PhD Day 2025

For the third year running, the Uniss PhD School celebrated its PhDs and PhD students on a dedicated day. It was an opportunity to take stock of the situation, to emphasise how crucial the role of research and researchers is in the cultural and economic development of the territory and beyond, and to celebrate together those who have achieved such a significant milestone.

Doing the honours, in a packed Aula Magna, Vicarious Pro-rector Andrea Piana and School Director Eugenio Garribba.

The floor was then passed to the guest of honour of Doctorate Day, Prof. Silvio Garattini, oncologist, pharmacologist and researcher, president and founder of the "Mario Negri" Institute for Pharmacological Research. In videoconference from his office, he catalysed everyone's attention with his lectio magistralis "Prevention is revolution". 

Prof. Garattini is a leading international figure in the field of pharmaceutical research. He is the author of hundreds of scientific publications and numerous treatises on pharmacology, and has made his name known to the general public through his popular books and his ability to explain technical concepts in a way that is accessible to an audience of non-experts. And his ability to be incisive, authoritative and clear even without being too specific was experienced by the many people present in the Aula Magna, who were literally captivated by a lecture that emphasised how much, even unconsciously, people are influenced in their health choices by marketing and market trends. And how revolutionary and powerful it would be if the majority of investments, of time and money, were spent on prevention, rather than on curing diseases, with exceptions of course.

After questions from an interested and curious audience, a warm round of applause greeted the guest speaker and the day continued with the presentation of the two prizes for the best doctoral theses, which the PhD School once again announced this year in order to further enhance the value of its PhD students. The prizes were awarded to Dr Alessia Manca, from the Course in Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, with her thesis entitled Investigation on microgravity-driven effects to facilitate space exploration: focus on human cell lines and cyanobacteria, and Dr Simone Nobili, from the Course in Economics, Management, and Quantitative Methods, with his thesis entitled Essays on Structural Macroeconomic Shifts.

Before receiving the award from the hands of the Pro-rector, Dr. Manca and Dr. Nobili gave a short presentation of their work, explaining in a simple and effective manner what their research dealt with during their doctoral studies.

The PhD Day ended with the presentation of the parchments to the new PhD graduates, who had just completed their three-year term.