The overall objective of the Doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is to provide doctoral students with the theoretical foundations and methodological knowledge necessary to become researchers capable of operating in both public and private research institutions, and to provide the necessary tools for doctoral students to develop innovative research projects that may lead to potential industrial development. The acquisition of autonomy in research activities is also a goal of the training for the doctoral candidates in this program.
Consultations with representatives from businesses and organizations operating in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical sectors within the region regarding the establishment of our doctoral program have shown their utmost satisfaction with the training of research doctors who can be integrated into the productive activities of the region. They strongly appreciate the idea that research doctors acquire their own working method and the ability to personally assess the feasibility, timing, and costs of a research project or the development of a drug/diagnostic and, in general, a product for human health. They have highly valued the educational path and the choice of the English language. Representatives from businesses and organizations operating in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical sectors have also guaranteed their consultation for the drafting of a study plan that reflects the cultural and technical needs of the industries and the sector.
The establishment of the Doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is strongly connected to the territory due to the presence of significant biotechnological industrial realities in Tuscany, particularly in the province of Siena, many of which actively collaborate in the design and conduct of the doctoral program itself. Our doctoral students work closely with the biotechnological industries in the area, which collaborate on doctoral programs, finance scholarships, provide support in terms of equipment and technological platforms, and offer training at their facilities.
The close collaboration between industry and universities involved in this doctoral program facilitates the easier integration of research doctors into the national and international job market. In particular, this doctoral program has already, in its two years of existence, made a significant contribution to the establishment of a network of interactions between the world of education and the world of work, both at the regional, national, and international levels.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are among the most productive and active areas of modern scientific knowledge, with numerous applications in biotechnological, biomedical, and life sciences in general. In particular, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are the main disciplines necessary for the molecular understanding of physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms, providing an indispensable contribution to the research, design, and development of new drugs and diagnostics. The region of Tuscany is characterized by the presence of numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, a regional district aimed at development in the life sciences sector, as well as the particular presence of numerous researchers from the three universities and industry operating in the same sector within the territory.
The economic crisis affecting the country has particularly impacted employment. To address this situation, this doctoral program has strongly contributed to the establishment of an educational network that allows the dissemination of know-how derived from research activities at academia and research centers of the industrial companies in the region to the more operational activities of the biotech companies present. The establishment of the Doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology allows for in-depth exploration of biotechnological-pharmaceutical aspects in the training desired by the industrial sector.