BiBiM 2.0

Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Siena

An Innovative PhD with Intersectoral, Interdisciplinary characteristics

OBJECTIVES

BiBiM wants to create professional figures on the basis of the 7 “Principles of Innovative Doctoral Training” approved by the EU Council: research excellence, attractiveness of the academic and institutional environment, internal quality assurance, exposure to industry and other relevant sectors of the world of work , possibility of interdisciplinary research, international network and transferable skills between academia and the industrial world, highlighting aspects that focus on the essential link between research at the highest levels (in terms of production of know-how and transfer of this to the international scientific community) and doctoral training aimed at stimulating creativity, independence, autonomy and a critical spirit. The general objective of BiBiM is to provide doctoral students with the most innovative cultural and technological bases of biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, structural / cellular biology, genomics / post-genomics, transversal skills and soft skills, to be able to operate in research institutions public and private and to develop projects with industrial potential. The innovative technological platforms that students will be able to access to develop research projects have evident repercussions in the field of public health, agri-food, nutraceuticals, bioeconomy, life sciences.
Another objective is to produce innovative professional figures requested by the company with transversal expertise.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are among the most productive and most active areas of modern scientific knowledge and find numerous applications in the biotechnological, biomedical, agri-food and life sciences fields. The purpose of this PhD is to train highly qualified young people in the field of molecular and biochemical sciences to encourage their insertion in the world of research and the biotechnological and life sciences industry. The general objective of the Doctorate is to provide doctoral students with the theoretical bases and the technological knowledge necessary to become a researcher capable of operating in both public and private research institutions and to provide doctoral students with the tools necessary to develop innovative research projects and that can foresee a potential industrial development.
The technologies used and taught to our doctoral students make use of cutting-edge platforms and instruments that students can access to develop research projects with evident repercussions in the field of public health, the production of new diagnostics, biotechnological drugs, vaccines, nutraceuticals and productions in the agri-food and life sciences fields in general.

DESCRIPTION
Pegaso Project, funded by the Tuscany Region on the GiovaniSI Program

consortium between the University of Florence, the University of Pisa and CNR / IFC

Interdisciplinary, Intersectoral Innovative PhD

COORDINATOR: professoressa Lorenza Trabalzini

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE DEPARTMENT: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy – website

Duration of the courses 3 years

“What are the characteristics of the Department of Chemical Biotechnology
and Pharmacy?

It is a multidisciplinary and transversal department related to skills of our territory. Siena has in fact been a territorial public-private ecosystem for many years for research and training that includes universities, companies biotechnology and related industries and non-profit associations that act by facilitators and system aggregators. And it is a national and international strategic center for life sciences with a pharma-biotech connotation, a key sector for the country’s development, and DBCF is a point of reference testified by its many interactions with the territory.

A department of excellence ?

Yes, we have become Department of Excellence in the field of chemistry in 2108 for the five-year period until 2022, based on a selection competitive on a national scale. A nice satisfaction that rewarded the our commitment and the quality of our research.

What kind of advantages has it brought you to become a department of excellence?

In addition to the prestige, which obviously makes us proud, we have received
of the funds that allowed us to recruit new teachers, too from abroad and to acquire technological platforms to be put to service of research and training.”

quoted form the April 2020 Newsletter of bba-bespoke biotech advisory by Prof.ssa Annalisa Santucci.

Activities and events aimed at the dissemination of the DBCF Department of Excellence Project

“Creation and application of an innovative technological platform powered by QM / MM simulations for the development of photoactivable molecules”:

TEDxSIENA 2019 “OPEN MINDS – MAKING A VISION”

The third edition of TEDxSiena was held on Saturday 23 March in Siena at Palazzo Chigi-Saracini. The 2019 edition was an opportunity to enhance the function performed by the four Departments of the University of Siena selected from among those of excellence at national level.

• PRESENTATION OF ‘THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTO-ACTIVABLE MOLECULES’ PROJECT

  IN COLLABORATION WITH USOPS, THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF STUDENTS AND ALUMNI IN PHARMACY AND CTF On 13 December 2018, the presentation of the project “Realization and application of an innovative technological platform powered by QM / MM simulations for the development of photoactivable molecules” was held in the main hall of the San Miniato educational complex and funded by MIUR as the “Department of Excellence 2018-2022” in the chemical area.

  Introduced by the department director, Professor Annalisa Santucci, the project was illustrated to the whole community by the coordinators of the various “workpackages”.

  At the center, the study and engineering of the photosensitive protein rhodopsin (responsible for the mechanism of vision, present in the retina) for applications of optogenetics, optopharmacology, renewable energies, synthetic biology. Following, prof. Massimo Olivucci, initiator of the research, illustrated his vision on the developments of the years to come.   The five-year project, with a total budget of 9 million euros, aims at investments in research, training and technology that create value in human and infrastructure resources, capable of self-financing by providing high qualification services and technologies, and at the same time becoming a international reference point in optogenetics and optopharmacology.

  

• BRIGHT 2018

  

  DBCF participated in the activities of the Researchers’ Night – Bright Toscana 2018 with an event entitled “Turn on the Molecules” to which the Director and researchers María del Carmen Marín Pérez, Luca De Vico, Elena Petricci and Adalgisa Sinicropi contributed. The Director, Dr. Petricci and Dr. De Vico also gave a live interview from the Rectorate to URadio, the University Radio. Bright18 DdE-DBCF # Bright18 Unisi Bright 2018 Tuscany

• RESEARCH TO BUSINESS INDUSTRY 4.0

  

  The DBCF Department of Excellence 2018-2020 Project was presented on 14 June 2018 at the “Research to Business Industry 4.0” event (the main areas of this edition were Life Sciences and Energy & Environment) organized in Siena by the Region Tuscany. In the morning, Profs. Held a report (in the form of pitch elevators). Botta, Brizzi, Niccolai, Petricci, Pogni, Sinicropi. In the afternoon the workshop H2020 and SET Plan was held: advanced energy technologies in the EU and the role of Italy – by Prof. Basosi.

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• EMORY SUMMER SCHOOL & 1ST EMORY-UNISI RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

  

  The DBCF DdE project was disseminated through a series of lessons held by our teachers for the students of the Emory University Summer School (13 June 2018) and for the students of the Temple University Summer School (27 June 2018) present as every year at our facilities between June and July.

Italian Links:

Italian link to programs 2018-2022

https://www.miur.gov.it/dipartimenti-di-eccellenza