The expert in energy storage and utilization systems will deal with innovative aspects involving both the preparation/fabrication, characterization, and modeling of materials with desired properties, as well as the modification of existing materials.
The expert will design tunable properties for redox systems using new or existing materials capable of performing targeted and high-value functions, also employing predictive modeling techniques and addressing sustainability aspects, including disposal and recycling.
The expert will be involved in increasing the technology readiness level (TRL) of systems, generally starting from level 4 or 5 and progressing to level 7 or 8 (level 9 corresponds to commercialization).
In all processes, sophisticated instrumentation will be used, whose operation has been an integral part of the degree program.
Both in the public and private sectors, graduates may, over the course of their professional careers, perform managerial and coordination roles.
To carry out the functions described above, the expert in energy storage and utilization systems:
possesses broad and diverse knowledge in the design, preparation/fabrication, and exploitation of materials for various electrochemical applications;
is familiar with characterization techniques for complex systems;
has advanced computational and IT skills, including AI;
has the ability to keep professionally up to date, can organize their time, and plan the achievement of objectives;
is able to relate to the working environment and interact with experts outside their field, typically engineers;
is able to adapt to new work situations and changes in the topics involved;
has economic management skills, particularly related to recycling, disposal, sustainability, and Life Cycle Assessment of batteries, capacitors, and electrochemical devices in general;
is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the company.
The functions described above may be enhanced by further specialization (e.g., second-level Master’s degrees), but they are more than sufficient for immediate employment. The third level of education (PhD) may be used for in-depth study of the topics.
Universities, research institutions, public bodies, and regulatory agencies (e.g., CNR, ARPA, ISPRA, ENEA, etc.);
Industrial and applied research centers;
Companies involved in the development of new materials and processes in the biomedical field, including personalized medicine, in the automotive and transport sectors, and in resource management;
Industries dedicated to the development of new energy resources or low–environmental-impact products.
The sensor technology expert will address innovative aspects involving the preparation/fabrication, characterization, and modeling of materials with desired properties, as well as the modification of existing materials.
The expert will design tunable properties where interaction with the sensing target can be modeled prior to industrial development, also including aspects of sustainability, disposal, and recycling.
The expert will be involved in increasing the technology readiness level of systems, generally starting from level 4 or 5 and progressing to level 7 or 8 (level 9 corresponds to commercialization). The process will involve the use of sophisticated instrumentation, whose operation has been an integral part of the degree program.
Both in the public and private sectors, graduates may perform managerial and coordination roles during their professional careers.
To carry out the functions described above, the sensor technology expert:
possesses broad and diverse knowledge in the design, preparation/fabrication, and exploitation of materials for applications related to chemical sensing;
is familiar with characterization techniques for complex systems;
has advanced computational and IT skills, including AI;
has the ability to keep professionally up to date, organize time, and plan the achievement of objectives;
is able to interact with the working environment and collaborate with experts outside their field, typically engineers;
is able to adapt to new work situations and changes in the topics involved;
has economic management skills, particularly related to recycling, disposal, sustainability, and Life Cycle Assessment of devices;
is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the company.
The functions described above may be enhanced by further specialization (e.g., second-level Master’s degrees), but they are sufficient for immediate employment. A PhD may be pursued for further in-depth study.
Universities, research institutions, public bodies, and regulatory agencies (e.g., CNR, ARPA, ISPRA, ENEA, etc.);
Industrial and applied research centers;
Companies involved in the development of new materials and processes in the biomedical field, including personalized medicine, in the automotive and transport sectors, and in resource management;
Industries dedicated to the development of new energy resources or low–environmental-impact products.
The materials science expert will be able to participate in the phase preceding industrial development, also including aspects of sustainability, disposal, and recycling. They may therefore interact with technical-scientific personnel upstream of the process of creating practical applications—typically synthetic chemists or biotechnologists—or downstream, typically engineers, for example in the automotive and sensor sectors.
The materials science expert will be involved in increasing the technology readiness level of systems, generally starting from level 4 or 5 and progressing to level 7 or 8 (level 9 corresponds to commercialization). The expert will thus occupy a crucial position, which may also involve responsibility in the development of applications of new materials or in the repurposing of existing materials.
To carry out the functions described above, the materials science expert:
possesses broad and diverse knowledge in the design, preparation/fabrication, and exploitation of materials from both micro- and macroscopic perspectives, in both physical and chemical contexts;
is familiar with characterization techniques for complex systems;
has advanced computational and IT skills, including AI;
is able to interact with the working environment and collaborate with experts outside their field, typically engineers, as well as experts in biosystems;
is able to adapt to new work situations and changes in the topics involved;
has economic management skills related to recycling, disposal, sustainability, and Life Cycle Assessment of devices, and can discuss these topics with industrial-level technicians;
is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the company.
Industrial and applied research centers;
Companies involved in the development of new materials and processes in the biomedical field, including personalized medicine, in the automotive and transport sectors, and in resource management;
Industries dedicated to the development of new energy resources or low–environmental-impact products.
In companies, the role of science populariser may involve managerial activities related to quality, patents, recycling and disposal, sustainability, and Life Cycle Assessment evaluation. In these sectors, they may also operate as freelance professionals.
They may also establish or participate in academic spin-offs and contribute to their development as independent entities.
For the functions described above, it may be advisable to acquire additional skills, either in academia (e.g., second-level Master’s degrees) or in the workplace through training and professional development courses.
The science populariser:
possesses broad and diverse knowledge in the design, preparation/fabrication, and exploitation of materials;
is familiar with characterization techniques for complex systems;
has advanced computational and IT skills, including AI;
has the ability to keep professionally up to date, organize time, and plan the achievement of objectives;
is able to interact with the working environment and collaborate with experts outside their field;
is able to adapt to new work situations and changes in the topics involved;
has economic management skills, particularly in Life Cycle Assessment;
is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the company.
To carry out the functions described above, specific technical-scientific knowledge, skills, and abilities are required. Greater specialization and in-depth expertise in one or more professional sectors may be necessary.
Agencies dealing with patent-related matters (patent offices);
Consulting firms in the chemical sector, with particular reference to patent-related activities;
Advanced tertiary sector;
Companies operating as third-party service providers;
Academic spin-offs and start-ups.
Professional profile: Expert in energy storage and utilisation systems
Function in a professional context and competences:
Functions
The expert in energy storage and utilisation systems will work on innovative aspects involving both the preparation/fabrication, characterisation and modelling of materials with desired properties, and the modification of existing materials.
The expert will design tuneable properties for redox systems using new or existing materials capable of performing targeted, high-value functions, drawing on predictive modelling techniques and addressing sustainability considerations, including disposal and recycling.
The expert will be involved in raising the technology readiness level of systems, typically from level 4 or 5 to level 7 or 8 (level 9 being market release).
All these processes involve the use of advanced instrumentation, which is an integral part of the degree programme.
In both the public and private sectors, graduates may, in the course of their professional career, take on managerial and coordinating roles.
Competences
To carry out the functions described above, the expert in energy storage and utilisation systems:
•has broad and varied knowledge in the design, preparation/fabrication and exploitation of materials in a range of electrochemical applications;
•is familiar with characterisation techniques for complex systems;
•has advanced computational and IT skills, including in AI;
•has the ability to keep up to date professionally, to organise their time and to plan the achievement of objectives;
•is able to operate effectively in the workplace and to engage with specialists from outside their field, typically engineers;
•is able to adapt to new working situations and to shifts in the areas in which they are involved;
•has competences in economic management, in particular the recycling, disposal, sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment of batteries, capacitors and electrochemical devices more broadly;
•is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the organisation.
The above functions may be supplemented by further specialisation, e.g. a second-level master's degree, but are more than sufficient for immediate entry into the job market. A PhD programme may be pursued for deeper study of these areas.
Employment opportunities:
-Universities, research institutes, public bodies and regulatory agencies (e.g. CNR, ARPA, ISPRA, ENEA, etc.);
-Industrial and applied research centres;
-Companies working in the development of new materials and processes in the biomedical field, including personalised medicine, in automotive and transport, and in resource management;
-Industries dedicated to the development of new energy resources or new low environmental impact products.
Professional profile: Expert in sensor systems
Function in a professional context and competences:
Functions
The expert in sensor systems will work on innovative aspects involving both the preparation/fabrication, characterisation and modelling of materials with desired properties, and the modification of existing materials.
They will design tuneable properties in which the interaction with the sensing target can be modelled prior to industrial development, also addressing sustainability, disposal and recycling considerations.
They will be involved in raising the technology readiness level of systems, typically from level 4 or 5 to level 7 or 8 (level 9 being market release). All these processes involve the use of advanced instrumentation, which is an integral part of the degree programme.
In both the public and private sectors, graduates may, in the course of their professional career, take on managerial and coordinating roles.
Competences
To carry out the functions described above, the expert in sensor systems:
-has broad and varied knowledge in the design, preparation/fabrication and exploitation of materials in applications related to chemical detection;
-is familiar with characterisation techniques for complex systems;
-has advanced computational and IT skills, including in AI;
-has the ability to keep up to date professionally, to organise their time and to plan the achievement of objectives;
-is able to operate effectively in the workplace and to engage with specialists from outside their field, typically engineers;
-is able to adapt to new working situations and to shifts in the areas in which they are involved;
-has competences in economic management, in particular the recycling, disposal, sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment of devices;
-is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the organisation.
The above functions may be supplemented by further specialisation, e.g. a second-level master's degree, but are more than sufficient for immediate entry into the job market. A PhD programme may be pursued for deeper study of these areas.
Employment opportunities:
-Universities, research institutes, public bodies and regulatory agencies (e.g. CNR, ARPA, ISPRA, ENEA, etc.);
-Industrial and applied research centres;
-Companies working in the development of new materials and processes in the biomedical field, including personalised medicine, in automotive and transport, and in resource management;
-Industries dedicated to the development of new energy resources or new low environmental impact products.
Professional profile: Expert in Materials Science
Function in a professional context and competences:
Functions
The Expert in materials science will be able to participate in the pre-industrial development phase, including aspects of sustainability, disposal and recycling. They will be able to work with technical and scientific professionals across the development chain — from synthesis chemists and biotechnologists to engineers in areas such as automotive and sensor technologies.
They will be involved in raising the technology readiness level of systems, typically from level 4 or 5 to level 7 or 8 (level 9 being market release). They will thus play a central role in the development of new material applications or the repurposing of existing ones, potentially in a leadership capacity.
Competences
To carry out the functions described above, the Expert in Materials Science
-has broad and varied knowledge in the fields of design, preparation/manufacturing and exploitation of materials from both a micro- and macroscopic perspective, in the physical as well as the chemical domain;
-is familiar with characterisation techniques for complex systems;
-has advanced computational and IT skills, including in AI;
-is able to operate effectively in the workplace and to engage with specialists from outside their field, typically engineers, but also experts in bio-systems;
-is able to adapt to new working situations and to shifts in the areas in which they are involved;
-has economic management skills, e.g. in recycling, disposal, sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment of devices, and they are able to discuss these with industry-level technicians;
-is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the organisation.
Employment opportunities:
-Industrial and applied research centres;
-Companies working in the development of new materials and processes in the biomedical field, including personalised medicine, in automotive and transport, and in resource management;
-Industries dedicated to the development of new energy resources or new low environmental impact products.
Professional profile: Science communicator
Function in a professional context and competences:
Functions
In companies, the science communicator may take on management roles covering quality assurance, patent-related matters, recycling and disposal, sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment. They may also work as a self-employed professional in these areas.
They may also establish or participate in academic spin-offs, contributing to their development as independent entities.
To carry out the above functions, acquiring additional qualifications may be advisable, either in an academic setting (e.g. a second-level master's degree) or in the workplace through training and professional development courses.
Competences
The science communicator:
-has broad and varied knowledge in the fields of design, preparation/manufacturing and exploitation of materials;
-is familiar with characterisation techniques for complex systems;
-has advanced computational and IT skills, including in AI;
-has the ability to keep up to date professionally, to organise their time and to plan the achievement of objectives;
-is able to operate effectively in the workplace and to engage with specialists from outside their field;
-is able to adapt to new working situations and to shifts in the areas in which they are involved;
-has economic management skills, in particular Life Cycle Assessment;
-is able to evaluate market analyses and engage with competitors outside the organisation.
Carrying out the functions described above requires specific knowledge and specialist skills in the technical and scientific field. Greater specialisation and in-depth expertise in one or more professional areas may be required.
Employment opportunities:
Agencies dealing with patent-related matters (patent offices):
-Chemical consultancy firms, with particular focus on the patents sector; advanced tertiary sector;
-Companies operating on behalf of third parties;
-Academic spin-offs and start-ups.
It gives access to third cycle studies (PhD Programmes/Specialisation Schools) and second-level professional master's programmes.
