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

CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
The Doctoral Program in Cellular and Developmental Biology aims at training scientists with professional qualifications that will enable them to enter research, with particular emphasis on the following areas:

1) Cell biology, using various cellular models (from yeast to nerve cells), both animal and plant;
2) Neurobiology, with an in-depth study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development and pathophysiology of the nervous system;
3) Microbiology, including genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnologies of microorganisms and the study of the microbiome;
4) Functional genomics and proteomics of model organisms and the study of epigenetic mechanisms in transcriptional regulation;
5) Immunopathology, with an in-depth study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying autoimmune and inflammatory diseases;
6) plant physiology and biochemistry, applied to the study of plant development and immunity mechanisms and to the development of sustainable solutions for agriculture;
7) Bioinformatics, with particular reference to the integration of multi-omics data in basic biological research and personalized medicine;
8) Study of extracellular vesicles in intercellular communication, pathogenesis, and the development of new drugs;
9) Oncopathology, including the study of genomic stability and metabolic-epigenetic changes in neoplasms.

Employment opportunities include, in addition to academic employment, research and development positions in companies in the fields of medical and agri-food biotechnology, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical sciences. Doctors can also access highly professional positions in:
- Bodies responsible for developing healthcare and patent regulations;
- Technical and scientific communication and information in the biotechnology and molecular medicine fields;
- Hospitals, clinical research centers, and institutes dedicated to public health and translational medicine;
- Facilities operating in the field of advanced diagnostics;
- Biotech companies developing products and solutions based on cellular and molecular technologies, or developing innovative drugs and therapies;
- Coordination offices of scientific research funding agencies.

More details are available in the course's webpage: https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/CELL-AND-DEVELOPMENTAL-BIOLOGY_nD3489_EN.aspx

Number of positions available


Sapienza Scholarships Affliliated Institutions or Excellence Industrial PhD Without scholarship
6 0 0 2

Themes, curriculum and specific competence



Sapienza scholarships: 6

Admission Procedure

Qualifications assessment The following qualifications will be evaluated:

1. The candidate's master's degree grade.
For students who will defend their thesis after the submission of the application but before October 31, 2026, the degree grade will be replaced by the arithmetic mean of the exam grades.

2. Bachelor's degree (or equivalent, e.g., B.Sc.)

3. Motivation letter (cover letter) (mandatory)
When submitting the application, the candidate must upload a cover letter. The letter will be evaluated based on:
- clarity of objectives and consistency with the doctoral program's educational and research program;
- motivation to pursue research and complete the program;
- propensity for scientific collaboration and mobility in academic and/or industrial settings;
- writing skills (clarity, command of language, ability to summarize);
- originality.
.
4. Reference letters by university teachers or researchers (one mandatory; maximum 3 letters)

5. Other qualifications useful for evaluating the candidate.

Candidates who obtained at least 20/40 in the assessment of their qualifications and project are admitted to the oral exam.
Research project Candidates must first submit a research project (in English) relevant to the PhD program topics listed on the program website (https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/CELL-AND-DEVELOPMENTAL-BIOLOGY_nD3489_EN.aspx). This project will assess the candidate's aptitude for research and their ability to independently plan and organize the various phases of the project.
The project will be evaluated on the basis of originality and innovative content, feasibility and relevance to the educational objectives of the Doctorate, ability to synthesize, clarity of writing, and knowledge of the literature.

Candidates who obtained at least 20/40 in the assessment of their qualifications and project are admitted to the oral exam.
language ITALIANO
Oral interview Candidates will be interviewed (in English or Italian) by the committee, where they will present and discuss their CV and the project they have submitted. The committee will evaluate the following criteria and assign an overall score based on the sum of the individual assessments:

- Candidate's self-presentation and discussion of previous experience
- Discussion and evaluation of the proposed research project
- Discussion of the topics covered by the Doctoral Program
- Clarity of presentation, ability to summarize, and appropriate scientific terminology
- Motivation, clarity of educational and career objectives, aptitude for collaborative work and mobility
- Knowledge of the English language (if the exam is taken in Italian, the ability to read and translate an English passage from a scientific article will be assessed).

Candidates residing abroad or with documented impediments may request to take the interview remotely by writing with sufficient notice to dottoratobcs.bbcd@uniroma1.it.

To pass this test, the candidate must obtain a score of at least 30/60.
language INGLESE
ITALIANO

contacts and info Per avere informazioni riguardanti il corso di dottorato e le prove di ammissione, è possibile consultare la pagina web https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-CELLULARE-E-DELLO-SVILUPPO_nD3489_IT.aspx o scrivere a dottoratobcs.bbcd@uniroma1.it.
more info For information about the doctoral program and admission tests, please visit https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/CELL-AND-DEVELOPMENTAL-BIOLOGY_nD3489_EN.aspx or write to dottoratobcs.bbcd@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
Graduation date and grade of the 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

§ research project
mandatory
Candidates must submit a research project relevant to the PhD program topics listed on the program website (https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/CELL-AND-DEVELOPMENTAL-BIOLOGY_nD3489_EN.aspx). This project will assess the candidate's aptitude for research and their ability to independently plan and organize the various phases of the project.

The project must not exceed 8,000 characters in length (including spaces, excluding references). Candidates must upload their project to the system by the application deadline.

The project must be written in English according to the following format:

- Title (max 200 characters)
- Background (max 2,000 characters)
- General purpose and aims of the project (max 800 characters)
- Experimental plan and methodologies; potential risks and mitigation strategies (max 4000 caratteri)
- Expected outcome of the project and possible impact on the advancement of the field (max 1,000 characters)
- References (max one page)
- Statement on use of generative AI tools.

In preparing the project, the use of generative AI tools is permitted only for editing/review, and not to generate original content (description of the state of the art/hypothesis generation/methodologies/experimental plans, etc.). The candidate must explicitly state in the project whether generative AI tools were used, which tools were used, and for what purpose. Any unauthorized use will result in disqualification from the competition.

The project will be evaluated on the basis of originality and innovative content, feasibility and relevance to the educational objectives of the Doctorate, ability to synthesize, clarity of writing, and knowledge of the literature.

For candidates admitted to the PhD program, the project submitted for the purposes of the exam does not in any way obligate them or the Doctorate to carry out the same research activity.
, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026
§ first letter of introduction (by a teacher)
mandatory, the letter must be uploaded by the referee by il le ore 23:59 del 22/06/2026
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/linee-guida-e-modulistica_nk127_EN.aspx
["GUIDELINES AND FORMS" menu on the right; file: Format_REFERENCE_LETTER_(by_the_referee's).docx]


download the attachement
§ second letter of introduction (by a teacher)
optional, the letter must be uploaded by the referee by il le ore 23:59 del 22/06/2026
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/linee-guida-e-modulistica_nk127_EN.aspx
["GUIDELINES AND FORMS" menu on the right; file: Format_REFERENCE_LETTER_(by_the_referee's).docx]


download the attachement
§ third letter of introduction (by a teacher)
optional, the letter must be uploaded by the referee by il le ore 23:59 del 22/06/2026
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/linee-guida-e-modulistica_nk127_EN.aspx
["GUIDELINES AND FORMS" menu on the right; file: Format_REFERENCE_LETTER_(by_the_referee's).docx]



download the attachement
§ letter of motivation (by the candidate)
mandatory
The letter (MANDATORY), in PDF format, must include:
- candidate's last name, first name, email address, and telephone number;
- past research experience, scientific interests, and expectations (maximum 700 words);
- any attendance at advanced schools or programs of excellence;
- publications and awards/recognitions.
- MANDATORY: at least two research lines, with priority, from those listed as "Research lines available for Sapienza scholarships" or "Research lines available without financial support from Sapienza" for the 42nd Cycle, and, optionally, one line selected from those listed as "Other research lines available for Sapienza scholarships." The research lines offered are presented on the program webpage at [https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/linee-di-ricerca-disponibili_nk340_EN.aspx].
- MANDATORY: a declaration of availability or otherwise to undertake any continuous research and study periods of 3+ months at foreign research institutions.

The file must be named "Surname_Name_Motivation Letter".pdf, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026
§ degree thesis (complete)
mandatory
The presentation of this document (in PDF format) is mandatory to take the admission exam. The document must be uploaded by the application deadline.

Graduating students who plan to defend their thesis by October 31, 2026, must upload a synopsis of their thesis instead of their master's 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 14:00 del 17/06/2026

Language Skills

the candidate must know the following languages
ENGLISH

Exam Schedule

Qualifications assessment
day01/07/2026
notesnone
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-CELLULARE-E-DELLO-SVILUPPO_nD3489.aspx
date of publication02/07/2026
contactsdottoratobcs.bbcd@uniroma1.it

Altra tipologia (Research project)
day01/07/2026 1.00.00
notesnone
time09:00
classroom-
address-
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/BIOLOGIA-CELLULARE-E-DELLO-SVILUPPO_nD3489.aspx
date of publication02/07/2026
contactsdottoratobcs.bbcd@uniroma1.it

Oral interview
day07/07/2026
notesnone
time09:00
classroomAULA B "GIORGIO TECCE"
addressEDIFICIO CU026 FISIOLOGIA GENERALE - ANTROPOLOGIA, piano rialzato, Città Universitaria, viale Regina Elena 334, 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 publication07/07/2026
contactsdottoratobcs.bbcd@uniroma1.it


Evaluation scale

Qualifications assessment

Valutazione titoli

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 13

VOTO LAUREA O MEDIA VOTI
MASTER DEGREE GRADE OR MEAN OF EXAM GRADES

Punteggio massimo/max score: 7
Verrà valutato il voto di laurea magistrale del candidato. Per coloro che discuteranno la tesi dopo la presentazione della domanda ma comunque entro il 31 ottobre 2026, verrà valutata la media aritmetica degli esami sostenuti.
The candidate's Master's degree grade will be evaluated.For those who will defend their thesis after the submission of the application, but before October 31, 2026, the arithmetic mean of the exams taken will be evaluated.
110, 110 e lode (29-30)
A		5,0
109 -108 (28-28,99)
not considered		4,0
107 -106 (27-27,99)
B		3,0
105 -104 (26-26,99)
not considered		2,0
103 -102 (25-25,99)
C		1,0
<102 (<25)
D		0,0
VOTO DI LAUREA TRIENNALE
BACHELOR DEGREE GRADE
110, 110 e lode
110, 110 cum laude		2,0
109 -106
B		1,5
105 -102
C		1,0
<1020,0
VOTO DI LAUREA MAGISTRALE A CICLO UNICO O VECCHIO ORDINAMENTO
University final single cycle degree mark
110, 110 e lode (29-30)
a		7,0
109 -108 (28-28,99)
b		6,0
107 -106 (27-27,99)
c		5,0
105-104 (26-26,99)
d		4,0
103-102 (25-25,99)
e		3,0
<102 (<25)
f		0,0

LETTERA DI MOTIVAZIONE
MOTIVATION LETTER

Punteggio massimo/max score: 2
Verrà assegnato un punteggio sulla base della valutazione complessiva di: - chiarezza degli obiettivi e coerenza con il programma formativo e di ricerca del corso di dottorato; - motivazione a perseguire le attività di ricerca e completare il percorso formativo; - propensione alla collaborazione scientifica e alla mobilità sia in ambito accademico e/o industriale; - capacità di scrittura (chiarezza, proprietà di linguaggio, capacità di sintesi); - originalità.
A score will be assigned based on the overall evaluation of: - clarity of objectives and consistency with the doctoral program's educational and research program; - motivation to pursue research and complete the program; - propensity for scientific collaboration and mobility, both in academic and/or industrial settings; - writing skills (clarity, command of language, ability to summarize); - originality.
Valutazione complessiva
Overall evaluation
Eccellente
Excellent		2,0
Buono
Good		1,5
Sufficiente
Sufficient		1,0
Insufficiente
Insufficient		0,0

LETTERA/E DI PRESENTAZIONE
REFERENCE LETTER(S)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 2
Verrà assegnato un punteggio sulla base della valutazione complessiva data nella/e lettera/e di referenza. Nel caso vengano presentate più lettere, verrà calcolata la media dei punteggi di ciascuna lettera.
A score will be assigned based on the overall evaluation given in the reference letter(s). If multiple reference letters are submitted, the scores for each letter will be averaged.
Valutazione complessiva
Overall evaluation
Eccellente
Excellent		2,0
Buono
Good		1,5
Sufficiente
Sufficient		1,0
Insufficiente
Insufficient		0,0

ALTRI TITOLI
Other qualifications

Punteggio massimo/max score: 2
Pubblicazione ISI (primo autore)
ISI (author)		2,0
Pubblicazione ISI (co-autore)
ISI (co-author)		1,0
Esperienze all’estero (almeno due mesi, compreso Erasmus)
Experience abroad (at least 2 months, including Erasmus)		1,0
Contratti di collaborazione alla ricerca
Collaboration contracts		1,0
Altri titoli
Other qualifications		0,5
Altra tipologia (Research project)

Altra tipologia

Progetto di Ricerca
Research project

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 27

Originalità e contenuto innovativo
Innovative aspects of the project

Punteggio massimo/max score: 7

Fattibilità del progetto e sua pertinenza con gli obiettivi formativi del Dottorato e delle linee di ricerca proposte
Feasibility of the project and its relevance to the educational objectives of the Doctorate and the proposed lines of research

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10

Capacità di sintesi, chiarezza nella stesura del progetto e conoscenza della letteratura
Ability to synthesise, clarity in writing and knowledge of the literature

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10
Oral interview

Prova orale

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

Discussione sulle tematiche oggetto del Programma di Dottorato
Discussion on the topics covered by the Doctoral Program

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10

Discussione e valutazione del progetto di ricerca proposto
Discussion and evaluation of the proposed research project

Punteggio massimo/max score: 18

Autopresentazione del candidato e discussione delle esperienze pregresse
Self-presentation of the candidate and discussion of previous experiences

Punteggio massimo/max score: 12

Chiarezza espositiva, capacità di sintesi e terminologia scientifica appropriata
Clarity of exposition, ability to summarise and appropriate scientific terminology

Punteggio massimo/max score: 7
Verrà valutata la chiarezza espositiva e la capacità di sintesi del candidato, oltreché l conoscenza e l'uso appropriato della terminologia scientifica. Se la prova orale sarà svolta in italiano, verrà valutata anche la conoscenza della lingua inglese attraverso la lettura e traduzione di un brano tratto da un articolo scientifico.
The candidate's clarity of exposition and ability to summarize will be assessed, as well as knowledge and appropriate use of scientific terminology. If the oral exam is held in Italian, knowledge of the English language will also be assessed through the reading and translation of a passage from a scientific article.

Conoscenza della lingua inglese
Knowledge of the English language

Punteggio massimo/max score: 6
Conoscenza della lingua inglese (nel caso la prova sia sostenuta in italiano, verrà valutata la capacità di leggere e tradurre un brano in inglese tratto da un articolo scientifico)
Knowledge of the English language (if the test is taken in Italian, the ability to read and translate an English passage from a scientific article will be assessed)

Motivazione, chiarezza degli obiettivi di formazione e carriera, propensione al lavoro in collaborazione e alla mobilità
Motivation, clarity of training and career objectives, and a propensity for collaborative work and mobility

Punteggio massimo/max score: 7

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