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

GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
In recent years, there has been a spectacular development in Genetics and Molecular Biology. These two disciplines have progressively integrated, exchanging conceptual categories and experimental methods, and currently represent the central and unifying theme of modern biology. Classic research in Genetics and Molecular Biology, such as the study of the structure and function of genetic material, has recently undergone an unimaginable acceleration with the characterization of entire genomes and their corresponding profiles of RNA expression and proteins. These findings now offer powerful means of investigation for the integrated study of molecular processes that underlie the regulation of cellular development, differentiation, and proliferation. They also offer unique opportunities for genetic-molecular analysis of physiological and pathological processes and for the development of therapies for genetic and degenerative diseases. Finally, modern genomic acquisitions provide an essential tool for the interpretation of evolutionary processes and the analysis of the genetic structure of human populations.
The topics discussed are now addressed using sophisticated genetic analysis methodologies, advanced techniques of genetic engineering and reverse genetics, as well as biochemical characterization of biological macromolecules and increasingly powerful bioinformatics tools in global or “omic” approaches for the study of the structure and function of entire genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes. Of particular relevance is the use of "CRISPR Cas9" genomic editing systems, which have revolutionized biomedical research and allow for more accurate study of gene function.
All this has created new areas of research and expanded existing ones. There has therefore been a strong demand for specialists in this field. The educational objectives of the PhD are to create specialists capable of operating with scientific originality and methodological competence in the most modern and advanced sectors of genetic-molecular research, both basic and applied, both within the University and Research Institutions, Biomedical Research Institutes and Industry.
The course is structured over three years during which the PhD students, in addition to research activities and cultural exchanges with foreign laboratories, attend general and monographic lessons as well as specialist seminars and group discussions with high-profile Italian or foreign teachers affiliated with academic institutions or research entities. In addition, PhD students participate in practical laboratory courses of different content depending on the year, and in soft skills courses, to build social and communication skills.
The knowledge of the English language is required for all activities involving the PhD student, from seminars to moments of presentation, exchange and discussion of results, up to the writing of the thesis.

Number of positions available


Sapienza Scholarships Affliliated Institutions or Excellence Industrial PhD Without scholarship
5 5 0 3

Themes, curriculum and specific competence



Scholarships funded by affiliated Institution and Departments of Excellence

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: DIPARTIMENTO DI BIOLOGIA E BIOTECNOLOGIE "CHARLES DARWIN"
Topic: FIS2 MEDIGEN - MUR_ALTRI_2023_MEDIGEN_GIUNTA_S_01 Project 1: Complete Genome Assemblies of Human Cell Lines for High-Precision Functional Genomics

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: DIPARTIMENTO DI BIOLOGIA E BIOTECNOLOGIE "CHARLES DARWIN"
Topic: FIS2 MEDIGEN - MUR_ALTRI_2023_MEDIGEN_GIUNTA_S_01 Project 2: Mutational Landscape of Repetitive DNA in Cancer Genomes

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: DIPARTIMENTO DI BIOLOGIA E BIOTECNOLOGIE "CHARLES DARWIN"
Topic: FIS2 MEDIGEN - MUR_ALTRI_2023_MEDIGEN_GIUNTA_S_01 Project 3: Sequence Variation at Rapidly Evolving Genomic Loci and Its Functional Consequences

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ (ISS)
Topic: Advancing innovative combination therapies through understanding immune mechanisms in solid tumors: immuno-molecular analysis and tumor-on-chip models in glioblastoma and melanoma

1 scholarship funded by the affiliated Institution: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ (ISS)
Topic: Characterizing the pathogenic mechanisms in undiagnosed patients affected by RAS-related rare diseases

Sapienza scholarships: 5

The call includes additional places reserved for scholarship recipients from foreign countries.


Admission Procedure

Qualifications assessment 1) Academic titles, taking into account: (a) average of the grades obtained during the bachelor and master's degrees (or single-cycle degree), (b) master degree within the prescribed time period (limited to the master's degree or single-cycle degree), (c) admission to Schools of Advanced Studies or to excellence programs.
2) Scientific titles: any publications, national and international research experiences (including Erasmus), training courses, funding and scholarships for merit or for teaching support will be considered.

Candidates who obtained at least 10/35 in their qualifications are admitted to the oral exam.
Oral interview The oral examination consists of two parts: 1) Project oral presentation, please note that a written project is NOT requested, it will only be an oral presentation. The candidate must present a project (without the use of media support) coherent with the research lines of the PhD course in Genetics and Molecular Biology (research projects for the 42° cycle are available on the web site; the submission of a project not on the list is also permitted). Evaluation will be based on: clarity of the presentation, ability to argue the project and knowledge of the scientific background; project feasibility; pertinence of the project with the PhD course objectives. (2) Evaluation of the candidate’s knowledge on general topics inherent to genetics and molecular biology. The interview will be followed by a test aimed to verify the candidate’s knowledge of the English language. The test will consist in reading and translating a paragraph of a scientific article in English on a topic related to the themes of the doctorate.

The minimum positive score for the oral test is 15/40.
language INGLESE
ITALIANO

contacts and info mail: dottoratogbm.bbcd@uniroma1.it
more info The oral exam can be taken remotely upon request

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)

Required documentation

§ List of publications
optional, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026
§ Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum
optional
For those who obtained their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at a different university, include in your CV the average grade of the exams taken during those degrees. If the degrees were obtained at foreign universities, also indicate the grading scale used and specify whether the Master’s degree was completed within the standard timeframe, 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
day24/06/2026
notesnone
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/GENETICA-E-BIOLOGIA-MOLECOLARE_nD3506.aspx
date of publication01/07/2026
contactsdottoratogbm.bbcd@uniroma1.it

Oral interview
day13/07/2026
notesnone
time09:00
classroomSala lettura o on line
address2° Piano, Edificio di Genetica CU022. P.le Aldo Moro 5
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/GENETICA-E-BIOLOGIA-MOLECOLARE_nD3506.aspx
date of publication13/07/2026
contactsdottoratogbm.bbcd@uniroma1.it


Evaluation scale

Qualifications assessment

Valutazione titoli

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 35

Media dei voti conseguiti durante la laurea triennale e magistrale (o ciclo unico)
Average grades obtained in degree courses

Punteggio massimo/max score: 21
Media dei voti ottenuti nella Laurea triennale
Average grades obtained in Bachelor degree
29 - 30
29 - 30		12,0
28 – 28.99
28 – 28.99		11,0
27 - 27.99
27 - 27.99		10,0
26 - 26.99
26 - 26.99		9,0
25 - 25.99
25 - 25.99		6,0
24 - 24.99
24 - 24.99		3,0
23 - 23.99
23 - 23.99		1,0
< 23
< 23		0,0
Media dei voti ottenuti nella Laurea Magistrale
Average grades obtained in Master degree
29 - 30
29 - 30		9,0
28 – 28.99
28 – 28.99		7,0
27 - 27.99
27 - 27.99		5,0
26 - 26.99
26 - 26.99		3,0
25 - 25.99
25 - 25.99		2,0
24 - 24.99
24 - 24.99		1,0
< 24
< 24		0,0
Media dei voti ottenuti nella Laurea a ciclo unico
Average grades obtained in the single-cycle degree
29 - 30
29 - 30		21,0
28 – 28.99
28 – 28.99		18,0
27 - 27.99
27 - 27.99		15,0
26 - 26.99
26 - 26.99		12,0
25 - 25.99
25 - 25.99		8,0
24 - 24.99
24 - 24.99		4,0
23 - 23.99
23 - 23.99		1,0
< 23
< 23		0,0

Laurea magistrale/ciclo unico in corso
Master's degree/single cycle within the prescribed time period

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5
Verranno assegnati 5 punti agli studenti che risultano in corso nel loro percorso di studi di Laurea Magistrale, 0 punti agli studenti che risultano fuori corso
Students who are on track with their Master’s degree programme will be awarded 5 points; students who are behind schedule will receive 0 points

Ammissione in Scuole di Studi Avanzati/Percorsi di Eccellenza
Admission to Schools of Advanced Studies/Excellence Programs

Punteggio massimo/max score: 3

Pubblicazioni
Pubblications

Punteggio massimo/max score: 3
Articoli
Articles ISI		1,5
Preprint, Libri o capitoli di libro
Book or chapter in book		1,0
Contributi a convegni
Contribution to lecture/congress		0,5

Esperienze di Ricerca
Research experiences

Punteggio massimo/max score: 3
Esperienze all'estero (almeno 2 mesi, compreso Erasmus)
Experience abroad (at least 2 months, including Erasmus)		1,5
Contratti di collaborazione, borse di ricerca
Collaboration contracts, research scholarships		1,0
Corsi di formazione alla ricerca
Training courses for researchers		0,5
Oral interview

Prova orale

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: 10

Capacità di argomentare, conoscenza del background scientifico
Ability to argue, knowledge of the scientific background

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10

Pertinenza del progetto con gli obiettivi formativi del dottorato
Relevance of the project to the educational objectives of the doctorate

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5

Valutazione delle conoscenze del candidato in argomenti inerenti la genetica e biologia molecolare
Evaluation of the candidate's knowledge in topics related to genetics and molecular biology

Punteggio massimo/max score: 15
Finanziato dal Fondo italiano per la scienza - Bando FIS

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