International Doctorate in Earth and Marine Sciences

EMAS is designed to provide highly specialized scientific skills across all fields of Earth and Marine Sciences. Research topics include: minerals and synthetic analogues; mantle petrology; genesis of magmas and associated volcano-plutonic complexes; environmental geochemistry; stratigraphy and associations of sedimentary facies; paleobiology of marine ecosystems, climatic and paleobiogeographic changes; rock mechanics and tectonic deformations; earthquake geology; slope stability, fluvial and coastal dynamics; applied geophysics; physical oceanography and marine geology; assessment of hazards caused by natural and anthropogenic phenomena (landslides, floods, coastal erosion, seismic events, volcanic eruptions).

1. Exogenic processes of the geosphere and climate change, use and management of land and water resources. Prevention of geohazards.
2. Study of geomorphological evolution of fluvial corridors and coastal zones, risk from submersion and erosion, quantification of sediment transport processes; integrated management of coasts and basins.
3. Geochemical analysis of major and trace elements, isotopic studies on rocks, sediments, soils, waters, and air.
4. Geophysical analysis and modeling of natural hazards in marine and continental areas, geothermometry, geomagnetism, high-resolution seismic studies, gravimetry, modeling of active tectonic processes.
5. Geology of modern marine environments and their fossil analogues, sedimentology, stratigraphy, geodynamics, and geological structures; identification of hydrocarbon deposits in continental margins, mapping of seabeds.
6. Physico-chemical and mineralogical characterization of geomaterials and their synthetic analogues; development of natural and synthetic microporous materials for energy storage, water resource treatment and recovery; preservation of cultural and environmental heritage; industrial production processes (heterogeneous catalysis); characterization of natural gemstones and synthetic products.
7. Evolution of marine ecosystems, biodiversity of fossil paleocommunities and their relationships to global climatic and paleogeographic changes; planktonic foraminifera associations for reconstructing paleoceanographic changes; biostratigraphic and paleoecological analysis of macroforaminifera and calcareous algae associations from the Cenozoic.
8. Genesis and evolution of magmas; characteristics of the Earth’s mantle; classification and description of major georesources; petro-archaeometry for the archaeological study and preservation of stony materials and building stone, assessment of monument degradation.
9. Ocean physics and their role in global and coastal marine environments; application of remote sensing techniques and numerical modeling to oceanographic studies.
10. Crustal stress fields and related deformation and tectonic structures; study of different seismogenic sources and their seismotectonic characterization; 3D reconstructions from metric to kilometer scale; characterization of physical parameters of the subsoil for site effect estimation and evaluation of water quality; reconstruction of temporal evolution of stress and deformation fields in crustal volumes; seismic hazard assessment for risk mitigation.

The educational offer is closely aligned with the research topics of the PhD program and is designed to provide interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary skills. Specifically, the training program includes:

• Specialized courses on the research topic;
• Specific courses to complement the doctoral candidate’s training, based on their previous academic career (e.g., the type of degree obtained);
• Dedicated seminars held at the Department hosting the PhD program or at other universities or research centers in Italy and abroad;
• Advanced Study Schools organized by scientific societies or research groups, both national and international;
• Study periods at other departments or research centers in Italy or abroad with which faculty members maintain active collaborations, enabling doctoral candidates to learn state-of-the-art analytical techniques and deepen scientific topics relevant to their dissertation.

Doctoral candidates must earn 60 CFU per year, distributed among institutional training (disciplinary activities), interdisciplinary training (complementary skills), scientific activities, and research.

The systematic assessment of doctoral candidates’ progress is performed annually by the Academic Board, during which candidates present their activities and results both orally and in written reports. These reports are included in the official minutes and allow precise monitoring of each candidate’s progress in relation to the established objectives.

The main career opportunities for future PhDs can be summarized as follows:

• Research activities at universities, research institutions, and oil companies;
• Environmental monitoring and land protection in public agencies;
• Prevention and mitigation of geological and environmental risks;
• Exploration and recovery of geological resources;
• Design and characterization of geomaterials;
• Employment with survey companies for marine seabed surveys, oil exploration, and coastal and offshore engineering projects;
• General and thematic geological mapping;
• Remote sensing and application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS);
• Technical consulting for civil engineering, territorial planning, seismic microzonation, and Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Assessment of degradation and conservation of cultural and environmental heritage;
• Conservation, study, and promotion of paleontological and mineralogical collections in museums.

Professors and researchers of the University of Ferrara

Bassi Davide

Bianchini Gianluca

Bonadiman Costanza

Caputo Riccardo

Ciavola Paolo

Cruciani Giuseppe

Di Benedetto Francesco

Frijia Gianluca

Ghirotti Monica

Gianolla Piero

Luciani Valeria

Martucci Annalisa

Morsilli Michele Domenico

Piccinini Leonardo

Rizzo Enzo

Saccani Emilio

Professors and researchers of other Universities

Ardit Matteo - Università di Padova

Non-academic staff employed by Italian or foreign institutions and Professors at foreign universities

Barbero Luis - Università di Cadice (Spagna)  

Benavente Javier - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Berrocoso Manuel - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Bruno Mejías Miguel - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Del Rio Laura - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Fernandez Montblanc Tomas - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Gomez-Enri Jesus - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Gracia Javier - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Izquierdo Alfredo - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Molina-Piernas Eduardo - Università di Cadice (Spagna)

Tarabusi Gabriele - Istituto Nazionale Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)

Representative of PhD students: Dott. Manuele Maistrello

Discover the complete list of PhD Students in Physics

Admission to the PhD program is through a public selection process based on the evaluation of qualifications and an interview. The oral exam is conducted following the assessment of the candidate’s curriculum vitae and submitted qualifications.

Candidates of any age and nationality may apply, provided they meet one of the following requirements:

a) a Master’s Degree, or a degree awarded under the previous regulations according to Ministerial Decree 3 November 1999, no. 509, as amended by Ministerial Decree 22 October 2004, no. 270, or equivalent second-level academic qualifications;

b) a foreign academic qualification recognized as equivalent to those listed in point a);

c) an equivalent academic qualification obtained abroad, provided it is comparable in duration, level, and, where applicable, field of study to the qualifications in point a) and deemed suitable.

The recognition of qualifications for admission is determined by the Academic Board, also in accordance with the agreement with the University of Cadiz.

For information on how to apply for the PhD program, visit the dedicated page