Call for application 40th cycle

Bando ordinario


Educational goals and objectives

CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
The Doctorate course in Developmental Biology is an innovative interdisciplinary Doctorate and aims to provide students with high-profile preparation based on widely diversified conceptual and methodological approaches.
General topics addressed by this PhD:
Cell membrane: organization and function
Receptors: Growth factor receptors/immune receptors/GPCRs/intracellular/nuclear receptors in animals and plants
Signal transduction
Regulation of and by the cytoskeleton
Nuclear dynamics and subcellular organelles
Molecular motors and other cellular machines
Intracellular trafficking/transport
Post-translational modifications and their regulation
Nuclear matrix, chromatin and genome
Control via RNA/non-coding sequences and their functions
Cellular processes in development and disease
Study of cells in 3 and 4 dimensions
Determinants of cell fate
Stem cell biology
Biology of subcellular organelles
Biology of single-celled organisms
Microbes (including viruses) and interaction between host cells
Immunity and microenvironment
Models of human diseases
Metabolic pathways: subcellular, cellular and subcellular compartmentalization, regulatory mechanisms
Metabolic control
DNA damage and repair
Translational cell science

The Doctorate aims to provide doctoral students with basic preparation to address research problems in the different areas of Cellular Biology and Developmental Biology. It also aims to train scientific operators with a professional qualification that makes it possible for them to work as independent researchers in the public and private, national and international fields.
The primary objective is to encourage the inclusion of our students in projects with an integrated multidisciplinary approach aimed at key aspects of Cellular Biology.
We believe it is crucial to develop in students a marked critical spirit and a good ability to communicate their results, as well as to report the results obtained and the knowledge acquired in written form to be submitted for publication. This is achieved in various ways:
i) requiring, annually, presentations of the results achieved in the form of public seminars and reports;
ii) appointing external tutors who are responsible for critically discussing the results with the students;
iii) stimulating participation in international conferences and internships (also thanks to an individual budget available to each student).
Another fundamental objective is continuous updating which is pursued through intense seminar activity. The seminars are monographic or integrated into thematic series and are often co-organized with similar doctoral courses or coordinated with the other courses of the BeMM Doctoral School - Molecular Biology and Medicine.

Specifiche economiche

Tipologia 1: DM629
Transizione digitale Generiche Pubblica Amministrazione Patrimonio culturale
0 0 0 0

Tipologia 2: DM630 Tipologia 3: Partenariati estesi Tipologia 4: Enti terzi ed Eccellenza Tipologia 5: Sapienza
1 0 2 9

Senza borsa
3

Themes, curriculum and specific competence


Borse ex D.M. 630: 1


Borse ENTI TERZI, PARTENARIATI ESTESI, ECCELLENZA


Tematica: Studi sul ruolo del virus di Epstein-Barr nella patogenesi della sclerosi multipla
Ente finanziatore: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ (ISS)
Competenze richieste: Il candidato dovrebbe avere buone conoscenze nel campo della immunologia e neuropatologia, delle tecniche di rilevazione in situ di antigeni e trascritti; una conoscenza, anche di base, di tecniche di microscopia e di imaging, e di biologia molecolare. Si richiede conoscenza della lingua inglese di almeno livello B1; è gradita la disponibilità a passare periodi all’estero.
- Investigating the interplay between Epstein-Barr Virus infection and host immune system imbalance in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis
Founded by: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ (ISS)
Required skills: The candidate should have good knowledge in the field of immunology and neuropathology, and familiarity with in situ antigen and transcript detection techniques. A knowledge, even basic, of microscopy and imaging techniques, and molecular biology would be preferable. English language knowledge of at least B1 level is required; willingness to spend periods abroad is welcome.

Tematica: Identificazione di target molecolari di neurogenesi e assonogenesi post ictus
Ente finanziatore: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ (ISS)
Competenze richieste: Conoscenza delle principali tecniche di biologia molecolare (RT-qPCR, ELISA) e biologia cellulare. Capacità di interpretazione dei dati scientifici e di ricerca bibliografica.
- Identification of target molecules and development of therapeutic mRNA-based drugs for enhancing endogenous post-stroke human neurogenesis
Founded by: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ (ISS)
Required skills: Experience in molecular and cell biology methodologies (e.g. RT-qPCR, ELISA). Knowledge on research data interpretation and scientific literature search.


Admission Procedure

Oral interview The oral exam will include:
1) a 5-minute presentation of the candidate him/herself (experiences, scientific interests, and expectations, in Italian or English).
2) a PowerPoint presentation (15 min, in Italian or English) of an experimental article chosen from a list of articles selected by the Examining Commission and relevant to the thematic areas of the Doctoral Course. Candidates can choose any of the articles made available by the commission fifteen days before the oral exam in a dedicate folder on Google Drive [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OPQ5ihkiliqjhA2Chaxy5-irnNVrY4s6?usp=sharing]. The choice of the article is not to be considered binding for the assignment of the project, should the candidate be classified in the list of admitted.
3) The discussion on what was presented in point 2. The examiners will evaluate the candidate's ability to understand the conceptual and methodological logic of the work, the importance and originality of the results obtained, the adequacy of the approaches used, and the questions that may have remained open.
4) A discussion to evaluate the candidate's overall profile (previous experience, knowledge of the general themes of cell biology and development, scientific interests), considering also the motivation letter.
5) English test, if the presentations referred to in points 1 and 2 were made in Italian.

To participate in the oral exam, candidates must provide a valid identity document.
language INGLESE


contacts and info Segreteria: silvia.lopizzo@uniroma1.it Indirizzo web:https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-CELLULARE-E-DELLO-SVILUPPO_nD3489_IT.aspx
more info The articles for the oral exam will be made available to the candidates in a Google Drive shared folder:
[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OPQ5ihkiliqjhA2Chaxy5-irnNVrY4s6]

Candidates residing abroad or unable to take the exam in person due to documented impediment can request to take the oral exam exclusively via videoconference; the link will be provided before the exam, if the request is accepted.

Curriculum studiorum

Graduation date and grade of the Master's degree
detailed list of exams including completion dates and scores of Masters's degree
Graduation date and grade of the Bachelor’s degree
detailed list of exams including completion dates and scores of Bachelor's degree
History of Scholarships, Research Grants (or similar)
Certificates of Foreign Languages
Certificates of participation in post-graduate university courses
certificates of Participation in research groups
certificates of Participation in internships
Other University Awards/Degrees (e.g.: awards in competition, second degree)
Computer skills

Required documentation

§ first letter of introduction (by a teacher)
mandatory, the letter must be uploaded by the referee by il le ore 23:59 del 21/06/2024
N.B: MANDATORY TO TAKE THE ADMISSION EXAMINATION. The name, affiliation and e-mail address of the
contact professor/researcher MUST be indicated in the application form.
The document will be uploaded by the contact person (not by the candidate) directly on the platform. The referrer will receive an e-mail message with instructions.
The referent's letter must be drafted according to the "REFERENCE LETTER" format available on the web page
https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/pagina.aspx?i=3489&l=IT&p=127
["GUIDELINES AND FORMS" menu on the right; file: Format_REFERENCE_LETTER_(by_the_referee's).docx]


§ second letter of introduction (by a teacher)
optional, the letter must be uploaded by the referee by il le ore 23:59 del 21/06/2024
N.B: NOT MANDATORY TO TAKE THE ADMISSION EXAMINATION. The name, affiliation and e-mail address of the contact professor/researcher MUST be indicated in the application form.
The document will be uploaded by the contact person (not by the candidate) directly on the platform. The referrer will receive an e-mail message with instructions.
The referent's letter must be drafted according to the "REFERENCE LETTER" format available on the web page
https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/pagina.aspx?i=3489&l=IT&p=127
["GUIDELINES AND FORMS" menu on the right; file: Format_REFERENCE_LETTER_(by_the_referee's).docx]


§ third letter of introduction (by a teacher)
optional, the letter must be uploaded by the referee by il le ore 23:59 del 21/06/2024
N.B: MANDATORY TO TAKE THE ADMISSION EXAMINATION. The name, affiliation and e-mail address of the
contact professor/researcher MUST be indicated in the application form.
The document will be uploaded by the contact person (not by the candidate) directly on the platform. The referrer will receive an e-mail message with instructions.
The referent's letter must be drafted according to the "REFERENCE LETTER" format available on the web page
https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/pagina.aspx?i=3489&l=IT&p=127
["GUIDELINES AND FORMS" menu on the right; file: Format_REFERENCE_LETTER_(by_the_referee's).docx]


§ letter of motivation (by the candidate)
mandatory
The letter (MANDATORY) will include:
- surname, name, e-mail address, telephone number of the candidate;
- past research experience, scientific interests, and expectations (a text of max 700 words);
- possible attendance of high schools of advanced studies or paths of excellence;
- any publications and awards/recognitions.
- MANDATORY: the indication of at least two research lines, with the indication of priority, among those defined as "Research lines available for Sapienza" for the 40th Cycle, and, optionally, a line chosen among those defined as "Other research lines". The research lines are presented on the web page of the course [https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-CELLULARE-E-DELLO-SVILUPPO_nD3489_IT.aspx], Menu on the left: AVAILABLE RESEARCH LINES [https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/pagina.aspx?i=3489&l=IT&p=340]
Name of the file: Surname_First name_Motivation letter.pdf
, the file must be uploaded within le ore 23:59 del 20/06/2024

§ degree thesis (complete)
mandatory
The presentation of this document is mandatory to take the admission exam. The document must be uploaded by the application deadline. Candidate who are not yet graduated must upload a synopsis of the degree thesis. The synopsis must be a maximum of 3 pages and contain the following information:
- Thesis' title;
- Supervisor (include name, E-mail, telephone);
- University of reference;
- Summary (200 words);
- Objectives of the work done (general objective and specific objectives);
- Main results;
- Methodologies and techniques acquired.
Name of the file: Surname_Name_Thesis (or Synopsis).pdf
, the file must be uploaded within le ore 23:59 del 20/06/2024

§ other document: Presentation of the selected research paper (PDF format)
mandatory
a Power Point presentation (15 min, in Italian or English - max. 15 slides) of an experimental article chosen from a list of articles relevant to the thematic areas of the Doctoral Course. The candidate will be able to choose any one of all the articles made available at the time of publication of the call in the dedicated folder available on Google Drive [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OPQ5ihkiliqjhA2Chaxy5-irnNVrY4s6].

The presentation must be here attached in PDF format.

The choice of the article is not to be considered binding for the assignment of the project, should the candidate be classified in the list of admitted candidates.
, the file must be uploaded within le ore 23:59 del 20/06/2024

Language Skills

the candidate must know the following languages
ENGLISH

Exam Schedule

Oral interview
day02/07/2024
notesnone
time09:30
classroomAula Sergi
addressEDIFICIO FISIOLOGIA GENERALE-ANTROPOLOGIA (CU026), primo piano, Città Universitaria, PIazzale Aldo Moro, 5 Roma
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-CELLULARE-E-DELLO-SVILUPPO_nD3489.aspx
date of publication08/07/2024
contactssilvia.lopizzo@uniroma1.it


Day of publication of the final outcome: 08/07/2024

Evaluation scale

Oral interview english version

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