Dear all,
a call for applicants for the First International Doctoral 
Programme in Urban Studies at the Gran Sasso Science 
Institute (GSSI), Italy.
Best
Chiara

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International Doctoral Programme in Urban Studies


The Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) is a newly founded 
international doctoral school and centre for research and 
higher education promoted by the long-established National 
Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN). The GSSI has been 
established to create a new interdisciplinary centre of 
scientific excellence in L’Aquila, taking advantage of the 
highly specialized structures already present in the area, 
such as the Gran Sasso National Laboratories. In the 
academic year 2013-2014 the Gran Sasso Science Institute 
will begin its scientific activity and will offer doctoral 
programmes – and conduct research – in the areas of 
Physics, Mathematics, Computer Sciences and Social 
Sciences. The Doctoral degrees will be issued jointly with 
SISSA (Trieste), IMT (Lucca) and Scuola Superiore 
Sant'Anna (Pisa) respectively

GENERAL PRESENTATION

The International Doctoral Programme in Urban Studies at 
the GSSI focuses on the interdisciplinary analysis of 
long-term structural changes in European cities. The 
planned learning path intends to build sound and broad 
theoretical and methodological knowledge. Yet the doctoral 
programme in ‘Urban Studies’ at the GSSI is also 
policy-oriented, with a strong emphasis on empirical 
inquiry. Students will be trained to conduct high-level 
applied research and to be involved in the policy-making 
process and in the preparation of engaged policy reports. 
The attainment of the PhD in Urban Studies requires study 
and research for three years, and committed and regular 
attendance is mandatory. The Doctoral Degree will be 
issued jointly by the GSSI and the Scuola Superiore 
Sant'Anna of Pisa, with the course of study being 
conducted and completed at the GSSI’s premises in L’Aquila 
(Italy)
Learning path
The teaching activity will consist of master classes and 
short courses on methodological and theoretical issues 
relevant to the understanding of cities’ development 
trajectories, and it will be focused on building truly 
interdisciplinary knowledge. Training courses in various 
fields, imparted to the whole class or tailored to the 
needs of specific groups of students, will deliver the 
skills necessary to use appropriate research tools. As an 
important step in the learning process, field studies will 
be also conducted jointly or individually. According to 
what students require to develop their own research 
projects, they will be encouraged to undertake research at 
other universities and research centres. Developing a 
sound epistemological basis on which to conduct research 
and policy analysis is one of the aims that characterizes 
learning at the GSSI.
Eligible students
Applications are invited from candidates who have 
completed and obtained a degree equivalent to at least 
four years of university studies, without regard to 
nationality, age, gender or religion. A good knowledge of 
English is a strict requirement.
Grants
Ten places are available on the PhD programme in Urban 
Studies for the academic year 2013-14. The gross amount of 
a single grant is 16,159.91 euros/year. All PhD students 
will also be offered free accommodation in L’Aquila. Meal 
expenses will be partly covered with luncheon vouchers, 
and other recreational and cultural services will also be 
offered.
Application
Applicants must submit the online application form with 
the required documents attached by 6:00 pm (Italian time) 
on 15 July 2013. Online application form downloadable at: 
www.gssi.infn.it

Contacts
For further information on the GSSI’s International 
Doctoral Programme in Urban Studies, please visit the 
following website: www.gssi.infn.it or contact the GSSI 
at: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]

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Chiara Certomà

Post-Doc Research Fellow
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Piazza Martiri della Liberta' 33, 56127, Pisa, Italia
http://cdg-lab.dirpolis.sssup.it/en/staff/academic/chiara-certoma/

Visiting Research Fellow
University of Ghent- Dept. of Architecture and Urban 
Planning
Jozef Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Gent, België