Ph.D. Program at Milan Polytechnic (link)

History

In 1983 the first cycle of the Bioengineering Ph.D. program was started by a consortium including Padova, Genova, Pavia, Pisa Universities and Milan Polytechnic. This latter was in charge of the administration. Faculty, from the above cited Universities, has been chaired by Prof. Emanuele Biondi until 2001 when the consortium was replaced by the "New Ph.D Program in Bioengineering of Milan Polytechnic" in the XVI cycle. The program is currently managed by the Bioengineering Department.

Educational Goals

Doctoral Program in Bioengineering prepares graduate students for high standard scientific and industrial research. This educational goal is achieved through three different areas, a general base preparation (introductory courses), a basic research preparation (main courses), a special purpose research preparation (elective courses and training on specific themes) and the work to produce a final dissertation on original themes of high standard in the international scientific framework. Stages in qualified research institutes in Italy and abroad are part of the student preparation as well. The public presentation and discussion of the dissertation ends the Program.

Content

Doctoral Program is based on four branches of educational and researches activities: introductory courses, main courses, elective courses and development of a thesis. Introductory courses allow completing the knowledge in mathematical, physical, modelling and medico-biological fields. These bases are reputed to be fundamental for the following research activities. During this completion, the student is introduced to a research group that will represent his or her future research environment. A tutor will be selected which will define, in agreement with faculty, the more suitable introductory courses for the research field to which the student is being addressed. Introductory courses will cover between 0 and 25 credits of work. Main courses range from 40 to 50 credits and are designed expressly for the Doctoral Program in Bioengineering. The organisation of these courses is such that a greater effort is required to the students each hour of lecture with respect to introductory courses and lower levels courses. They are a kind of intensive lectures with few hours of lectures, practice and laboratory, possibly condensed in few weeks. Individual or small group study will be expected with personal deepening of arguments find in literature and scientific books. Among main courses is very important to participate actively to the National school of the National Bioengineering Group (GNB). This school is held every year for the duration of one week on themes of advanced research in bioengineering with the participation of highly qualified teachers. This meeting offers also the unique occasion to put together students from different Doctoral programs in Bioengineering and neighbouring field in Italy. Exchange of experiences with other students and with teachers and tutors in the atmosphere of the school sessions contribute to education. Elective courses and training on specific topics represents the third stadium of the educational activities. The student will start a research in the frame of those active at the Bioengineering Department, including those conducted with international co-operations. The research will be conducted at accredited laboratories chosen by faculty. The students will spend about ten months in this activity, possibly outside the Department and possibly abroad, to reach between 30 and 70 credits. Meanwhile the students will give or follow seminars and will attend short courses on very specific themes. The third phase of education will be completed by 10 to 30 credits spent in writing and publishing scientific papers on the research carried out. The last phase of  the education is represented by 60 credits spent to produce an original and qualitatively high standard Doctorate dissertation (thesis). This will be the synthesis of a research work outstanding in the international scientific panorama. About one year is expected for achieving this goal.

Possible positions achieved by graduated doctors

Professional profiles of Doctors in Bioengineering are identified by the experience of the former Bioengineering consortium for Doctoral program pursued by northern Italy universities and dating back to 1983. High professional qualification and responsibility characterise the Doctors in Bioengineering. Many of them are currently working into universities in Italy EU and USA as researchers or professors, not only in the biomedical field. Some have been employed in research organisations outside academy and in research centres in hospitals, some as industry managers and technical directors. Entrepreneurs and scientific-technical consultants complete the picture.