PhD Thesis @SZN

The SZN hosts International PhD programs in collaboration with the Open University (UK) and European Universities. Research students have the opportunity to develop top-level research and improve their personal skills and professional competence by living, experiencing and working in the laboratories of the SZN. A dedicated staff supports each research student and his/her needs are identified and jointly agreed upon, with the student at the beginning of the activity. All needs and progresses are regularly followed and updated as appropriate.
All SZN PhD students take advantage of our international Higher Education Program, consisting of international courses, seminars, workshops and colloquia. Over the last three years more than 40 students have completed their PhD program at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn.

International PhD Program in collaboration with the Open University (OU)

The International PhD Programme, originally established in 1998, represents the prime commitment to first class training and education. Our International  PhD Program in Life Sciences is based on internationality, dedicated mentoring, career development, additional skills, in order to provide our  PhD students with the best starting platform for a successful career in science by inspiring and fostering talented young scientists to turn them into skilled and creative future leaders. It provides comprehensive training that promotes scientific excellence, independence and creativity. We provide close internal mentoring jointly with the tutoring of an international expert, highly specialized courses, additional skill exercises, career development. More than 95% of our students have successfully completed their PhD degree and most of our graduates have taken up positions all over the world. Every year we accept an average of 6 new students, selected from a large pool of international applicants.

POSITIONS ON OFFER

PhD Program in collaboration with Italian and European Universities

SZN has a long lasting PhD Program in collaboration with Italian and European Universities. More than 130 PhD students graduated in different scientific disciplines, in collaboration with many Italian and European Universities.
The following PhD Programs are currently running:

- University of Naples Federico II, Biology
- Polytechnic University of the Marche, Biology – Curriculum “Marine Biology and Ecology”
- Sant’Anna School of Advances Studies – Pisa, Biorobotics
- University of Siena, Environmental, geological and polar sciences and technologies
- University of Trieste, Environmental life sciences
- KU Leuven (Belgium), Science
- University of Calabria, Life Sciences
- University of Bremen, Germany - Doctoral Programme in Natural Sciences
- University of Vienna, Austria – Biology
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Traslational Medicine
- University of Messina, Applied Biology and Experimental Medicine
- University of Tuscia, Ecology and Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources
- University of Rome Sapienza, Environmental and Evolutionary Biology
- University of Pisa, Biology
- Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Marine Sciences

The PhD programs in collaboration with the European Universities, follow the rules and selection procedures of each University. All information concerning the call for applications, the duration, the financial support, the admission requirements can be found on:
INFO AND ADMISSION:
University of Naples Federico II 
Polytechnic University of Marche
Sant’Anna School of Advances Studies
University of Siena
University of Trieste
KU Leuven
University of Calabria
University of Bremen
University of Vienna
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
University of Messina
University of Tuscia
University of Rome Sapienza
University of Pisa
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

Courses

Highly specialized PhD-level courses, seminars by leading scientists, as well as skill exercises programs are offered annually to SZN students. Students are required to attend all training activities in order to qualify for the degree. All courses, seminars and tutorials are held in English.

PhD planning and management

The President of the SZN is responsible for the strategic direction of the Higher Education Program. The SZN PhD Programme is managed by a PhD Board, a PhD Steering Committee, and by the Coordinator of the PhD Program Dr. Sabrina Carrella, responsible for overseeing the research degree provision.

The PhD Board includes all the staff scientists and technologists of the SZN.

PhD Steering Committee members are: Dr. Sabrina Carrella, Coordinator, Dr. Ylenia Carotenuto, Dr. Chiara Lauritano, Dr. Serena Leone.

Administration and organization is managed by the Higher Education & University Liaison Office.

CONTACTS: Higher Education & University Liaison Office - Gabriella Grossi  Tel. +39-081-5833396 and Margherita Groeben Tel. +39-081-5833310 at phdszn(at)szn.it

OUR RESEARCH DEPARTMENTS:
Research Departments

BEFORE STARTING YOUR APPLICATION

Allow yourself 45 to 60 minutes to complete the online application.
In order to submit an application our the PhD program, you must first create an account. This account will allow you to save your application and continue it at a later date.
We strongly recommend to submit your application ahead of the deadline in order to avoid any last minute problems with online submission. No application will be accepted after the deadline of November 3rd 2022 - h. 12.00 (CET).

Candidates with disabilities should please detail any eventual facility they require to participate in the eventual interview. Every effort will be made to ensure that they can participate on an equal basis with other candidates and all reasonable arrangements requested by disabled candidates will be adopted.

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS

Before starting the procedure please be sure to have the following documents:
- cv (European form desirable)
- a scanned copy of your degree (For European Citizens Self-Declaration Affidavit - In accordance with article 46 T.U. – D.P.R. no. 445- 28.12.2000)
- a scanned copy of the IELTS (or alternative as indicated at the page Info & Admission) certificate (if applicable) (For European Citizens Self-Declaration Affidavit - In accordance with article 46 T.U. – D.P.R. no. 445- 28.12.2000)
- a scanned copy of the ID document
- a scanned copy of the declaration automatically produced by the system at the end of the application procedure, duly signed*

STEP 1
Read the project for which a fellowship is available.

STEP 2
LINK TO THE SZN ONLINE APPLICATION
CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
FILL IN THE ONLINE FORM*

*At the end of the online application procedure, the system will produce a declaration that the candidate will have to print, sign, scan and save as a PDF or JPG file.
This file must be attached to the application in the appropriate section.
Attaching this document is a mandatory prerequisite to complete the online application procedure.
After submitting the application, you will receive an email confirming of the submission. This message has the value of receipt, if you do not receive it, please contact the PhD office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

STEP 3
Download the form for the recommendation letter (available here and in the application form) and send it to 2 persons acquainted with your professional achievements who are able to give a qualified judgment of your skills and professional qualities as perspective PhD student. The letters of recommendation are an essential part of your application. It is your responsibility to contact your referees and to ensure that they write to us before the deadline for receiving applications on November 3rd 2022 - h. 12.00 (CET). Please forward the form to each of these two referees and ask them to send their letters of recommendation from their institutional directly to this email address: phdszn(at)szn.it.

INFO
If you have any question regarding the application process, please, contact Gabriella Grossi
From Monday to Friday h. 9.00 – 12.30 and 14.00-15.00
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DEADLINE November 3rd 2022 - h. 12.00 (CET)

PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE OF INTERVIEW

Interviews of selected candidates will be held in videoconference on November 11th 2022  on November 14th 2022 at h.  14:30 at the link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89239275003?pwd=Z1Q2eUVOWEtIWXRVdnlBOW4wVkp4Zz09

 Updated on 14/11/2022

SZN INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS

Since the early nineties SZN promotes and hosts a very important series of international seminars, involving either the participation of SZN scientists (including early stage researchers) to top level scientists from all around the world, including Noble Prizes who have conducted or present their research at the SZN.

Read more

SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS, CONGRESSES AND WORKSHOPS

The SZN promotes and organizes meetings and workshops aimed to high level scientific exchanges, to support the scientific communities to meet and discuss topics with leaders in the field as well as to discuss common themes and exchange cross-disciplinary results.

ADVANCED COURSES AND SUMMER SCHOOLS

The SZN has a long tradition in the organization of Advanced Courses for the training of scientists working in public or private institutions, and Summer Schools, that include summer schools in the History of Biology and the most advanced scientific issues (e.g., Advanced Phytoplankton Course) aiming at promoting the transfer of new methods and emerging techniques to a specialized audience.