ANNEX I, D.R. no.

100/2024

Call for Applications for Admission to the Ph.D. Programmes

XL cycle - Academic Year 2024/2025

Art. 1
(Public Selection Announcement)
A public selection is announced at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa (hereafter referred to as
"Scuola") for admission to 55 (fifty-five) Ph.D. positions for the academic year 2024/2025 - Cycle
XL, in the following Programmes:
- Ph.D. in Agrobiodiversity
- Ph.D. in Agrobiosciences
- Ph.D. in BioRobotics
- Ph.D. in Economics
- Ph.D. in Emerging Digital Technologies
- Ph.D. in Health Science, Technology and Management
- Ph.D. in Human Rights, Global Politics, and Sustainability: Legal and Philosophical
Perspectives
- Ph.D. in Law
- Ph.D. in Management Innovation, Sustainability and Healthcare
- Ph.D. in Translational Medicine

In the factsheets for each Ph.D. Programme, attached and representing an integral part of this Call,
are detailed the available positions and types of scholarship or equivalent funding, the application
evaluation criteria, contacts, and other information relevant to the specific Ph.D. Programme.

The number of positions may increase before the beginning of the Programmes, should additional
funding become available, including, but not limited to, projects funded by the European Union -
NextGenerationEU. Please note that funding for some positions may be bound to specific research
topics.

Each Ph.D. Programme can reserve one or more positions in the ranking list for eligible candidates
who belong to the categories set out in the Ministerial Decree nr. 226 of 14 December 2021 at art.
8, par. 2 and 4, and art. 8, par. 4. and have been assessed as eligible following this selection
procedure.

Art. 2
(Application Requirements)
Applicants with at least one of the following qualifications may participate in the selection, without
citizenship restrictions:
- Laurea Vecchio Ordinamento (Italian University degree obtained before 1999);
- Laurea magistrale, magistrale a ciclo unico or specialistica (Italian University second-level
degree);
- A non-Italian MSc degree recognised as equivalent to the above-mentioned second-level
academic degrees for the sole purpose of participating in the Call for admission to the Ph.D.
programme.

The eligibility of the foreign qualification will be assessed by the Selection Committee according to
the laws and regulations in force in Italy and in the country where the degree was awarded. The
Commission will assess the equivalence in terms of level, nature, content, and academic rights to
the Italian academic degree required for access to a Ph.D. Programme.

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Applicants who, as of the deadline for participation in the competition, have not obtained the degree
and will obtain it by September 30, 2024, may also participate in the selection; failure to do so will
result in forfeiture of admission to the Ph.D. Programme.

Participation in the selection is not open to those who have already received a Ph.D. scholarship to
attend a Ph.D. programme in Italy, even if only for one instalment.

Art. 3
(Application Submission)
The application for participation in the selection must be submitted, under penalty of exclusion, by
12:00 p.m. (noon, Italian local time) on the 7th of May 2024, through the online system available
at https://sssup.esse3.cineca.it/Home.do.
Prior to submitting the application, candidates must:
1. Register, by entering the requested data;
2. Save the login and password provided, which must be changed after the first log-in;
3. Re-enter the system with the new password, select the Ph.D. Programme, and, if applicable,
the desired curriculum;
4. Complete the application following the instructions indicated on each page.

At the end of the procedure, please ensure that you have received the e-mail confirming that your
application has been submitted.

The School accepts no liability for system malfunctions or connection problems.

In the application, applicants are required to declare, under their own responsibility, the following
details:
a) Surname, forename, place and date of birth, citizenship;
b) Type of secondary school diploma, graduation date, and issuing School or Institute;
c) Possession of the academic qualification referred to in Article 2 above with an indication of
the degree course, its duration, and the issuing University or Higher Education Institution;
d) the Date on which the degree is expected to be awarded, for those who do not yet possess
it;
e) E-mail address, which is mandatory for communications related to the Call.

Applicants must also complete the 'Additional Information' section as part of their application.

The following documents, in 'PDF' format, must be attached to the application:

1. Copy of a valid identity document (copy of passport is preferable for non-EU applicants);
2. Academic qualification:
- Obtained in Italy: certificate or self-certification of the degree and the graduation mark,
including a list of all completed courses indicating the CFU (ECTS or equivalent) and the
grade achieved for each course;
- Obtained abroad: (for EU countries) the Diploma Supplement issued by the University of
origin, or (for non-EU countries) a Statement of Comparability of the foreign university
degree issued by the ENIC-NARIC centre in Italy (CIMEA) together with a transcript
including a list of all completed courses indicating the ECTS (or equivalent) and the grade
achieved for each course (with a translation if the transcript is in a language other than
English/French/Spanish/German);
Please note: If CIMEA's Credential Information Service (CIS) is not available by the
application deadline, applicants may attach a copy of the diploma and a transcript
including a list of all completed courses indicating the ECTS (or equivalent) and the grade
achieved for each course (with a translation if both documents are in a language other
than English/French/Spanish/German);

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 - If the required qualification has not yet been obtained: transcripts or certification of all
completed courses taken in the MSc degree course (or equivalent), indicating the ECTS
(or equivalent) and the grade achieved for each course;
3. Curriculum Vitae et Studiorum, in Italian or English;
4. Motivational letter, in Italian or English;
5. Research project, in Italian or English, related to the research areas of the Ph.D. Programme
of interest, designed to be evaluated for admission. Applicants are invited to review the
research areas of the Ph.D. Programme of interest on the School's website.

Each Ph.D. Programme factsheet, which represents an integral part of this Call, may include further
guidance on the above items and the request for additional information and documentation to be
attached to the application.

Failure to submit the mandatory documents will result in exclusion from the competition.

Applicants with a disability or specific learning disorders must attach the medical documentation
attesting to their disability or specific learning disorders along with a note requesting any assistance
needed for the selection procedure and any additional time required for the application. If the
disability does not permit the use of the online application system, the applicant may request to use
an alternative method.

Please note that it will not be possible to supplement the documents attached to the application
after the deadline for submission.

The School may, at any time during the procedure, even after the beginning of the Programmes,
perform checks on the truthfulness of the declarations and documents submitted and may request
the presentation of the original documents. In the event of false declarations, the School may, at any
time, by motivated decision of the Rector, order the exclusion of candidates from the selection
procedure or the Ph.D. Programme, without prejudice to any criminal liability deriving from the same.

According to Art. 7, par. 4 of the School’s Code of Ethics, should an applicant taking part in the
selection procedure be up to a 4th-degree relative or 2nd-degree relative-in-law of a member of the
Faculty, technical-administrative, or research staff of the School, he/she must give written notice of
their kinship prior to the beginning of the selection procedures.

Art. 4
(Selection Committees and Assessment)
The Selection Committees for admission to the Ph.D. Programmes are appointed by the Rector’s
decree and their members can be found on the School's website.
Each Selection Committee may appoint sub-committees to ensure the efficiency and rapidity of the
selection procedure.
The relevant activities of the Committees may be also carried out remotely, while guaranteeing the
security and traceability of communications, according to current legislation.

The selection will entail an evaluation of the qualifications and the research project submitted and
an in-person or online interview, in Italian or English. During the interview, the applicant's motivation
to participate in the doctoral programme will be assessed, among other things. The positive outcome
of the assessment of the qualifications and the research project is a necessary condition for
admission to the interview.

The list of those admitted to the interview and the interview schedules will be published by the 31st
of May 2024, on the School's website, on the specific web pages indicated in each Ph.D. programme
factsheet attached to this Call. Applicants must be available for the entire day set for the interview.

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In the case of online interviews, it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure the availability of the
required hardware (PC, webcam) and software and a reliable internet connection. At the beginning
of the online interview, applicants must show the identity document that was submitted with their
application for identification purposes.

The criteria for assessing applications are detailed in each Ph.D. Programme factsheet attached to
this Call, of which they represent an integral part.

The minimum score required to be added to the general merit ranking list is 70/100.

All information concerning the selection will be published on the School's website. This publication
will have the value of a final notification for all purposes. No personal communications will be
sent to the individual candidates, except for the communication sent to the successful candidates
admitted to the Programme at the e-mail address provided at the time of application.

Art. 5
(Ph.D. Programme Admission and Enrolment)
The final ranking lists, approved by the Rector’s decree, will be published on the School's website.
In case of an equal ranking position, preference will be given to the younger candidate.
Successful candidates will be admitted to the Ph.D. Programme according to the ranking list order
and up to the number of available positions. According to Ministerial Decree No. 226 of 14 December
2021, the School will be able to enrol successful candidates only upon successful completion of the
accreditation process for the XL Cycle.

Subject to compliance with the reservation of positions under Article 8, par. 2 and 4, of Ministerial
Decree 226/2021, the School reserves the right to assign any positions which become available as
a result of candidates renouncing or withdrawing, to eligible candidates on the ranking list before the
beginning of the Programme or after that date, but no later than the 1st of December, 2024, subject
to the approval of the Ph.D. Programme Faculty Board.

Successful candidates must confirm their acceptance within 7 days from the date of receipt of the
notification, otherwise, they will be excluded, and the position will be assigned to the first eligible
candidate on the ranking list. In the event of renunciation of the position or the scholarship, these
will be re-assigned to the first eligible candidate on the ranking list, subject to compliance with the
specific provisions of agreements with public or private organisations financing the scholarships
conditioned on meeting certain requirements or aimed at specific research topics.

The start date of all Ph.D. Programmes is on the 1st of October 2024.

To enter Italy, students who are citizens of non-EU countries must apply for a visa for study purposes,
issued by the Italian embassies or consulates with jurisdiction over the country of origin. Upon arrival
in Italy, students are required to apply for a residence permit for study purposes within eight (8) days.
More information can be found at: http://www.santannapisa.it/it/internazionale/welcome-and-support

In special and justified cases related to the procedures for obtaining a visa to enter Italy, the arrival
of the students may be postponed, normally no later than 30 days from the official start of the Ph.D.
Programme.

To finalise their enrolment, students must provide the following documents:

- valid identity document;
- (only for those who obtain their degree after the deadline for application) copy of the degree as
specified in Article 3;

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- Regional Tax for the Right to University Study payment receipt (under Art. 18, par. 8, of
Legislative Decree no. 68 of 29 March 2012) the amount of which, for the academic year
2024/2025, is set at € 140.00.
The following individuals are not required to pay the regional tax for the Right to University Study:
✓ Those who have applied for a grant for the 2024/2025 academic year to the Azienda
Regionale per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario (Tuscany Regional Agency for the Right to
University Study). Students who are subsequently not awarded or are only eligible for this
grant ranking list must pay the regional tax after the publication of the final ranking list by the
Tuscany Regional Agency for the Right to University Study;
✓ Students with disabilities, with a recognised disability (Article 3(1) of Law no. 104 of 5
February 1992) or with a disability of 66% or more;
✓ Students with parents who are disability pension holders (Art. 30 of Law No. 118 of 30 March
1971).
For more information on the regional tax for the Right to University Study, please visit:
http://www.dsu.toscana.it

Art. 6
(Ph.D. Scholarships and Other Contributions)
Scholarships are for the duration of the relevant Ph.D. Programmes and confirmed annually upon
admission to the following year by approval from the Advisory Board of the individual Programme.
Ph.D. scholarships are awarded following the ranking order, except for scholarships linked to specific
topics or research projects, which may be awarded to the first eligible candidate(s) identified by the
Selection Committee.
The annual budget for each student comprises a scholarship of € 16,243.00 (€ 18,800.00 for the
Ph.D. Programmes in Biorobotics and Emerging Digital Technologies), including social security
charges payable by the recipient and paid in monthly instalments in arrears, and a housing grant of
€ 2,200/year.
Scholarships cannot be combined with other scholarships for any reason whatsoever, except for
those granted by national or foreign institutions, aimed at supplementing the student's research
activities with visits abroad. Doctoral students who have previously received a Ph.D. scholarship in
Italy, even partially, are not eligible for another Ph.D. scholarship.
Ph.D. students have access to the School's library and laboratories in accordance with their
respective regulations. Students can also use the School’s canteen for the duration of the
Programme (with the benefit of 26 free meals per month, excluding holiday periods as specified in
the academic calendar).
For periods of study and research abroad, authorised by the Faculty Board, the scholarship can be
increased by 50% (max € 5,010 gross withholding tax for 6 months for standard scholarships and
max € 5,798 gross withholding tax for scholarships for the Ph.D. Programmes in Biorobotics and
Emerging Digital Technologies), following the procedures set out in the Training Activities
Regulations.
In addition, under Article 9 of Ministerial Decree 226/2021, the School makes available to all Ph.D.
students an individual budget of no less than 10% of the annual amount of the scholarship (€ 4,873
for three-year Programmes, € 6,498 for four-year Programmes and € 5,640 for Ph.D. Programmes
in Biorobotics and Emerging Digital Technologies) to cover expenses related to their research
activities.
The scholarships and contributions referred to in this Article are subject, for tax and contribution
purposes, to the current regulations on scholarships provided by universities and Regions.
The School insures each student against accident and civil liability for the entire duration of the
Programme and ensures that the safety conditions of the premises, facilities, instruments, and
equipment used in the Ph.D. Programme are observed.
The School also provides insurance coverage for health and ancillary risks during duly authorized
off-campus travel undertaken in accordance with internal regulations.

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 Art. 7
(Ph.D. Student Obligations)
Ph.D. students are required to attend the courses and research activities offered by the School for
the Ph.D. Programmes, to fulfill the obligations provided for in the Training Activities Regulations
(Book III), including the submission of the annual report on the educational and research activities
carried out, and to comply with the policies included in the School’s Statute, internal Regulations,
Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.

Ph.D. students must:

- Complete the training evaluation questionnaires required by the School;
- Complete any periodic reports required by the type of scholarship funding awarded;
- Comply with the requirements of the type of scholarship awarded;
- Timely notify the supervisor and the Ph.D. Office of any requests to use the research budget
and to spend a term abroad.

For health and safety protection, Ph.D. students must also:

- Fill in the Employment Destination form;
- Undergo health checks as part of the health surveillance carried out by the School's Medical
Officer;
- Participate in the planned training and instruction courses.

Failure to comply with these obligations will result in sanctions up to a ban on access to the School
premises.

The Rector
Prof. Sabina Nuti

Person in charge of the competition procedure, processing of personal data, and corruption prevention measures.
Under the provisions of art. 5 of Law 241/90 and ss.mm.ii, the person in charge of the competition procedure referred to in this notice is
Dr. Chiara Magini, Head of the U.O. Ph.D., Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via Santa Cecilia, 3, 56127 Pisa - e-mail:
[email protected]. Under the "European Personal Data Protection Regulation" Reg. UE/679/2016, the Data Controller of the
personal data provided in the context of the competition procedure in question is the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, in the person of the
Rector, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33 Pisa. The Internal Data Processor is designated in the person of Dr Giovanna Bottai, Head of the
Postgraduate Training Area, e-mail: [email protected].
Other subjects authorised to process data are the staff working at the U.O. Ph.D. and the Coordinators of the Ph.D. Programmes and the
relative Commissions and eventual sub-Commissions, through the use of computerised procedures, in any case in the manner and within
the limits necessary to pursue the purposes indicated below. The data, rendered anonymous, will be used for statistical processing.
The provision of personal data (including name, surname, contact details, and all other data provided in the form above) is necessary for
participating in this competition.
The processing of data is aimed at carrying out the following institutional activities:
- Completion of competition proceedings;
- Creation of the career file.
The data acquired will be processed, stored, and communicated in compliance with the relevant European and national legislation (Reg.
679/2016 and Legislative Decree 196/2003) for an indefinite time, as set out in the School's Maximum Storage Schedule and by the
principles of publicity and transparency for the proper functioning of the Public Administration. The involved subjects may, at any time,
assert their rights in front of the School, to access their personal data, to ask for them to be corrected, updated, and deleted if these are
incomplete, erroneous, or collected in breach of the law, the subjects may also to oppose their processing for reasons recognised by law,
as well as to request the deletion, transformation into anonymous form or blocking of data processed in violation of the law, including data
whose storage is not necessary with the purposes for which the data were collected or subsequently processed, by making a request to
the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, U.O. Ph.D., Via Santa Cecilia, 3, Pisa, e-mail: [email protected]. It is the right of the data
subject to lodge a complaint with the personal data protection authority.
For further clarifications and information, please contact the Data Protection Officer of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna at the following e-
mail address: [email protected].
The Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna operates in compliance with the regulations on the prevention of corruption (L.190/2012) by applying
the measures identified in the "Three-year Corruption Prevention Plan" published in the "Transparent Administration" section of the
institutional website at: www.santannapisa.it

Normative references:
Equivalence and recognition of foreign degrees: Law no. 148/2002; Ministerial Decree no. 270/2004, Presidential Decree no. 189/2009
Self-certifications: Presidential Decree No. 445/2000 as amended.

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Assistance, integration, and rights of the disabled: Law No 104/1992
Single text for safety at work: Legislative Decree No 81/2008