Coordinator: Prof. Massimo D’Elia
e-mail: massimo.delia@unipi.it
Administrative seat: Department of Physics
Project description
The PhD programme in Physics at the University of Pisa represents the final stage of academic training and the start of a research career. It covers a broad spectrum of research areas, both experimental and theoretical, allowing doctoral candidates to engage in national and international collaborations in frontier research. The main research areas of the department hosting the programme include experimental physics of fundamental interactions, theoretical physics, condensed matter physics, astronomy and astrophysics, and applied physics. The first year of the programme is partly dedicated to general training, with candidates attending two 40-hour specialist physics courses selected from the programme’s offering or from other approved courses. In addition, students follow a number of transversal training modules selected from a wide range offered annually by the University of Pisa (e.g. English for Research Publication and Presentation Purposes, Open Access, Soft Skills, Responsible Research and Innovation, Proposal Writing for European Research, etc.). Research training also begins in the first year, with the choice of a specific topic and the assignment of a supervisor and co-supervisor. The following two years are fully devoted to research activities, encouraging participation in national and international collaborations, as well as research stays abroad or in Italy.
Strong emphasis is placed on training in the dissemination of research results, through both scientific publications and seminars delivered by candidates with increasing levels of specialisation throughout the programme. In the first year, each student is required to give a seminar presenting a general, non-specialist overview of the current state of research in their chosen field, highlighting open questions that may be addressed in their doctoral work. The second-year seminar focuses on the progress of the candidate’s own research and is accompanied by a brief written document (pre-thesis).
Course objectives
The PhD in Physics at the University of Pisa represents the final phase of academic education and preparation for a career in scientific research. It encompasses a wide range of experimental, theoretical and applied research areas. The primary objective is to provide broad research training, enabling candidates to participate in national and international collaborations. This is supported by the close interaction and synergy between tightly integrated research groups, public and private research institutes, and other universities within the ecosystem of education, research and innovation surrounding the University of Pisa. These research groups are also well-positioned to engage in collaborations with companies that have a strong focus on research and development. Special importance is given to the international dimension of research, through collaboration with leading global research groups and through immersion in the international context of frontier research. This includes visits to foreign research centres and scientific laboratories, participation in international conferences, and active involvement in the process of disseminating research findings through international publications.
The main research areas of the Department of Physics to which the programme is affiliated include: experimental physics of fundamental interactions (elementary particles, astroparticles, gravitational wave physics); theoretical physics in a broad sense (statistical mechanics, nuclear physics, physics of fundamental interactions); condensed matter physics (semiconductors, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, soft matter, advanced microscopies and spectroscopies) and plasma physics, both theoretical and experimental; astronomy and astrophysics, both theoretical and observational (including multi-messenger approaches); applied physics in a wide range of fields, from acoustics to medical physics, with innovative and environmental (green) applications.
Academic areas
Astronomy and astrophysics
Physics education and history
Applied physics (to cultural heritage, environment, biology and medicine)
Condensed matter physics
Nuclear and subnuclear physics
Physics of the Earth system and circumterrestrial space
Experimental physics
Theoretical physics, models and mathematical methods
Internal regulations of the PhD programme
Website
https://phd2.df.unipi.it/
