Phd in THEORETICAL AND APPLIED MECHANICS

List of courses / activities for the first year

More information The training program consists of a basic propaedeutic block, two parallel blocks of learning and deepening of methodologies (experimental and numerical mechanics) and a third block of applications to engineering problems. The relevant course modules take place mainly in the first and second year of the course. The first year is dedicated, from the point of view of training, to the completion of their physics-mathematics preparation. In fact, being an engineering Ph.D. and therefore aimed at the potential technological applications of the research carried out, it places, by long tradition, a strong emphasis on the basic theoretical and methodological preparation, in order to make the subsequent applied technological phase well framed. In the first year, specific courses concerning in-depth studies in the foundational disciplines of mathematics, physics and statistics, such as Mechanics of the Continuum, Statistical Mechanics, Calculus of Variations, Functional Analysis, Partial Derivative Differential Equations, are therefore considered mandatory, with learning tests that give feedback on what the students have assimilated. Learners are also encouraged to take courses taught in master's degree programs different from their home degree program in order to study engineering and interdisciplinary topics in depth. Specific activities such as seminars, in-depth studies, applications with possible periods of study and research at other institutions are also planned. Method of choosing the subject of the thesis Students in this Ph.D. program must devote themselves in depth and in an original way to one of the specializations and applications of mechanical engineering, developing it over the three-year period and in the writing of the final dissertation. The topic of the doctoral thesis is derived from the joint examination, between the doctoral student and the faculty, of interests and knowledge, leading to the definition of the specific topic and the choice of the guiding teacher, often based on what was explored in depth during the course of the master's thesis. In other cases, depending on the type of grant activated, e.g., funded by research institutions or external industrial entities, the topic may be established a priori and interested students agree to carry it out specifically. Admission to the second year At the end of the first year of the doctoral course, in October, students present and discuss a thesis project, agreed upon with the guiding professor, before the Board of Lecturers. In the project, the area of research is defined, and the outlines of the main problems emerging from the literature are given, the type of thesis is indicated, and the objectives of the work are outlined, with possible lines of investigation. Admission to the second year is made on the basis of what is presented in this thesis project and on the basis of the educational activities carried out and certified by the professors of the courses or research centers at which courses and periods of study and research were carried out, also taking into account any participation in conferences or publications in journals.

List of courses / activities for the second year

More information In the second year, required courses cover disciplines of greater depth and connection toward engineering applications, such as Quantum Mechanics, Mechanics of Heterogeneous and Porous Media, Mechanics of Instabilities and Transition, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. In this second year, students are encouraged to take courses of more specific interest to their Ph.D. research topic, including those offered by other Ph.D.s in the faculty of engineering (particularly those that are part of the Ph.D. School in Science and Technology for Industrial Innovation), with a strong characterization toward multidisciplinary activities. Specific activities such as seminars, in-depth studies, applications with possible periods of study and research at other scientific institutions, including abroad, are also planned for this year, encouraging personal attendance at conferences and workshops and publication in international journals. Method of preparation of the thesis The methods of thesis preparation go through the systematization of the material developed during the first year and through the integration of different methodologies and approaches to research. Publication of these methodologies and results obtained in journals and presentation at international workshops and conferences are strongly encouraged. In this way, the direction taken by the research work can be compared with what has been expressed internationally on the topic to better define innovative research directions in the final year. Admission to the third year At the end of the second year, in October, the students present a progress report on their thesis work, preceded by a reasoned index of the thesis itself and a report on the activities carried out, with examples of the results achieved and what will be possible in the final year of the course. In the same month, they present to the Teachers' Board the methodologies and results obtained through a general seminar on the progress of the thesis. Admission to the third year is made on the basis of what has been presented, on the basis of the educational activities carried out and certified by the teachers of the courses or research centers at which courses and periods of study and research have been carried out, taking particular note of participation in congresses or publications in journals, particularly international ones.

List of courses / activities for the third year

More information In the third year, the prevailing activity is the preparation of the final thesis, accompanied by a publication activity of some central results of the doctoral period. Educational activities are focused on the topics close to those developed in the thesis activity, through participation in seminars by experts in the field, courses offered by higher graduate schools, and international workshops and conferences. Method of admission to the final examination In October of the final year of the course (unless extended), candidates deliver the final draft of the thesis to the College of Lecturers, which determines which external referees to send it to, in order to acquire comments and judgments formulated by internationally known experts. In the first days of November, in front of the same College, the doctoral candidates hold their final General Seminar, containing the complete framework, methodologies and results achieved and reported in the thesis, confronting themselves with the modifications and suggestions that emerged during the discussion, also referring to the opinions and comments of the external Referees. In the first week of December there is the delivery to the Board of Lecturers of the final copy of the thesis, which must take into account all comments and suggestions that have emerged. Admission to the final examination in front of the national committee, appointed by the College, is based on what has emerged previously and on the record of teaching and scientific activity carried out during the doctoral years, with particular attention to the quality and number of international publications. Final examination The final examination will involve the appointment of a national committee by the Board of Professors, composed of three experts in the scientific fields related to the candidates' thesis topics, not from La Sapienza University. The committee will judge the candidates based on (i) the quality of the doctoral thesis, (ii) the candidate's scientific curriculum, and (iii) the report of the external referees. A public presentation of the candidate's activities is always planned.