Five reasons why you might want to do a doctoral degree in Chemistry at the UdG

1. Professional interest. I would like to embark on a career in research related to a field within the current areas of research in the country and focused on developing new methodologies or products of interest to the chemical or pharmaceutical industry, or on identifying substances that are toxic or harmful to health and the environment. In particular, I would like to specialise in one of the following six lines of research:

• Catalysis and Bio-Inorganics
• Engineering and chemistry of proteins Diagnostic and therapeutic applications
• Innovation in Processes and Products of Organic Synthesis
• Computational modeling of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions
• Theoretical chemistry and Modelling and Molecular Engineering
• Analytical and bio-analytical technology

2. Strength of research in chemistry at the UdG. These doctoral studies will put me in contact with competitive research groups. The groups who take part in this doctoral programme:

• They have demonstrated an ability to train doctoral students to a high level
• They constitute research groups established by the Government of Catalonia
• They publish scientific articles in indexed and high impact journals.
• They have a high degree of internationalisation
• The majority of them are involved in the transfer of technology

3. Training. I will have the opportunity to carry out specific training activities from the doctoral programme and also cross-disciplinary training activities:

• The specific training activities include the undertaking of a theoretical or experimental work, publication of the results in scientific journals and also attendance at seminars, conferences, courses, doctoral student conferences or congresses.
• The cross-disciplinary teaching objectives will enable me to acquire knowledge and skills that are fundamental to producing and presenting the doctoral thesis, writing and publishing scientific articles, drafting projects, performing information searches, and communicating and disseminating scientific activity.

4. Mobility and internationalisation.I would like to carry out a placement of between 3 to 6 months in a research group abroad and obtain an international mention on my doctoral certificate. The research groups that participate in this doctoral programme undertake collaborations with international centres, which favours student mobility and their participation in joint projects between the different groups involved.

• In recent years, the majority of doctoral students directed by teachers on this doctoral programme have obtained mobility grants.
• More than half of these doctoral students have received the international mention on their doctoral certificate.

5.Moreover, these doctoral studies are conceived from the doctoral programme in Experimental Sciences and Sustainability, that in its day received the Mention of Excellence awarded by the Ministry of Education. 

The general objective of the Doctoral Programme in Chemistry at the University of Girona is to train highly qualified researchers in this field who will be equipped with the professional and personal skills and abilities to successfully join national and international R&D&i systems. For this, students who complete this doctoral programme should have the ability to create their own knowledge in order to solve real chemistry problems, put together a sound defence of their personal points of view, produce complex scientific reports and defend them before a qualified audience. All these objectives will be met through the production of the doctoral thesis, which will prepare the researchers for their future professional career. During the doctoral thesis, the acquisition of an intensive specialisation in the different orientations provided by the lines of research defined in the programme will be fostered, along with the acquisition of general skills related to the ability to work independently and in a group, participation in research projects and the presentation of scientific and technical works, among other aspects.

1. Catalysis and Bio-Inorganics

Potential doctoral-thesis research directors: Dr Miquel Costas Salgueiro, Dr Anna Pla Quintana, Dr Xavier Ribas Salamaña, Dr Anna Roglans Ribas, Dr M. Isabel Romero García, Dr Montserrat Rodríguez Pizarro, Dr Alfons Polo Ortiz, Dr Josep Duran Carpintero, Dr Anna Company Casadevall, Dr Agustí Lledó-Ponsatí, Dr Julio Lloret Fillol, Dr Francesc Teixidor Bombardó, Dr Antoni Llobet Dalmases

Tutors: Dr Miquel Costas Salgueiro, Dr Anna Pla Quintana, Dr Xavier Ribas Salamaña, Dr Anna Roglans Ribas, Dr M. Isabel Romero García, Dr Montserrat Rodríguez Pizarro, Dr Alfons Polo Ortiz, Dr Agustí Lledó-Ponsatí and Dr Anna Company Casadevall.

2. Engineering and chemistry of proteins Diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Potential doctoral-thesis research directors: Dr Rafael de Llorens Duran, Dr Rosa Peracaula Miró, Dr Marc Ribó Panosa, Dr Maria Vilanova Brugués, Dr Antoni Benito Mundet, Dr Sílvia Barrabés Vera, Dr Anna Massaguer Vall·llovera, Dr Esther Llop Escorihuela

Tutors: Dr Rafael de Llorens Duran, Dr Sílvia Barrabés Vera, Dr Rosa Peracaula Miró, Dr Marc Ribó Panosa, Dr Maria Vilanova Brugués, Dr Antoni Benito Mundet, Dr Anna Massaguer Vall·llovera, Dr Esther Llop Escorihuela

3. Innovation in Processes and Products of Organic Synthesis

Potential doctoral thesis directors: Dr. Eduard Bardají Rodríguez, Dr. Lídia Feliu Soley, Dr. Montserrat Heras Corominas, Dr. Marta Planas Grabuleda

Tutors: Dr. Eduard Bardají Rodríguez, Dr. Lídia Feliu Soley, Dr. Montserrat Heras Corominas, Dr. Marta Planas Grabuleda

4. Computational modeling of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions

Potential doctoral-thesis research directors: Dr Josep Maria Luís Luís, Dr Miquel Solà Puig, Dr Sergey Vyboyshchikov, Dr Albert Poater Teixidor

Tutors: Dr Josep Maria Luís Luís, Dr Miquel Solà Puig, Dr Sergey Vyboyshchikov, Dr Albert Poater Teixidor

5. Theoretical chemistry, Modelling and Molecular Engineering

Potential doctoral thesis directors: Dr. Emili Besalú Llorà, Dr. Miquel Duran Portas, Dr. Pedro Salvador Sedano, Dr. Sílvia Simon Rabaseda, Dr. Marcel Swart, Dr. Lluís Blancafort San José, Dr. Ferran Feixas Geronès, Dr. Eduard Matito Gras, Dr. Sílvia Osuna Oliveras, Dr. Jordi Poater Teixidor, Dr. Marc Garcia Borràs

Tutors: Dr. Emili Besalú Llorà, Dr. Miquel Duran Portas, Dr. Pedro Salvador Sedano, Dr. Sílvia Simon Rabaseda, Dr. Marcel Swart, Dr. Lluís Blancafort San José, Dr. Sílvia Osuna Oliveras

6. Analytical and bio-analytical technology

Potential doctoral-thesis research directors: Dr Enriqueta Anticó Daró, Dr Mònica Iglesias Juncà, Dr Juan M. Sánchez Navarro, Dr Clàudia Fontàs Rigau, Dr Manuela Hidalgo Muñoz, Dr Eva Marguí Grabulosa, Dr Victòria Salvadó Martín

Tutors: Dr Enriqueta Anticó Daró, Dr Mònica Iglesias Juncà, Dr Juan M. Sánchez Navarro, Dr Clàudia Fontàs Rigau, Dr Manuela Hidalgo Muñoz, Dr Eva Marguí Grabulosa, Dr Victòria Salvadó Martín

Additional requirements to be a thesis tutor or supervisor

The Academic Committee for the doctoral programme in Chemistry establishes two additional requirements to the ones set out by the School of Doctoral Studies:

With regard to article 6.1, the Committee adds as an additional requirement for becoming a thesis tutor "a permanent link with the University".

With regard to article 6.2, the Committee adds as an additional requirement for becoming a thesis director that said person must have obtained their doctoral degree at least two years prior to taking on this role and must have continued to carry out research activity during this two year period. If the research activity during this two year period has been interrupted, the research activity must have continued following this interruption and the total number of years of post doctoral research activity must be at least two.

The Doctoral Programme in Chemistry is governed by Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which establishes the organisation of official doctoral studies programmes. The access requirements are those set out in this Royal Decree and which can be consulted at the following web address www.udg.edu/doctorat/acces.

The most appropriate university degrees for accessing the doctoral programme in Chemistry at the University of Girona are the ones corresponding to pre-EHEA-degree or bachelor's-degree studies in Chemistry. Students from other similar areas (Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering, Biology, Material Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences) with an interest in research in Chemistry are also admitted. Pre-EHEA-degree and bachelor’s-degree graduates in Science and Technology of Food, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Human and Dietary Nutrition, Agronomic Engineering, Marine Sciences, Oenology, Physics or Geology will also be able to access places.

Admission criteria for the Doctoral Programme in Chemistry

The Academic Committee will appraise the applications in accordance with the following criteria, which are presented in order of priority and with the weighting awarded:

1. Academic record (60%) The appraisal will take into account the average grade of subjects related to the field of chemistry, which will be the main selection criteria.
2. Curriculum vitae (30%). Previous studies in chemistry will be taken into the account in the appraisal and particularly the extent to which these studies are aligned with the lines of research that form part of the programme. Professional experience, publications and level of proficiency in languages will also be appraisable merits.
3. Motivation (10%). The research interests stated by the candidates will be appraised along with the extent to which they are aligned with one of the lines of research of the programme.

In the event that the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, candidate applications will be arranged in order of priority. 

Regarding educational activities, the School of Doctoral Studies organises courses, seminars and other cross-disciplinary educational activities (soft skills) directed at research training and assisting with the writing and presentation of the doctoral thesis. We ask that the courses be given in English as our language of choice, although Catalan is the language most frequently used. They are generally 10-hour courses or seminars. There are a series of activities that are transferable and are of interest to all doctoral programmes, and others that are specific to a particular doctoral programme 

Students enrolled on the doctoral programme in Chemistry are advised to take the programme’s two specific educational courses:

• Proteomics in biomedical research (twice yearly)
• Practical aspects of the RMN

Information on these courses can be found from

Educational course catalogue

Doctoral theses read in the programme

Doctoral theses read in the area

Doctoral student guide

Compulsory training for doctoral students

Students on the doctoral programme in Chemistry are required to take part in the following educational activities:

1. Seminars, lectures and courses (at least 10 hours a year)
   • Activities from a range of cross-disciplinary educational courses from the School of Doctoral Studies (at least 20 hours throughout the doctorate)
   • Seminars and lectures specialising in chemistry
   • Seminars or courses specialising in advanced techniques (at least 1 course from the programme's specific range of courses throughout the doctorate)
   • Group seminars
2. Doctoral-student conferences or congresses (at least 10 hours a year)
   • Doctoral-student conferences (at least one throughout the doctorate)
   • National or international congresses (at least one a year. Throughout the doctorate, at least: one international congress, one communication)
3. UdG Pre-doctoral Researchers’ Conference (annual)
4. Publication of results in scientific magazines (at least one throughout the doctorate)

Follow-up of doctoral students

Newly admitted students:

Preparing the research plan.

Guide for drafting research plans: consult Annexe 1 to the following regulations:

Doctoral thesis supervision procedure at the University of Girona

Second- and third-year students:

The supervision mechanisms for doctoral students on the doctoral programme in Chemistry include, in addition to the procedures set out by the School of Doctoral Studies’ regulations, interviews with second- and third-year students.

Proposed criteria for granting the Extraordinary Doctoral Award

1. Scientific publications derived from the thesis that are published in indexed and patented journals (up to 5 points): Only publications directly derived from the thesis included in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and obtained from the date the student enrolled on the Doctoral Programme up until the deadline for applications for the Extraordinary Doctoral Award will be assessed. Priority will be given to publications in the first quartile where the doctoral student is the first author. Books or chapters of books will also be taken into consideration. With regard to patents, only those that are the result of the doctoral thesis will be taken into account.
2. Contributions at congresses, lectures or conferences (up to 1 point): Congresses, lectures and international conferences will mainly be appraised, and contributions presented orally.
3. International mention (1.5 points)
4. Research stays (up to 1 point): Only placements carried out during the doctoral thesis period that have not led to the international mention will be appraised.
5. Confidential report from the external reviewers and report from the members of the thesis committee (up to 1 point): The confidential report from the external reviewers, as well as the reports from the members of the thesis committee will be taken into account.
6. Other merits related directly to the thesis, at the discretion of the Appraisal Committee (up to 0.5 points)

Requirements for presenting the thesis as a compendium of publications

Minimum of 3 articles published or accepted for publication in journals included in the JCR, for which the doctoral student is the first author; or a minimum of 2 articles published or accepted for publication in journals included in the JCR in which the doctoral student is the first author and of which at least one article is published in a journal in the first quartile.