Training Program

General Objectives

During the PhD program, the student is expected to:

• Acquire high-level skills through in-depth study of one of the research areas included in the PhD program;

• Gain methodologies and data analysis techniques relevant to their field of study;

• Design and carry out original research;

• Engage in dissemination activities (e.g., conference presentations and scientific publications);

• Write a thesis and defend it orally at the end of the three-year period.

These activities are instrumental to achieving the educational objectives of the PhD program, as defined by the Dublin Descriptors for the third cycle of higher education.

Structure of the Training Program

The educational plan includes advanced training and research activities organized over three academic years.

The first year focuses on acquiring the specialized knowledge necessary to develop a high-quality research project that will form the basis of the PhD thesis.

From the second year, emphasis is placed on research work related to the thesis project. This includes a mandatory research period abroad at a high-level foreign university or institution for a minimum of six months.

The third year is dedicated to writing the dissertation.

Courses are conducted in English and organized into five domains, each including specific modules (see the academic catalog):

• Epistemology of Cognitive Science

• Designing Studies

• Analyzing

• Disseminating

• Teaching

Additional seminars and lab-based activities may be offered, including transversal skills shared with other PhD programs, language and IT training, research management, and national/international research funding. Participation in seminars, conferences, and intensive courses organized by universities, research institutes, scientific societies, and professional organizations is strongly encouraged and financially supported.

Research activities include:

• Conducting the thesis project;

• Presentations at annual PhD program meetings;

• Participation in national/international scientific events;

• Publications and (where applicable) patents.

Activities such as organizing conferences/workshops, serving in scientific associations, and receiving scientific awards are also valued. Third mission activities within university-organized initiatives are encouraged.

Each PhD student, at the start of the program, defines a Supervisory Committee (SC) in agreement with the Academic Board. The SC includes the supervisor, a co-supervisor (as per Art. 12.8.h of the University PhD Regulation), and a third member, who may be internal or external to the Academic Board. At least one of the supervisors must be affiliated with the University of Trento and a member of the PhD Academic Board. The SC supports the student in identifying their training needs and in shaping their individual study plan and overall research project. It oversees the student’s study, research, and thesis writing activities, ensuring their quality.

Timeline of Activities

• Academic year starts: November 1

• Teaching activities: November to June, primarily in the first year

• Research abroad period: Recommended in the 2nd year, can occur in the 3rd

• Annual assessment by SC: By the end of September

• External thesis review process: At the end of the third year

Specific Course Objectives

The program aims to provide high-level research training in the PhD thematic areas. It prepares researchers capable of independently designing and conducting advanced and cutting-edge research in the specific disciplines of the PhD (Psychology and Cognitive Science) and related fields, in accordance with the Dublin Descriptors for the third cycle.

Upon completing the three-year program, students will be able to:

• Understand scientific research across various fields including psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, linguistics, computer science, and education, and apply appropriate methodologies and techniques;

• Design, execute, and evaluate significant research projects in their field, maintaining academic integrity;

• Make original contributions to knowledge that merit publication in peer-reviewed national/international journals;

• Critically evaluate and integrate new and complex concepts;

• Communicate their research effectively to peers, the broader academic community, and society;

• Support technological, social, or cultural advancements in academic and professional contexts.

The program is supported by the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, recognized as a center of excellence for 2023–2027, enabling international collaborations with visiting scholars.

It draws on the multidisciplinary expertise of the Academic Board and resources from both the Department and the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK).

Connection to the Professional World

The PhD is part of the third-level academic offer at the University of Trento. According to Art. 3 of the University PhD Regulation, doctoral training is aimed at developing skills for high-level research careers in academia, public and private sectors, freelance professions, and public administration, as well as supporting scientific and technological progress and the creation of a highly professional, internationally oriented leadership class.

The program promotes disciplinary, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary training opportunities also in non-academic sectors, such as industry, public services, and cultural institutions, involving experts from these fields in training activities.

Its goal is to train professionals capable of taking responsibility for high-level research-related activities in both public and private contexts. Graduates can contribute to:

• Basic research on individual differences (e.g., personality, intelligence), cognitive and emotional processes (e.g., language, emotion, attention, memory), and their development, neural basis, and computational modeling using AI and machine learning;

• Applied research in areas such as:

  • Clinical: assessment, diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation;

  • Economic, health, and environmental: decision-making and behavioral change for sustainability and health;

  • Educational: design and evaluation of socio-educational actions and training technologies;

  • Work and organizational: career guidance, workplace learning, and disability prevention;

  • Social: prejudice, discrimination, group relations;

  • Technological/ergonomic: human-machine interaction, cognitive modeling, AI-based systems.

Career paths are detailed in the "Career Opportunities" section of the program webpage.

Some students also conduct research periods in companies or public institutions in Italy, applying their PhD skills in practice and promoting technology transfer and scientific knowledge valorization.

Resources

To achieve these goals, the program offers the following resources:

• Short intensive courses to cover gaps from prior education. Courses are listed annually in the academic catalog and detailed in syllabi.

• Personal workstations and lab access with PC, internet, and tech support. Students are assigned individual desks with computers.

• Supervisory Committee supports students throughout the program and thesis writing.

• Annual progress review provides evaluation and developmental feedback.

• Seminars and colloquia hosted by the department or other university entities.

• Access to research labs and software at DiPSCo and partner institutions, with installation support.

• Internationalization and mobility: Research stay abroad is typically in the 2nd year.

• Mobility/research funding: 50% scholarship increase for time abroad, plus travel grants and a personal budget (10% of the scholarship) for research dissemination and materials.

• Library resources: Access to the University Library System (over 500,000 monographs, 13,000+ journals, 286,000+ eBooks, 130+ databases). Off-campus access and services like interlibrary loan, research support, and training are provided.

• Language courses: Access to all services of the university's Language Center (CLA).