MDMC – Master in Data Management and Curation

MDMC program is designed to provide the participant with both the theoretical foundation and the practical, hands-on skills essential for managing the entire research data lifecycle effectively and responsibly.

Upon successful completion of the Master in Data Management and Curation, the participants will be able to:

• Apply FAIR principles and Open Science practices to support transparent, reproducible, and reusable research
• Design and implement FAIR-by-design data workflows across the research data lifecycle
• Develop, implement, and manage Data Management Plans (DMPs) in line with international and funder requirements
• Create, manage, and optimize metadata to enhance data discoverability and interoperability
• Use advanced tools, standards, and technologies for effective research data management
• Curate, preserve, and ensure long-term accessibility of research data in trusted repositories
• Navigate legal, ethical, and regulatory aspects related to research data and digital infrastructures

The Master in Data Management and Curation (MDMC) is taught entirely in English and lasts approximately 10 months.

• Start of classes: 22 September 2026
• Internship period: 6 months
• Final thesis defense: end of June 2027

The program includes 1,500 hours of training activities, corresponding to 60 ECTS credits, structured as follows:

• 250 hours of coursework (10 ECTS)
  • approximately 240 hours of in-person lectures in Trieste
  • approximately 10 hours of remote activities during the internship
    Lectures take place from mid-September to December 2026 at Area Science Park and SISSA, with approximately 30 hours of teaching per week over eight weeks.
• Approximately 500 hours of laboratory internship (20 ECTS)
  The 6-month internship corresponds to approximately 124 working days, for a total of about 496 hours.
• Approximately 125 hours for the preparation of a project work (thesis) (5 ECTS)
• Approximately 625 hours of individual study (25 ECTS)

Admission to the final examination requires:

• Attendance of at least 70% of total teaching hours, and
• A positive evaluation from the internship supervisor.

The postgraduate advanced training program Master in Data Management and Curation (MDMC) stands out as a program of excellence, positioned at the intersection of cutting-edge scientific research and practical application.

Its distinctive strength lies in its dedicated focus on FAIR principles and Open Science practices, which are increasingly shaping and redefining the future of research.

• A unique scientific ecosystem
  Through the strategic partnership between Area Science Park and SISSA, and within the rich and dynamic research and innovation ecosystem of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, students will train in a vibrant and highly stimulating scientific environment.
• The FAIR-by-design approach
  A central element of the program is the hands-on exploration of the FAIR-by-design methodology. Unlike many comparable training programs, MDMC emphasizes the practical implementation of these principles to address real-world challenges in research data management.
• Creativity and adaptability
  Applying FAIR-by-design in practice requires not only technical expertise but also flexibility, creative problem-solving, and the ability to adapt to diverse research contexts. Throughout the program, you will learn how to design tailored data workflows that respond to the specific needs of different scientific domains.
• Access to advanced AI and HPC infrastructure (ORFEO)
  Students will have the possibility to access ORFEO,  the advanced AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure of Area Science Park, in order to work with high-performance computing resources, data-intensive workflows, and AI-driven applications, effectively bridging theory and practice.
• Internships and laboratories
  The experience gained during the program’s pilot phase—through internships in highly diverse experimental laboratories—has generated a wealth of practical insights and real-world case studies. These experiences have been integrated into the curriculum to further enrich the MDMC training program.
• Transferable skills for industry
  The competencies developed in FAIR research data management are equally valuable in industrial and data-driven environments. They support organizations in optimizing industrial data pipelines (ETL/ELT), improving data integration and quality, strengthening AI models and advanced data analytics, ensuring regulatory compliance and effective data governance.
• Auditor participation option

The MDMC program trains versatile data professionals, capable of driving innovation both in advanced research environments and in data-driven industrial sectors.

Entry qualifications and minimum requirements

Applicants must hold, by the start date of the program, one of the following qualifications:

• Diploma from an Italian Higher Technical Institute (ITS), or
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree, or equivalent academic qualification (including degrees under the previous Italian university system).

Applicants are also required to have:

• Proficiency in English (the official language of the program is English; lectures and teaching materials are delivered in English);
• Basic Python programming skills (Please refer to the Call for Entries for further details);
• Basic mathematical background (equivalent to an undergraduate course in Mathematical Analysis);
• Basic statistical knowledge, including elements of probability theory, hypothesis testing, Bayes’ theorem, and statistical model comparison;
• A personal computer with a Linux environment.

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the PICA online platform at the following link: Call for participants.

The online application procedure must be completed no later than 13:00 (Italian time) on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Applications submitted through other channels or incomplete documentation will not be considered for the selection process.

For further information about the application procedure, please contact the mdmc@sissa.it.

A maximum of 15 students will be admitted to the MDMC program, based on the ranking list produced through the selection process.

The participants’ selection process will be primarily based on the evaluation of qualifications:

• Academic and/or professional CV
• Academic background
• Motivation letter

submitted with the application. Eventually a short online interview can be requested to further assess preparation, skills, and motivation of the candidates.

At the end of the process, a final ranking of excellent admitted candidates will be established and communicated by Friday, 10 July 2026.

Regular Students

The standard tuition fee for MDMC is €4,500, payable in two installments:

• €2,250 by 22 September 2026
• €2,250 by 26 November 2026

Additional regional student fees and administrative charges, required by Italian legislation on the right to higher education, will be communicated at the time of enrollment.

Failure to pay the tuition fee within the required deadlines will result in exclusion from the program and from the award of the MDMC qualification.

Auditor Students

A maximum of 5 auditor participants may be admitted. A higher number may be accepted provided that the total number of participants (regular students + auditors) does not exceed 20.

The tuition fee for auditors is €2,500, payable in two installments:

• €1,250 by 22 September 2026
• €1,250 by 26 November 2026

Additional regional student fees may apply.

Participants from non-EU countries enrolled in MDMC may attend online classes temporarily until their entry visa is issued.

If the total number of participants (regular + auditors) does not exceed 20, auditor applicants will not be subject to selection.

Auditor participants may attend only the classroom lectures of the MDMC program during the period mid-September – mid-December 2026.
They will not have access to the internship phase or the final thesis project.

Participants who attend at least 70% of lecture hours will receive a certificate of participation indicating the courses attended.

No financial aid is available for auditors.

Depending on available funding through agreements with external institutions—such as the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, research organizations, or private companies—financial support, scholarships, and awards may be available.

Scholarships cannot be combined with other scholarships or financial awards, in accordance with Article 7 of the SISSA Regulations for the Assignment of Research and Training Grants.

Details and updates will be regularly published on this website page.

Available Fellowships (net amount)

(update01.04.2026)

Other six financial grants of € 3.000 are available for excellent candidates (the fellowship is not compatible with other fellowships of this kind).

A partial reimbursement of tuition fees may also be available through a call issued by ARDiS (Regional Agency for the Right to University Education). Applications must be submitted directly through the PICA admission platform.

Dedicated financial support is available for non-resident students.

The list of available fellowships will be regularly updated!