Frontal didactic activity
The programs of the courses organized by the Doctoral School and the Doctorate in Neuroscience are available on the e-learning platform of the University, in the section dedicated to the Doctoral School in the context of post-graduate courses.
- The Doctoral School organizes interdisciplinary courses, i.e. cross-cutting courses, offered to doctoral students of all doctoral courses, on topics of general interest and with the aim of encouraging sharing and collaboration between doctoral students from various thematic areas.
- The specific formal didactic activity of the PhD in Neuroscience is organized in courses intended to provide all doctoral students with both basic knowledge in the field of neuroscience and advanced knowledge relating to specific technologies and topics of interest in the various curricula.
In order to obtain the PhD title, each PhD student must acquire a minimum of 11 training credits during the three years, of which at least 3 deriving from participation in transversal courses and at least 8 from specific courses
Seminarial activity
The Doctorate in Neuroscience collaborates in the organization of departmental seminars and in the annual meeting of the Milan Center for Neuroscience. PhD students are invited by the faculty or supervisors to attend seminars, courses, and schools on topics considered of interest organized by national or international institutions.
Third Mission and RRI training
Third Mission in research refers to the activities undertaken by universities and research institutions that go beyond their traditional missions of teaching (first mission) and research (second mission). It encompasses the ways in which academic knowledge, expertise, and resources are transferred and applied to benefit the wider society, economy, and culture..Starting from cycle 38 the doctoral students are required to carry out annually a minimum of 8 hours on Third Mission activities.
In this frame, RRI in research, or Responsible Research and Innovation, is an approach that emphasizes the ethical, social, and environmental implications of research and innovation processes and outcomes. It calls for a more inclusive and transparent way of conducting research, involving various stakeholders like researchers, policymakers, industry, and the public.
The doctoral school organizes Hands on RRI training days to guide PhD students from the first to the third year, during all stages of their research, including the final stages of impact assessment and sharing of results. The RRI training days cover the minimum number of Third Mission hours to be carried out annually.
Research Program and Activities
A major part of the teaching activity comes from day-to-day contact with the supervisor(s) and tutor, who give advice to the student on the best approach to expand their knowledge and expertise and help them achieving progressive autonomy. At the beginning of the course, the faculty identifies, in agreement with the research interest of the student, a tutor and one or two supervisors to guide the PhD student’s training. The presence of an external supervisor is mandatory for doctoral students starting from cycle 38 and represent an integral part of the doctoral student’s training.
The PhD student carries out research activities during the three years of the Doctoral Course, according to a research program defined with tutor and supervisor/s and approved by the faculty at the beginning of the first year. Progress reports are presented annually. The approval by the faculty board is mandatory to continue the program. Starting from cycle 38 students should spend a minimum of three months abroad in a private or public institution. Joint supervision programs are highly encouraged. Training activities in working contexts at national institutions are also possible and reimbursed if longer than 1 month. The maximum total duration of attendance in national or international laboratories is 12 months, increased to 18 months in case of a joint supervision agreement.
PhD students are encouraged to present and publish the results of their researches in meetings, workshops and international scientific journals.To be admitted to the final examination for the doctoral degree, each doctoral candidate must have at least one manuscript submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed international journal.