Why a doctoral degree in Environment?

Because Europe needs researchers with this profile.

The Environment is currently a priority objective of national and international research.Environmental challenges are the main focus of attention for the coming years.One of the three objectives of the European programme “Horizon 2020” is sustainable growth, for a Europe that makes better use of its resources.The mitigation of and adaptation to climate change are also strategic challenges in national research, both in the research and innovation plans of the Government of Catalonia, and in the “National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation".

The academic level of the doctoral degree gives the students the autonomy to design, plan and execute research projects.The doctoral degree in the Environment, in particular, focuses on the current environmental challenges, and students can choose between 3 different lines of research, all supported by researchers from the UdG with accredited research experience.

The multidisciplinary nature of the programme means the door is open to students from a diverse range of study programmes: it enables the planning of cross-disciplinary research between 2 or more lines of research; it means that two doctoral students can work in a complementary way on a single environmental problem from different disciplines; and, in short, it helps trainee researchers to gain an awareness of the many perspectives that need to be taken into account in a new work scenario.

Therefore,

• If you are concerned about the sustainability of resources, energy efficiency, bioeconomics, biodiversity and conservation, reducing waste, climate change, territorial planning, pollution, environmental quality, etc... and
• You want to acquire knowledge and autonomy to make research in these fields,

Then the doctoral degree in Environment at the UdG is the right programme for you, in a privileged natural environment for working, studying, protecting and conserving.

The main objective of the Doctoral Programme in the Environment is to train high level researchers in this field of knowledge.Groups from different areas take part (Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Geology, Chemistry, Economics and Geography), their research all converging on the same subject, the environment, while making use of different techniques and taking diverse perspectives.The fact that this is a priority area of research which currently receives funding from all levels, local, national and international, demonstrates both the potential and the real demand for research in this area and evidences the interest in and social importance of the subject.

Line 1.Biology and environmental geology

Animal Biology

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Potential thesis-supervisor researchers: Dr Crisanto Gómez López, Dr Josep M Bas Lay, Dr Pere Pons Ferran, Dr Nuria Roura Pascual, Dr Josep Lloret Romañach, Dr Sílvia Abril Meléndez, Dr Roger Puig Gironès

Tutors: Dr Crisanto Gómez López, Dr Josep M Bas Lay, Dr Pere Pons Ferran, Dr Nuria Roura Pascual, Dr Josep Lloret Romañach

Biodiversity and Marine Resources

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Potential thesis research directors: Dr Emma Cebrián Pujol, DrAlba Vergés Guirado, Dr Marta Muñoz Frigola, Dr Sònia de Caralt Bosch, Dr Jana Verdura Brugarola

Tutors: Dr Emma Cebrián Pujol, Dr Alba Vergés Guirado, Dr Marta Muñoz Frigola, Dra. Jana Verdura Brugarola

Ecology of the Global Microbiome

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Potential thesis research directors: Dr. Emili Ortega Casamayor, Dr. Lluís Bañeras Vives, Dr. Jesús Garcia-Gil, Dr. Xavier Vila Portella

Tutors: Dr Lluís Bañeras Vives, Jesús Garcia-Gil and Xavier Vila Portella

Ecologia aquàtica continental

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Researchers and potential doctoral thesis supervisors: Anna Ma.Romaní, Jordi Bou Manobens

Tutors: Anna Ma.Romaní, Jordi Bou Manobens

Mediterranean Soils and Plants

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Dolors Verdaguer Murlà, Dr Laura Llorens Guasch, Dr Maria A. Gispert Negrell

Tutors: Dr Dolors Verdaguer Murlà, Dr Laura Llorens Guasch, Dr Maria A. Gispert Negrell

Benthonic Marine Algae

Potential doctoral-thesis supervisors: Dr Conxi Rodríguez Prieto

Tutors: Dr Conxi Rodríguez Prieto

Geology and Environmental Cartography

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Josep Mas Pla, Dr Carles Roqué Pau , Dr Anna Mention Domingo, Dr David Brusi Belmonte

Tutors: Dr Josep Mas Pla, Dr Carles Roqué Pau , Dr Anna Mention Domingo, Dr David Brusi Belmonte

Line 2.Territory, Society and Environment

Territorial and Environmental Analysis and Planning

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Researchers and potential doctoral thesis supervisors:  Dr Isabel Salamaña Serra, Dr Joan Vicente Rufí, Dr Jaume Feliu Torrent, Dr Nadia Fava, Núria Font Casaseca

Tutors:  Dr Isabel Salamaña Serra, Dr Joan Vicente Rufí, Dr Jaume Feliu Torrent, Dr Nadia Fava

Landscape Analysis and Management

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Potential thesis research supervisors: Dr Josep Pintó Fusalba, Dr Joan Nogué Font, Dr Diego Varga Linde, Dr Rosa M. Fragüell Sansbello, Dr Carolina Martí Llambrich, Dr Lluís Vilar Sais, Carla Garcia Lozano

Tutors: Dr Josep Pintó Fusalba, Dr Joan Nogué Font, Dr Diego Varga Linde, Dr Rosa M. Fragüell Sansbello, Dr Carolina Martí Llambrich, Dr Lluís Vilar Sais, Carla Garcia Lozano

Socio-Environmental Change

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Anna Ribas Palom, Dr Josep Vila Subirós, Dr David Pavón Gamero, Dr Federica Ravera and Dr Albert Llausàs Pascual, Dr Josep Pueyo Ros

Tutors: Dr Anna Ribas Palom, Dr Josep Vila Subirós, Dr David Pavón Gamero, Dr Federica Ravera and Dr Albert Llausàs Pascual

Public Economy

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Renan Ulrich Goetz, Dr M. Àngels Xabadia Palmada, Dr Nicolas Boccard

Tutors: Dr Renan Ulrich Goetz, Dr M. Àngels Xabadia Palmada, Dr Nicolas Boccard

Line 3.Environmental Research Technologies and Methods

Sustainable material and product design

Potential thesis research directors: Dr. Núria Fiol Santaló, Dr. Marc Delgado, Dr. Joaquim Tarrés, Dr. Roberto Aguado

Tutors: Dr Núria Fiol Santaló

Engineering of Fluids, Energy and Environment

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Lino Montoro Moreno, Dr José Ramón González Castro, Dr Antoni Pujol Sagaró

Tutors: Dr Lino Montoro Moreno, Dr José Ramón González Castro, Dr Antoni Pujol Sagaró

Materials and thermodynamics

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Joan Josep Suñol Martínez, Dr M. Lluïsa Escoda Acero, Dr Jordi Farjas Silva, Dr Pere Roura Grabulosa

Tutors: Dr Joan Josep Suñol Martínez, Dr M. Lluïsa Escoda Acero, Dr Jordi Farjas Silva, Dr Pere Roura Grabulosa

Environmental physics

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Elena Roget Armengol, Dr Josep Calbó Angrill, Dr Jordi Colomer Feliu, Dr Josep Abel González Gutiérrez, Jesús Planella Morató

Tutors: Dr Elena Roget Armengol, Dr Josep Calbó Angrill, Dr Jordi Colomer Feliu, Dr Josep Abel González Gutiérrez, Jesús Planella Morató

Statistics and data analysis

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Researchers and potential doctoral thesis supervisors: Dr Jose Antonio Martín Fernández, Dr Josep Daunis Estadella

Tutors: Dr Jose Antonio Martín Fernández, Dr Josep Daunis Estadella

Differential Equations, Modelisation and Applications

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Joan Saldaña Meca, Dr David Juher Barrot, Dr Esther Barrabés Vera, Dr Jordi Ripoll Misse

Tutors: Dr Joan Saldaña Meca, Dr David Juher Barrot, Dr Esther Barrabés Vera, Dr Jordi Ripoll Misse

Complex Systems

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Joaquim Fort Viader, Dr Joaquim Pérez Losada

Tutors: Dr Joaquim Fort Viader, Dr Joaquim Pérez Losada

Socio-Environmental Change

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Potential doctoral-thesis supervisor researchers: Dr Anna Ribas Palom, Dr Josep Vila Subirós, Dr David Pavón Gamero, Dr Federica Ravera and Dr Albert Llausàs Pascual, Dr Josep Pueyo Ros

Tutors: Dr Anna Ribas Palom, Dr Josep Vila Subirós, Dr David Pavón Gamero, Dr Federica Ravera and Dr Albert Llausàs Pascual

Landscape Analysis and Management

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Potential thesis research supervisors: Dr Josep Pintó Fusalba, Dr Joan Nogué Font, Dr Diego Varga Linde, Dr Rosa M. Fragüell Sansbello, Dr Carolina Martí Llambrich, Dr Lluís Vilar Sais, Carla Garcia Lozano

Tutors: Dr Josep Pintó Fusalba, Dr Joan Nogué Font, Dr Diego Varga Linde, Dr Rosa M. Fragüell Sansbello, Dr Carolina Martí Llambrich, Dr Lluís Vilar Sais, Carla Garcia Lozano

More information

The Doctoral Programme in the Environment is regulated 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.

When appraising the candidates who request admission and who fulfil the doctoral degree admission criteria, the academic committee of the Doctoral Programme in the Environment will prioritise the applications according to the following criteria:

1. Academic record (70%)
2. Motivation and compatibility with one of the lines of the programme (20%)
3. Languages (10%).

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 It is mandatory for students on this doctoral programme to sit on a cross-disciplinary training course Research in the context of the climatic emergency: challenges and perspectives.

Educational course catalogue

In accordance with the educational goals of the Doctoral Programme in the Environment, future graduates from the University of Girona will be equipped to develop a professional career in academic, institutional, and business environments, providing advanced knowledge and cross-cutting skills to tackle current environmental challenges.

1.Academic and research sphere

• Incorporation into national and international universities and research centres in fields such as biodiversity, climate change, natural resource management, bioeconomy and environmental technologies.
• Participation in multidisciplinary research teams, capable of leading competitive projects and transferring knowledge to society.
• Teaching activity in university studies and advanced education programmes.

2.Public sector

• Development of technical and management tasks in local, regional, state or supranational administrations linked to the environment, territory and sustainability.
• Design, implementation and evaluation of public environmental policies in areas such as territorial planning, nature conservation, energy transition and adaptation to climate change.
• Collaboration with international bodies and government agencies in co-operation and sustainable development programmes.

3.Private sector

• Environmental and territorial consulting firm, specialising in risk analysis, sustainability diagnoses, ecosystem management and environmental restoration.
• Innovation and development of sustainable technologies applied to industry, energy, waste management and the design of circular products and processes.
• Entrepreneurship in sectors linked to bioeconomy, the green economy, sustainable tourism and environmental instrumentation.

Doctoral theses read in the programme

Doctoral theses read in the area

Doctoral student guide

Doctoral Programme in the Environment

Rating criteria for special awards for doctoral degrees

The criteria for the doctoral degree special award for our programme have now been established.The scoring proposal is as follows:

1. Publications derived from the thesis.Up to 2 points for each scientific publication from a thesis, published or accepted after first enrolment on the doctoral programme.
2. Knowledge-Transfer ActivitiesKnowledge-transfer activities in administrations or companies derived from the results of research carried out during their thesis.(0.5 points per activity, up to a maximum of 2 points)
3. Impact of the research on its area:
   • JCR, Q1 I Q2: 2 points per article;
   • JCR, Q3 I Q4: 1.5 points per article;
   • SCOPUS: 1 point per article;
   • Other data bases: 0.5 points per article
   • Book chapters, in publishing companies included in the SPI: 1 point per chapter
   • Book chapters, in publishing companies included in the SPI: 2 points per chapter
4. Doctoral-research stays carried out while writing up theses:
   • Stays of 3 months or over: 1 point
   • Stays of between one month and three months: 0.5 point
5. International mention: 2 points
6. Presentation of reports or communications in congresses, seminars or day events: 0.25 points per activity (maximum 2 points).Participation in international congresses is positively assessed

7. Duration of theses:

   • Duration of a thesis for 3 or more years (full-time dedication): 1 point

   • Duration of a thesis for 5 or more years (part-time dedication): 1 point

8. Other activities derived from the thesis which, according to the commission, make a significant contribution to the advance of knowledge and have not been contemplated in the former points (a maximum of 1 point may be granted)

Minimum score threshold: To be able to obtain the distinction of an extraordinary prize, a score not inferior to 5 points must have been obtained in the assessment of the merits.

Compulsory training for doctoral students

A compulsory additional requirement for thesis presentations is for a communication or poster in a national or international scientific conference to have been shown or an article published in a magazine indexed in the JCR or SCOPUS which endorse the quality of the thesis.

Mandatory education: 20 hours of cross-disciplinary education to be chosen from among the courses offered by the School of Doctoral Studies. One of the mandatory training courses needs to be Research in the context of the climatic emergency: challenges and perspectives.

Criteria for the compendium of thesis papers

The compendium of thesis papers will be comprised of:

• Minimum of 3 papers where the doctoral student is the first signatory, two of which will already be published or accepted and a third be sent for consideration, all in JCR journals.