The Department of Life Sciences offers PhD and other post-graduate tracks in the three areas of Biomedicine, Environmental Sciences, and Psychology. In particular, the M.S. program in Functional Genomics provides graduate students with adequate preparation on topics consistent with the Ph.D. programs in Molecular Biomedicine and Environmental Life Sciences, for which fellowships are frequently available on projects in which extensive use of -omics techniques is expected.

The PhD program in Molecular Biomedicine focuses on the study of molecular approaches to cancer biology, genetics, and metabolic diseases. The program integrates basic and clinical research, involving relatively newer disciplines such as bioinformatics, proteomics, and nanotechnology.

Students will be trained for a career in biomedical research or in academic or biotechnology institutions. The course requires three years of full-time laboratory work and ends with the submission of a written thesis working in close interaction with experienced scientists. At the same time, students will attend courses, lectures and seminars. In addition, students will periodically present their data in public seminars and participate in discussion clubs coordinated by members of the teaching council.

The PhD program in Environmental Life Sciences is offered jointly by the Universities of Trieste and Udine. It covers a wide range of scientific questions related to environmental life research being conducted at the two universities, the main objectives of which are:

• - Ecology and ecophysiology of marine, freshwater, terrestrial and agricultural ecosystems
• - Global change biology and management of natural and agricultural ecosystems
• - Informatics, genetics and biodiversity conservation
• - Ecotoxicology and bioremediation.

The possible field of work for Ph.D. students spans a wide range of ecosystems, from the deep sea of Antarctica to high mountains across plains and rivers.

PhD students will find a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment that will promote both basic research (e.g., metagenomics of marine protists, plant/environment interactions) and applied research (e.g., green technologies, ecological engineering, and environmental biomonitoring).

Interested students can find more detailed information on course structuring as well as calls for proposals available on the websites of the Molecular Biomedicine and Environmental Life Sciences Ph.D. programs.