Research lines
The Doctorate course in Marine Sciences, Technology and Management focuses on a wide range of interdisciplinary topics, all aimed at advancing knowledge in the broad field of marine sciences and the management of marine-related projects. The research topics currently being investigated by our PhD students encompass:
- Marine Conservation and Sustainability: Research on marine protected areas, sustainable exploitation of natural resources, and the restoration of ecosystems such as coral reefs and oyster beds. This line of research includes the use of advanced materials, ecological and biotechnological approaches for conservation, and cutting-edge techniques like DNA sequencing for biodiversity monitoring.
- Coral Health and Restoration: Several projects focus on coral resilience, restoration techniques, and the impact of diseases and climate change on coral ecosystems. From exploring preconditioning techniques to enhance coral thermal tolerance to studying coral diseases and coral bleaching mitigation strategies, these projects aim to advance our knowledge with the final aim of safeguarding coral reef ecosystems.
- Marine Geomodelling and Habitat Mapping: The PhD students working on this research line, related to the field of marine geology, use state of the art technologies and techniques to model and characterize the seafloor from geomorphological, ecological and sedimentological perspectives. The product of such research have the potential to aid marine spatial planning and management for several purposes like geo-hazard, climate change, marine protected areas and restoration projects.
- Marine Bioprospecting and Cosmeceutical Development: This line investigates the potential of organisms proper of the marine environment, such as mangroves and algae, for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. PhD students explore the bioactive compounds produced by marine species, aiming to discover sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials and to develop new therapeutic and cosmetic products.
- Sustainable Luxury and Consumer Behavior: Research in this field examines how to integrate sustainability into luxury goods, focusing on consumer perceptions, behavior, and acceptance of eco-friendly products. This includes an exploration of marine polymers for luxury packaging and textiles.
- Human-Animal and Sociocultural Interactions: PhD students involved in ethnographic research investigate the sociocultural dimensions of invasive species management, as well as the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems and wildlife.
- Advanced Materials for Marine Applications: PhD students are developing sustainable materials for applications such as underwater robotics, reef protection, and cosmetics. This includes exploring biodegradable materials and intelligent polymers that can support marine restoration efforts.