Thesis
- Details
The thesis work requires 75 hours (three CFU) of activity in a university laboratory, another public or private structure, or abroad within the Erasmus or another international mobility program in which the university participates. The activity must be carried out under the responsibility of a supervisor, appointed by the Degree Program and chosen from its faculty. In the case of external activities, the supervisor from the Degree Program will work alongside the one appointed by the host structure. The student agrees with the supervisor on the content of the work and the laboratory where it will be carried out. The thesis is generally experimental in nature but does not necessarily need to be of particular originality, and it can be written in English.
The student must request authorization to carry out the thesis work from the President of the Degree Program with a formal request. The forms are available online on the website www.dcbb.unipg.it by clicking on the "Didattica" and "Laurea triennale in Biotecnologie" links. If not regulated by a specific agreement, the experimental work done by the student to prepare the thesis is considered educational activity, and the costs are borne by the host structure, which holds the intellectual property of the knowledge and results.
At the end of the thesis work, the student prepares a paper, typically 50-70 pages in length, which must be written in relation to the chosen topic and the type of work carried out. It should generally include an introduction, a description of the specific objectives, a detailed description of the methods used to achieve the objectives, and a thorough analysis of the literature. The student may consult previous thesis works as examples, available at the Degree Program’s teaching office.
To be admitted to the final exam, the student must have acquired all the credits required by the study plan for activities other than the final exam. The final exam for obtaining the degree is public and consists of a presentation of the thesis work to a special committee, using computer, audiovisual, multimedia, or other types of support. The degree examination committee consists of a minimum of seven and a maximum of eleven members, selected by the President of the Degree Program from the university’s faculty and researchers and appointed by a specific decree from the Rector.
Teaching Organization
- Details
The Biotechnology program lasts for 3 years, with a common curriculum for the first two years, and a third year in which students can choose one of five specialized tracks that guide them toward specific areas within Biotechnology: Agricultural and Environmental, Pharmaceutical, Medical, Molecular and Industrial, and Veterinary.
To earn the degree, students must acquire 180 ECTS credits (CFU); the average workload per academic year is 60 ECTS credits, with each ECTS corresponding to 25 hours of total student commitment.
Each credit, depending on the type of course, entails:
7 hours of classroom lectures (including one hour typically dedicated to review) and eighteen hours of individual study;
12 hours of laboratory work and thirteen hours of individual study;
25 hours of internship activity, which may also be focused on preparing the final thesis.
The curriculum is organized into semesters.
To accommodate the number of students, two parallel sections are offered in which teaching activities are divided. Classes for the 2023/2024 academic year began on September 28 and follow a schedule published on the program’s website.
The acquisition of ECTS credits for coursework requires passing an exam graded on a thirty-point scale or passing an assessment test.
The classrooms are equipped with computer technology to facilitate teaching activities.
Mentoring
- Details
Mentoring: Faculty Tutors
The Degree Program also includes the role of Faculty Tutors who offer support, further explanations, and clarification of various educational activities on specific days and times. Currently, the faculty tutors for the Degree Program are:
Prof.ssa L. Corte; Prof.ssa K. Fettucciari; Prof.ssa L. Latterini; Prof.ssa A. Fagotti; Prof.ssa R. Filippucci; Prof.ssa H. Lancioni; Prof.ssa S. Buratta; Prof.ssa L. Urbanelli; Prof.ssa C. Clementi; Prof.ssa M. Rebora.
Tutoring activities are also carried out by individual faculty members who are available for clarifications and explanations. They are available by appointment and may assist students with career orientation or post-graduate study pathways.
Student Tutors
Each academic year, the Degree Program has the opportunity to select student tutors through a public call for applications, aimed at capable and deserving students, made available by the University of Perugia. This call is open to master's or doctoral students. The selection process is carried out by a committee of faculty members who choose students based on merit and their alignment with the core activities of the degree program they are applying to. These student tutors are then assigned to faculty members who request their help for various teaching needs, including orientation, monitoring, and technical support (introduction and familiarization with the technological environment, in-progress technical assistance).
Online Course on Laboratory Prevention and Safety
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According to Legislative Decree no. 81/2008, students who attend laboratories of any kind for study and research purposes are required to have appropriate training regarding the risks they are exposed to. For this reason, first-year Biotechnology students must complete a mandatory course on Prevention and Safety in the Laboratory in e-learning mode through the Unistudium platform of the University of Perugia. Students must access the site www.unistudium.unipg.it using their university credentials. In the "Home" box at the top left, they should select:
· E-learning d’Ateneo: Courses, Activities, and Projects
· Prevention and safety in the workplace
· Course: SPP09CLCBBSFMMSSCBSPP_09-CORSO D.LGS. n.81/2008STUDENTI
Students are required to follow all video lessons, after which they may register for the final test, which will be held at 9:30 AM on one of the following dates:
· Tuesday, January 14, 2025 (registration deadline: Monday, January 13, 2025, by 09:00, maximum 200 registrations)
· Wednesday, January 15, 2025 (registration deadline: Tuesday, January 14, 2025, by 09:00, maximum 200 registrations)
· Thursday, January 16, 2025 (registration deadline: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, by 09:00, maximum 200 registrations)
CERTIFICATE: Students who pass the course will find the Certificate of Completion for training in workplace prevention and safety in their reserved area on the university website (accessible with their university credentials - https://www.areariservata.unipg.it/AreaRiservata/) under the Training section. Please do not send this certificate to Mr. Giovanni Chiappavento, as he is the one issuing it.
Students with prior certifications related to workplace prevention and safety training obtained before university enrollment: These students should contact Mr. Giovanni Chiappavento from the Office of Workplace Safety (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; phone: 075/5855814), who, depending on the type of certificate, may advise them to take the course SPP09SPE SPP_09 D.LGS. no.81/2008-SPECIFIC TRAINING (only for those explicitly authorized by the Prevention and Protection Service). Mr. Chiappavento will refer students to the e-learning contact persons from the Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology, Dr. Michela Urciuoli / Mr. Giovanni Sabatini (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), who will enroll them on the Unistudium platform and provide all necessary instructions.
Students must follow all video lessons, after which they may register for the final test on the dates mentioned above, which are:
· Tuesday, January 14, 2025 (registration deadline: Monday, January 13, 2025, by 09:00, maximum 200 registrations)
· Wednesday, January 15, 2025 (registration deadline: Tuesday, January 14, 2025, by 09:00, maximum 200 registrations)
· Thursday, January 16, 2025 (registration deadline: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, by 09:00, maximum 200 registrations)
Before the exam, registered students will receive an email with an invitation to join a video meeting on the TEAMS platform, where they will need to verify their identity with a valid photo ID.
CERTIFICATE: Students who pass will find the Certificate of Completion for workplace prevention and safety training in their reserved area on the university website (accessible with university credentials - https://www.areariservata.unipg.it/AreaRiservata/) under the Training section. Please do not send this certificate to Mr. Giovanni Chiappavento, as he is the one issuing it.
Learning objectives
- Details
The specific learning objectives of the course are essentially aimed at providing students with a methodological foundation based on high-quality cultural content, while also considering the various employment areas of a biotechnologist and the requirements of the labor market for training in Biotechnology.
In particular, the specific learning objectives are defined with regard to the cultural, scientific, and professional profile of the Biotechnology graduate. The learning areas (chemical and biological disciplines, as well as professional skills) equip graduates to perform roles suitable for a first-level degree in industries such as industrial, agri-food, environmental, health, and pharmaceutical fields; as well as in research, scientific information, and communication sectors. Graduates can also work with National Institutions (e.g., CNR, ENEA, etc.), National and Regional Agencies (e.g., ARPA), National and Regional Technology Parks (e.g., Parco 3A Umbria); public and private analysis laboratories, and agro-food safety and surveillance agencies (e.g., EFSA-Parma).
The educational program is designed to offer a multidisciplinary foundational education that enables students to continue on to various biotechnology-focused master's degrees, while also preparing them for a professional role with a first-level degree.
The study pathway is also structured to provide students with a practical introduction to the workplace through extensive hours in teaching laboratories and through practical, hands-on internships. These internships, along with thesis work, can be carried out within the University’s laboratories, at Italian companies and affiliated laboratories, or at European public and private research institutions and universities within the framework of international agreements.
The degree allows admission to the qualifying exams for registration in Section B of the National Register of Biologists (Junior Biologist) and Section B of the National Register of Agronomists (Junior Agronomist).
It prepares graduates for roles such as agronomic technician, biochemical laboratory technician, food products technician, and veterinary laboratory technician.