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PhDnet - "Literary and Cultural Studies"

PHDNET

The PhD program in Transcultural Humanities is affiliated with the European PhDnet “Literary and Cultural Studies”, founded in 2008 by Prof. Angela Locatelli as a partner for the University of Bergamo, which offers a three-year doctoral program of high academic qualification, characterized by a broad international orientation. 

The PhDnet is based at the International Graduate Center for the Study of Culture (GCSC) at Justus Liebig University (JLU) in Giessen, and its activities are carried out through an international network of third-level education involving, in addition to JLU and the University of Bergamo, the University of Helsinki, the Catholic University of Lisbon, Stockholm University, the University of Graz, and the University of Warwick.

PhDnet doctoral students pursue their doctoral studies at their home academic institution, at JLU in scientific and educational collaboration with the five partner institutions. Doctoral research projects are supervised by two professors (primary project supervisors) through specific co-supervision agreements, which allow students to obtain a joint binational degree.

Joint events (symposia, conferences, masterclasses, keynote lectures) implement the dense network structures provided for by PhDnet. Therefore, PhDnet offers a range of courses designed specifically to meet the needs of international doctoral students. This study program guarantees the highest academic quality of the doctorate, limiting the time required to obtain the degree to three years.

Through its activities, PhDnet:

  • promotes joint supervision of doctoral theses within an international network and awards binational degrees through co-supervision agreements.
  • It offers a high-profile international third-level training program, developed in collaboration with participating institutions and designed to meet the specific needs of international doctoral students.
  • It promotes the integration of doctoral students into national and international academic communities and facilitates their entry into the world of national and international research.
  • It introduces doctoral students to cutting-edge theories, methodologies, approaches, and concepts in the field of literary and cultural studies.
  • Through constant dialogue with the network's faculty, it guarantees the high scientific quality of doctoral theses.
  • It encourages independent research from the earliest stages, involving doctoral students in publishing projects and as speakers at national and international conferences, workshops, and masterclasses.
  • It offers the opportunity to acquire soft skills and specific competencies thanks to the activities of the GCSC Teaching Center and the GGK/GCSC Career Service in Giessen, centers for systematic and ongoing training in academic teaching and the acquisition of practical and professional skills.
Activities

PhDnet activities are supported by a specific fund from the University of Bergamo's School of Advanced Doctoral Studies and are varied, as described below.

·      Induction Week

This is the first activity of each PhDnet cycle, lasts three days, and takes place in Giessen. The aim of the initiative is for the network's professors to meet the new candidates, who have been recommended by representatives from the consortium's member institutions, and discuss the research projects they have presented. 

·      European doctoral symposia on “Literary and Cultural Studies”

These international symposia are held twice a year, alternating between Giessen, the Finnish Graduate School, and the Universities of Stockholm, Bergamo, Lisbon, Graz, and Warwick. At these symposia, doctoral students present and discuss chapters of their doctoral theses and the progress of their research projects, receiving feedback from all PhDNet faculty members and colleagues in related research areas.

·      International conferences 

During the PhDNet cycles, international conferences are organized at some of the partner institutions. The themes of these conferences are based on the research profiles of the doctoral students.

·      Workshops and Master Classes

In order to promote the integration of doctoral students in the seven institutions involved, candidates who carry out part of their research at one of the universities in the network are invited to hold lectures, master classes, or workshops. These events touch on topics covered by doctoral students in their research projects. 

·      Junior research groups

These research groups are related to the doctoral students' projects and provide a platform for international and interdisciplinary scientific discussion. 

·      Additional PhDnet activities 

The PhDnet calendar also includes scientific activities such as summer schools, academic writing seminars, and other networking events, for example with PhDnet alumni. 

Activities Program (2026-2028)

2026

January 13-16 – Induction Week (Giessen)

May – 1st Doctoral Symposium (Graz)

July – Summer School (Lisbon)

October – 2nd Doctoral Symposium (Warwick)

2027

February – 3rd Doctoral Symposium (Bergamo)

May – 4th Doctoral Symposium (Stockholm)

July – Summer School (Lisbon)

October – International Conference (Helsinki)

2028

February – 5th Doctoral Symposium (Lisbon)

May – 6th Doctoral Symposium (Helsinki)

July – Summer School (Lisbon)

September – International Conference (Bergamo)

October – Final International Conference (Giessen)

Alumni
Phdnet profili

After obtaining their degrees, PhDnet graduates embark on diverse career paths: a considerable number remain in the field of research and teaching (53%), while 15% work in academic/scientific management. Since 2010, approximately 50 candidates have obtained their degrees and successfully launched careers in various sectors. 

Unibg doctoral students involved in the activities of the sixth cycle of PhDnet (2026-2028)

  • Alice Faiella

Doctoral students from previous cycles of the European PhDnet in Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Bergamo and entering into joint supervision

First Cycle (2008–2010)

  • Vincenzo Martella, supervised by Elena Agazzi, developed a research project in German Studies, dedicated to Adorno's critical thinking in relation to the tradition of German Kulturkritik. His thesis, defended in 2012, was one of the first contributions from Bergamo to the network.
  • Eleonora Natalia Ravizza, supervised by Angela Locatelli, focused her studies on contemporary Caribbean literature in English, exploring the themes of exile and return. She also defended her thesis in 2012.
  • Anna Rettberg (Gießen), with Alessandra Marzola (Bergamo) as her second supervisor, conducted research on national identity in contemporary English fiction, defending her thesis in 2012.

II Cycle (2011–2013)

  • Beatrice Seligardi, under the supervision of Alessandra Marzola, analyzed British university fiction from a realistic and reflective perspective, defending her thesis in 2014.
  • Polina Shvanyukova, supervised by Marco Sirtori, studied migrant literature in Italy, investigating hybrid forms of representation of Italianness. She defended her thesis in 2014.

III Cycle (2014–2016)

  • Emanuel Stelzer, supervised by Angela Locatelli, devoted his research to the role of portraiture in early 17th-century English theater, defending his thesis in 2017.

IV Cycle (2017–2019)

  • Silvia Casazza (Gießen, affiliated), supervised by Raul Calzoni, studied the memorial fiction of W.G. Sebald, using a comparative approach. Thesis in progress.

V Cycle (2020–2022)

  • Matteo Gallo Stampino, supervised by Elena Agazzi, conducted comparative research on literature and ecology in Germany and Scandinavia. He defended his thesis in 2023.
  • Stefano Rozzoni, supervised by Flaminia Nicorra, analyzed English Georgian poetry from an ecocritical perspective, defending his thesis in 2022.
  • Lucia Toman (Gießen), co-supervised by Raul Calzoni and Angela Locatelli, worked on narrative unreliability in contemporary fiction. The thesis is still in progress or suspended.

VI Cycle (2023–2025)

  • Helena Como, under the supervision of Raul Calzoni, worked on Cassandra and Medea in Christa Wolf's production, investigating processes of translation and rewriting of myth. She has submitted her thesis and is awaiting discussion as part of the joint supervision with Giessen.
  • Luca Siniscalco, under the guidance of Elena Agazzi, has developed a project on the sacred in the post-secular age, analyzing Gadamer, Nitsch, and Kiefer. He has submitted his thesis and is awaiting joint discussion in Gießen.