Outline

Access to renewable and sustainable energy vectors, environment protection and preservation, together with the development of technologies allowing to enhance health care and life quality for the aging world population are humanity’s greatest challenge in the 21st century. Succeeding in addressing this challenge is the only hope of ensuring prosperity of our modern society. The development of renewable energy sources and of alternative, efficient energy conversion devices, enables global economic growth, minimizing environmental impact. This requires a multidisciplinary effort involving many fields like chemistry, physics, materials science, biology, medicine, nanotechnology, just to name a few. Among the medical applications, special attention is devoted to materials for dentistry. Materials are crucial for the development of all sustainable technologies and the activities of the PhD Course in Materials for Sustainable Developmenty address the investigation of materials and related devices. The academic offer is wide and diversified and enables the PhD candidates to acquire solid scientific and methodological knowledge for tackling complex problems in the framework of their doctoral thesis. Understanding materials electronic, structural and dynamic properties at the nanoscale may involve investigations with instrumentation based at large scale infrastructures, along with the instrumentation based at university research laboratory. Students will have the opportunity to perform experiments at leader international large facilities. Given the wide number of international collaborations of the Faculty members, it is foreseen that part of the Ph D students research activities will be carried out in foreign Universities or research Centers. Aim of this PhD course is, in fact, to prepare experts in materials preparation, processing and application in the fields of energy and health that might then be occupied not only in academia but also in professional or industrial enterprises. This Doctorate aims to supply students with the appropriate technical, operative and cognitive instruments to gain a leading role in the industrial, academic and professional framework. Given the wide number of international collaborations of the Faculty members, it is foreseen that part of the Ph D students research activities will be carried out in foreign Universities or research Centers. The common goal of contributing to sustainable development reflects into a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary Ph D Course. The following is a (partial) list of the possible research fields (take a look at the individual websites of Faculty members for more information): 1. Energy conversion and storage devices (Polymeric, Solid Oxide and Microbial Fuel Cells; Redox Flow Batteries, lithium ion batteries) 2. Sensor for environmental and clinical application 3. Materials for Concentrated Solar Power 4. Neutron spectroscopies technologies applied to materials 5. Materials for Bio-nanotechnologies 6. Properties of orthodontic materials 7. Materials and Devices for restoration and conservation of Cultural Heritage Admission to the doctoral program is on a competitive basis. The expected characteristics of the ideal candidate are pro-active researcher and team player, adaptability to a multicultural environment, and good written and spoken English. Training activities are wide and diversified and aim to allow the the PhD students to acquire solid scientific and methodological knowledge for tackling complex problems in the framework of their doctoral thesis. The research topic is chosen in agreement with the Academic Board in compliance with the topics of the doctoral course taking into account the students backgrounds and interests. This is pursued through advanced courses proposed by the Academic Board independently or jointly with other doctoral courses of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, departmental and interdepartmental seminar-type activities, laboratory activities, activities connected with research, training and research courses (International Courses, Summer/Winter Schools, Workshops) autonomously chosen by the student, in agreement with the Tutor and approved by the Academic Board upon verification of the coherence with the educational path and/or with the PhD thesis project. Possible activities include: participation, as a speaker, in workshops, national and international conferences on topics related to the students specific research project, organization of national and/or international workshops, conferences at public or private research institutions, publication in specialized journals.

What is funded

8 PhD scholarships

Duration

3 years

Eligibility

See https://phd.uniroma2.it/web/MATERIALS-FOR-SUSTAINABLE-DEVELOPMENT_nD101…