Main Supervisor – Biocity Doctoral Programme

Main Supervisor – Biocity Doctoral Programme

(Senior Academic Lead & University Coordination)

• Part-time, research-based appointment
• Hybrid work model
  (on-site in Milan + remote collaboration with partner universities)
• Travel and meeting expenses will be reimbursed upon approval
• An NDA must be signed

This role is designed for a senior academic professional
, serving as the primary scientific supervisor for visiting PhD candidates within the Biocity programme and coordinating inter-university collaboration.

About Institute Itech:

Institute Itech is an early-stage multinational company operating at the intersection of
education
,
advanced technology
, and
urban sustainability
.

The
Biocity Doctoral Programme
is a multi-country, interdisciplinary research initiative involving universities and research institutions across Europe and beyond. Its research clusters (DCs) include:

• Architecture & Urban Ecology
• Environmental Engineering & Materials
• Energy Systems & Circular Resources
• Public Space Behaviour & Social Sustainability
• Governance, Policy & Climate Neutrality
• Digital Twins, AI for Cities, and Predictive Urban Models

Institute Itech will host selected PhD candidates and contribute to the scientific coordination of the network.

About the Role:

We are seeking a
Main Supervisor (MS)
for the Biocity Doctoral Programme who will act as:

• the
  primary scientific supervisor
  for PhD candidates hosted at Institute Itech,
• the
  institutional liaison
  with all partner universities,
• the
  quality controller
  for training, supervision, and progress monitoring,
• the
  core academic reference
  inside Institute Itech for the Biocity research agenda.

This is a senior, high-responsibility academic role requiring strong experience in doctoral supervision, interdisciplinary research, and European collaborative frameworks.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as
  Main Supervisor
  for one or more PhD candidates hosted at Institute Itech
• Develop and oversee
  individual research plans
  , milestones, and progress reviews
• Coordinate with
  co-supervisors
  across partner universities
• Ensure scientific quality and compliance with
  MSCA-style doctoral standards
• Participate in Doctoral Committees
  , mid-term evaluations, and annual reporting
• Guide the candidates in research design, publication strategies, and project development
• Facilitate access to Institute Itech resources, labs, tools, and scientific networks
• Support the alignment between PhD research and the Biocity clusters (DCs)
• Act as the
  liaison
  between Institute Itech and academic institutions in Europe and internationally
• Lead scientific meetings, joint seminars, and inter-university workshops
• Contribute to European research collaboration, grant writing, and consortium development
• Represent Institute Itech in academic events, conferences, and research boards

Requirements:

• A completed
  PhD
  in one of the Biocity DC disciplines (urban studies, environmental engineering, architecture, energy, materials, sustainability, governance, digital twins, etc.)
• Minimum 15 years
  of academic experience, training, or research involvement
• Significant experience in
  doctoral supervision
  and PhD mentoring
• A strong record of
  peer-reviewed publications
  , scientific output, or research excellence
• Solid understanding of
  European research frameworks
  (Horizon Europe, MSCA, Erasmus+, etc.)
• Proven ability to coordinate multi-country, interdisciplinary projects
• Excellent communication skills in English (Italian is a plus)
• Strong academic reputation and credibility within their field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as a
  PI, WP Leader, or Coordinator
  in EU-funded projects
• Previous participation in doctoral networks or structured PhD programmes
• Expertise in cross-disciplinary research and sustainability
• Strong network among European universities and research institutes
• Background in supervising interdisciplinary teams
• Experience in urban innovation, climate research, smart cities, or environmental technologies

Benefits Provided:

• Reimbursement of travel and inter-university collaboration meetings
• Academic leadership role in a flagship international research programme
• Access to Institute Itech's research infrastructure and project ecosystem
• Involvement in high-impact doctoral training and urban sustainability research
• Strategic positioning within the Biocity network and Europe-wide collaborations

How to Apply:

Please send:

• Your CV (with publications list)
• A short letter (max 1 page), in English or Italian, describing:
• Your experience in doctoral supervision
• Relevant publications and academic contributions
• Your vision for supervising PhDs within the Biocity programme

E-mail:

Subject:
WE2025 Job – Main Supervisor Biocity – [Name Surname]

Time Commitment

This is a
part-time academic supervision role
, requiring a
minimum commitment of 4–6 hours per week
, with participation in structured doctoral training activities, reviews, meetings, and inter-university coordination.

We are seeking a
highly experienced academic leader
capable of guiding research excellence and representing Institute Itech within the European scientific landscape.