University of Pisa or other institutions in Italy or
abroad, following a tailor-made training plan aimed at achieving in-depth knowledge of
specific scientific issues and improving general skills.
The courses and seminars organized in 2019 for all PhD students are the following:
Course ―Scientific English‖. January-March 2019. Organized by University of Pisa.
Course ―Fundamentals of Statistics for Agricultural Research‖. March-April 2019.
Lecturers: Dr. G. Conte (Univ. of Pisa); Prof. N. Macciotta (Univ. of Sassari).
Course ―Publishing in International Scientific Journals‖. June 2019. Lecturer: Dr. G.
Benelli (Univ. of Pisa).
Students generally attend other courses, seminars and scientific meetings organized by
DAFE. The detailed programme of teaching activities for each year is generally published
at the end of February.
At the end of each year, each PhD student holds a public seminar and prepares a report
on his/her academic and research activities, which must evaluated and approved by the
Doctorate Board.
All the PhD students are invited to spend at least six months in renowned research
institutes abroad during the second and/or third year of the course.
At the end of the course, the thesis (in English) is preliminary evaluated by two external
referees belonging to other Universities in Italy or abroad.
Finally, the PhD degree is awarded after a public examination in the form of defence of the
dissertation before an external committee, which is appointed by the Doctorate Board.
Each candidate must publish at least one scientific paper in an indexed journal (ISI–Web
of Knowledge) before graduation.
A list of current PhD projects is reported below.
Current PhD projects
CANDIDATE YEAR THESIS SUBJECT SUPERVISOR
[OPPONENT]
1. ABOU CHEHADE, Lara 3+ Performance of field
vegetable cropping systems
under organic farming: effects
of tillage, cover cropping and
weed management.
M. Mazzoncini,
D. Antichi
[A. Peruzzi]
2. BECAGLI, Michelangelo 1
Effects of biochar on
chemical and biological
properties in soil plant system
R. Cardelli
[A. Pardossi,
M. Mazzoncini]
3. CALZONE, Antonella 2
Future Mediterranean
scenario: will the
pomegranate be a crop
species?
E. Pellegrini,
B.E. Maserti
[D. Remorini]
4. CECCANTI, Costanza 2
Wild plants, a better
alternative to common
vegetables and their
nutritional and toxic
properties as ready-prepared
fresh salads and V gamma
vegetables
A. Pardossi, L. Guidi
[L. Angelini]
5. CHIELLINI, Carolina 1
Evaluation of heavy metal
decontamination
performances in algae and
plants
L. Guglielminetti,
L. Pistelli
[A. Scartazza,
A. Ciurli]
6. CHINEDU TEMPLE, Obi 2
The Impact of International
Migration on Agriculture,
Food and Rural Development
of Home and Host
Communities: Evidence from
Nigerian Migrants in Italy and
Belgium
F. Bartolini
[G. Brunori]
7. CIUCCI, Francesca 3
Productive and metabolic
response of Maremmana and
Aubrac steers maintained in
feedlot or grazing systems
A. Serra, M. Mele
[T. Giordani]
8. ESNARRIAGA NAIMID DEL
VALLE, Dayana 2
Plant to plant and plant to soil
interactions in intercrops and
mixed crops
I. Arduini [M. Mariotti]
9. GIOVANNETTI, Alessandra 2
The novel food regulation in
the European and
international context
A. Di Lauro
[G. Strambi]
10. GIOVANNINI, Luca 1
Molecular and functional
diversity of beneficial
microorganisms associated
with the mycorrhizosphere
M. Giovannetti,
A. Turrini
[C. Sbrana]
11. KOBZEVA, Marina 1
Limiting and enabling factors
in transdisciplinary research:
The example of Living Labs
for rural-urban relations in the
EU-funded research project
ROBUST
G. Brunori, D. Maye
[P. Prosperi]
12. LO PICCOLO, Ermes 3
Photo-oxidative stress in
young and senescent leaves
characterized by the
presence or not of
anthocyanins
D. Remorini
[L. Guidi]
13. MACALUSO, Monica 1
The valorization of olive oils
through innovation and
optimization of packaging and
storage conditions adopted in
order to increase the olive
growing sustainability
A. Zinnai
[M.F. Quartacci,
F. Venturi]
14. MANNUCCI, Alessia 2
UV radiation and leaf-root
communication in fungal
pathogen resistance and
fortification of food plants
M.F. Quartacci
[L. Guglielminetti]
15. MARCHICA, Alessandra 2
Characterization and isolation
of genes and proteins
involved in abiotic stress
response in sage (Salvia
officinalis L.)
E. Pellegrini,
R. Bernardi
[L. Guidi]
16. MARCHIONI, Ilaria 2 Edible flowers as new source
of nutraceutical foods
L. Pistelli
[A. Pardossi]
17. MATTIONI, Dalia 3+ The impact of food
provisioning environments on
nutrition: the contribution of
local food systems
G. Brunori
[F. Di Iacovo]
18. MOLES, Tommaso Michele 3+ Characterization of landrace
genotypes of Solanum
lycopersicum
L. Guglielminetti,
P. Picciarelli
[A. Scartazza]
19. MOLINA, Natalia 1 Interactive innovation in
agriculture G. Brunori [F. Galli]
20. ORLANDO, Jacopo Gabriele 3
The role of multifunctionality
principle into social
responsibility initiatives
G. Brunori
[M. Rovai]
21. PALAI, Giacomo 1
Soil water availability effects
on yield and fruit quality in
fruit trees and grapevine
C. D‘Onofrio,
G. Caruso
[S.D. Castellarin]
22. PALMIOLI, Lucia 3
Small farms, small food
businesses and sustainable
food security
G. Brunori
[F. Di Iacovo]
23. PIERRO, Roberto 3+ Symptom severity and
multilocus sequence typing
analysis of Bois Noir
phytoplasma strains in
Tuscan vineyards
A. Materazzi
[D. Rizzo]
24. PIRCHIO, Michel 3+ Development of innovative
machines and application of
precision farming instruments
for turf grass management
and turf quality control.
M. Fontanelli,
M. Volterrani
[A. Peruzzi]
25. PISUTTU, Claudia 1 How to counteract the
Ailanthus altissima invasion:
could Verticillium have a role
in the biological control of the
“Tree of Heaven”?
G. Lorenzini
[R. Bernardi]
26. PUIG SIRERA, Angela 2 Agro-hydrological and
spectral models to improve
the accuracy of monitoring
water status and irrigation
efficiency in Mediterranean
arboreal crops
G. Rallo
[D. Intrigliolo]
27. PURNAWAN, Endar 2 Development of Small Food
Business in the Kawasan
Mandiri Pangan (KMP)
Program in Border Area in
Indonesia
G. Brunori
[A. Rossi]
28. RABELO LANZA, Marya
Cristina
1 Multitemporal analysis of land
use and land cover changes
in Mediterranean area by
integrating information from
European data-bases, remote
sensing and local surveys
N. Silvestri
[T. Sabbatini]
29. RICCIARDI, Renato 3 Semio-chemical and benificial
insects for biological control
of pests in vineyards
A. Lucchi
[B. Conti]
30. DA ROCHA O. TEIXEIRA,
Raiza
2 The role of small farmers on
nutrition security: a gender-
sensitive analysis
G. Brunori
[F. Galli]
31. SPORTELLI, Mino 1
Innovative strategies and
machines to manage weeds
in urban environment and in
conservation agriculture
C. Frasconi,
M. Volterrani
[M. Fontanelli]
32. TAGLIERI, Isabella 2
Innovative technologies for
the production and
preservation of natural
leavening products with high
nutraceutical content
A. Zinnai, F. Venturi
[M.F. Quartacci]
33. USAI, Gabriele 3 Structural genomics for plant
breeding: the fig (Ficus carica
L.), an ancient crop with
promising perspectives
L. Natali,
F. Mascagni
[A. Zuccolo]
34. VENTIMIGLIA, Maria 1
ASTER-REP, a database of
Asteraceae transposable
sequences
F. Mascagni
[A. Zuccolo]
35. VICENTE MUNOZ, Isabel 3
Application of CRISPR-Cas9
technology to produce mutant
fungal strains for biocontrol of
crop plant diseases
G. Vannacci,
S. Sarrocco
[T. Giordani]
36. VIVIANI, Ambra 1
Application of genome editing
in Lactuca sativa L. to
increase Ascorbic Acid
content in leaves
T. Giordani,
C. Pugliesi
[L. Pistelli,
M. Fambrini
Recent (2016-2018) PhD dissertations
STUDENT YEAR TITLE SUPERVISOR
ARCURI, Sabrina 2018
Assessment of the impact of
global drivers of change on
Europe's food security
G. Brunori
BATTINI, Fabio 2017
The production of nutraceutical
compounds in food plants as
affected by mycorrhizal
symbionts and associated
microbiota
M. Agnolucci
BONILLA LOOR, Mario Javier 2018
Physiological and molecular
interactions between plants and
beneficial fungi
L. Avio,
M. Giovannetti
CAPPUCCI, Alice 2017
Study of the effects of dietary
tannins and vegetable oils on the
rumen microbiota composition,
methane production and milk
fatty acid composition
M. Mele
CATOLA, Stefano 2016
Transcriptomic analysis of
Arabidopsis thaliana in response
to VOCs emitted from Solanum
lycopersicum subjected to
combined abiotic stress (water
stress + UV radiation)
L. Guglielminetti,
M. Centritto
(CNR, Florence)
COTROZZI, Lorenzo 2017
Response of oak species
(Quercus ilex, Q. cerris and Q.
pubescens) to combined stress to
simulate a 2050 global climate
change scenario.
C. Nali
FIORINI, Lisa 2016 Effects of a Trichoderma
harzianum isolate on tomato G. Vannacci
GAVA, Oriana 2017 Sustainability performance of
biogas chains G. Brunori
GENNAI, Clizia 2016 Gene expression in olive plants
under drought conditions R. Gucci
GIUNTI, Giulia 2016
Pre- and post-imaginal
associative learning for host-
borne cues from different trophic
contexts in the parasitic wasp
Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti)
(Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
A. Canale
IBRAHIM EHDADAN, Jamal Ali
Mohamed 2018
The effects of agricultural policies
on wheat production in Libya.
Policy Analysis Matrix Approach
(PAM)
G. Brunori
MARTINI, Andrea 2018
Agronomic and phytochemical
evaluation of Avena sativa L. and
Stevia rebaudiana Bert. as
sources of food and bio-active
compounds
L. Angelini
MASCAGNI, Flavia 2016 Structural genomics of sunflower
(Helianthus annuus L.) L. Natali
NARI, Anita 2019
Producing olive oil with a high
nutraceutical and organoleptic
quality using innovative operative
technique (extraction and storage
method)
A. Zinnai
PALLA, Michela 2018
Molecular and functional
biodiversity of microrganisms
related to food production
M. Giovannetti,
M. Agnolucci
PEPE, Alessandra 2017
Biofortification of food plants by
mycorrhizal symbionts:
investigations on the role of
mycelial networks.
M. Giovannetti
PUCCINELLI, Martina 2017
Enrichment of food crops with
selenium. Controlled production
of selenium-enriched plants to
delay fruit ripening and plant
senescence and to increase the
nutritive value and the health
benefits.
F. Malorgio,
B. Pezzarossa
(CNR, Pisa)
SANTIN, Marco 2019 UV-B signalling in fruits: from
perception to fruit quality A. Ranieri
SOLORZANO ZAMBRANO,
Liceth Yanina 2018
Functional genomics of fig (Ficus
carica L.) A. Cavallini
SULCA VILLAMARÌN, Tania
Salomé 2017
Application of jasmonates to
improve the production of
secondary metabolites in plants
of agricultural interest, grown in
vitro and in vivo
P. Vernieri
VANGELISTI, Alberto 2018 Transcriptome analyses through
next generation sequencing T. Giordani
XIAOGUO, 'Stone' Ying 2018 Wine quality changes under
different storage conditions A. Zinnai
ZAPPARATA, Antonio 2018
Insights on the mechanisms of
action of the Trichoderma-based
biopesticide Remedier®
G. Vannacci
Publications
From 2017 to 2018, PhD students at DAFE have published more than one hundred
articles, including research or review papers in peer-reviewed journals or in conference
proceedings. A selection of publications related to the subject of the dissertation of each
candidate is reported below:
Abou Chehade L., Al Chami Z., de Pascali S.A., Cavoski I., Fanizzi F.P. (2017). Biostimulants from food processing by-products: agronomic, quality and metabolic impacts on organic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 2017.
Ascrizzi R., Taglieri I., Sgherri C., Flamini G., Macaluso M., Sanmartin C., Venturi F., Quartacci M.F., Pistelli L., Zinnai A. (2018). Nutraceutical oils produced by olives and citrus peel of tuscany varieties as sources of functional ingredients. Molecules 24: 010065.
Buti M., Moretto M., Barghini E., Mascagni F., Natali L., Brilli M., Lomsadze A., Sonego P., Giongo L. et al. (2018). The genome sequence and transcriptome of Potentilla micrantha and their comparison to Fragaria vesca (the woodland strawberry). GigaScience 7: 1-14.
Catola S., Castagna A., Santin M., Calvenzani V., Petroni K., Mazzucato A., Ranieri A. (2017). The dominant allele Aft induces a shift from flavonol to anthocyanin production in response to UV-B radiation in tomato fruit. Planta 246: 263-275.
Ceccanti C., Landi M., Benvenuti S., Pardossi A., Guidi L. (2018). Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants: Weeds or ―New Functional Crops‖? Molecules 23: 2299.
Cotrozzi L., Campanella A., Pellegrini E., Lorenzini G., Nali C., Paoletti E. (2018). Phenylpropanoids are key players in the antioxidant defense to ozone of European ash, Fraxinus excelsior. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25: 8137-8147.
Galli F., Arcuri S., Bartolini F., Vervoort J., Brunori G. (2017). Exploring scenario guided pathways for food assistance in Tuscany. Bio-based and Applied Economics 5: 237-266.
Gava, O., Bartolini, F., Venturi, F., Brunori, G., Zinnai, A., & Pardossi, A. (2018). A reflection of the use of the life cycle assessment tool for agri-food sustainability. Sustainability 11:11010071.
Giovannetti A. (2018). Substances with endocrine disrupting properties: the regulation approach in the European Union between risks and scientific uncertainties, Third Canadian Conference on food law and policy, ―Innovations in Agrifood Law‖, 25-27 September 2018, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
Guidi L., Remorini D., Cotrozzi L., Giordani T., Lorenzini, G., Massai R., Nali C., Natali L., Pellegrini E., Trivellini A., Vangelisti A., Vernieri P., Landi M. (2017). The harsh life of an urban tree: the effect of a single pulse of ozone in salt-stressed Quercus ilex saplings. Tree Physiology 37: 246-260.
Hebinck A., Galli F., Arcuri S., Carroll B., O‘Connor D., Oostindie H. (2018). Capturing change in European food assistance practices: a transformative social innovation perspective. Local Environment 23: 398-413.
Lo Piccolo E., Landi M., Pellegrini E., Agati G., Giordano C., Giordani T., Lorenzini G., Malorgio F., Massai R., Nali C., Rallo G., Remorini D., Vernieri P., Guidi L. (2018). Multiple consequences induced by epidermally-located anthocyanins in young, mature and senescent leaves of Prunus. Frontiers in Plant Science 9: 917.
Lucchi A., Ladurner E., Iodice A., Savino G., Ricciardi R., Cosci F., Conte G., Benelli G. (2018). Eco-friendly pheromone dispensers—a green route to manage the European grapevine moth? Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25: 9426–9442.
Lucchi A., Loni A., Gandini L.M., Scaramozzino P.L., Ioriatti C., Ricciardi R., Shearer P.W. (2017). Using herbivore-induced plant volatiles to attract lacewings, hoverflies and parasitoid wasps in vineyards: achievements and constraints. Bulletin of Insectology 70: 273-282.
Mannelli F., Cappucci A., Pini F., Pastorelli R., Decorosi F., Giovannetti L., Mele M., Minieri S., Conte G., Pauselli M., Rapaccini S., Viti C., Buccioni A. (2018). Effect of different types of olive oil pomace dietary supplementation on the rumen microbial community profile in Comisana ewes. Scientific Reports 8:8455.
Mascagni F., Giordani T., Ceccarelli M., Cavallini A., Natali L. (2017). Genome-wide analysis of LTR retrotransposon diversity and its impact on the evolution of the genus Helianthus (L.). BMC Genomics 18: 634.
Mattioni D., Brunori G. (2018). Moving towards healthy diets: the key role of food environments. Nutrition and Food Science International Journal 6, issue 1.
Moles T.M., Mariotti L., De Pedro L.F., Guglielminetti L., Picciarelli P., Scartazza A. (2018). Drought induced changes of leaf-to-root relationships in two tomato genotypes. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 128: 24-31.
Natali L., Vangelisti A., Guidi L., Remorini D., Cotrozzi L., Lorenzini G., Nali C., Pellegrini E., Trivellini A., Vernieri P., Landi M., Cavallini A., Giordani T. (2018). How Quercus ilex L. saplings face combined salt and ozone stress: a transcriptome analysis. BMC Genomics 19: 872.
Palla M., Agnolucci M., Calzone A., Giovannetti M., Di Cagno R., Gobbetti M., Rizzello C. G., Pontonio E. (2018). Exploitation of autochthonous Tuscan sourdough yeasts as potential starters. International Journal of Food Microbiology, August 2018, in press.
Palla M., Battini F., Cristani C., Giovannetti M., Squartini A., Agnolucci M. (2018). Quorum sensing in rhizobia isolated from the spores of the mycorrhizal symbiont Rhizophagus intraradices. Mycorrhiza 28: 773-778.
Palla M., Cristani C., Giovannetti M., Agnolucci M. (2017). Identification and characterization of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts of PDO Tuscan bread sourdough by culture dependent and
Peruzzi A., Martelloni L., Frasconi C., Fontanelli M., Pirchio M., Raffaelli M. (2017). Machines for non-chemical intra-row weed control in narrow and wide-row crops: a review. Journal of Agricultural Engineering 48: 57-70.
Pierro R., Passera A., Panattoni A., Rizzo D., Stefani L., Bartolini L., Casati P., Luvisi A., Quaglino F., Materazzi A. (2018). Prevalence of a ‗Candidatus Phytoplasma solani‘ strain, so far associated only with other hosts, in Bois Noir-affected grapevines within Tuscan vineyards. Annals of Applied Biology 173: 202-212.
Puccinelli M., Malorgio F., Pezzarossa B. (2017). Selenium enrichment of horticultural crops. Molecules 22: 933.
Puccinelli M., Malorgio F., Terry L.A., Tosetti R., Rosellini I., Pezzarossa B. (2018). Effect of
selenium enrichment on metabolism of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit during post‐harvest ripening. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, October 2018, in press.
Rallo G., Provenzano G., Castellini M., Puig Sirera A. (2018). Application of EMI and FDR sensors to assess the fraction of transpirable soil water over an olive grove. Water 10: 168.
Sabella E., Pierro R., Luvisi A., Panattoni A., D‘Onofrio C., Scalabrelli G., Nutricati E., Aprile A., De Bellis L., Materazzi A. (2018). Phylogenetic analysis of viruses in Tuscan Vitis vinifera sylvestris (Gmeli) hegi. PLoS ONE 13: 1-16.
Sanmartin C., Venturi F., Macaluso M., Nari A., Quartacci M.F., Sgherri C., Flamini G., Taglieri I., Ascrizzi R., Andrich G., Zinnai A. (2018). Preliminary results about the use of argon and carbon dioxide in the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) storage to extend oil shelf life: chemical and sensorial point of view. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology 120: 1800156.
Sanmartin C., Venturi F., Sgherri C., Nari A., Macaluso M., Flamini G., Quartacci M.F., Taglieri I., Andrich G., Zinnai A. (2018). The effects of packaging and storage temperature on the shelf-life of extra virgin olive oil. Heliyon 4:e00888.
Santin M., Neugart S., Castagna A., Barilari M., Sarrocco S., Vannacci G., Schreiner M., Ranieri A. (2018). UV-B pre-treatment alters phenolics response to Monilinia fructicola infection in a structure-dependent way in peach skin. Frontiers in Plant Science 9: 1598.
Sbrana C., Strani P., Pepe A., de Novais C.B., Giovannetti M. (2018). Divergence of Funneliformis mosseae populations over 20 years of laboratory cultivation, as revealed by vegetative incompatibility and molecular analysis. Mycorrhiza 28: 1-13.
Serra A., Conte G., Giannessi E., Casarosa L., Lenzi C, Baglini A., Ciucci F., Cappucci A., Mele M. (2017). Histological characteristics, Fatty acid composition of lipid Fractions, and cholesterol content of Semimembranosus and Triceps Brachii Muscles in Maremmana and limousine Bovine Breeds. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 4:89.
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Applications
Candidates are required to have a Master's degree and have to demonstrate good
knowledge of the research themes reported above.
The number of graduates students admitted to each program varies from year to year
depending on the number of grants available and the results of the selection process. For
instance, 12 candidates were admitted in 2018 (XXXIV cycle, 2018-2021) and ten
scholarships were available, including two reserved for candidates who have achieved
their MSc degree abroad.
A grant consists of a stipend of approx. € 13,600 per year (including social security
contribution) for the whole duration of the PhD programme (3 years maximum). The grant
is increased by 50% if the student does an internship (at least 15 days) abroad in a foreign
academic or research institution. After the first year, each candidate receives an annual
research contribution of approximately € 1,600.
The selection of PhD candidates is based on their educational (f.i., average exam grade,
final numerical grade for the entire degree, honour etc.) and scientific (publications,
positions as young scientist, stage abroad etc.) curriculum and on an interview (either on
site or via web conference) conducted in the research areas that every year the Board
proposes to the new candidates.
The admission call is open in May-June and the selection takes place in August-
September. The candidates should check the website (http://dottorato.unipi.it/index.php/en/)
regularly for additional information on deadlines for applications, proposed research
subjects, selection criteria, date(s) of interview, number of scholarships and positions
without scholarship, and university fee.
Candidates may also be admitted, at any time, under the supernumerary category if:
- they hold a grant or a similar form of funding which is part of a project promoted by
the European Union and/or other European or international organizations;
- they are non-EU citizens who do not reside in Italy and hold a grant or have some
form of economic support from their country of origin.
Supernumerary PhD candidates may be required to pay an annual departmental fee
(bench fee), which depends on the type of research work and will be determined by the
DAFE. For further information on the admission of supernumerary students, the
candidates should look at http://dottorato.unipi.it/index.php/en/ and/or contact the
Coordinator ([email protected]).
Living in Pisa
The cost of living in Pisa is approximately € 600-700 per month; for instance, the rental for
student accommodation ranges between € 300 and € 400 per month.
Free registration to the Italian National Health Service (SSN) guarantees medical care for
all Italian students. Health care assistance is also available to all European citizens
(belonging to EU Member States and EEA States) who have the EHIC/TEAM card
(European Health Insurance Card) or who enrol in the SSN. For non-EU foreign citizens
(who belong to countries which are outside the European Union and of the European
Economic Area), the insurance coverage for health services or hospitalization is required
to obtain an entry visa in Italy and then later the residence permit.
Further information can be found in the International Student's Guide (https://www.unipi.it/index.php/erasmus-programme/item/download/12096_a29ded56d63481040f6be5ce001f1c09)
Contacts
Secretariat: Dr. Stefano Fanti, DAFE, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa (Italy)
Tel. +39 050 2216 083; fax +39 050 2210 606; email: [email protected]
Coordinator: Prof. Andrea Cavallini, DAFE, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa (Italy)
email: [email protected].
