Doctoral program in Biomedicine

Objectives and competences

Objectives and competences

Objectives

The aim of the PhD Programme in Biomedicine is to provide multidisciplinary training to university graduates in the field of biomedical research. Within the latter, to achieve an understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for diseases, as well as the search for the best strategies for their treatment and care.
The programme's more specific aims are
- To offer a PhD programme that integrates molecular and cellular knowledge in aspects such as: understanding, prevention and treatment of human diseases.
- To train scientists in the biomedical field to act as a bridge between basic and clinical research.
-To train scientists in the field of university/company interaction (R&D management and development and research foundations).
- To train scientists in the biomedical field who want to work as professors in these areas.
- To facilitate and promote translational research.
Structure of the Doctoral Programme: http://www.ub.edu/doctorat_biomedicina/estructura.htm

Competences

Doctoral studies guarantee, as a minimum, the acquisition by the doctoral candidate of the following basic competences as well as those others that appear in the Spanish Higher Education Qualifications Framework:
a) Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of the skills and research methods related to this field.
b) Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or creative process.
c) Ability to contribute to extending the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) Ability to carry out critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
e) Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and society in general about their areas of knowledge in the ways and languages commonly used in the international scientific community.
f) Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress in a knowledge-based society.
g) Ability to promote Open Science and Citizen Science as a way to contribute to the consideration of scientific knowledge as a common good.

Admission pathways

Access

In general, to access an official doctorate program you must have an official Spanish bachelor's degree, or equivalent, and a university master's degree and have passed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits in all university degree and master's studies. It can also be accessed by anyone who is in any of these cases:

      
• Be in possession of official Spanish university degrees or equivalent Spanish degrees, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been passed in the set of these courses, accrediting level 3 of the Spanish Qualification Framework for Higher Education.

      
• Be in possession of a title obtained in accordance with foreign educational systems belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EEES), without the need for it to be approved, which accredits a level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, provided that this title is valid for to access doctoral studies in the country of dispatch. This admission does not imply, in any case, the approval of the previous title that the interested party is in possession of or the recognition for other purposes than that of accessing doctoral studies.

      
• Be in possession of a degree obtained in accordance with foreign educational systems outside the EEES, without the need for it to be approved, after verification by the University of Barcelona that this degree accredits a level of training equivalent to the official Spanish master's degree university and which, in the country of dispatch, entitles you to access doctoral studies. This admission does not imply, in any case, the approval of the previous title that the interested party is in possession of or the recognition for other purposes than that of accessing doctoral studies.

      
• Be in possession of another doctoral degree.

      
• Equally, university graduates who, after obtaining a place in training through the corresponding test for access to specialized health training places, have passed with a positive evaluation at least two years of training in a program to obtain the title, can access official of one of the specialties in health sciences.

      
• The graduates, architects or engineers who were in possession of the diploma of advanced studies obtained in accordance with what was established in Royal Decree 778/1998, of April 30, or who had reached the research sufficiency regulated in Royal Decree 185/ 1985, of January 23.

Admission requirements

The Academic Committee will consider the biomedical content of each candidate's master's degree in evaluating their suitability for the doctoral programme. As a general rule, students should hold a master's degree that covers biomedicine or the specific disciplines of immunology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, biotechnology, genetics, medical sciences, veterinary sciences, pharmacology, nutrition, physiology and others.

The Academic Committee will select students on the basis of the following scoring system:

1. Academic record for the bachelor's degree or pre-EHEA degree used for admission: maximum 2 points, depending on the grade point average. For each degree, the standard grade point average will be considered.Correction factors will be applied to qualifications issued outside Spain, as provided for in the regulations of the ANECA programme.

2. Academic record for the master's degree (maximum 1 point, depending on the grade point average). For each master's degree, the standard grade point average will be considered. Correction factors will be applied to qualifications issued outside Spain, as provided for in the regulations of the ANECA programme.

3. Possession of a doctoral grant (3 points).

4. Favourable report from a researcher assigned to the degree programme. Credit will be given for the applicant's capacity, aptitude and motivation. The report must state why the researcher is interested in the student's academic profile, in relation to his/her research project (maximum 2 points).

5. Other curricular merits: previous research experience, publications and international placements (maximum 1 point).

Enrolment

You can find all the information and enrolment prices at the Doctoral School

Lines of research and teaching staff

Research lines

• 101114 - Bioinformatics
  
• 101119 - Molecular and cell biology of cancer
  
• 101115 - Biomedical engineering
  
• 101116 - Immunology
  
• 101117 - Metabolism, metabolic signalling and related pathologies
  
• 101118 - Neuroscience
  

Teachers

Research plan and progress reports

You can find all the information at the following links:

• Research Plan
• Activities document
• Annual monitoring report and evaluation and DADDAD
• Guide to good practice in doctoral thesis supervision and tutoring
• Code of good practices of the Doctoral School of the University of Barcelona

Training activities

List of courses offered: 

1. Seminar on (bio)statistics for doctoral students.  
2. Macro programming with ImageJ for image analysis.  
3. Image processing and analysis with ImageJ. 
4. High-content screening of cell populations: vacant places in this subject from the master’s degree programme in Biomedicine are offered to doctoral students.  
5. Biomed PhDay Symposium (conference organized by the doctoral programme in Biomedicine).  

Training Activities
 

Doctoral thesis

Formal Requirements and Indications for the presentation of monographic theses:

1. To write the thesis in this format, below is the structure it must have, respecting the general regulations of the University of Barcelona:

• Contents (index)
• Introduction
• Targets
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Bibliography

1.2. On the other hand, the first page of the thesis must include the following information:

• Name of the doctoral program (PhD program in Biomedicine)
• Title of the thesis
• Name, surname and signature of the doctoral candidate
• Name, surname and signature of the director of the thesis, or of the directors, and of the tutor
• Place where the thesis was carried out

Thesis publication: TDX

Thesis

Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

The title of Doctor in Biomedicine is the university accreditation that certifies that this professional can carry out quality biomedical research independently.
Regardless of the orientation of the biomedical research in which the thesis work has been carried out, the PhD degree is essential for the pursuit of a scientific and academic career. This professional can join Research Centres, Hospitals and Universities.
The PhD degree in Biomedicine is also a plus for those professionals interested in developing their work in the business world; both in R&D departments and in management. Industries such as Pharmaceutical, Biotechnological or Biomedical Engineering companies welcome Doctors in Biomedicine to their staff in order to achieve their business objectives.

Contact us

PhD Coordination: estherperez@ub.edu

Phone: 934 035 284