PhD Program and Courses

Biostatistics methods for biomedicine and public health: environmental exposures and health in the general population. Environmental exposures and genetic susceptibility in chronic-degenerative diseases. Health indicators. Spatio-temporal evaluation models and predictive models of health determinants.

Research methodology in public health: design and analysis of observational and experimental studies. Models of statistical analysis for the identification of the population’s health needs and for the evaluation of diagnostic tools, therapeutic interventions and health and social care.

Hygiene and Preventive Medicine: public health and community medicine, preventive medicine, rehabilitation and social medicine, primary prevention, secondary prevention and screening, tertiary prevention, prophylaxis, surveillance, environmental hygiene, workplace and school hygiene, food hygiene, health education and communication, health promotion.

Health Organization: epidemiology of services, analysis of current flows and health needs, evaluation of performance, population health, analysis of health policies and systems, impact and health technology assessment, planning and management of health services, international health and global health.

Work environments that promote health: research and application of factors that allow to lead healthy lifestyles, in order to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and chronic-degenerative) in economically active populations and to bring about a close integration with Total Workers Health (TWE) projects.

Industrial medicine and industrial hygiene: scenarios and determinants of work-related neoplastic and neurodegenerative diseases; exposure through environmental measures and biological monitoring, specifically focused on emerging risk factors in the workplace, by providing predictive and preventive models of health damage.

Forensic Medicine: forensic pathology and forensic histopathology; forensic medicine and forensic examinations on living persons; in particular, study of the causes of death and disability and their relation to diseases and conditions that can be prevented through lifestyle actions.

Forensic Sciences: use and abuse markers of psychotropic substances and study of their effects on quality of life. Genetic markers related to drug or substance abuse response. Study of lifestyle-related epigenetic effects.

Histology and Embryology: assessment of morphological changes in cells and tissues in response to exposure to diverse environmental factors (chemical-physical, psychological). Use of regenerative medicine/tissue engineering technologies for the regeneration of organs and tissues damaged by disease, trauma or incorrect lifestyles.

Dietetics and Human Nutrition: food security, food safety, sustainability of food models and systems, nutritional surveillance, food behavior, food education and dietary principles for different ages and physiological conditions of life (child, adult, elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, sports).

Clinical Nutrition: assessment of the nutritional status and body composition in pathophysiological condition, pathophysiology and clinical nutrition, principles of diet therapy applied to diseases, functional foods, diets for special medical purposes and nutraceutical products, lifestyle medicine, personalized and precision nutrition.

Physical activity for the promotion of well-being, prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases: study of the effectiveness of different paradigms and methodological approaches to research and intervention, necessary for the prevention and recovery of psychophysical well-being and health both in the healthy people and in the ones affected by non-communicable diseases.

Sports performance: study of different paradigms and methodological and technological approaches to research and intervention, useful for the study, the organization and planning of application and innovative projects aimed at the optimization of the training process and the maintenance/ improvement of athletes’ performance and health.

Health and well-being, both at the individual and population level, are the key focus of the PhD in Public Health and Lifestyle—one of the very few programs in Italy centered on Public Health and the first to combine the protection and promotion of public health with the study of the impact of lifestyle-related factors on health.

The program is structured around diverse thematic areas, covering not only healthcare disciplines - such as biostatistics, hygiene, occupational medicine, forensic medicine, and histology - but also healthy lifestyles, with a particular focus on nutrition and physical activity for well-being promotion.

Its distinctive multidisciplinary approach is also reflected in the composition of its Scientific Committee, which brings together national and international experts. These scholars provide methodological tools to conduct observational and experimental studies in clinical and epidemiological fields, integrating knowledge from clinical, biological, genetic and epigenetic, toxicological, physiological, nutritional, and environmental sciences.

The theoretical training acquired may be enhanced by research periods or internships, including at foreign or international institutions, to provide immediate comparison with the theoretical and practical experience gained in other contexts. Participation in the educational program will be accompanied by constant evaluation of progress, with regular assessments of each research project. This feedback will involve continuous exchange of knowledge and theoretical reflections with the tutor, other faculty members, and external experts from the academic institutions involved.

The core of a PhD student's training pathway is the development of a thesis, distinguished by its originality and capable of demonstrating the candidate's scientific maturity.

There is also the possibility of publishing articles or abstracts in major specialized journals during the three-year program.

In accordance with the "Regulation on PhD Studies" of the University of Pavia, No. 900 of April 11, 2022, and subsequent amendments, PhD students must acquire at least 30 ECTS credits (CFU according to the national credit system) during their studies by attending the courses offered by the doctoral programs. ECTS credits can also be obtained through participation in initiatives from external institutions (e.g., international schools), subject to approval by the PhD Scientific Committee.

As part of the 30 ECTS credits requirement, each PhD student must obtain at least 6 ECTS credits through cross-disciplinary courses or activities aimed at acquiring transferable skills, with at least 3 ECTS credits from courses offered by the School of Advanced Doctoral Training (Scuola di Alta Formazione Dottorale, SAFD), available at the following link: https://phd.unipv.it/corsi-trasversali-per-dottorandi/

ECTS creditis deriving from cross-disciplinary courses can also be obtained through initiatives promoted by either the Scientific Committee or other bodies, to be approved by the Scientific Committee in accordance with the criteria specified in the PhD regulation. Any cross-disciplinary courses not offered by SAFD will be published in the "News" section of the Public Health and Lifestyle PhD program website.