PhD in Earth Science, Fluid-Dynamics and Mathematics. Interactions and Methods

This Ph.D. Course aims at the advanced training of students in the field of the Earth System Science, through a multidisciplinary approach, where specific skills integrate with modeling and computational tools that allow to effectively tackle complex problems. Special attention is devoted to the interactions between Mathematics, Scientific Computing, Data Science, Fluid Dynamics, and Earth Sciences.

This course promotes the preparation of students through the investigation of the scientific themes developed by the research groups belonging to the departments and the research institutions directly involved in the program, as well as through international collaborations with qualified foreign structures that provide students with the opportunity to attend training programs abroad.

In the field of Earth Science, advanced methods of investigation are developed in geological, geophysical, atmospheric, oceanographic, and climatological fields, with applications to the study of composition, structure, stratigraphy, evolution, and dynamics of our planet, from the close surface up to the deep structures and the characteristics at a global scale. Special attention is paid to issues related to the reduction of natural risks, finding of georesources, climate changes.

In the context of fluid mechanics, the study of the motion of the fluids is mainly addressed with reference to their transport properties, dispersion and mixing in environmental, industrial, biological processes, as well as to their interaction with the solid elements.

The laws, which these disciplines are based on, are generally expressed by highly complex mathematical models. The qualitative and quantitative study of such models requires the development and the application of sophisticated mathematical tools, and it represents a relevant and topical research field even from the mathematical point of view. Mathematical and computational modeling also requires an integrated use of different tools: methodologies for management and analysis of large amounts of information; tools for description, identification, multi-scale simulation of complex systems; methods for optimizing diagnosis and processes. In conclusion, Mathematics, Scientific Computing, and Data Science pervade the entire program, playing a central and unifying role.

Lines of research

Environmental fluid mechanics, fluid mechanics in industrial and technological processes, and in biological systems Solid and fluid earth geophysics and geology Mathematical methods and modeling in fluid mechanics and in geophysics, differential equations, and inverse problems: qualitative, computational, and numerical aspects. Development and use of Data Science techniques, both for the construction of statistical big-data black-box models and for the analysis of complex models by using machine learning methods

Founded in 1924 , the University of Trieste is a medium-sized university with a student population of approximately 16,000. It offers a wide range of degree programmes at bachelor, master and doctoral level, as well as short vocational masters, advanced masters and specialisation programmes, most of which are in the medical area. Some degree programmes are taught in English .

The university currently has 10 departments: Economic , Business, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences ; Engineering and Architecture ; Humanities; Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies ; Mathematics and Geosciences ; Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences ; Life Sciences ; Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences ; Physics; Political and Social Sciences .

The university participates in many research projects at national and international level. It is also involved in various student and staff exchange programmes with universities in the EU and collaborates with several universities from Eastern Europe and other non-EU countries.

The International Mobility at the University of Trieste

Universities are crossroads of knowledge.

Following the Lisbon strategy, which emphasizes the creation of a more competitive and dynamic knowledge-based society, international mobility and internationalisation of the universities may represent a strategic tool for a social, cultural and economic development of a country. They can be considered as a challenge and an opportunity for the involved Higher Institutions to enlarge and enrich their range of the courses offered.

The internationalisation of its system, which has been started by the University of Trieste since long, is perfectly in line with these points and lies also in the strategic position and historical international vocation of the city of Trieste.

The University of Trieste is actively involved in different Programmes at a European level (LLP Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Alpe Adria, Bovec Summer School) and within wider European (Tempus) and international frameworks (ISEP Programme, International Mobility Grant Programme, Marco Polo Project).