PhD in Industrial Engineering: General informations

Educational goals or Training objectives

The PhD programme aims at training highly qualified professionals able to work into the mechanical, naval, aerospace and management industry, at both national and international level, and face the technological challenges posed by the transition to Industry 4.0. The training activities aim at achieving an adequate knowledge of the innovative design methods, technical, economic, energy and environmental analysis of industrial processes, management and control of industrial and manufacturing plants, and related technologies. Particular attention is also paid to the scientific research activities using theoretical, quantitative and experimental approaches in collaboration with universities and research centres.

The training courses and research objectives are in strong synergy with the public sector and private national and international companies. In some cases, additional PhD scholarships funded by public and private bodies are available. Joint research activities including scientific papers in collaboration with Italian and foreign research bodies are highly encouraged.

The PhD programme is organized in different curricula. In this way, it is possible to combine the traditional engineering training with multidisciplinary skills which allows PhD candidates to understand and manage complex systems, characterized by strong interactions among technical, technological, economic and social aspects.

Career and professional opportunities

Career and professional opportunities are related to the innovation and development of production, advanced design, managing, planning and programming of complex systems. PhDs will be able to find employment, among others, in aerospace research centres, agencies and companies, production and conversion of energy industry, automation and robotics industry, manufacturing and service industry, installation, testing. maintenance and management of machines and production lines.

Besides, thanks to the multidisciplinary training objectives, a PhD in industrial engineering will have the specific skills for the design and construction of plants and systems that require maximum operational reliability to guarantee high performance, productivity, product quality and safety levels in compliance with current regulations. PhD can work also as self-employed professionals, i.e., consultants and energy managers), pursue an academic career and work in research centres.

Main national companies and research centres with which there are joint research activities
  • ALENIA
  • ANSALDO
  • AVIO GROUP
  • CESVITEC
  • CIRA- CENTRO ITALIANO RICERCHE AEROSPAZIALI
  • BOSCH/CVIT-EAR
  • BRIDGESTONE TCE
  • ENEA
  • ENEL
  • FIAT GROUP AUTOMOBILES
  • FIREMA TRASPORTI
  • FERRARI S.P.A
  • ISTITUTO DI RICERCHE SULLA COMBUSTIONE DEL C.N.R.
  • ISTITUTO MOTORI DEL CNR
  • LAMBORGHINI
  • PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES
  • PRODE CONSORZIO PER IL DISEGNO E LO SVILUPPO DI PRODOTTI INDUSTRIALI
The PhD program takes advantage of the cooperation with the following international research institutions:
  • Aerospace Engineering Department, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 2, 2629 HS, Delft, The Netherlands
  • Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory (LTCM), Scuola Politecnica federale di Losanna (EPFL), Losanna, Switzerland
  • National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tzsukuba, Japan
  • Turbomachinery and Propulsion Laboratory, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Rhode Saint Genese, Belgium
  • KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden
  • AVL Gmbh, Graz, Austria
  • FEV Gmbh, Aachen, Germany
  • GERMAN AEROSPACE CENTER (DLR)
  • CENTER FOR TURBULENCE RESEARCH, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CA, USA
  • UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
  • UNIVERSITA’ DI LIONE
  • ULSTER UNIVERSITY
  • KHALIFA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ABU DHABI
  • UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI