The PhD in "Psychology and Social Neuroscience" is a 3 year multi-centre Ph.D. programme coordinated by Prof. Antonio Zuffianò that is designed to train researchers in a multidisciplinary vein and to advance their knowledge in theory, research methodology, and several substantive fields that are part of psychology and social neuroscience field. Students may apply to one of the two research tracks (curriculum): A) Cognitive Social and Affective Neuroscience (CoSAN; curriculum coordinator Prof. Matteo Candidi) and B) Personality and Organizational Psychology (POP; curriculum coordinator Prof. Maria Gerbino).
The CoSAN curriculum aims at studying the cerebral systems at the base of cognitive, affective and social functions. The curriculum promotes the study of these functions along development and in adult individuals, in healthy and brain damaged patients (cerebral lesions, degenerative pathologies) as well as in typical and atypical neurodevelopment. The curriculum is particularly oriented to studying the mechanisms of neural plasticity underpinning the changes of cognitive, affective and social functions as well as in bridging lab research to clinical rehabilitation of higher-order cortical functions .
The POP curriculum is characterized by its interdisciplinary nature and the attention it gives to advanced research methods. The curriculum combines the study of personality structure and processes with the study of the role of contextual and organizational factors in shaping individuals' behavior in different life phases and in different contexts and cultures. Particular attention is given to the development and evaluation of interventions concerning individual and collective wellbeing in educational, organizational and health contexts.
Both CoSAN and POP curricula aim:
* To provide methodological knowledge, develop theoretically sound and cogent experimental, quasi experimental and longitudinal-cross-sectional designs and paradigms.
* To train Ph.D. students to be future independent researchers by supporting their proactive role from writing scientific articles to grant hunting and grant writing.
* To encourage inquisitive, creative and critical thinking through group interaction and cooperation.
* To reinforce the interaction between partner laboratories by sharing knowledge and expertise and through researchers' mobility. In particular, Ph.D. students will carry out their research projects at Sapienza University of Rome and another university within the PhD network.
During the first year each student must attend courses on conceptual models, research methodology and paradigms within the research fields of the program. During the first year, Phd students are required to identify the research line they want to pursue and present their own research project. During the second and third year students in conjunction with their supervisor/tutor must realize their research projects and scientific publications on Italian and international journals. Scientific publications represent evaluation criteria for the admission to the final defense. All students are required to attend regular seminar, lab meetings and courses planned within the program as well as summer-schools, national and international conference, and activities in different university sites within the International Bilateral cultural and scientific Agreements established by the program.
Capitalizing on the experience and international profile of both curricula, the new doctoral program "Psychology and Social Neurosciences" is characterized by reciprocal research programs conducted with Italian and foreign universities with active research collaborations. The program's activities take place entirely in English to attract candidates from around the world. The Ph.D. program hosts students from various Italian (Chieti, Milan, Verona, Padua, and Udine) and foreign universities, and all students are required to spend research periods abroad.
Please go to the sections dedicated to each track (links on the left side of this page) to read the specific research profiles of each track.
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