PhD School of the Politecnico di Milano Regulations of the PhD Programme in: BIOENGINEERING Cycle XXXII Location: Milano Leonardo
1. General Information PhD School of Politecnico di Milano PhD Programme: BIOENGINEERING Location of the PhD Programme: Milano Leonardo/Bovisa Subjects (SSD): ING/INF 06 Electronic and Informatics Bioengineering ING-IND 34 Industrial Bioengineering PhD School Website: http://www.polimi.it/phd PhD Programme Website: http://www.phdbioengineering.polimi.it/
2. General presentation of the PhD Programme The PhD Programme aims at developing scientific profiles who intend to practice their major activities in the field of Bioengineering. It addresses theoretical and experimental activities in 4 major research areas: - Biomimetic engineering and micro-nano technologies - Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology - Technologies for Therapy - Physiological Modelling and non-invasive Diagnostics More specific areas include but are not limited to: Molecular and cellular engineering. Biomaterials. Tissue Engineering. Bio-artificial interfaces and devices. Neuro-prostheses. Movement analysis. Cardiovascular and Respiratory system bioengineering. Central nervous system signal and image processing for rehabilitation. Biomechanics. Computational fluid-dynamics. Computer assisted surgery and radiotherapy. Artificial organs. Implantable devices. Biomedical signal and image processing. E-Health. Bioinformatics, functional genomics and molecular medicine. Research focuses both on theoretical models, methods and technologies to support design of applications, software and hardware systems, together with tools and prototype device development. The involvement of industrial and clinical partners reinforces the mix between theory and application which is the strength of our PhD. Stage periods in distinguished research institutes in Italy and abroad are an essential feature of the PhD candidate training. Scientific and research activities of PhD Bioengineering candidates are strongly grounded on research Laboratories located inside and outside the Departments in cooperation with other research bodies and university hospitals. Publications in scientific peer-reviewed journals, participation to international projects and the numerous collaborations confirm the excellence level of the activities carried out in the PhD programme. The PhD Board of professors ( PhD Board ) is composed by professors and researchers in Bioengineering, belonging to the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering and Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering Department. The PhD Board is responsible of all the candidate s activities. Organization of the PhD study Programme The PhD study Programme is organized in three years. The first year is dedicated to identify a research topic and to make an overview study and definition of the PhD research theme. The PhD Board assigns a Tutor to each PhD candidate, chosen among the members of the PhD Board. The Tutor
monitors and reviews the duties, the study plan and the activities of the candidate and acts as the interface between the PhD candidate and the PhD Board. In agreement with the PhD candidate proposal, the PhD Board nominates one or two Advisor/s who directly support the PhD candidate in his/her research activity. During the first year, PhD candidates are strongly encouraged to attend most of the courses. In addition, the definition of the objectives of the PhD project, together with its preliminary activity have to be fully identified. The second year is mostly dedicated to experimental activities and data analysis. The third year is dedicated to finalize the PhD research project into publications and to prepare the final written thesis. Every year, PhD candidates have to pass an exam where the PhD Board thoroughly reviews the activities of the year. The evaluation criteria adopted by the Board consider the originality and scientific value of the research, as well as the quality and results of the education programme. 3. Objectives The main objective of the PhD Programme in Bioengineering is to prepare the PhD candidates to the development of high level engineering problem-solving abilities in life sciences inside research groups or in private/public industrial contexts, through a strong interdisciplinary training bridging engineering and medical/biological knowledge. At the end of the PhD programme, the candidate will be able to carry out innovative projects in the Bioengineering field, by proposing new methodological and technical solutions as well as by properly evaluating the technology impact in healthcare, life science and biomedical industry. 4. Professional opportunities and job market Graduated PhD s in Bioengineering have a wide range of opportunities, including research positions in Universities, public and private research institutions, public health services, as well as in the industrial or healthcare context. More in general, the competencies of graduated PhD s are particularly appreciated for the coordination and management of research projects. The PhD Programme also provides the opportunity to generate spin-off and start-up initiatives that can exploit innovative results. Fellowships directly sponsored by external subjects may easily lead to interesting work opportunities.
5. Enrolment in the PhD Programme 5.1 Admission requirements Admission requirements are specified in detail at the following URL: http://www.dottorato.polimi.it/en/looking-for-a-phd/call-for-positions-and-scholarships/admissionrequirements/ The admission to the PhD Programme in Bioengineering is evaluated on the basis of the curriculum vitae, the motivation letter and according to an illustrative paper about the development of a possible PhD research, which candidates will send contextually with their application to the admission announcement. 5.2 Admission deadlines and available positions The number of available positions is indicated in the Call for positions and scholarships of the PhD Programme published on the Politecnico di Milano website. Scholarships both on general and specific bioengineering topics are available, in accordance with what specified in the Call for positions and scholarships. 6. Contents of PhD Programme 6.1 Requirements for title awarding The awarding of the PhD title in Bioengineering requires, at first, study and research activities of at least three years, finalized to a thesis. A mandatory, formal requirement is that PhD candidates have to acquire 30 credits from PhD level courses (see following tables). The PhD Board evaluates once a year the advancement of the PhD candidate s activities in order to be admitted to the next year and to the final exam for PhD title awarding. The activity of the PhD candidate is evaluated also considering quantitative and qualitative indicators related to scientific publications reporting the affiliation of the candidate to Politecnico di Milano (see point 6.5 for further details). 6.2 Development of the PhD research project and thesis The main objective is the development of a PhD research project which has to contribute to the advancement of the knowledge in a specific bio-engineering research topic, therefore providing an original research contribution that results in a written PhD thesis.
During the development of the PhD Research project, the candidate is strongly encouraged to present and discuss his/her work in the research community through the participation to national and international scientific conferences and events. The candidates are also encouraged to carry out part of their research activities in contact with other research groups, preferably abroad even through periods of at least three months spent in laboratories where the candidate can acquire further skills to develop his/her research work and thesis. Specific research activities can require a longer stay abroad (e.g., 9 months are mandatory for the Scuola Interpolitecnica di Dottorato). 6.3 General framework of the teaching activities For the admission to the final exam the acquisition of at least 30 credits is mandatory. These credits have to be acquired among the following types of courses. a) Courses offered by the PhD School ( interdoctoral ): a.1 - general/multidisciplinary courses, that can be followed by candidates from all PhD Programmes (e.g., research management, scientific writing, ethics, ); a.2 - disciplinary courses, that provide fundamentals on topics which are common for a set of PhD Programmes (e.g., applied mathematics, statistics, mechanics,...); a.3 - industrial courses, offered by teachers working in industrial companies b) Courses offered by the PhD Programme in Bioengineering, which are specific of the Bioengineering area ( characterizing courses ). Typically, each course has weight of 5 credits (25 hours). The candidates are encouraged to attend all courses within the first two years (mainly in the first year), in order to be entirely devoted to research and development of the PhD thesis during most of the second year and the third year. The full list of interdoctoral courses is available on the PhD School website. Table A-1 shows the full list of characterizing courses of the PhD Programme in Bioengineering. Table A-2 shows the list of characterizing courses offered in the current year (AA 2016-17). Table A-3 shows the list of characterizing course expected for the next year (AA 2017-18) (to be confirmed).
Table A1: PHD COURSES CHARACTERISING THE PHD PROGRAMME IN BIOENGINEERING Name of Course Professor Langua ge Credit s AD (Academic discipline) Experimental project and statistical analysis Caiani, Baroni, Costantino English 5 ING-INF/06 Human Movement Virtualization: methods, models, and applications Frigo C, Galli M English 5 ING-INF/06 Microscopy and Molecular Imaging Baselli G. English 5 ING-INF/06 Advanced biomaterials Farè S English 5 ING-IND/34 Bioreactors and regenerative medicine S Mantero English 5 ING-IND/34 Advanced processing of biomedical signals and data Methods and techniques for research in neuroscience S Cerutti English 5 ING-INF/06 A Pedrocchi English 5 ING-INF/06 Experimental Biomechanics G Pennati English 5 ING-IND/34 Electronic technologies in biomedical engineering S Ferrante English 5 ING-INF/06 Mechanobiology M Raimondi English 5 ING-IND/34 Optimal Design of Blood Contact Devices Numerical solution of non-linear reaction-diffusion equations. Application to the bioelectric modeling of the heart KB Manning English 5 ING-IND/34 JF Rodriguez Matas English 5 ING-IND/34 Human Friendly Robotics E De Momi English 5 ING-INF/06 e-health and m-health A Bianchi, E Caiani, M Riboldi, G Tognola English 5 ING-IND/34 Scuola Nazionale Bioingegneria Annual Bioengineering School - Italian 5 ING-INF/06 ING-IND/34
Table A2: PhD Courses (Characterizing the PhD Course in Bioengineering) AA 2016-2017 SSD Name of the Course Professor (optional) A.A./Semest er Language Credit s ING-INF/06 Experimental project and Caiani, Baroni, 2016-17 English 5 statistical analysis Costantino ING-INF/06 Human Movement Frigo C, Galli M 2016-17 English 5 Virtualization: methods, models, and applications ING-INF/06 Microscopy and Molecular Baselli G. 2016-17 English 5 Imaging ING-IND/34 Advanced biomaterials Farè S 2016-17 English 5 ING-IND/34 Bioreactors and S Mantero 2016-17 English 5 regenerative medicine ING-IND/34 Trans-catheter approaches Segers P, 2016-17 English 5 to cardiac surgery Redaelli A ING-INF/06 ING-IND/34 Scuola Nazionale Bioingegneria Annual Bioengineering School 2016-2016-17 Italiano 5 Table A3: PHD CHARACTERISING COURSES - AA 2017-2018* SSD Name of the Course Professor A.A./Semest Language Credits (optional) er ING-INF/06 Advanced processing of S Cerutti 2017-18 English 5 biomedical signals and data ING-INF/06 Methods and techniques for A Pedrocchi 2017-18 English 5 research in neuroscience ING-IND/34 Experimental Biomechanics G Pennati 2017-18 English 5 ING-INF/06 Electronic technologies in S Ferrante 2017-18 English 5 biomedical engineering ING-IND/34 Mechanobiology M Raimondi 2017-18 English 5 ING-IND/34 Optimal Design of Blood 2017-18 English 5 Contact Devices ING-IND/34 Numerical solution of nonlinear JF Rodriguez 2017-18 English 5 reaction-diffusion equations. Matas ING-INF/06 Human Friendly Robotics E De Momi 2017-18 English 5
ING-INF/06 e-health and m-health A Bianchi, E Caiani, M Riboldi, G Tognola ING-INF/06 ING-IND/34 Scuola Nazionale Bioingegneria Annual Bioengineering School 2017 *Preliminary list to be confirmed 2017-18 English 5-2017-18 Italiano 5 The 30 mandatory credits have to be acquired as follows: - at least 5 credits among the interdoctoral courses; - at least 15 credits among the characterizing courses (Table A1), which must include at least 5 credits of the Scuola Nazionale Bioingegneria (Annual Bioengineering School). Among the interdoctoral courses offered by the PhD School for the academic year 2016-17 the following ones are suggested: Name of Course Professor Language Credit s Ethics in Research Aliverti A English 5 BioSignal Processing 4 All: applications in affectivecomputing, biometric and neuromarketing Mainardi L, Matteucci M English 5 X-rays, a tool for science and technology: interaction with matter, detection techniques, applications. Guazzoni C English 5 Courses selected from those offered by the Politecnico di Milano or from other national and international academic institutions must be approved in advance by the tutor and the PhD Board. PREPARATORY COURSES In specific cases, i.e. when the tutor considers useful or even necessary that the candidate has to attend preparatory courses (chosen among the activated courses at the Politecnico di Milano), the Board of Professors of the PhD programme can assign some extra-credits to be acquired to complete the preparation. The credits acquired in this way will be considered as additional, in relation to the mandatory credits to be acquired with the PhD courses. SPECIALISTIC COURSES, LONG-TRAINING SEMINARS The attendance of certified Specialistic Courses, Workshops, Schools, Seminars cycles is strongly encouraged and may permit to acquire credits according the modalities established by the Board of Professors and previous approval of the study plan submitted by the candidate.
These courses and workshops can be inserted in the study plan, even if they are not evaluated (and therefore not qualified as credits), as optional additional teaching. For up to date information always refer to PhD School Website: http://www.polimi.it/phd PhD Programme Website: http://www.phdbioengineering.polimi.it/ 6.4 Presentation of the study plan Each PhD candidate has to submit his/her study plan and/or eventual changes at the beginning of each academic year. The study plan is approved by the PhD Board (Coordinator of the PhD Programme). 6.5 Instructions for the annual exams At the end of each academic year the candidate is evaluated by the PhD Board for the admission at the following year. The evaluation is based on a written report and an oral presentation. The report should include i) a brief description of the specific activities of the candidate on her/his PhD project; ii) a brief description of the other research activity of the candidate in the course of the year under examination; iii) the publications of the candidate in the course of the year. Activities of PhD candidates that can provide additional elements to be considered for the evaluation typically include: internships, external courses (held by other academic institutions, companies or other), national and international seminars, conferences and workshops, participation to national and international research projects, scientific paper writing and paper presentations on research results, support to teaching activities. At every yearly evaluation, the candidate receives an evaluation. Grades are A (excellent), B (very good), C (good), D (fair), E (not sufficient to pass the exam). In the case of grades from A to D, the candidate is admitted either to the next year (1 st and 2 nd year evaluation) or to the final exam (3 rd year evaluation). In the case of grade E, the candidate is qualified either as Repeating (E-R) or not able to carry on with the PhD (E-I). In some cases the candidate can obtain an extension of a maximum of 12 months, even if she/he has achieved sufficient results but still needs additional time to finalize the thesis. 6.6 PhD thesis and final exam In the PhD thesis the candidate, after a short description of the state-of-the-art in the addressed research field, has to present the results obtained during the PhD research project, to demonstrate their originality and to discuss how they contribute to increase the knowledge in the specific research field.
At the conclusion of the PhD studies, the Board of Professors evaluates the candidates. The thesis of the candidates who receive a positive evaluation is submitted to two external reviewers for refereeing. If the evaluation provided by the reviewers is positive (or after the revisions required by the external reviewers), the candidates defend their thesis in a final exam, in front of a Committee composed of three members (at least two of which must be external experts) 7. Facilities and organization 7.1 Laboratories The scientific research activity of the PhD candidates is performed in experimental laboratories that are located within the Politecnico di Milano or outside it, as for example in research centers and hospitals. When the research is performed within the Politecnico, PhD candidates are typically assigned to one of the following laboratories belonging to the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB) and Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering Department (CMIC). - Laboratory of Biological Structure Mechanics (LaBS) - CMIC - Laboratory of movement analysis Luigi Divieti DEIB - Medical Informatics laboratory DEIB - NearLab: The Neuroengineering and medical robotics Laboratory - DEIB - Biosignals, Bioimaging and Bioinformatics (B3 lab) DEIB - Biomaterials laboratory - CMIC - Biomedical Technology Lab, TBMLab DEIB - Experimental Micro and Biofluid dynamics (µbs Lab) DEIB - Computational Biomechanics Lab DEIB - Biocompatibility and Cell culture Lab (BioCell), CMIC - Bioreactors Laboratory, CMIC The Istituto di Elettronica, Ingegneria dell Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni (IEIIT) of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), which is located at DEIB, represents another possible option. 7.2 Administrative offices of the PhD Programme in Bioengineering Secretary Mara Pedercini Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB) Via Golgi, 33 - Politecnico di Milano 20133 Milano Ph: +39-02 2399 3354 Fax: +39-02 2399 3360 e-mail: mara.pedercini@polimi.it
Administration Fabio Conti Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB) Via Golgi, 33 - Politecnico di Milano 20133 Milano Ph: +39-02 2399 3431 Fax: + 39-02 2399 3417 e-mail: fabio.conti@polimi.it 8. Internationalization and other activities PhD research projects are typically carried out in collaborations with foreign universities and labs. As reported above, PhD candidates are strongly recommended to carry out part of their study and research at foreign research laboratories and institutions. The PhD School also offers the possibility of double and joint PhD programmes. Further information can be found on the PhD School and PhD programme websites.
Attachment A1 Composition of the PhD Board of Professors Name Affiliation SSD / Title of SSD Aliverti Andrea (Coordinator) DEIB ING-INF/06 Baselli Giuseppe DEIB ING-INF/06 Bianchi Anna Maria DEIB ING-INF/06 Caiani Enrico DEIB ING-INF/06 Candiani Gabriele CMIC ING-IND/34 Cerveri Pietro DEIB ING-INF/06 Chiesa Roberto CMIC ING-IND/22 Costantino Maria Laura CMIC ING-IND/34 Dubini Gabriele Angelo CMIC ING-IND/34 Farè Silvia CMIC ING-IND/34 Frigo Carlo Albino DEIB ING-INF/06 Galli Manuela DEIB ING-INF/06 Guazzoni Chiara DEIB ING-INF/01 Mainardi Luca DEIB ING-INF/06 Mantero Sara (Vice-Coordinator) CMIC ING-IND/34 Migliavacca Francesco CMIC ING-IND/34 Pedrocchi Alessandra DEIB ING-INF/06 Pennati Giancarlo CMIC ING-IND/34 Pozzi Giuseppe DEIB ING-INF/05 Raimondi Manuela Teresa CMIC ING-IND/34 Ravazzani Paolo (Vice-Coordinator) DEIB CNR Redaelli Alberto DEIB ING-IND/34 Signorini Maria Gabriella DEIB ING-INF/06 Soncini Monica DEIB ING-IND/34