Our Mission

The goal of the PhD programme in Biosciences is to foster the growth of independent and highly motivated students within the realm of life sciences. We provide high level scientific training complemented by continuous interaction between students and faculty members. The diversification of scientific objectives within our PhD programme is represented by the four curricula:

Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Cell Biology and Physiology

Evolution Ecology and Conservation

Genetics Genomics and Bioinformatics

Our students have the opportunity to pursue their education within a stimulating environment, in an international framework that strongly encourages interdisciplinary training.

Professional Profile

The PhD Program in Biosciences aims to train highly qualified, research-oriented professionals capable of working at both national and international levels in the public and private sectors.
Graduates are prepared for coordination roles in analytical laboratories, healthcare institutions, biotechnology companies, advanced service industries, and academia. These professional profiles are currently in high demand and highly valued in the job market.
The program’s training activities are closely aligned with the requirements of research careers in public and private academic settings. Ongoing development of the curriculum aims to further strengthen the skills needed in selected industrial and corporate sectors.

Organization and facilities

Our PhD students have access to many facilities (see below) and work within a friendly and strong international research community under the supervision of experts of the field. Research opportunities are multi-disciplinary, spanning the whole range of biological research. Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged as well as the interaction among PhD students, post-docs and faculty members of the Department.

Specific lines of research will be carried out at research centres associated with the Department of Biology, such as the Botanical Garden of the University of Padua, the Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine in Padua, the Marine Station of the Department of Biology, Chioggia, Italy.

For the complete list of facilities available at the Department of Biology see here.

Alumni

PhD Students from XXX to XXXIX cylces

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance (QA) in the Doctoral Programmes of the University of Padua is implemented in accordance with the ANVUR AVA 3 framework and the requirements of Ministerial Decree 226/2021, which mandates accredited institutions to adopt a structured system for the design, management, monitoring, and continuous improvement of doctoral training.
The primary goal is to ensure a high-quality educational and research environment that supports the development of the doctoral candidates’ scientific, professional, and transversal skills, in line with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

Within this framework, each Doctoral Programme adopts transparent procedures for defining learning objectives and expected outcomes, plans and organizes appropriate educational and research activities consistent with its mission, monitors progress and results, and implements evidence-based improvements.

Active engagement of doctoral candidates, academic staff, and the Doctoral Board is a key component of the QA cycle, together with ongoing interaction with the University Quality Assurance Office, the Internal Evaluation Group and the relevant institutional bodies.
Therefore, QA in the doctoral domain ensures rigorous and internationally recognisable training paths that fully respond to the needs of advanced research and society, supporting the continuous enhancement of the learning experience and the quality of the scientific outcomes produced.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee of the PhD Programme in Bioscience (2025-2026) is composed as follows:

Members of the Academic Board 

Prof. Chiara Romualdi

Prof. Stefano Cagnin

Prof.ssa Lucia Manni

Prof. Luigi Leanza

PhD Students Representatives

Riccardo Frizzo

Stakeholders

Valentina Basso

Susanna Cogo

Margherita Ferrarini

Camilla Bean

Links related to the Quality Assurance for the PhD program:

• University of Padova page on Quality Assurance for PhD programs (in Italian)
• Department of Biology page on Quality Assurance (in Italian)
• link to the PhD program Advisory Board (Comitato consultivo) page 
• restricted section for PhD Board members (requires authentication)