Educational activities are primarily delivered in person. A blended learning format may be granted upon a well-justified request. The program may also include practical components, either experimental or computational in nature.

Mandatory Courses Offered by the PhD Program.

Year 1

• Biostatistics (3 ECTS) – Prof. Giorgio Binelli

  This course introduces fundamental statistical concepts for Life Sciences, with a focus on experimental design and data analysis. It aims to help students understand the strengths and limitations of statistical methods in research.

• Trends in Biomolecular Science (2 ECTS) – Faculty Members of the PhD Program

  This course provides advanced theoretical and practical training in biomolecular sciences. It delivers interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to support students in their biotechnology research across a variety of application areas.

• Cross-Disciplinary and Soft Skills – Module A (1 ECTS) – Faculty Members of the PhD Program and External Experts

  While technical expertise is essential, cross-disciplinary and soft skills—such as communication, creativity, and management—are equally critical for professional success. These highly sought-after abilities help students apply their scientific knowledge in organizational and professional contexts.
  Module A topics: Information literacy; Digital literacy; Doctoral thesis and copyright; Open access; Collecting and processing information.

Year 2

• Bioinformatics (3 ECTS) – Prof. Gianluca Molla (offered every two years)

  Students gain hands-on experience with key bioinformatics methods for protein analysis. Classes take place in computer labs, where students carry out practical activities under instructor supervision. Results are critically discussed during the course.

• Trends in Biomolecular Science (2 ECTS) – Faculty Members of the PhD Program

  This course offers continued advanced training in biomolecular sciences, integrating multiple disciplines to equip students with the necessary competencies for biotechnology research in diverse fields of application.

• Cross-Disciplinary and Soft Skills – Module B (1 ECTS) – Faculty Members of the PhD Program and External Experts

  While technical expertise is essential, cross-disciplinary and soft skills—such as communication, creativity, and management—are equally critical for professional success. These highly sought-after abilities help students apply their scientific knowledge in organizational and professional contexts.
  Module B topics: Presentation skills; Problem solving; Research results communication.

Year 3

• Cross-Disciplinary and Soft Skills – Module C (1 ECTS) – Faculty Members of the PhD Program and External Experts

  While technical expertise is essential, cross-disciplinary and soft skills—such as communication, creativity, and management—are equally critical for professional success. These highly sought-after abilities help students apply their scientific knowledge in organizational and professional contexts.
  Module C topics: Economics; Project management; Patents & trademarks; European research funding programs.

Mandatory and Optional Activities to be Completed During the Three-Year Program

• Innovation Camp for Insubria PhD Students – A Deep Dive into Innovation and Execution (2.5 ECTS)
  Instructors: Prof. Mauro Fasano, Prof. Alessia Pisoni, Prof. Andrea Vezzulli
• Safety in the Laboratory (1.75 ECTS)
  Instructors: Prof. Carlo Lucarelli, Prof. Stefano Fanetti, TBD
• Artificial Intelligence (1 ECTS)
  Instructor: Prof. Mauro Fasano
• Research Integrity (1.5 ECTS)
  Instructor: Prof. Marco Cosentino
• Academic Writing and Publishing (1 ECTS)
  Instructor: Prof. Andrea Vezzulli
• Personal Branding (1.5 ECTS)
  Instructor: TLC
• Public Speaking (1 ECTS)
  Instructor: TLC
• Project Management (1 ECTS)
  Instructor: TLC
• Introduction to Systems Biology (1.5 ECTS) – Organized by the PhD Program in Experimental and Translational Medicine
  Instructor: Prof. Mauro Fasano

Seminars, courses, workshops, and other educational activities organized by the Doctoral School, University PhD Programs, or other universities (provided attendance is certified and credits are awarded), may be freely chosen by the PhD student for a total of 0.5 ECTS per academic year.

These activities are included in the DSVB training program to allow doctoral candidates to build a personalized advanced training path that reflects their scientific interests. Students may select and schedule attendance at seminars throughout the three years of the PhD program, acquiring targeted theoretical and practical knowledge. This knowledge can then be applied to their specific research areas, enabling them to adopt alternative and/or innovative solutions to the challenges related to their projects.

The University offers optional English language courses through a multimedia software platform (MacMillan English Campus – MEC) as well as a preparatory English course aimed at obtaining the B2 level certification.

At the end of the PhD program, a B2 level English language certification is required and mandatory for the award of the doctoral degree.

Do you already hold an English language certification? Please check whether it is recognized as valid for the PhD Program in Life Sciences and Biotechnology.

At the end of each academic year, the PhD candidate prepares and presents a presentation related to their research project. Additionally, the candidate must submit a two-page report summarizing the progress of their research project.