1. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO PHD PROGRAMS
FACULTY OF SCIENCES – SPRING AND AUTUMN DEADLINES
ACADEMIC YEAR 2012 – 2013
Call – Further Information
This document completes the information contained in the Call.
1. PhD objectives and fields of study
The Application procedures aim to evaluate the candidate’s superior preparation, talent, motivation
and academic research ability through the CV, work to date, proposed research/study plan and
interview. The Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS) PhD is a three-year program beginning 1 November
2012.
The PhD program at the SNS includes classroom lessons, seminars and research activities. Thanks to
individualized study/research plans as well as interdisciplinary work, the SNS PhD program broadens
each student’s educational foundations, prepares students for research and leads to the obtainment
of a particularly high level of academic specialization.
SNS PhD students must attend to their studies according to plans approved annually by the Faculty
Council of the Faculty of Sciences. Periods of study and research in other reputable Italian and
foreign Universities or Institutions for students may be authorized and financed by the SNS. Research
activity is directed to the preparation of a dissertation which demonstrates the results of original and
academically relevant work. At the end of the program, the results illustrated in the dissertation
must be defended in front of an international Committee of specialists.
The successful candidate for the position in Condensed Matter Physics in partnership with the CNR
will work in particular on the “Investigation of heat transport effects in hybrid superconducting
nanodevices” as explained in detail in Attachment B.
One of the other positions in Condensed Matter Physics will work in particular on the “Investigation
of exciton condensates in electron bilayers in the quantum Hall regime” (European Commission–
INDEX Project, “Indirect Excitons: Fundamental Physics and Applications”) as explained in detail in
Attachment C.
The perfezionamento diploma of the SNS is for all purposes equivalent to the research doctorate
(PhD) diploma issued by Italian universities.
2. Admission requirements
Candidates of any nationality are invited to apply. See the Call for general Admission Requirements.
The two positions in Condensed Matter Physics described in point 1 above are earmarked for Early
Stage Researchers, defined by the European Union as researchers who have worked for fewer than
four years in scientific research after completion of their MS/MSc degree. In addition to the
requirements listed on the Call, these candidates must also fulfill the following requirements:
a) their MS/MSc must be in one of the following: Physics (Italian degree area LM-17), Materials

2. Science and Engineering (Italian degree area LM-53) or equivalent if degree completed outside
Italy
b) they cannot have lived or worked in Italy for more than twelve months over the last three years
c) they cannot have completed a research doctorate, PhD or equivalent
d) they must speak/write fluent English
3. Application deadline and procedures
In addition to the information outlined on the Call, candidates in the Spring session who are not
evaluated positively will be re-evaluated in the Autumn session. These candidates may produce new
and further documentation concerning academic work and research by 13 September.
4. Evaluation of the application
The Admissions Committee will assess candidates on a 10-point scale considering candidates’ work to
date and proposed research/study plan. This plan will also be considered in light of its
correspondence with the research and teaching activities of the SNS. The teaching activities of the
Faculty of Sciences may be found here: http://www.sns.it/didattica/scienze/ ; information about
research groups and laboratories may be found here: http://www.sns.it/it/ricerca/scienze/ .
Candidates who obtain at least 7/10 will be considered as suitable and will be invited to the exam
session(s). Exams may be taken in Italian or English. Exams take place at the SNS, except as indicated
below, as follows
• Spring session: oral examination only, beginning 12 April
• Autumn session: written and oral exams for Mathematics and Neurobiology, oral exams only
for the other areas. Written exams will be held Friday 21 September. Each Admissions
Committee establishes the length of the written exams up to a maximum limit of five hours.
Oral exams will begin Friday 28 September.
The SNS reserves the right to request that the interview take place by teleconference in a place and
using methods which will be decided upon as necessary, in consideration of the place of origin of the
application.
Documented travel expenses will be reimbursed to candidates who are interviewed, even in the case
of a teleconference (Attachment A, point a.5).
The Committee will rate each candidate’s exams on a ten-point scale. Candidates must obtain at
least 7/10 to pass an exam. Candidates with a final score of at least 7/10 will be considered as
acceptable, and ranked according to their final comprehensive scores (evaluation of the application
materials, written and oral exams).
At the end of each session, the Director of the SNS approves the final ranking of the candidates
recommended by the Committee and assigns the positions available to the successful candidates.
5. PhD students’ rights and responsibilities. The scholarship funds
The status of the SNS PhD student is subject to the SNS Statute and Academic and Institutional
Regulations. PhD students may not pursue any activity which interferes with their research and
studies at the SNS.
Successful candidates who are citizens of non-European Union nations may request the
reimbursement of travel expenses to begin the PhD program, up to a maximum of €1,000.00, with
the exception of the candidates for the two positions in Condensed Matter Physics indicated in
points 1 and 2 above.

3. Successful candidates have the right to a scholarship, decided annually, and which for 2012-2013 is
€13,400.00/year, as well as free board in the SNS dining hall except when closed for academic
holidays. The scholarship is subject to Italian fiscal law and is paid out in 12 identical end-of-month
payments; payment is in all events subject to on-going satisfactory work and research by the student,
in particular to positive results in the exams at the end of each academic year.
The successful candidates for the two positions in Condensed Matter Physics indicated in points 1
and 2 above will sign a contract for regular, on-going freelance work in the place of the annual
scholarship. Further information can be found at points 6.7 and 6.8 of Attachment A.
6. Use of personal data and administrative head of procedure
All candidate and PhD student data will be used in accordance with Italian law (no. 196 - 30 June
2003). The Head of Student Services of the SNS, Mario Landucci (tel. +39 050 509237, email:
m.landucci@sns.it), is also administratively responsible for this Call.
7. Attachments and additional information
The following are considered integral parts of this Call for Application:
1. Call
2. Call- Further Information
3. Attachment A – Regulations and Provisions
4. Attachment B - PhD in Condensed Matter Physics in partnership with the CNR
5. Attachment C - PhD in Condensed Matter Physics – INDEX Project
6. Attachment D – Application Form.
For any matter not explicitly mentioned in this Call for Application, all interested parties are referred
to the Statute and the Academic and Institutional Regulations of the SNS (in Italian).
For further information, please contact the Head of the admissions procedure, or the staff of Student
Services:
concorso.ammissione@sns.it
Silvia Carresi, +39 050.509663,
Silvia Quaglieri, +39 050.509847
Ambra Vettori, +39050.509026