Marine Sciences, Technology and Management (MTM)

The Ph.D. in Marine Sciences, Technology and Management aims to train highly qualified professionals and researchers to assume leadership roles in the field of marine sciences, both in Italy and abroad. Among the objectives of the research program envisaged by the doctoral course is the acquisition of skills in the field of marine sciences, even through the use of innovative technologies, as well as the acquisition of economic, legal and social management tools. In addition, one of the course’s objectives is the development of team-working skills, and the ability to develop an experimental project under the professors’ supervision. The PhD program also aims to provide the industry with professionals capable of improving their competitiveness at a national and international level.

Since the early 2000's, the scientific community has renewed its interest in oceans by focusing on their educational value as well. With this in mind, the PhD course aims to contribute to the contemporary debate on ocean literacy, which fosters the development of a deeper understanding of the ocean's influence on humans and, conversely, of humans on the ocean. Highly developed scientific skills will enable doctoral graduates to enter the research and academic world in the capacity of researchers, and to play an active role in the management and coordination of marine protected areas (MPAs) as well as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).

The main research topics of the PhD are: Marine biodiversity, Ecology and marine biology, Ocean processes and Global change, International Law of the Sea and Polar Law, Peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, Sustainable use of marine resources, Integrated coastal zone management, Ocean technology, Marine biogeochemical cycles, Dynamics and restoration of coastal ecosystems, Computational modeling, Political, cultural and social geography of the sea, Ocean literacy and Ocean citizenship, Coastal and Maritime tourism, Vulnerability and Environmental conflicts, Marine renewable energy, Ocean physics, Chemical oceanography, New materials applied to the marine environment, Blue Economy, Psychological and social determinants of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors.

Career opportunities

Ph.D. graduates in Marine Sciences, Technology and Management have very good employment prospects in Italy, the EU and internationally.

Among the most important career prospects are academic research both in Italy and abroad, employment within public or private research institutions, and senior management in both the public and private sectors.

Particularly relevant are the employment prospects in the so-called Blue Economy, which includes all sectors related to oceans, seas, and coasts. This is a large and rapidly evolving segment of the economy, which has taken significant steps to modernize and diversify over the past decade. Alongside the traditional ones, innovative sectors such as those related to the restoration of areas damaged by anthropogenic activities, ocean renewable energy, the blue bioeconomy, biotechnology, sustainable ecotourism, environmental certification, management of marine protected areas, and STEM education are developing.

Each PhD student during the course is expected to attend at least 100 hours of lectures and to gain a minimum of 8 CFU, of which at least 2 CFU in interdisciplinary subjects offered by the University Doctoral School, and at least 4 CFU in specific subjects offered by the Doctoral Course.

Each PhD student is supervised by two professors or researchers from the University of Milano-Bicocca or the Italian Institute of Technology. In addition, each student has to carry out at least 6 (six) months of training at an international research institute. The PhD Program includes a minimum of two publications in international journals with impact factor (ISI) and a thesis written in English.

The students enrolled in the Doctoral Program depending on their training project will have the opportunity to attend international research institutions, such as: University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Universidad de Valencia, Maldives National University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), University of Helsinki, University of South Pacific, Bar-Ilan University, University of Edinburgh, University of York, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Harvard University, Cambridge University, and University of Dubai.