The PhD Program in Agri-Food and Environmental Biosciences and Biotechnologies aims to meet the growing demand for innovative and qualified professionals equipped with innovative skills and expertise to address the complex challenges facing contemporary agri-food systems.
The program’s primary objective is to train highly skilled researchers capable of understanding and managing the complexity of natural biological systems and agri-food supply chains. It achieves this by integrating expertise in molecular biology, genomics, and applied sciences with particular emphasis on quality and sustainability.
More specifically, the program’s educational objectives focus on the following areas:
- Analysis of complex interactions: investigating interactions among plants, microorganisms, and insects interdisciplinary approaches that integrate chemical, mechanical, and behavioral ecology approaches.
- Enhancing biodiversity: exploring microbial, plant, and animal diversity as a strategic resource for genetic improvement and ecosystem resilience.
- Integrating research and biotechnology: combining fundamental biological knowledge with innovative technologies including genome editing, biocontrol, and precision agriculture.
- Optimizing the supply chain: designing, monitoring and optimising food production and processing processes while enhancing the nutritional properties of raw materials, ensuring safety, operational efficiency, and waste reduction.
- Scientific autonomy: developing the skills required to design, implement and manage multidisciplinary experimental protocols.
- Internationalization and networking: promoting participation in global research networks, mobility opportunities at leading international research centers, and the dissemination of scientific findings through academic publications and other forms of scholarly communication.