DUniBo Exchange Initiative

DUniBo is a unique international opportunity to enhance your undergraduate or graduate experience!

Alma Mater Studiorum Universita Di Bologna Aule Navile

About the program

DUniBo is an exchange partnership between Drexel University and the University of Bologna, Italy that aims to facilitate student-centered collaborations between the two universities. The initiative was developed by longtime scientific collaborators Dr. Olimpia Meucci (Drexel University) and Dr. Renato Brandimarti (University of Bologna), and has grown to include approximately 20 faculty mentors, program directors and administrators as well as many students (including the traveling graduate students and several other chaperones.) Exchange students have previously focused on areas with high potential of interactions between the two universities, including translational research and drug discovery in areas including experimental oncology, neuroscience, and cellular biology. However, the program aims to expand into additional academic areas in line with the interests of exchange students and participating research groups at both institutions, including engineering, business & law, and media, arts, and design. Prospective exchange students are highly encouraged to tailor their DUniBo experience to their own academic interests.

History of collaboration

The partnership between both universities began in 2017 when The University of Bologna’s Institute of Advanced Studies awarded Dr. Meucci a fellowship that aimed to foster international collaboration and global educational initiatives. In 2018, representatives from Drexel and the University of Bologna signed a memorandum of understanding that outlined each institutions intent to cooperate in mutual areas of interest related to academic initiatives. In 2019, the DUniBo program was kicked-off following an award from the University of Bologna that cemented ties between the two universities. This award supported an initial program called “The Outlooking Scientist”, where the first exchange students from each institution spent a significant amount of time interviewing faculty investigators, meeting their peers, and exploring the hosting university - to familiarize themselves with research programs and identify competitive areas of common, complementary interests. These first exchange students now serve as DUniBo ambassadors that help promote the program to prospective students.

DUniBo ambassadors

Meet a DUniBo exchange student

Anthony Lisi is the first Drexel undergraduate student to participate in the DUniBo program! He is currently spending six months at The University of Bologna’s Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine to study the mechanisms underlying vascular complications in chronic kidney disease.

Anthony is a first-generation college student at Drexel who is studying towards a BS in chemistry with a minor in biological sciences on the pre-med track. His time in Bologna will fulfill one of his Drexel co-op experiences and provide relevant training at the intersection of research and medicine that will strongly support his upcoming applications to medical school.

Interested in becoming an exchange student?

The DUniBo program offers many benefits to exchange students, including:

Visit the oldest university in the Western world and immerse yourself in the Italian culture
Explore a multidisciplinary and international environment
Become a student ambassador and participate in future collaborations between Drexel and UniBo
Study or research abroad while advancing within your own degree program
Find your match for future collaborations and training in prestigious settings
Experience a different lifestyle and academic reality
Create a global professional network and make new friends

The program is currently open and accepting students. Interested students may contact Dr. Meucci (om29@drexel.edu) or Dr. Brandimarti (renato.brandimarti@unibo.it) for additional information.

DUniBo Exchange Partnership