PhD in
The main goal of this programme is to train future scientists with a strong professional background who are capable of working in an international and highly competitive environment, such as the Information Technology (IT) sector.
What makes our PhD graduates ideal candidates to work as researchers both in academia and in the IT sector is their ability to research and understand theoretical and applied research topics, the collaborative approach to work, and their dissemination and writing skills. Moreover, problem solving skills and the ability to work autonomously enable them to become key players in every field of IT, as independent consultants or in management roles.
At the end of our programme, graduates are equipped with a vast knowledge of IT, from the formal and theoretical aspects to the latest developments in methodology and technology.
PhD students can choose any of the three research themes offered by the faculty. They are different not only in the main topics explored, but also in the research methodology applied. In the Knowledge and Data area, students investigate the topics of Intelligent Integration and Access to Data, Conceptual and Cognitive Modelling, and Process-aware Information Systems Management. In the Software and Systems Engineering area, work follows an empirical approach based on the implementation of prototypes and techniques and the carrying out and analysis of experiments. Finally, the Information and Database Systems Engineering area adopts a hybrid approach, with a focus on efficient implementation and user interaction. This large spectrum of topics offers PhD candidates a wide range of options to develop their own research and great flexibility to match their interests.
Duration of the programme: 3 years
Courses will be taught in English
Places available: 1 with scholarship
Campus: Bozen-Bolzano
Tuition fees: € 167.50 per year
The aim of the PhD programme is to allow students to acquire the abilities and skills to carry out independent research in the area of computer science. This also involves the ability to communicate ideas clearly and efficiently orally and in writing and the ability to work in groups.
In order to conclude the programme successfully, the PhD student has to elaborate a research topic independently and this research must contribute significantly to current knowledge in the area of computer science. Due to the time limits of the programme, PhD students will focus on their research work. To achieve this, they are supported by a structured PhD programme.
The programme is divided into five stages, respectively ending at months 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 of the programme.
During the four years of the PhD programme, candidates are required to commit full-time to the PhD, and the programme will include both working on the research project and learning activities. Students are also strongly encouraged to carry out part of their research in another university or research center, for a longer period, ranging from 1 month and up to 18 months. This is an extremely valuable opportunity for a PhD candidate to study specific aspects of their research in depth under direct supervision of world experts in their chosen research topic. It is also an opportunity to carry out research in highly stimulating and competitive contexts, while exchanging ideas with other scholars and establishing an early network of colleagues in the world of research.
We have established partnerships with many universities and research institutions in Italy and abroad, such as the Technical University of Dresden, the Universidade Nova of Lisbon and the Technical University of Vienna. In addition, members of our Faculty cooperate on a regular basis with other universities and research institutes, such as Oxford University, Rice University Houston, Zürich University, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Trento, and FBK Trento.
Some of the PhD positions are collaborations supported by external research and industry partners (Fondazione Bruno Kessler FBK, Südtiroler Informatik SIAG, NOI Techpark, Barbieri Electronic snc, University of Umea).
PhD Programme Coordinator: Prof. Antonella De Angeli
Student representative in the Lecturer's Committee: ---
Living in South Tyrol, Housing, Scholarships and more
Application procedure, Visa, Residence permit and more
You can find key information to apply and gain admission to this PhD Programme. For detailed information browse the general and specific calls below.
In order to gain admission to the PhD programme, you will need to have obtained 300 ECTS credit points (Master degree) and have some relevant academic experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or Electronics or in a related discipline.
Application deadline: 9 October 2022, 12:00 midday (CEST)
Admission interviews: online by 11 October 2022
Communication of interview details: within 10 October2022
Publication of ranking lists: by 13 October 2022
You can find here below the detailed description (project description + required skills) of the Research Project. Please read carefully the details.
F6-Entertainment in the car by using a cognitive seat with tactile feedback
Project Description:
When the vehicle takes over the driving function, users can devote themselves to other activities that are currently not possible in this form. This goes far beyond a simple phone call or video conference opening the door to the satisfaction of hedonic goals. At present, the entire vehicle interior is geared only to driving, when the person is comfortably sitting in front of the steering wheel. If we imagine, instead, a driver who is sleeping or entertaining themselves inside the car with the seat in an almost bed-like position, we will quickly notice that the current position and interaction modalities for seat adjustment are useless. There is a need to (a) identify new creative use-cases (in the context, for example, of tourism) and (b) rethink how the controls should be changed to transform the vehicle into a unique experiential space.
The goal of this thesis is the design and development of an experiential (cognitive) car seat acting as an input sensitive, fully interactive device which interfaces the driver with digital content. Equipped with pressure-sensitive textile patches, the seat with will recognize full-body interactions allowing the driver to interact with the car.
Required skills:
The prospective PhD student will work together with a team in the field of next-generation interfaces. The candidate must fulfill the following conditions to be eligible for employment:
Regardless of age and citizenship status, applicants can be admitted to the selection procedure if they have been awarded at least one of the following degrees:
Applicants who are yet to obtain their Master’s degree or their Second Cycle Degree are admitted to the selection procedure on condition that they obtain their degree no later than the enrolment deadline, and before the PhD program’s start date.
In order to apply for the PhD programme in Computer Science applicants must have sufficient knowledge of English.
The prerequisites for admission to doctoral programme include having acquired an appropriate educational degree, and/or have worked in the PhD course fields, in particular being able to demonstrate a deep knowledge of the fundamental techniques and methods used in computer science.
The official language of the PhD programme is English. Therefore applicants must have very good knowledge of English.
The proficiency in English will also be assessed during the interviews.
Your application must be submitted online through the Application Portal. The deadlines are indicated in the "Deadlines" section.
Please note: False declarations will lead to automatic exclusion from the competition.
To apply to the PhD programme, applicants must include the documentation listed below. Incomplete applications will be excluded from the competition.
Attention: text exceeding the maximum allowed length (if clearly indicated for a document) will not be taken into account! Please respect the format/length indicated.
Other documents (facultative) to be included in the application if available:
For the grants funded by external partners (FBK and Ministry), separate ranking lists will be established containing candidates who are also eligible according to the general ranking and who in addition have a scientific profile that is particularly suited to the specific topics associated to these grants.
Please download the two Word files. Fill them in and upload them in the portal as PDF files. Please do not exceed the maximum number of characters indicated in each document!
The selection is based on:
The following points will be awarded:
The Evaluation Committee will select the best applicants on the basis of a comparative assessment.
Candidates that have obtained at least 45 points in the evaluation of their application documents will be admitted to the next stage of the selection process. This will consist of an interview in which also the knowledge of English of the applicant will be assessed. The interviews will take place in video-call (Skype, MS Teams, etc.). Up to a maximum of 35 points will be awarded for the interview.
The final score is the sum of the score for the evaluation of the application documents, and of the score for the interview. The maximum score obtainable is 100.
Applicants that have obtained a final score of at least 70/100 are considered eligible.
Eligible applicants will be ranked according to their final score. The top eligible applicants will be admitted according to the number of available places with and without grant, according to their order in the ranking list. The remaining eligible applicants will be put on a waiting list. Applicants in the waiting list will be admitted to the program in case an already admitted applicant is not available or withdraws their application.
Fees amount to € 167,50
Applicants admitted in the PhD programme must confirm the study place according to the following deadlines:
In order to confirm your study place, you need to log on to the application portal and pay the tuition fees (€ 167.50) by one of the methods indicated on the portal by the deadline indicated above.
If you do not respect this deadline, you will automatically lose your study place. If, by paying the instalment you have confirmed the study place, there will be no refund of the tuition fees unless you are a non-EU applicant resident abroad and you do not receive the necessary documents from the Italian authorities in your country.
Application deadline: 9 October 2022, 12:00 midday (CEST)
CALL GENERAL PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE
CALL SPECIFIC PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE
Contact us by phone at +39 0471 012800 or send us an e-mail: phd@unibz.it.