Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca Bioetica - Prize for the best thesis of bioethics from CIRB

Prize for the best thesis in bioethics (Premio Mario Coltorti)

You will receive 2,200 EUR (gross) as a one-off prize for an outstanding final dissertation on a bioethical topic. In the latest round, two prizes of 2,200 EUR will be awarded for Master’s or Licenza theses, and one prize of 2,200 EUR for a doctoral thesis (PhD). The prizes are sponsored by the CIRB, the Inter-University Centre for Bioethics Research in Naples. The Centre organises the competition once a year to encourage young researchers to engage with bioethics: issues relating to medicine, the life sciences and human identity. The prize-winners will be honoured at a public ceremony.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have obtained a Master’s degree (Laurea Specialistica or Magistrale), a degree under the old system (Laurea Vecchio Ordinamento), a Licenza or a research doctorate (Dottorato di Ricerca).
• University: You earned that degree at one of the member universities in the Naples and Campania area, such as Naples Federico II, Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Suor Orsola Benincasa, L'Orientale, Parthenope, Salerno, Sannio or Molise, or at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy.
• Topic: Your dissertation deals with a bioethical topic. Your field of study is irrelevant, provided that the dissertation deals with bioethics.
• Timing: You defended your thesis in academic year 2020-2021 or later.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Please submit your application to the CIRB by email by 15 April. Please attach your final thesis as a PDF file, along with your degree certificate showing your marks. PhD students should also attach a CV. A panel will assess the theses and may invite you to a short interview before the winners are selected.

How realistic are your chances?

This award has very strict criteria. Your dissertation must deal with bioethics and be from a specific group of universities in the Naples area, so the pool of eligible dissertations is small. If your thesis clearly fits this focus and is of high quality, your chances are good. As only a few prizes are awarded each year, the quality of the thesis itself is the deciding factor.