Doctoral Day 2026 in the name of serendipity

Serendipity as the logic of discovery in which chance combines with intuition: the lectio by the philosopher Telmo Pievani, this morning in the main hall, during the "Doctorate Day" of the University of Sassari. A theme to which the evolutionist, pioneer of the Philosophy of Biological Sciences, has also dedicated a book published in 2021.

The ceremony opened with institutional greetings from the Magnificent Rector, Gavino Mariotti, and the Director of the Doctoral School, Eugenio Garribba. After the speech of the guest of honour, the prizes were awarded to the best two doctoral theses and, finally, all 28 new research doctors of cycles 36, 37 and 38 received the parchment. 

The winning theses

Dal 2024 l’Università degli Studi di Sassari e la sua Scuola di Dottorato prevedono l’erogazione di due premi in denaro per le migliori tesi di Dottorato a Dottori di ricerca che hanno conseguito il titolo di Dottore, con l’intento di valorizzare i Dottorandi, il loro lavoro di ricerca e i risultati ottenuti. Together with the two cash prizes, special mention certificates are also awarded by the commission to the most significant theses.

This year, the 750 euro cash prizes were awarded to Francesca Angius (Doctoral Course in Agricultural Sciences) for the work entitled  Biodiversity and ecology of Tuber species in Mediterranean forest ecosystems of Sardinia (supervisor Prof. Bruno Scanu) , and a  Sara Federico (PhD course in Cultures, Literatures, Tourism and Territory) for the thesis entitled Rap, Femmes, Méditerranée: une inquiry sociolinguistique ethnographique à Marseille (supervisor Prof. Lorenzo Devilla).

The mentions awarded

Three theses received a mention: Ilaria Fozzi (PhD course in Veterinary Sciences, coordinator Prof. Alberto Alberti):  Study of the feeding behavior of the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) in order to develop a sustainable natural tourism model to increase the economic sustainability of livestock farms (supervisor: Prof. Fiammetta Berlinguer); Diletta Serra (Doctoral course in Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, coordinator Prof. Margherita Maioli):  Natural extracts and nanomaterials: innovative approaches for skin aging and wound healing (supervisor: Prof. Margherita Maioli); Veronica Venco (Doctoral course in Archaeology, History and Human Sciences, coordinator Prof. Maria Grazia Melis):  Reverse engineering for stratigraphic excavation: from 4D modeling to interpretive simulation (supervisor: Prof. Marco Milanese).

Round table of the ADI-Association of doctoral students and research doctors in Italy

In the afternoon from 3.30 pm, the Aula Magna of the University of Sassari will host the round table of doctoral students entitled "Serendipity: Doctoral students comparing the unexpected trajectories of research", in continuity with the speech of the illustrious guest. Speakers will include the Rector Gavino Mariotti, Professor Eugenio Garribba, the National Secretary of the Association of Doctoral Students and Research Doctorates in Italy Davide Clementi, the President of ERSU Sassari, Daniele Maoddi. Subsequently Telmo Pievani will give a brief introduction on the topic and the Mayor of Sassari Giuseppe Mascia, PhD in Philosophical Disciplines, will also speak. The meeting will be moderated by the PhD student and President of the ADI Sassari Association Enrico Baroffio.

This will then be followed by speeches by PhD students from different Departments of the University: Stefania Monti, Mirko Muzzu, Claudio Piras, Simone Sanna, Martina Tarabori, Antonio Ottavio Cattari, Guido Casula and specialist Gerardo Petretto will speak, offering heterogeneous and complementary perspectives on the often non-linear trajectories of research, each in relation to their own area of ​​interest.