Ph.D. Program

The taught part consists of three categories:

• Immigration modules on each of the three pillars to provide foundational knowledge.

• Core modules on selected topics to provide students with the necessary background to start their research work.

• Advanced modules on cross-cutting topics in the area of interacting heterogeneous distributed systems.

Our teaching offer aims to equip students with necessary background and knowledge to take up their learning paths towards the successful defence of their Ph.D. thesis. Specifically, immigration modules are woven together with a twofold aim: to present preparatory material for subsequent modules, and to introduce relevant research challenges. Modules are given by top-level international scientists (also from other institutions) and are chosen to best fit with our research vision. 

Students must pass all immigration modules and all the chosen core modules in order to be awarded the ECTS credits necessary for their progression to the 2nd year. 

Apart from the modules offered at GSSI, students can attend courses that fit with the topic of their Ph.D. research also at summer schools or at other national or international institutions. Participation to such courses must be authorised by the coordinator of the Ph.D. program and students' advisors. After having attended an external course, a student should:

• submit to the coordinator of the Ph.D. program a short written report describing the topics and the presentations as well as the areas for future research suggested by the lecturers they found most interesting;

• deliver a 20-minute talk to students and faculty at the GSSI describing the content of the report.

The official academic roles (besides students😉) relevant for the Ph.D. program are

• lecturers deliver courses and assess students' progress in the taught part of the modules

• advisors ho mentor students in their research path

• coordinator of the Ph.D. program who supervises and coordinate the academic activities

• academic board deliberate on various academic matters as per our regulations.

The following two roles have been designed to establish a friendly and thriving scientific community: 

• tutors provide a point of contact for general academic support and advice. All students have a tutor nominated by the coordinator who chooses them among the CS faculty. The tutor of 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-year students is their internal advisor.

Tutors of 1st-year students should arrange monthly meetings with their tutees. These meetings are meant to provide guidance, advise, and support related to the academic activities of the first year. Students are welcome to ask their tutor for private meetings if they need to discuss specific matters.

Tutors are not permitted to reveal any confidential matters without the consent of their tutees.

• buddies are senior students volunteering to act as point of contact for practical matters (e.g., to introduce new students to the cultural life in L'Aquila, or give advice on social life, etc.).

Students are (the most important) part of our community and they are welcome to suggest activities that could strengthen the academic and social relationship of the group.