Biotecnopolo and UniSiena together for a new PhD

The cooperation between the University of Siena and the Biotecnopolo di Siena Foundation marks the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at training new professionals in the health field. The PhD of national interest “Innovation in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of epidemic-pandemic-risk infections”, co-funded by the Biotecnopolo di Siena Foundation, has officially been launched and will start at the beginning of the new academic year.

The new PhD, coordinated by the University of Siena and supported by the Biotecnopolo di Siena Foundation, involves 12 other universities: Humanitas University, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Bologna, University of Campania, University of Catania, University of Florence, University of Padua, University of Pisa, University of Salento, University of Sassari, University of Turin. Professor Donata Medaglini, from the Medical Biotechnologies Department of the University of Siena, will be the course coordinator.

Students of the new PhD will receive a multidisciplinary training in the field of epidemic-pandemic risk infections, and more specifically: state-of-the-art technologies for diagnosis; new technologies for the development of vaccines; tools for developing new antimicrobial drugs; study of monoclonal antibodies; “drug delivery”; strategies to counter the origin and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria; biomarkers of the immune response; mathematical models to predict the reactions to vaccines; development of antimicrobial drug resistance; diffusion of pathogens.

“I am honoured to confirm the involvement of the Biotecnopolo di Siena in such an interesting national initiative coordinated by the University of Siena focused on innovation in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of epidemic-pandemic-risk infections. The research on vaccines and state-of-the-art drugs is of great significance nowadays, and it requires the top skills available in our country to offer our young PhD students a thriving and technologically advances environment”, says Professor Marco Montorsi, President of the Biotecnopolo di Siena Foundation.

Participation criteria. The call is open to graduates (laureati del vecchio ordinamento), master’s graduates, and graduates with similar equivalent academic qualification obtained abroad. Applications are open until the 28^th of August at 2 PM on the UniSi website (segreteriaonline.unisi.it).

Click here to read the call for applications.