Curricular Structure
The PhD programme in Sustainable Chemistry totals 240 credits (ECTS); most correspond to the PhD thesis (180 ECTS) and the remaining 60 ECTS correspond to curricular units distributed in core and specific training. The program has a duration of 4 academic years, (only in exceptional circumstances can this duration be exceeded).
The first year of the sustainable chemistry programme is organized in two terms.
Each student in the first term of the PhD programme follows a period of intensive training during 12 weeks. At the end of this period a thesis project is chosen.
During the 2nd term the students will be mainly working on the preparation of their PhD work plan, on the acquisition of soft skills and some advanced training on the scientific topic of their PhD theme. At the end of the first year the students will present their PhD work plan to a scientific commission nominated by the direction of PhD programme.
The curricular structure of the PhD course in sustainable Chemistry is the following:
First Term (24 ECTS) - 12 weeks
The core training of the students will occur during the first term (12 weeks) of the sustainable chemistry course. At the end of the first term the students will be associated to a research topic and a scientific supervisor.
Mandatory courses (12 ECTS)
M1. Introduction to sustainable chemistry, 1 week, 2 ECTS
M2. Communication skills, 1 week, 2 ECTS
M3. Design of sustainable chemicals and materials, 1 week, 2 ECTS
M4. Sustainable processes and technologies, 1 week, 2 ECTS
M5. Experimental methods for molecular and macromolecular analysis, 2 weeks (includes practical sessions), 4 ECTS
Elective courses (12 ECTS)
Three to be chosen from a list compiled every year.
Format of elective courses - 2 weeks including practical sessions, 4 ECTS
Examples of elective courses
E1. Environmental Toxicology
E2. Food safety
E3. Hyphenated Analytical Techniques
E4. New synthetic strategies
E5. Design of new catalysts
E6. Light & energy conversion
E7. In-silico strategies for green chemistry
E8. Chemical biology
E9. Green solvents and processing
E10. Biodegradation & bioremediation
E11. Industrial biotechnology
E12. Laboratory & industrial automation
Second Term (36 ECTS)
Seminars, 3 ECTS
Thesis Project, 12 ECTS
Laboratory Project, 12 ECTS
Entrepreneurship skills, 3 ECTS
Advanced Topics, 6 ECTS
The mandatory courses are designed to provide a broad scientific background, train professional skills and promote entrepreneurship. The available elective courses may change from year to year to provide flexibility within the programme. The development of the elective courses curricula is programmed to deepen the training in the main areas focused in each one of the mandatory courses.