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

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND MENTAL FUNCTIONING: RESEARCH METHODS IN FORENSIC
The main objective of this PhD is to train high-level researchers in the field of psychopathology applied to forensic and criminological sciences and to enable them to expand the body of scientific literature on medical, psychological and social sciences applied to forensic and legal contexts. The doctoral programme is designed to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for successful access to national and international research contexts. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach of this PhD ensures that each student can be supported and explore his/her specific research interests. The educational programme is articulated in advanced institutional courses that deepen the study of research methodology in relation to: i) life-cycle psychology and psychopathology; ii) criminality and deviance; iii) neurobiology; iv) neuroscience and neuroimaging; v) memory and testimony; vi) decision-making processes and biases; vii) assessment and psychodiagnostic evaluation in forensic contexts. Irrespective of the curriculum chosen, students will be trained in statistics and data analysis, including both traditional methods and the latest and most up-to-date systems of artificial intelligence (e.g. machine learning algorithms). In fact, this doctoral programme, in addition to the advanced institutional courses mentioned above, requires students to choose between three curricula to complement their training: Legal Psychology, Forensic Psychopathology and Forensic Neuroscience, which are interrelated and represent a cornerstone of legal and forensic sciences. The articulation of the curricula allows students to deepen their knowledge of specialist topics through lectures given by national and international experts, with a focus on the specific evidence-based methodologies of each field. Specifically, the primary educational objective of the Forensic Psychology curriculum is to provide specialised skills related to the advancement of methodologies and techniques for the assessment of personality, family relationships, parenting capacity, victimology, offender treatment, and the credibility of adult and juvenile witnesses. The Forensic Psychopathology curriculum aims to refine methodologies useful in forensic psychiatric semeiotic research, particularly relevant to the assessment of decision-making capacity, the methodology of conducting a psychiatric expert report, and the in-patient, out-patient and pharmacological treatment of offenders. Finally, the Forensic Neuroscience curriculum focuses on refining research methodologies related to the assessment of cognitive processes in forensic settings - in particular, memory, testimony and free will - and to the decision-making processes of professionals working in the legal context.

Number of positions available


Sapienza Scholarships Affliliated Institutions or Excellence Industrial PhD Without scholarship
3 0 0 1

Themes, curriculum and specific competence



Sapienza scholarships: 3

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


Admission Procedure

Qualifications assessment Applicants will be assessed on the basis of: (a) degree level; (b) publications; (c) research experience; (d) other qualifications.
The curriculum vitae must be written in Italian (or in English for foreign candidates) and contain the information necessary to assess points (b), (c) and (d).

There is no minimum score required to pass the qualification assessment.
Research Project In the research project, which must not exceed 10,000 characters including spaces (references excluded), candidates should describe: (a) the theoretical framework; (b) the aims and hypotheses; (c) the methodological approach; (d) the expected results. The following aspects of the project will be evaluated in particular: (a) methodology, feasibility and applicability; (b) innovation and feasibility of the project; (c) potential of the project to deepen the knowledge of the literature in the field; (d) thematic coherence with the topics of this doctoral programme.

Candidates who obtained at least 35/60 in their project are admitted to the oral exam.
language INGLESE
Oral interview Candidates will be assessed by an interview. This exam will be held in person.
The interview will consist of: (a) discussion of the candidate's CV; (b) discussion of the research project; (c) assessment of the candidate's knowledge of English (by conducting the oral examination, in whole or in part, in English).

The minimum positive score for the oral test is 25/35.
language ITALIANO
INGLESE

contacts and info pmf.hn@uniroma1.it https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/PSICOPATOLOGIA-E-FUNZIONAMENTO-MENTALE-METODI-DI-RICERCA-IN-AMBITO-FORENSE_nD3858_IT.aspx

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
Other University Awards/Degrees (e.g.: awards in competition, second degree)

Required documentation

§ research project
mandatory
In the research project, which must not exceed 10,000 characters including spaces (references excluded), candidates should describe: (a) the theoretical framework; (b) the aims and hypotheses; (c) the methodological approach; (d) the expected results. The following aspects of the project will be evaluated in particular: (a) methodology, feasibility and applicability; (b) innovation and feasibility of the project; (c) potential of the project to deepen the knowledge of the literature in the field; (d) thematic coherence with the topics of this doctoral programme., the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026
§ List of publications
optional, the file must be uploaded within le ore 14:00 del 17/06/2026
§ Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum
mandatory, 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
day23/06/2026 ERRATA CORRIGE: ESITO 30/06/2026
notesnone
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/PSICOPATOLOGIA-E-FUNZIONAMENTO-MENTALE-METODI-DI-RICERCA-IN-AMBITO-FORENSE_nD3858.aspx
date of publication29/06/2026
contactspmf.hn@uniroma1.it

Altra tipologia (Research Project)
day23/06/2026 ERRATA CORRIGE: ESITO 30/06/2026
notesnone
time10:00
classroomhttps://uniroma1.zoom.us/j/7157253862
addresshttps://uniroma1.zoom.us/j/7157253862
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/PSICOPATOLOGIA-E-FUNZIONAMENTO-MENTALE-METODI-DI-RICERCA-IN-AMBITO-FORENSE_nD3858.aspx
date of publication29/06/2026
contactspmf.hn@uniroma1.it

Oral interview
day09/07/2026
notesnone
time10:00
classroomAula A (Edificio CU026; piano rialzato)
addressViale Regina Elena n.334
publication on notice boardNO
publication on the web siteYes
web sitehttps://phd.uniroma1.it/web/PSICOPATOLOGIA-E-FUNZIONAMENTO-MENTALE-METODI-DI-RICERCA-IN-AMBITO-FORENSE_nD3858.aspx
date of publication09/07/2026
contactspmf.hn@uniroma1.it


Evaluation scale

Qualifications assessment

Valutazione titoli

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 15

Voto di laurea
Degree evaluation

Punteggio massimo/max score: 3
Voto di laurea (magistrale, specialistica o a ciclo unico) MAX 3 PUNTI
University final degree mark MAX 3 POINTS
110, 110 e lode
110, 110 cum laude		3,0
109 -108
109 -108		2,0
107 -106
107 -106		1,0
< = 105
<= 105		0,0
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.
29 - 30
29 - 30		3,0
28 – 28.99
28 – 28.99		2,0
27 - 27.99
27 - 27.99		1,0
<= 26
<= 26		0,0

Pubblicazioni (max 6 punti)
Publications (max 6 points)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 6
All'interno della sotto-categoria, si possono valutare più prodotti, fino al raggiungimento del punteggio massimo complessivo (6 punti). Verrà valutata la presenza di un criterio chiaramente descritto dal candidato nel CV facilmente attribuibile a una delle voci della griglia.
Within the subcategory, multiple items may be assessed, up to the maximum overall score (6 points). The presence of a criterion clearly described by the candidate in the CV and easily attributable to one of the items in the grid will be assessed.
Pubblicazione ISI (primo autore)
ISI (author)		2,0
Pubblicazione ISI (co-autore)
ISI (co-author)		1,0
Libro o Capitolo di libro (solo autore)
Book or chapter in book (author)		1,0
Libro o Capitolo di libro (co-autore)
Book or chapter in book (co-author)		0,5

Esperienze di ricerca (max 3 punti)
Research experiences (max 3 points)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 3
All'interno della sotto-categoria, si possono valutare più esperienze, fino al raggiungimento del punteggio massimo complessivo (3 punti). Verrà valutata la presenza di un criterio chiaramente descritto dal candidato nel CV facilmente attribuibile a una delle voci della griglia.
Within the subcategory, multiple items may be assessed, up to the maximum overall score (3 points). The presence of a criterion clearly described by the candidate in the CV and easily attributable to one of the items in the grid will be assessed.
Assegni di ricerca
Research grants		2,0
Contratti di collaborazione alla ricerca (es. borsa di ricerca)
Collaboration contracts for research (e.g., scholarship)		1,0

Eventuali altri titoli (max 3 punti)
Other titles (max 3 points)

Punteggio massimo/max score: 3
All'interno della sotto-categoria, si possono valutare più titoli, fino al raggiungimento del punteggio massimo complessivo (3 punti). Verrà valutata la presenza di un criterio chiaramente descritto dal candidato nel CV facilmente attribuibile a una delle voci della griglia.
Within the subcategory, multiple items may be assessed, up to the maximum overall score (3 points). The presence of a criterion clearly described by the candidate in the CV and easily attributable to one of the items in the grid will be assessed.
Master di I livello
1st level Master		0,5
Master di II livello
2nd level Master		1,0
Corsi di perfezionamento
Training courses		0,5
Diploma di specializzazione (medica o psicologica)
Specialization school (medical or psychological)		2,0
Certificazioni di lingua inglese
English language certification		1,0
Premi
Prizes		1,0
Altra tipologia (Research Project)

Altra tipologia

Progetto di ricerca
Research Project

Punteggio massimo complessivo per la prova/overall max score: 50

Cornice teorica di riferimento
Theoretical framework

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5

Originalità e contenuto innovativo
Innovative aspects of the project

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10

Chiarezza e completezza dell’esposizione degli obiettivi, delle metodologie e dei potenziali risultati
Clarity and completeness of the specific objectives, research strategy, attainability

Punteggio massimo/max score: 20

Fattibilità del progetto
Feasibility of the project

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10

Pertinenza del progetto con gli obiettivi formativi del dottorato
Relevance of the project to the educational goals of the PhD program

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5
Oral interview

Prova orale

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

Discussione delle tematiche relative al progetto di ricerca
Discussion about the research project

Punteggio massimo/max score: 20

Discussione dei titoli del candidato e degli interessi di ricerca del candidato: chiarezza espositiva, capacità di sintesi e interesse scientifico del curriculum
Discussion about the curriculum and the research’s interest: capability in summarize the central points and academic qualifications

Punteggio massimo/max score: 5

Lingua inglese
English language

Punteggio massimo/max score: 10

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