The PhD in Biochemistry, part of the doctoral training in biomolecular and biomedical sciences, aims to train young scientists who can:
identify key scientific problems in life sciences; address and solve molecular issues in both basic and applied biochemistry (bioenergetics, enzymology, recombinant protein expression and purification, protein structure and chemistry, metabolism, drug discovery); develop experimental skills and apply suitable techniques for innovative research; gain a broad and interdisciplinary scientific foundation; critically interpret data and present findings effectively at national and international levels.
Research areas include:
1) Biochemistry of prokaryotes and eukaryotes: study of physiological/pathological processes, oxidative stress, energy metabolism, vitamins, and cofactors.
2) Proteomics and metabolomics: redox proteomics, signal transduction, neurodegeneration, chronic inflammation, aging, cancer, transcriptomics.
3) Structural and molecular biology: protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, and protein-ligand complexes via X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM.
4) Molecular biophysics: protein folding, stability, molecular interactions, enzymatic/redox catalysis, bioenergetics.
5) Bioinformatics: computational analysis of macromolecules, protein design, genomics, drug development, and algorithm creation.
6) Applied biochemistry and biotechnologies: metabolic engineering, neurodegenerative/infectious diseases, nanotechnologies, drug targets, development of novel antimicrobials, green chemistry.
The program supports key priorities of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), including new therapeutic agents, aging, complex diseases, omics approaches, and targeted drug delivery systems. Training includes lectures, seminars, and courses by Italian and international experts from academia, research institutes, and industry. PhD students engage actively in the scientific community through journal clubs, conferences, workshops, the National Meeting of PhD Students in Biochemical Disciplines, and the annual Symposium of the Doctoral School in Biology and Molecular Medicine (BeMM).
Research progress is monitored through annual reports, oral presentations, and thesis evaluations. The goal is to train ethical, rigorous, and independent researchers ready to contribute to science in academia and industry. |