PhD Program in Mechatronics and Product Innovation Engineering

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PhD Program in Mechatronics and Product Innovation Engineering

The PhD program in “Mechatronics and Product Innovation Engineering” answers to the precise needs to provide a broad education with specialized training applying an interdisciplinary research approach, which is actually strongly required by our country and first of all by local industries, able to prepare highly qualified research experts both for academic and both for industrial working environments. By an academic point of view, the multidisciplinary education offered by the PhD program proposed and sustained by relevant research groups of the DTG Department, will permit to drive the scientific training of students according to the different scientific research fields and with the MA degree courses offered in Vicenza.

The Phd curricula

Training objectives of the PhD program in “Mechatronics and Product Innovation Engineering” are particularly based on automated machines and plants manufacturers needs and, more in general, on the electro-mechanical industry needs. Automated machines and equipments find large employ in a number of industrial sectors, as mechanical, wood, textile, packaging, pharmaceutical, food, ceramics industry and further more. In such working contests high qualified professionals are required with cross sectional skills and competences concerning advanced components design and testing (Materials Mechanics), automated machines design and configuration (Mechatronics), plant layout design and optimization with particular regards with the inbound supply chain integration (Industrial plants and Logistics).

From these considerations, the PhD school program merges into 3 different PhD curricula:

Mechanics of Materials

Contact person: Prof. Franco Bonollo (e-mail)

The PhD Programme in Mechanics of Materials is focused on the design and development of the mechanical components by which an automated machine system is made up. Mechanics of materials competences are essential to an high professional qualification of new graduate students in Mechatronic Engineering and Product Innovation Engineering.

PhD programme committee professors belong to a new scientific and interdisciplinary sector in which Metallurgy and Machine Design competences are integrated. Moreover, the discipline represents the main topic of many international journals: the high number of DTG Department professors who published works in international journals represents a big opportunity for future PhD students, which will be actively involved in these research fields since the beginning of their PhD course.

In relation with the theoretical aspects of the education activities offered, students enrolled in the Mechanics of Material Programme will be engaged in high quality research projects related to develop methodologies, procedures, criteria, significant examples for the industrial introduction of innovative materials and innovative components in machine design. In particular, they will work on studies concerning the physical and chemical behavior of innovative metallic and composite materials, their intermetallic compounds, and alloys, heat-treating and chemical-heat treatments, dislocation theory and phase transformations analysis. In conjunction or in alternative, the theoretical training activity for some students will regards Structural Mechanics computations (deformations, deflections, and internal forces or stresses within structures analysis and testing) and Fracture Mechanics and analysis of fracture surfaces, (threshold stress intensity factor, Paris law, fatigue life, initiation phases).

These competences are of particular interest both in academic and industrial field in order to permit the machine components reliability analysis and testing, when often traditional approaches cannot be sufficient. Moreover, training activities will provide students competences regarding the simulation of metallurgical processes (welding, foundry, steelworks) with particular regards to numerical simulation of welding processes and magnetic levitation casting.

Mechatronics

Contact person: Prof. Paolo Mattavelli (e-mail)

The PhD Programme in Mechatronics couples two different research areas: Industrial Engineering and Information Engineering and is the most cross-disciplinary. This programme is oriented to create conceptual designers of automatic machines. In particular the major programme educational objectives address:

  • the functional design of mechanic and mechatronic systems (kinematics and dynamics of machines, mechanisms and manipulators; machine design optimization models and procedures; modeling and state estimation of flexible-link mechanisms and manipulators);
  • the design of automatic machines, and robots (simulation and prototyping of industrial robotic and mechatronic systems; serial and parallel robotics; robot calibration and performance analysis; cable-driven robots; master-slave robotic systems for haptic teleoperation; rehabilitation robots);
  • the control techniques for mechatronic systems (digital control of electric drives for robots, control of flexible-link mechanisms and manipulators, control systems for internet-based teleoperated tasks, cable and wireless industrial field busses, computational vision applied to autonomous robotics, adaptive control in vehicles);
  • power electronics and power conversion systems (electronic interfaces for renewable-energy sources, micro-controllers and DSP in industrial electronics, soft-switching converter topologies and control;
  • electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic actuators (permanent magnet motors, high-efficiency motors, electric traction motors, sensorless actuators, hydraulic and pneumatic actuators modeling and control).
Industrial plants and Logistics

Contact person: Prof. Alessandro Persona (e-mail)

The PhD Programme in Industral plants and Logistics arises from the recognition that manufacturing companies nowadays need high qualified professionals with cross sectional competences linked with the design and management of the industrial plant, seen by an holistic point of view.

In particular students enrolled in the Logistics Programme will be engaged in high quality research projects related to the modeling and design of complex logistic systems, such as integrated supply chains, distribution networks and flexible and integrated manufacturing systems. Education activities will concern:

  • supply chain operations and modeling
    – logistics strategy
    – distribution network design and optimization
    – product packaging design and testing
    – transport and person/asset info-mobility management
    – industrial plants maintenance
    – reliability analysis of machines/equipments
    – reverse logistics
    These research topics are strategic in nowadays industrial environments, characterized by highly customized products (the ones that can survive in Italy) and time-oriented production systems, which need to respond quickly and efficiently to market demand, variables strongly affected by logistic choices (i.e. the way components, sub-assemblies and products are supplied and delivered, outsourcing decision vs. internalization, service operations and transportation modalities).
Coordinator - teaching committee - Advisory Committee

Coordinator

Prof. Daria Battini Professor Università degli Studi di Padova

Vice-Coordinator

Prof. Giulio Timelli Professor Università degli Studi di Padova

Teaching committee members

Surname Name Email University Department
Accorsi Riccardo riccardo.accorsi2@unibo.it Bologna Dip. Ingegneria Industriale
Antonello Riccardo riccardo.antonello@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Battini Daria daria.battini@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Berti Guido guido.berti@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Bonollo Franco franco.bonollo@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Bortolini Marco marco.bortolini3@unibo.it Bologna Dip. Ingegneria Industriale
Boscariol Paolo paolo.boscariol@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Boschetti Giovanni giovanni.boschetti@unipd.it Padova Dip. Ingegneria Industriale – DII
Caldognetto Tommaso tommaso.caldognetto@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Calzavara Martina martina.calzavara@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Caracciolo Roberto roberto.caracciolo@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Carraro Paolo Andrea paoloandrea.carraro@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Chitarin Giuseppe giuseppe.chitarin@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Concheri Gianmaria gianmaria.concheri@unipd.it Padova Dip. Ingegneria Civile, Edile e Ambientale – ICEA
De Agostinis Massimiliano m.deagostinis@unibo.it Bologna Dip. Ingegneria Industriale
Fabrizi Alberto alberto.fabrizi@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Faccio Maurizio maurizio.faccio@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Ferrari Emilio emilio.ferrari@unibo.it Bologna Dip. Ingegneria Industriale
Ferro Paolo paolo.ferro@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Finco Serena serena.finco@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Longo Giovanni Antonio giovanniantonio.longo@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Macor Alarico alarico.macor@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Magnone Paolo paolo.magnone@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Mancin Simone simone.mancin@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Maragoni Lucio lucio.maragoni@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Mattavelli Paolo paolo.mattavelli@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Michieletto Giulia giulia.michieletto@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Michieletto Stefano stefano.michieletto@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Meneghello Roberto roberto.meneghello@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Mora Cristina cristina.mora@unibo.it Bologna Dip. Ingegneria Industriale
Oboe Roberto roberto.oboe@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Olmi Giorgio giorgio.olmi@unibo.it Bologna Dip. Ingegneria Industriale
Persona Alessandro alessandro.persona@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Pontefisso Alessandro alessandro.pontefisso@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Quaresimin Marino marino.quaresimin@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Reggiani Monica monica.reggiani@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Richiedei Dario dario.richiedei@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Righetti Giulia giulia.righetti@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Savino Matteo matteo.savino@unisannio.it Sannio Dip. Ingegneria (DING)
Timelli Giulio giulio.timelli@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Tinazzi Fabio fabio.tinazzi@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Trevisani Alberto alberto.trevisani@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Zappalorto Michele michele.zappalorto@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Zennaro Ilenia ilenia.zennaro@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Zigliotto Mauro mauro.zigliotto@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali
Zilio Claudio claudio.zilio@unipd.it Padova Dip. Tecnica e Gestione dei sistemi industriali

Advisory Committee

  • Daria Battini (course coordinator)
  • Giulio Timelli (vice-coordinator)
  • Massimiliano Bertoni (PhD student representative)
  • Serena Finco (member of the teaching board, member of the doctorate didactic commission)
  • Antonio Girardi (Fondazione Studi Universitari di Vicenza, FSU, representing the territory)
  • Riccardo Aldrighetti (Manager at EFESO Consulting, as stakeholder in the Industrial Plants and Logistics area)
  • Michele Corradin (Research and Development Manager at Socomec, as stakeholder in the Mechatronics area)
  • Stefano Capuzzi (Quality Manager at FBL Castings, as stakeholder area Mechanics of Materials)

PhD Students

Here you can find a complete list of current PhD students of Mechatronics and Product Innovation Engineering. For each student, the list also includes the Supervisor, the possible Co-supervisor and email address.

Students
Students
PhD students Cycle Supervisors Co-supervisors mail
Marco CASARIN XXXIX Stefano Michieletto Monica Reggiani marco.casarin.4@phd.unipd.it
Matteo DE BONI XXXIX Paolo Andrea Carraro Maragoni Lucio matteo.deboni.1@phd.unipd.it
Alvise GAZZOLA XXXIX Michele Zappalorto Alessandro Pontefisso alvise.gazzola.1@phd.unipd.it
Hossein HAJISADEGHIAN XXXIX Paolo Mattavelli Giovanni Bonanno hossein.hajisadeghian@phd.unipd.it
GianLuca SLAVIERO XXXIX Simone Mancin Franco Traverso gianluca.slaviero@phd.unipd.it
Elisa VARGIU XXXIX Roberto Meneghello Alberto Bedogni elisa.vargiu@phd.unipd.it
Osama ASGHAR XXXVIII Franco Bonollo Alberto Fabrizi osama.asghar@phd.unipd.it
Francesca CATALANO XXXVIII Ilenia Zennaro Alessandro Persona francesca.catalano.2@phd.unipd.it
Emidio GIANSANTE XXXVIII Alberto Fabrizi Giulio Timelli emidio.giansante@phd.unipd.it
Andrea LAURI XXXVIII Davide Biadene Tommaso Caldognetto andrea.lauri@phd.unipd.it
Michele MARTIGNAGO XXXVIII Martina Calzavara Daria Battini michele.martignago@phd.unipd.it
Veronica MILANI XXXVIII Giulio Timelli Franco Bonollo veronica.milani.2@phd.unipd.it
Mattia PERIN XXXVIII Luca Quagliato Guido Berti mattia.perin@phd.unipd.it
Teresa SINICO XXXVIII Giovanni Boschetti Alberto Trevisani teresa.sinico@phd.unipd.it
Michael VANUZZO XXXVIII Monica Reggiani Stefano Michieletto michael.vanuzzo@phd.unipd.it
Lazar STOJANOVIC XXXVIII Paolo Mattavelli lazar.stojanovic@phd.unipd.it
Ahmed Yahia Farag ABDELFATTAH XXXVII Paolo Mattavelli Davide Biadene ahmedyahiafarag.abdelfattah@phd.unipd.it
Giulio ASHTA XXXVII Alessandro Persona Serena Finco giulio.ashta@phd.unipd.it
Massimiliano BERTONI XXXVII Giulia Michieletto Roberto Oboe massimiliano.bertoni@phd.unipd.it
Pietro CUCCAROLLO XXXVII Marino Quaresimin pietro.cuccarollo@phd.unipd.it
Ismaele Diego DE MARTIN XXXVII Fabio Tinazzi isamelediego.demartin@phd.unipd.it
Antonio DE MOLINER XXXVII Roberto Oboe Gian Antonio Susto antonio.demoliner@phd.unipd.it
Giacomo FAVERO XXXVII Simone Mancin Lisa Biasetto giacomo.fevero.1@phd.unipd.it
Ezio Gallo XXXVII Tommaso Caldognetto ezio.gallo@phd.unipd.it
Irene GRANATA XXXVII Maurizio Faccio Giovanni Boschetti irene.granata@phd.unipd.it
Daniele MORETTO XXXVII Dario Richiedei daniele.moretto@phd.unipd.it
Saverio RIGON XXXVII Mauro Zigliotto saverio.rigon@phd.unipd.it
Andrea ZILIO XXXVII Paolo Mattavelli Davide Biadene andrea.zilio.5@phd.unipd.it
Individual training plan

According to the individual training plan approved by the teaching committee on March 27, 2024 the PhD candidates enrolled in the program from Cycle XL will achieve a total of 180 CFU in 3 years of doctoral program subdivided in 15 CFU for attending courses at seminars at the Universitty of Padova, 20 CFU for developing other activities and 145 CFU for research activities.
The following table summarizes the individual training plan schema.

Teaching activity provided by the University of Padova (CFU min) Other activities (CFU min) Research activities
Year 1 15 CFU 20 CFU 145 CFU
Year 2
Year 3 0
Teaching activities provided by University of Padova CFU
a. Specific and unique teaching for the doctoral course 1 CFU each 5 hours of lesson
b. Specific seminar cycles for the doctoral course 1 CFU each 5 hours of lesson
c. Teaching offered by other doctoral courses at the University of Padova 1 CFU each 5 hours of lesson
d. Teaching borrowed from Postgraduate and Master’s Schools 1 CFU each 5 hours of lesson
e. Soft skills courses (included the PhD Training Week) 1 CFU each 5 hours of lesson and 5 CFU for the PhD Training Week
Other activities CFU
f. Teaching at another research institution (including pre and post-conference Doctoral Workshops) 1 CFU each 5 hours of lesson
g. Sharing activities between doctoral students (e.g. mandatory activities for all our doctoral students: Doctoral Networking Day) 2 CFU per event
h. Summer/Winter Schools for PhD students 5 CFU per ogni Summer School
i. Participation in third mission activities for the PhD students (e.g. Annual Video Presentation, 3-minutes thesis competition, Science4 all, Open Days, Scegli con Noi) 3 CFU per evento
l. Research period at a foreign university or research organisation 3 CFU (1 mese), 6 CFU (fino a 3 mesi), 9 CFU (>=4 mesi)
m. Integrative teaching/tutoring activities carried out by PhD students 0 CFU

The course catalogue offered by the Doctoral Course at the Department of Management and Engineering (DTG)
are reported in the Moodle webpage at the following link: https://stem.elearning.unipd.it/course/view.php?id=9107

Course catalogue
Contact information

Contact information

  • For general information on the PhD programmes at the University of Padova and for details on the admission procedure, including grants for foreign students, please visit the Doctoral Degrees – PhD Programmes webpage. 
  • For administrative information, please contact dottorato.dtg@unipd.it