Italy: PhD Programme in Structural Engineering
Closing Date: 23 September 2005
The University of Trento announces the 21st cycle of the GraduateSchool in Structural Engineering - Modelling, Preservation andControl of Materials and Structures in co-operation with "UniversitàIUAV", - Venice (Italy) and the Universities of Brescia, Padua,Trieste, Udine, Sydney, Shanghai and the École Polytechnique deMontréal.
Length: three years
Areas of research (curricula):
A) Materials and Structural Mechanics
B) Design, Preservation and Control of Structures
Scientific Areas:
ICAR/07 Geotechnics
ICAR/08 Strength ofMaterials
ICAR/09 Structural Analysisand Design
ICAR/10 Building Technologyand Architecture
ICAR/11 Building Process
ICAR/18 History ofarchitecture
ING-INF/04 Automatic Control
ING-INF/05 Systems fordata processing
Coordinator:
prof. Oreste S. Bursi - phone 0039 0461 882521
e-mail: Oreste.Bursi@ing.unitn.it - http://www.ing.unitn.it/~bursi/
Official languages: English and Italian
This hereby announces the selection process for 10 PhD positions in thePhD Programme. 6 positions will be assigned grants. The reservation ofgrants is governed by art. 18, paragraph 2, of the UniversityRegulations for Research Doctorate Programmes.
Grants are financed as follows:
5 grants University of Trento (Italy)
1 grant University IUAV - Venezia (Italy)
The number of grant-assisted places may be increased by funds fromuniversities, public research bodies or qualified private organizationsmade available after the publication of this announcement and beforethe beginning of the selection. Any increase in the number of availableplaces resulting from an increase of grants will be communicatedthrough the official notice board of the University of Trento, andposted on the website:http://www.unitn.it/ricerca/dottorati_form_av/ciclo_21/bandi.htm
ART. 2 -ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applications for PhD positions are accepted from candidates, regardlessof sex, age and nationality, holding a "laurea specialistica italiana"(master's degree), according to Ministerial Decree no. 509 of3.11.1999, a university degree compliant with the terms of the previousregulations in effect, or an equivalent degree qualification obtainedabroad.
Applicants who have a foreign qualification that has not beenofficially recognized as equivalent to an Italian degree should submita request for equivalence to be recognized in their application for theselection.
In this case, the following documents must be attached to the application:
- degree certificate or degree self-certification(according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of 28.12.2000 concerning EUcitizens);
- translation into English of the degree certificatewith exams and grades obtained and furthermore signed by the applicantto enable the Graduate School Committee to declare its equivalence, forthe sole purpose of being admitted to the selection of the PhDProgramme.
After their admission to the School, successful non EU applicants whohold a foreign qualification must present the degree certificate withexams and grades obtained, translated and certified by the ItalianEmbassy in the country of the university that issued the degree, andthe declaration of equivalent value ("Dichiarazione di valore") nolater than the date set for enrolment in the Graduate School.
Applications are also invited from students who expect to completetheir degree by the date of the assessment of qualifications. In suchcases, admission will be "conditional" and the applicant must be ableto present the relevant degree certificate, or a declaration that thedegree has been conferred (according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of28.12.2000, applicable only to citizens of the European Union), by thedate of the examination.
Art. 3 - THE PhD PROGRAMME
The Graduate School is intended to co-ordinate and developcomplementary skills in various research fields of Materials andStructural Mechanics, of particular relevance today. To this end, thePhD Programme is organised into areas of research, so that it can usethe capabilities of other disciplines together in a modern, holisticapproach to research.
The PhD Programme includes specific courses, seminars of considerablescientific value held by professors from the same and otheruniversities, and laboratory work carried out in research laboratories.The specific courses offer the candidates the chance to acquireadvanced skills in research activities that can be profitably appliedto a variety of careers in research, teaching and advanced professionalpractice in the broad sense of structural engineering, encompassingmechanics of solids and smart structures.
In detail, the programme is organised into 2 areas of research (curricula):
A) Mechanics of materials and structures:
The modelling of complex natural materials such as geomaterials andbiomaterials, and design and use of new artificial materials requiresan understanding of the basic mechanisms of deformation and failure. Tothis purpose, tools taken from Solid Mechanics, Multiphase PorousMaterials, Damage Mechanics and Fracture Mechanics play a key role.There is great demand for trained engineers in this area, and theobjective of the curriculum in Mechanics of Materials and Structures isto develop such expertise. Particular emphasis will be given totheoretical aspect such as near-crack stress field determination,interface models, dislocation-based plasticity, local and globalmaterial stability criteria, characterization of anisotropic,multilaminated and fibre-reinforced materials andthermo-chemio-hydro-mechanical coupling in multiphase porous media.Concurrently, emphasis will also be put on the thermo-hydro-mechanicalcharacterisation of natural material and the development of innovativeexperimental techniques and apparatuses. The training will require thedevelopment of theoretical, experimental and computational techniques.The first includes boundary integral equations, singular solutions,non-linear analysis and variation principles; the second techniquedeals with small strain measurement in geomaterials, shear strengthdetermination of geomaterials under partial saturation conditions andwater tensile stress measurement, whereas the third refers to mixed andhybrid finite elements and symmetric and collocation-type boundaryelement techniques.
The relevant courses focus on the mechanics of solids, geomaterials andstructures and, more in general, on the study of the mechanicalbehaviour of materials. The PhD curriculum develops fields of researchinherent to the behaviour of a wide class of materials: from the moreinnovative: structural ceramics, composites, metal alloys with phasetransformation, piezoelectric, smart materials, polymers, to materialsused traditionally in building engineering, i.e. steel, concrete,masonry, wood and stone. Additionally, the course develops fields ofresearch related to the behaviour of geomaterials, with specialemphasis on unsaturated geomaterials. The study of the mechanicalbehaviour of such materials, both from constitutive and strengthviewpoints, will be analysed at both an experimental level and at atechnical/computational level.
B) Design, preservation and control of structures:
In the field of structural engineering, the focus is on the developmentof new smart structures, conceived and designed as high performancesystems capable of self-diagnosis to changes in environmentalcharacteristics. As a consequence, traditional knowledge of civilengineering has to be integrated and enhanced by the development andimplementation of novel technologies at various levels. In particular:at a material level, through the development of damage models able toprovide a refined description of the damaged zone and a reliableestimate of the dissipated energy caused by hysteresis; at a structurallevel through the development of structural elements embedding passive(fibre optic, micro-electro-mechanical systems, MEMS) and possiblyactive (piezoelectric, magnetostrictive) sensors as well as techniquesfor employing these products on existing structures; and finally, at abuilding level, through the development of a methodology for designingnew structures embedding monitoring and control systems.
The relevant courses focus on the following topics:
- analysis and performance-based design of structures;
- safety evaluation of structures using experimentalanalyses based on non-destructive testing techniques and comparisonwith computer models;
- durability and restoration to be considered during design;
- monitoring, analysis, diagnosis and identificationof historical-monumental buildings and bridges, consideringsoil-structure interaction phenomena;
- strengthening and control of historical-monumental buildings and bridges;
- analysis, design and control of smart structures.
The teaching programme includes monographic courses, seminar cyclesheld by internal and external lecturers, and laboratory work. Themonographic courses are geared to provide a basic foundation for highlyqualified research activities.
The thesis topic and the tutor must be determined at the end of thefirst year, in concordance with the Graduate School Committee. Toobtain the title of PhD, the candidate must earn 180 universitycredits.
A syllabus is composed of:
a) fundamental courses to strengthen the PhD student's basic knowledge;
b) advanced courses, allowing the PhD student tospecialize in certain research topics relative to the curriculum chosen;
c) attendance at seminars organised by universities and research institutes;
d) specialization courses organised by research institutes;
e) lectures held by the PhD student, either in aproblem-solving section, in a laboratory session, or as part of anundergraduate course.
f) training courses within companies and research institutes.
Fundamental courses are offered only once each year, while advancedcourses are taught only once every two years and are scheduled inaccordance with the curricula. A schedule of course offerings isavailable from the Graduate School each fall for the following academicyear.
The following rules hold with reference to:
a) Specific courses (50 credits)
A course offered by this PhD programme typically involves 20 hoursteaching, 40 hours of study time and is worth 5 credits. The candidatewill attend at least 10 specific courses during the first and secondyear. Six courses must be fundamental. The remaining four courses areadvanced, two of which may be chosen from other PhD programmes in otheruniversities in co-operation with the University of Trento, or held bynational and international institutes.
The candidate may attend PhD level courses offered by otherinstitutions. The tutor, upon approval of the Graduate SchoolCommittee, assigns credits earned through an external course.
The internal and external courses chosen by the candidate must beapproved by the tutor and by the Graduate School Committee at thebeginning of each year.
b) Training courses (20 credits)
Training courses, teaching activities and/or the attendance of seminarsand specialization courses within companies and research institutesmust amount to 100 hours. The tutor, upon approval of the GraduateSchool Committee, assigns the credits earned with these courses andactivities. These courses and activities must be registered.
Teaching experience is required of all Structural Engineering PhDstudents prior to taking the final examination. Teaching experience isdefined as lecturing in either a problem-solving section or laboratorysession, or in an undergraduate course designated by the GraduateSchool Committee. This requisite may be fulfilled by service as ateaching assistant.
Particular attention will be paid to developing relationships withuniversities abroad. We trust candidates will spend up to a total ofeighteen months abroad working at foreign research centres. Thecandidate will concur the choice of foreign residencies with the tutorand with the Graduate School Committee. Many members of the GraduateSchool are currently involved in research in co-operation withuniversities in and beyond Europe.
c) Laboratory activities
Computation and materials testing laboratories may be used, in additionto the infrastructures and libraries of the institutes and departmentsinvolved. Facilities may be used at research centres, industries orother universities, subject to agreements between these and theGraduate School.
Each course must be completed by an exam, the procedure for which isleft to the discretion of the teacher (test, oral exam, report, etc.).Each exam is registered:
At the end of 1st and 2nd year, the PhD student must present a reportof the activities carried out, in order to pass to the next year.
An indispensable requirement for obtaining the title of PhD is that thecandidate's activity shall have produced results of particularscientific (48 credits) value, as documented in the final dissertation.
The dissertation must be delivered in draft form to the Graduate SchoolCommittee 3 months before the final date, and must be discussed withthe Graduate School Committee itself.
The final examination consists of a public discussion of the PhD thesis.
Art. 4 - APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION
Application should be made using the application form attached to this announcement.
The application, including a photocopy of the candidate's identity cardor passport, must reach the University of Trento by the 23rd ofSeptember 2005 by one of the following means:
- delivered in person to the University of Trento- Ufficio Dottorati di Ricerca, Via Inama 5 - 38100 Trento (TN),from 10:00 am to 12:00 a.m., Monday to Friday;
- by post to the following address: Magnifico Rettoredell'Universitàdegli Studi di Trento - via Belenzani 12 - 38100 Trento(TN), ITALY (please write "PhD Programme in Structural EngineeringModelling, Preservation and Control of Materials and Structures" on theenvelope);
- by fax to the following number: 0039 0461 882191.
The applicant should ensure that the address given for correspondenceand the telephone number are correct, and that any changes are reportedas soon as possible to the University of Trento - Ufficio Dottorati diRicerca. The University of Trento declines all responsibility for postoffice mishandling.
Applications arriving after the 23rd of September 2005 will not be considered, even if sent before this date.
According to Italian Law no. 104/92, art. 20, and to Italian Law no.68/99, art. 16, para. 1, applicants with special needs are required toexplicitly indicate, in their application, whether they require specialassistance or extra time during the examinations. Under LegislativeDecree 196/03, all information will be handled confidentially.
Applications should include:
- a photocopy of the applicant's identity card or passport;
- degree certificate or degree self-certification(according to Presidential Decree no. 445 of 28.12.2000 concerning EUcitizens) with a list of the examinations passed successfully and thescores obtained in each examination (except for candidates who have notyet obtained the degree certificate when they present the applicationas outlined in Art. 2 of the announcement).
- curriculum vitae;
- a short research project (maximum 3 pages) relatedto one of the scientific-disciplinary areas pointed in Art. 1 of theannouncement;
- two letters of recommendation from the dissertationadvisor and/or other experts on the subject; the letters must be in asealed envelope;
- list of publications, if any;
- certificate proving the applicant's knowledge of the English language, if any.
Applicants with a foreign qualification that has not been officiallyrecognized as equivalent to the Italian degree are required to attach atranslation in English of the degree certificate, with exams and scoresobtained, signed under their own responsibility, so as to allow theGraduate School Committee to declare the equivalence. This is valid forthe sole purpose of participating in the selection.
If, pursuant to submission of their application, applicants wish to addfurther information, it must reach the University offices by the 23rdof September 2005. The applicant's name, the Graduate School he or sheis applying for and the subject ("integrazione domanda") must beclearly written on the envelope.
The University of Trento reserves the right to verify (including spotchecking), declarations and documents submitted by candidates,according to art. 71 and subsequent articles of Presidential Decree no.445, dated 28.12.2000.
At any time, candidates failing to meet the requisites specified, maybe omitted from the selection process for the Graduate School Committee.
Closing Date: 23 September 2005
For more information and application form, see the source of this document.
[Contributor: Lianita Prawindarti]
