Access profile

Students must have adequate knowledge of the concepts and basic tools needed to carry out competitively funded research in the field of bioinformatics. Therefore, the main entry route to the programme is via a research-oriented master's degree in a discipline that is relevant to the field of bioinformatics, and priority will be given to applicants with this background.

There is one alternative entry route. Students who have not completed a master's degree but have completed a bachelor's degree in a discipline relevant to bioinformatics that carries at least 300 ECTS credits but does not include research training credits may be admitted to the programme on the condition that they complete, in their first year, 30 ECTS credits corresponding to subjects included on a master’s degree in bioinformatics taught at one of the universities involved in the programme.

The language of instruction for the programme is English. Students must therefore demonstrate a level of competence in English equivalent to Level B2 (upper intermediate) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If an applicant cannot provide certification of their level of English, this point will be assessed by the Selection and Progress Review Panel during the admission interview.

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

Number of places

8

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years.

When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the requirement to complete this minimum period of study.

Temporary disability leave and leave for the birth of a child, adoption or fostering for the purposes of adoption, temporary foster care, risk during pregnancy or infant feeding, gender violence and any other situation provided for in current regulations do not count towards these periods. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which must inform the Doctoral School.

Doctoral candidates may request periods of temporary withdrawal from the programme for up to a total of two years. Requests must be justified and addressed to the academic committee responsible for the programme, which will decide whether or not to grant the candidate's request.

Extension of studies
If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
• The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
• The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
• A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
• The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
• The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.

Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.

Legal framework

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated version)
• Academic regulations for doctoral studies (CG/2023/09/08)

Organization

• Casanellas Rius, Marta

• Casanellas Rius, Marta
• Gomez Melis, Guadalupe

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

University of Girona

University of Lleida

University of Vic–Central University of Catalonia

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Universitat Rovira i Virgili (2021)

University of Barcelona (2021)

• School of Mathematics and Statistics (PROMOTORA)
• Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación
• Department of Automatic Control
• Department of Chemical Engineering
• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Department of Computer Science
• Department of Mathematics
• Department of Physics
• Department of Statistics and Operations Research

School of Mathematics and Statistics (FME)
C/ Pau Gargallo, 14
08028 Barcelona

Tel.: 934 015 861

E-mail: gestio.doctorat.bioinformatica@upc.edu

Access profile

Students must have adequate knowledge of the concepts and basic tools needed to carry out competitively funded research in the field of bioinformatics. Therefore, the main entry route to the programme is via a research-oriented master's degree in a discipline that is relevant to the field of bioinformatics, and priority will be given to applicants with this background.

There is one alternative entry route. Students who have not completed a master's degree but have completed a bachelor's degree in a discipline relevant to bioinformatics that carries at least 300 ECTS credits but does not include research training credits may be admitted to the programme on the condition that they complete, in their first year, 30 ECTS credits corresponding to subjects included on a master’s degree in bioinformatics taught at one of the universities involved in the programme.

The language of instruction for the programme is English. Students must therefore demonstrate a level of competence in English equivalent to Level B2 (upper intermediate) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If an applicant cannot provide certification of their level of English, this point will be assessed by the Selection and Progress Review Panel during the admission interview.

Access requirements

As a rule, applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor's degree or equivalent and a Spanish master's degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February).

Applicants who meet one or more of the following conditions are also eligible for admission:

a) Holders of official Spanish degrees or equivalent Spanish qualifications, provided they have passed 300 ECTS credits in total and they can prove they have reached Level 3 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
b) Holders of degrees awarded in foreign education systems in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which do not require homologation, who can prove that they have reached Level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework, provided the degree makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
c) Holders of degrees awarded in a country that does not belong to the EHEA, which do not require homologation, on the condition that the University is able to verify that the degree is of a level equivalent to that of official university master's degrees in Spain and that it makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
d) Holders of another doctoral degree.
e) Holders of an official university qualification who, having been awarded a post as a trainee in the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have successfully completed at least two years of training leading to an official degree in a health sciences specialisation.

Note 1: Regulations for access to doctoral studies for individuals with degrees in bachelor's, engineering, or architecture under the system prior to the implementation of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014).

Note 2: Agreement number 64/2014 of the Governing Council approving the procedure and criteria for assessing the academic requirements for admission to doctoral studies with non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014).

Legal framework

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated version)
• Academic regulations for doctoral studies (CG/2023/09/08)

Admission criteria and merits assessment

1. Suitability of the applicant's bachelor's and master's degree (20%). The highest score on this point will be given to students who have completed a bachelor's or master's degree in bioinformatics. In other cases, consideration will be given to the research area that the applicant is seeking admission to.

2. Academic record for bachelor's and master's studies (45%). For this point, the Selection and Progress Review Panel will consider whether the applicant's academic record is competitive enough to obtain a predoctoral grant. If it is not, the applicant may only be admitted if a thesis supervisor who can provide some other type of predoctoral contract (covered by a project budget, for example) is proposed by the applicant or can be assigned by the programme.

3. A covering letter (max. 2 pages) in which the applicant explains why they wish to undertake doctoral studies in this programme, provides information on their academic background, and indicates which research area of the doctoral programme they are seeking admission to. Applicants may also propose a thesis supervisor if they deem this appropriate (10%).

4. Interview (15%). The interview will be conducted in English and will serve as a means of assessing the applicant's conversational skills in this language. It will also provide an opportunity for applicants to ask any questions they have or request additional information about the curriculum and objectives of the programme.

5. Additional academic activities: published research papers and conference papers (10%).

Training complements

The main entry route to the programme is via a research-oriented master's degree in a discipline that is relevant to the field bioinformatics. Priority will be given to applicants with this background. Students with this background will not need to take any compulsory bridging courses. However, the academic committee for the programme, in agreement with a student's tutors and thesis supervisor, may recommend optional bridging courses according to their academic background and chosen research area.

Students who have not completed a master's degree but have completed a bachelor's degree in a discipline relevant to bioinformatics that carries at least 300 ECTS credits but does not include research training credits may be admitted to the programme on the condition that they complete, in their first year, 30 ECTS credits corresponding to subjects included on a master's degree in bioinformatics taught at one of the universities involved in the programme. The content of the 30 ECTS credits will be decided by the thesis supervisor but must also be approved by the tutors and the academic committee.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

https://fme.upc.edu/ca/curs-actual/matricula/estudiants-de-doctorat

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

https://fme.upc.edu/ca/curs-actual/matricula/estudiants-de-doctorat

More information at the general registration section

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Formation activities

Activity: Development of skills related to communication and dissemination of research – basic level (compulsory)
Hours: 36
Description:
Each of the selection and progress review panels for the programme (one per intake year; see Section 3.2) will organise annual progress review sessions that bring together doctoral students who were admitted to the programme in the same year. These sessions will also be used to develop students' research communication skills, which will be given particular attention during student presentations.

Activity: Attendance of working doctoral groups (compulsory)
Hours: 48
Description:
Each year, the doctoral programme will organise a one-day scientific workshop. Doctoral students must participate in at least two of these workshops, at which they will present a poster. The aim of the workshops will be to present, examine, share and discuss the state of the thesis research process in its initial, middle and final stages. Sessions will always be organised at three levels:
Initial: Conceptual approaches and complete research plan
Middle: Methodologies applied and methodological problems to be solved
Final: Expected results and results already achieved.
The workshops will follow a standard format, with oral presentations and two poster sessions (morning and afternoon). Workshops will be conducted in the language of instruction for the programme (English). Doctoral students must send summaries to the academic committee in advance. Based on these submissions, students will be selected to give 20-minute talks (with an additional 10 minutes for discussion) for each of the three levels indicated above.
This activity allows students to share experiences at three crucial points in their training process and gives the coordinator of the doctoral programme a clear idea of the direction, level and pace of their research.

Activity: Attendance of seminars or lectures given by experts in the area of knowledge (compulsory)
Hours: 9
Description:
The doctoral programme will organise a series of scientific seminars. A seminar will be held about once every two months (four per academic year) with the aim of improving doctoral students' knowledge of topics related to their thesis research. Doctoral students must attend at least three of these seminars each academic year for three years. Seminars will focus on topics covered by the programme and will be taught by internationally renowned researchers.

Activity: Presentation (poster or oral) at a national or international conference (compulsory)
Hours: 100
Description:
Presenting one's research and engaging in a discussion before audience members who are knowledgeable about the topic presented is one of the most effective ways to learn and improve one's research activity. Giving a presentation of this kind at an international conference that focuses specifically on the subject area of a doctoral student's thesis and is attended by researchers with a strong reputation in the relevant field of study is a crucial test and milestone for future researchers nearing the end of their academic training.
For this reason, the organisers of the doctoral programme propose that students participate in a scientific meeting (workshop or international conference) where they can present the results of their research and receive input and feedback from renowned researchers specialising in their field. These events also provide students with an opportunity to take part in discussions and provide input on significant issues in their subject area.
Given the highly specialised nature of academic events of this kind, students must be at an advanced stage of their thesis work to undertake this activity. This activity will be supervised and oriented by the student's thesis supervisor or tutors.

Activity: Writing of a research paper for submission to a high-impact scientific journal (compulsory)
Hours: 500
Description:
Students' most representative results will be presented in the form of a scientific paper.
In the process of producing a doctoral thesis, working intensively on key skills in formal and content-focused contexts is an experience that helps students optimise their scientific activity within the framework of the international research community. This activity also plays an important role in developing and training future researchers. It is essential that students understand the process, mechanisms, tools, expository and formal approaches and requirements that generally apply to the publication of research papers in indexed journals.
Given that papers are often the main tool for contemporary research, we believe it is vitally important that, before obtaining a doctoral degree, students gain experience in this area by writing at least one scientific paper for publication in an indexed journal.
This activity will be carried out when students are nearing completion of their experimental work and have obtained results that can form the basis of a scientific publication.

Activity: Research stays at public or private centres in Spain or abroad (optional)
Hours: 490 (3 months)
Description:
To be awarded an International Doctorate mention, during the training period required to earn a doctoral degree, students must complete a period of mobility of at least three months at a well-regarded higher education institution or research centre outside Spain and take courses or do research work there. The period of mobility and the activities carried out must be vouched for by the thesis supervisor, authorised by the academic committee and recorded on the doctoral student activity report. The required period of study may be non-continuous provided that the total time is at least three months and that all of this time is spent at the same institution. The training period starts when a student is admitted and ends when they are awarded a doctoral degree. Although periods of international mobility are optional, the programme will provide incentives so that the majority of doctoral students participate in this activity.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.

If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
• The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
• The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
• The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
• A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
• The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
• The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.

Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.

Legal framework

• Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated version)
• Academic regulations for doctoral studies (CG/2023/09/08)

List of authorized thesis for defense

Last update: 21/11/2024 05:45:30.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 21/11/2024 05:30:24.

List of defended theses by year

Select a year: 2015201620172018201920202021202220232024

Last update: 21/11/2024 06:01:48.

Research groups

UPC groups:

• (MC)2-UPC-Computational continuum mechanics
• ALBCOM-Algorithms, Computational Biology, Complexity and Formal Methods
• B2SLab-Bioinformatics and Biomedical Signals Laboratory
• BIOCOM-SC-Computational Biology and Complex Systems Group
• BIOSPIN-Biomedical Signal Processing and Interpretation
• COSDA-UPC-COmpositional and Spatial Data Analysis
• DONLL-Nonlinear dynamics, nonlinear optics and lasers
• GEOMVAP-Geometry of Manifolds and Applications
• GRBIO-Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Group
• LARCA-Laboratory of Relational Algorithmics, Complexity and Learnability
• SD-UPC Dynamical Systems
• SOCO-Soft Computing

External groups:

• Life Sciences, Integrative Computational Network Biology (BSC)
• Computational Genomics Group (BSC)
• Life Sciences, Computational Biology Life Sciences Group (BSC)

Teachers

Doctoral Programme teachers

• Casanellas Rius, Marta
• Echebarria Dominguez, Blas
• Ferrer Cancho, Ramon
• Gomez Melis, Guadalupe
• Graffelman, Jan
• Guillamon Grabolosa, Antoni
• Jane Campos, Raimon
• Masoller, Cristina
• Messeguer Peypoch, Xavier
• Perera Lluna, Alexandre
• Perez Gonzalez, Juan Jesus
• Valiente Feruglio, Gabriel
• Vellido Alcacena, Alfredo
• Vilaseca Alavedra, Ramon

External teachers

Torrents Arenales, David (BSC)

Przulj, Natasa (BSC)

Valencia, Alfonso (BSC)