The Ph.D. Programme in Research Methods in Science and Technology, ReMeST, provides students with knowledge, competences, and skills needed to undertake research in science and technology with awareness, responsibility, and method. To this purpose, the degree program provides the opportunity to: deepen ethical and methodological issues, develop critical sense, apply both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, experience the development, characterization, validation and usage of formal and computational models, improve scientific and technical writing skills, and confront the international scientific community.

The program meets the requirements of innovative PhD programs for its international and interdisciplinary dimensions, covering three research areas, in which students will have the opportunity to take part in national and international research projects.

RESEARCH AREAS

CHEMISTRY

PE4, PE5, LS7

Areas of Physical and Analytical Chemical Sciences, Synthetic Chemistry and Material, and Applied Medical Technologies, Diagnostics, Therapies and Public Health

EARTH SCIENCES

PE10

Area of Earth System Sciences

FORMAL MODELS, DATA ANALYSIS AND SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING

PE1, PE2, PE6, PE9, LS8, SH4

Areas of Mathmatics and Computer Sciences, Industrial and Information Engineering, Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, amd Historical, Philosophical and Pedagogical Sciences

Studying at UNIURB

Living in URBINO

Studying and living in Urbino, a University Campus, a Renaissance City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

COURSE STRUCTURE

The 3-Year program entails courses and supervised research: the first year is mainly devoted to courses, preliminary study, and project refinement; the second year is mainly devoted to research activities; the third year is mainly devoted to research refinement and PhD thesis preparation. PhD students are expected to spend a semester abroad and to present original contributions to the scientific community, both by attending international conferences and by publishing on indexed international journals.

Each Academic Year goes from November 1 to October 31. Students’ activities and achievements are evaluated at the end of each AY for admission to the following year or to their thesis defense. Admission to thesis defense is also subject to the approval of external referees.

Courses are taught in English, and structured into modules of 8 ECTS each, corresponding to 16 hour of lectures + project work and study. Assessment is made right after each course by means of written tests and/or reports and/or oral examinations. Seminars are offered to PhD students to provide additional opportunities of either deepening their main fields of interest or widening their research horizons.

Research projects are formally assigned to each student at the end of the first year.

1st Year

Courses for a total of 60 ECTS (120 hours of lectures plus project work and individual study):

4 out of 6 common courses on methodological aspects, ethics, technical writing, and atransversal skills, for a total of 32 ECTS
compulsory area-specific activities for a total of 24 ECTS
seminar activities for at least 4 ECTS, chosen among Serpieri Lectures

Definition of the Research Project

Preliminary study and research

2nd Year

Mainly devoted to research

Definition of the Research Project Proposal
Supervised research activity
Participation to selected Doctoral courses, Seminars or Summer Schools
Possible research experience abroad

Students are expected to present the results of their work at International workshops and conferences and to submit papers for publication in international journals.

Scientific English

3rd Year

Mainly devoted to thesis preparation and publications

Thesis development and completion
Participation to selected Doctoral courses and Seminars
Possible research experience abroad

Students are expected to present the results of their work at International workshops and conferences and to submit papers for publication in international journals.