The Course

The International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), the International Center for Genetic Engineering Biotechnology (ICGEB), the University of Trieste and the University of Udine offer a new Joint PhD Program in Molecular Biology (JuMBO).

The main mission of JuMBO is to train enthusiastic young scientists from developed and developing countries to use advanced molecular tools with a deeper understanding of their scientific and technical opportunities and limitations. Students who complete this PhD program will have a solid background in the various aspects of Molecular Biology and related methodology, including bioinformatics and structural biology, to efficiently exploit new functionalities for scientific and technical research purposes. Students will benefit from receiving their training in Molecular Biology in the active and exciting research environment of the four prestigious institutions.

In addition, PhD students will benefit from established collaborations of the Institutions involved in the program, and in particular ongoing exchanges with the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and the German Research School for Simulation Sciences in Jülich (Germany).

Projects within the PhD Course Program take advantage of tools in molecular and structural biology to study the mechanisms of differentiation and cell homeostasis and their dys-regulation in cancer, viral infection and neurodegenerative diseases. A large collection of organisms is studied ranging from Homo sapiens to plants.

Students are continuously in touch with cutting-edge research by attending classes, seminars and workshops throughout the year. The average teacher-student ratio is about 1 to 3.

Main research lines are:

  • Molecular Biology of Cells
  • Developmental Biology
  • Plant biology
  • Structural Biology of Proteins and Nucleic Acids
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Molecular Cardiology
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration
  • Molecular Virology
  • RNA therapeutics
  • Drug Discovery

Target Audience

JuMBO is conceived for young and dynamic students who are interested in becoming professionals in molecular biology, able to apply current and emergent technology to both research and industry, and to play their part in the development of new technology throughout their careers. The ideal student for this program has a strong interest in molecular biological problems driven by scientific research. With their legacy of promoting scientific excellence around the world, the four research centers involved in the program will encourage, by providing financial support to selected applicants, the enrollment of students from developing countries.

COORDINATOR:Giuseppe Legname