Applications close on 30 June 2026, with five scholarships available to support participation in the ten-month programme
Following the graduation of its second cohort, the Master’s in Data Management and Curation (MDMC) is preparing to welcome a new group of students. Applications for the third edition, promoted by Area Science Park and SISSA – International School for Advanced Studies, will remain open until 1:00 PM on 30 June 2026.
The recent graduation event, held under the theme “Shaping Data, Shaping the Future!”, showcased the breadth of expertise developed during the programme. Students presented projects addressing real-world research challenges, including FAIR pipelines for neuroscience and genetic sequencing, protein crystallisation data extraction, GraphRAG applications for manufacturing and repositories for X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
The event also featured a keynote lecture by Massimiliano Novelli, Senior Data Curation Scientist at the European Spallation Source ERIC. His contribution explored the challenges faced by international data infrastructures and highlighted current best practices in scientific data management.
Designed to develop highly qualified professionals in the management, curation and enhancement of research data, the MDMC places the FAIR-by-design approach at the heart of its curriculum. The programme runs for approximately ten months and is delivered entirely in English. It combines intensive classroom-based teaching in Trieste with a six-month internship at a research laboratory or partner institution, where students complete an applied project.
Participants also receive dedicated access to Area Science Park’s ORFEO high-performance computing infrastructure, including a virtual machine, storage capacity and computing resources for hands-on work in data management and data-intensive research.
Financial support is available through five scholarships funded by Area Science Park, SISSA and OGS. Each scholarship covers the enrolment fee and includes a €3,000 allowance to help with living expenses in Trieste during the in-person teaching period, from September to December 2026.
Additional scholarships, financial assistance or awards may also become available through agreements with external organisations, subject to funding.
Full information on admission requirements, the application procedure and the course structure is available on the MDMC webpage.