Call for application 42nd cycle

Bando ordinario


Applications for participation in the competition, together with the corresponding payment, must be duly completed no later than 14:00 CET on 17 June 2026.

Educational goals and objectives

ENVIRONMENTAL AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
This PhD offers an integrated scientific approach in the bio-naturalistic field, in relation to the 4 curricula in which it is divided: Anthropology, Animal Biology, Botany, Ecological Sciences. The issues addressed move within the common evolutionary framework and are strongly interconnected, also in the light of complex system of structural and functional relationships between animals, plants, microorganisms and the abiotic environment. Therefore, training is offered aimed at building skills in biological, natural, environmental and agri-food sciences, as well as in sciences applied to cultural heritage, training highly qualified professionals, capable of autonomously designing and carrying out basic and applied research. Projects are mainly developed in anthropology, evolutionary and applied biology, biochemistry and physiology, molecular genetics, animal and plant ecology, systemic ecology, human ecology and bioarcheology, ethology, conservation biology and ecological modeling, morpho-anatomy, paleoanthropology, primatology, services ecosystems, environmental sustainability, agri-food development, taxonomy and systematics. The activities of the PhD course also include national and international collaborations, with a high scientific profile. Curriculum of Anthropology (Reference person: prof. Giovanni Destro-Bisol) Its object of study is the natural history of the human species, concerning its origin, biological evolution, and biodiversity, in relation to the variability of the order Primates and the interaction with historical and archaeological contexts as well as with changing environments. Curriculum of Animal Biology (Reference person: prof. Moreno Di Marco) It covers the main aspects of animal biology, relating to animal phylogeny, theory and practice of biological systematics, microevolution and macroevolution, descriptive aspects of the functional level and interpretative aspects in an adaptive key of invertebrates and vertebrates. Curriculum of Botany (Reference person: prof. Massimo Reverberi) He is interested in the various fields of plant biology, with research on biotechnological innovation and human health, plant pathology, systematics of current and fossil plants, ecosystem services of plants, studies on drugs of natural origin and on biologically active products. Curriculum of Ecological Sciences (Reference person: prof. Marcello Vitale) It addresses issues of environmental complexity, with particular emphasis to the analysis, monitoring and representation through models of the structural characteristics, mechanisms and processes that underlie the functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.


Number of positions available


Sapienza Scholarships Affliliated Institutions or Excellence Industrial PhD Without scholarship
8 5 0 4

Themes, curriculum and specific competence



Scholarships funded by affiliated Institution and Departments of Excellence


1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: DIPARTIMENTO DI BIOLOGIA AMBIENTALE
Topic: Microbial ecology and biotechnological implications of non-Saccharomyces yeasts

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: DIPARTIMENTO DI BIOLOGIA E BIOTECNOLOGIE "CHARLES DARWIN"
Topic: FIS - "L'impatto del cambiamento globale sull'integrità ecologica: connettere i rischi ambientali e umani", (Titolare Prof. Di Marco) finanziato dal programma FIS – Fondo Italiano per la Scienza

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ (ISS)
Topic: Integrated monitoring of airborne microplastics: indoor/outdoor dynamics, plant biomonitoring, and inhalation exposure

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE ODONTOSTOMATOLOGICHE E MAXILLO FACCIALI
Topic: FIS 3: “PreMED - Pratiche medicinali e conoscenze ecologiche nelle società preistoriche d’Europa”
On curriculum: ANTROPOLOGIA

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: PARCO NAZIONALE DEL GRAN SASSO E DEI MONTI DELLA LAGA
Topic: Multi-scale analysis of the relationships between management, structure, and biodiversity of the Gran Sasso beech forests
On curriculum: SCIENZE ECOLOGICHE

Sapienza scholarships: 8


Admission Procedure

Qualifications assessment The evaluation of the qualifications will be carried out as described in the evaluation grid.

Candidates will be admitted to the oral exam if they scored at least 45/60 in the overall evaluation of their qualifications and project.


Research project The evaluation of the research project will be carried out as described in the evaluation grid.

Candidates will be admitted to the oral exam if they scored at least 45/60 in the overall evaluation of their qualifications and project.
language ITALIANO
ERRATA CORRIGE:
ITALIANO
INGLESE


Oral interview The oral test will be evaluated as described in the evaluation grid.

The oral exam is passed with a minimum score of 45/60.

The minimum overall score for admission to the research doctorate is 90/120.
language ITALIANO
INGLESE


contacts and info https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-AMBIENTALE-ED-EVOLUZIONISTICA_nD3488_IT.aspx catia.cerra@uniroma1.it rosa.penna@uniroma1.it massimo.reverberi@uniroma1.it

Curriculum studiorum

Graduation date and grade of the Master's degree
detailed list of exams including completion dates and scores of Masters'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

§ research project
mandatory
Research projects must be submitted at the same time as the application form and must be written in Italian or English, according to the following format (in PDF), with a maximum limit of 20,000 characters for entries from "c" to "f":
a) Project title
b) Indication of preferred curriculum
c) National and international state of the art of the proposed research
d) Description of the general and specific objectives of the project and methodological approach
e) Innovation of the research, and the potential to achieve an advancement of knowledge with
respect to the state of the art
f) Description of the research activities within a three-year program of annual activities
g) Estimated cost budget (e.g., consumables, equipment necessary for carrying out the research,
stages abroad, participation in congresses, publications, etc.)
h) List of bibliographic references

The proposal must be framed in one of the research themes defined for each of the 4 Curricula (see website of the Environmental Biology Department https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIAENVIRONMENTAL-AND-EVOLUTIONARY_ND3488.aspx), in which the members of the Academic Board have active research lines.
, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026

§ List of publications
optional
Indicate titles of published articles and bibliographical references., the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026

§ publications (a single pdf for each publication)
optional, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026

§ Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum
optional
https://www.uniroma1.it/sites/default/files/field_file_allegati/europass_cv_instructions_en.pdf, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026

Language Skills

the candidate must know the following languages
ITALIANO
ENGLISH

Exam Schedule

Qualifications assessment
day24/06/2026
notesnone
publication on notice boardYes
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-AMBIENTALE-ED-EVOLUZIONISTICA_nD3488.aspx
date of publication26/06/2026
contactsDr.ssa Catia Cerra: catia.cerra@uniroma1.it

Altra tipologia (Research project)
day24/06/2026 1.00.00
notesnone
time09:00
classroom-
address-
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-AMBIENTALE-ED-EVOLUZIONISTICA_nD3488.aspx
date of publication26/06/2026
contactsDr.ssa Catia Cerra: catia.cerra@uniroma1.it

Oral interview
day06/07/2026
notesnone
time09:00
classroommarini bettolo
addressed. CU022 (Botanica). P.le Aldo Moro 5
publication on notice boardYes
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-AMBIENTALE-ED-EVOLUZIONISTICA_nD3488.aspx
date of publication06/07/2026
contactsDr.ssa Catia Cerra: catia.cerra@uniroma1.it


Evaluation scale

Qualifications assessment

Valutazione titoli

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 20

Esperienze di ricerca
Research experience

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5
Esperienze all'estero compreso Erasmus (almeno due mesi), contratti di collaborazione alla ricerca, borse di studio, assegni di ricerca o simili, corsi di formazione post-laurea, certificati lingue estere, altri riconoscimenti (premi o simili), seconda laurea
Research experience abroad including Erasmus (at least two months), research collaborations, post-graduate training courses (scholarships, research grants, etc.)


Pubblicazioni
Publications

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5
All'interno della sotto-categoria, si possono valutare più prodotti, fino al raggiungimento del punteggio massimo complessivo di 5 punti previsto per le "Pubblicazioni".
The value indicated for each sub-category indicates the maximum score that can be assigned to each publication. Within the sub-category, multiple products may be evaluated, up to the overall maximum of 5 points allocated to the “Publications” category.

Pubblicazione ISI (primo autore)
ISI (author)
2,5
Pubblicazione ISI (co-autore)
ISI (co-author)
2,0
Contributo a convegno
Contribution to a lecture/ congress
0,5

Voto di laurea
Graduation mark

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10
Voto di laurea
Graduation mark
110, 110 e lode
110, 110 cum laude
10,0
109 -105
109-105
8,0
104 -100
104 -100
5,0
<100
<100
1,0
Per studenti laureandi la griglia da considerare è la seguente
Per studenti laureandi la griglia da considerare è la seguente
28,5 - 30
28.5 - 30
10,0
27,5 - 28,5
27.5 - 28.5
8,0
26,5 - 27,5
26.5 - 27.5
6,0
25,5 - 26,5
25.5 - 26.5
4,0
24,5 - 25,5
24.5 - 25.5
2,0
<24,5
<24.5
0,0


Altra tipologia (Research project)

Altra tipologia

Progetto di Ricerca
Research project

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 40

Chiarezza e completezza dell’esposizione degli obiettivi, delle metodologie e dei potenziali risultati
Clarity and completeness of the presentation of objectives, methodologies, and potential results

Punteggio massimo/max score: 15

Pertinenza del progetto con gli obiettivi formativi del dottorato con riferimento ai diversi curricula
Relevance of the project to the educational objectives of the PhD programme with respect to the different curricula

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5

Innovatività della ricerca e potenzialità di realizzare un avanzamento delle conoscenze rispetto allo stato dell’arte nel settore di riferimento
innovativeness of research and potential to achieve an advancement of knowledge with respect to the state of the art in the scientific sector

Punteggio massimo/max score: 15

Fattibilità logistica e finanziaria e sostenibilità del progetto
logistic and financial feasibility and sustainability of the project

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5


Oral interview

Prova orale

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 60

Discussione del progetto di ricerca e delle tematiche inerenti, con attenzione all'innovatività, all'impianto metodologico e alla sostenibilità della ricerca
Discussion of the research project and related topics, with attention to the innovation, methodological framework and sustainability of the research

Punteggio massimo/max score: 30

Discussione del curriculum e dei titoli del candidato: chiarezza espositiva, capacità di sintesi e interesse scientifico del curriculum, inclusa la prova di lingua
Discussion of the CV and the candidate's qualifications: clarity of presentation, ability to synthesize, and scientific interest of the CV, including the linguistic evaluation

Punteggio massimo/max score: 30


Finanziato dal Fondo italiano per la scienza - Bando FIS

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