The mission of the Doctoral Programme in Veterinary Science and Food Safety (Scienze Veterinarie e Sicurezza Alimentare) is to support PhD students in developing their research projects within a stimulating and rewarding environment that promotes collaboration and scientific excellence.
Students may come from a variety of academic backgrounds, including veterinary medicine, biology, biotechnology, animal science and food science. However, a degree in Veterinary Medicine is required for clinical research.
The programme’s main objective is to enable PhD students to conduct research independently, with guidance from a supervisor and a problem-solving approach. Students are expected to develop the ability to conduct systematic investigations and critically analyse their findings in the context of the current state of knowledge in their respective fields.
Throughout the programme, PhD students receive soft skills training and multidisciplinary teaching to prepare them for a range of professional roles, including those outside the veterinary field. They meet regularly with their supervisors and prepare an annual report on their activities and research progress, which they present orally to the programme’s academic board. They are also encouraged to present their findings at national and international conferences.

Since the 29th cycle, the publication or acceptance for publication of at least one first-author paper related to the student’s research project has been a mandatory requirement for admission to the final thesis evaluation.

Research areas

The SVSA doctoral programme covers the following research areas:

• basic veterinary sciences;
• veterinary epidemiology, public health and food hygiene;
• food safety and food science;
• animal models for the study of human diseases;
• animal diseases.

Career opportunities

The programme prepares highly qualified professionals for careers in academia and other research settings.

Graduates may pursue careers within the Italian National Health Service, including the Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and local health authorities (Aziende Sanitarie Locali), contributing to monitoring, prevention and research activities. Opportunities may also be available within European bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Other career paths include veterinary clinical practice, veterinary diagnostics, the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, and biomedical research, with opportunities for specialist and managerial roles in research, health monitoring and animal welfare.
The programme’s strong professional orientation supports career opportunities across a broad range of sectors. It therefore emphasises the practical relevance of research projects and equips PhD students with the skills needed to pursue careers beyond academic research.

Programme Coordinator

Professor Massimo Milan

Contact

For further information, please contact phd.veterinaryscience@unipd.it.

Participating departments

The doctoral programme is jointly managed by two departments of the University of Padua:

• Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS)
• Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA)