Organization
Starting from the XXXIX cycle, every PhD student is required to follow courses for a total of 30 CFUs, 6 of which must be for soft and complementary skills. As a general rule, students are recommended to accumulate their 30 CFUs during the first two years. It is mandatory for all students to attend: (1) one module of Imaging and microscopy, (2) one module of Spectroscopy, (3) one module of Light-matter interaction, and (4) Science communication (preferably during the first year), which are all organised by the LENS PhD school. All other CFU can be collected from seminars—1 CFU every 3 seminars—or from courses organised by the LENS PhD school or by other PhD schools at UniFI. Attendance to 1 GEP-seminar is mandatory.
According to the definition adopted by the University of Florence, one CFU corresponds to 25 hours of total work, including both frontal lectures and individual study.
By December of the first year, every student shall submit their study plan with the courses chosen for the three years. Each study plan shall undergo the approval of the Teaching Committee, after hearing the student’s Tutor.
At the end of each course, the students shall pass an examination; modalities of the examination will be agreed by the Teaching Committee and by the course teacher(s).
Students from other institutions are welcome to follow LENS classes, but should check with their institutions whether the earned CFU will be recognised.
Courses at LENS in 2025-2026
Tentative plan. Definitive plan will be published on the 5th of November 2025
Scientific writing* (4 CFU), R. Bini, M. Calamai, C. Sias, C. Toninelli
Beginning: to be announced
Microscopy and Imaging (base) (3 CFU), R. Cicchi, I. Costantini, L. Gardini, P. Ricci
Beginning: Spring 2026
Light-matter interaction, ray optics, matrix optics (GARDINI)
Contrast mechanisms: absorption, scattering, fluorescence (GARDINI)
Optical microscopy, magnification, resolution (RICCI)
Wide field, confocal, and non-linear microscopies (CICCHI)
Optical clearing mechanisms and fluorescence staining (COSTANTINI)
Detectors and processing of digital images (RICCI)
Light-matter interaction base (2 CFU), G. Santambrogio
Beginning: Late winter 2026
–Postulates of quantum mechanics. Photoelectric effect and Young's double-slit experiment.
–Qualitative intro to perturbation theory. Application on a two-level system.
–Dynamics on a two-level system and Rabi oscillations.
–Bloch sphere, Rabi, Ramsey, rapid adiabatic passage.
Light-matter interaction advanced (2 CFU), V. Gavryusev, N. Granchi
Beginning: to be announced
Spectroscopy base (2 CFU), F. Cappelli
Beginning: to be announced
Spectroscopy advanced (2 CFU), P. Foggi
Beginning: End of April
Advanced Optics (2+2 CFU), D. Wiersma
Start of the course: Tuesday February 24, 14:30-16:00, Classroom F at the physics department (Polo Scientifico di Sesto Fiorentino).
The course is modular and it is composed of: basic concepts in optics, choice of optical components in physics experiments, lens design, materials for optics and photonics, advanced concepts (random photonics, nano fabrication, smart optical materials, radiative cooling, optical physical unclonable functions, random lasers, advanced filters). The course comprises a hands-on laboratory experience.
It is possible to choose specific modules and thereby follow only the part of the course that is of interest.
Science communication* (4 CFU), G. Santambrogio and C. Sias
Beginning: End of January
Each student will give 3 presentation. The presentations will be of different lengths; one on a topic selected by the student and two on the student's PhD work.
Python for data analysis (3 CFU), G. Mazzamuto and A. Scaglione
*Course valid for “soft and complementary skills”