PhD Board – XLI Cohort
Advisory Board and External Partners
The Advisory Board brings together representatives from public institutions, research centres, non-governmental organisations, and private-sector partners. It supports the PhD Programme by providing strategic guidance, fostering collaboration opportunities, and strengthening the connection between doctoral training, research, and societal needs.
| Organisation | Representative | Area of Collaboration | Contribution to the PhD Programme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neodata Group Srl | Salvatore Nicotra | Data analytics, digital transformation, public opinion, and political communication | Co-funded a PhD scholarship in the XL Cohort and hosted doctoral candidates for internships and applied research activities. |
| Comunità di Sant’Egidio Sicilia | Emiliano Abramo | Migration, social policies, inclusion, and international cooperation | Co-funded a PhD scholarship in the XL Cohort and hosted doctoral candidates for research activities on migration and social policy issues. |
| Confcommercio Catania | Pietro Agen |
Local economic policies, territorial development, and relations between institutions and the productive sector | Supports dialogue between academic research and the local economic system. Discussions are currently underway regarding the possible co-funding of a PhD scholarship for the XLII Cohort. |
| Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) – Osservatorio Etneo | Mario Mattia |
Environmental risks, public policies, and emergency governance | Contributes to doctoral training through institutional co-supervision arrangements involving PhD candidates from the XL and XLI Cohorts. In addition, INGV has fully funded a PhD scholarship in the XLII Cohort, further strengthening its collaboration with the programme in the areas of environmental risk, public policy, and emergency governance. |
| Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) | Laura Chaqués |
International relations, global governance, and European studies | Provides international scientific collaboration and mobility opportunities. The institute has hosted PhD candidates for visiting research periods. |
| Archivio di Stato di Ragusa | Vincenzo Cassi |
Historical sources and archival research for the social and political sciences | Supports historical and archival research activities by providing access to documentary collections and potential internship opportunities. |
| Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti (COPE) | Manuele Manente | International cooperation, sustainable development, and global policies | Collaborates on research projects and training activities, offering opportunities for doctoral candidates to engage in applied research and third-mission initiatives. The organisation also maintains strong links with the Department through alumni employed within the institution. |
| Save the Children Italia | Silvia Taviani |
Human rights, social policies, childhood studies, and migration | Contributes to seminars and applied research activities focused on social policies and children’s rights, while also providing potential internship opportunities. |