Doctoral School

Reading date: 13/04/2026

• KHOSRAVI, HAMID: Enhancing microfluidic and electrochemical sensors for biological and environmental analysis
  
  Author: KHOSRAVI, HAMID
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MECHANICAL, FLUIDS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering (EM)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 27/02/2026
  Reading date: 13/04/2026
  Reading time: 15:30
  Reading place: Sala de conferències del TR5, ESEIAAT.
  Thesis director: CASALS TERRE, JASMINA
  Thesis abstract: The transition toward low-cost, portable, and environmentally conscious analytical technologies has intensified the pursuit of sustainable alternatives to conventional laboratory instrumentation. This thesis develops paper-based and electrochemical sensing platforms that prioritize circular-economy principles by employing renewable and waste-derived materials. Non-wood cellulose fibers were selected as substrates for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs), while industrial mill scale was valorized to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles for electrode modification, demonstrating that sustainability and high analytical performance can be synergistic.In the first study, μPADs fabricated from alternative cellulose sources were evaluated. Their fiber morphology and porosity strongly influenced capillary flow and colorimetric responses. Compared to commercial cellulose papers, non-wood substrates enabled substantially faster wicking and significantly reduced detection time, underscoring their suitability for rapid, low-resource diagnostics.The second study focused on lactate detection using magnetite-modified electrodes. Wastederived Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles enhanced electron transfer and enzyme immobilization, enabling an exceptionally broad detection range alongside high sensitivity and a low detection limit. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first demonstration of a lactate biosensing platform that simultaneously achieves such a wide dynamic range while retaining high analytical sensitivity, making it suitable for applications from trace physiological monitoring to highly concentrated food and fermentation environments.Finally, a novel electrochemical strategy was developed for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic quantification in water. Leveraging the natural affinity between PET and magnetite nanoparticles, the approach transitions from the traditional use of magnetite for magnetic pre-concentration toward direct and quantitative electrochemical measurement, successfully validated in synthetic and real water matrices.Overall, this thesis demonstrates that renewable and waste-derived materials from non-wood cellulose to mill-scale-derived magnetite can serve as functional components in advanced sensing platforms, advancing sustainable analytical technologies for biomedical and environmental applications.
  

Reading date: 14/04/2026

• COLOMBI, SAMUELE: Soft and Conductive Material Architectures for Flexible Electronics: from Hydrogels to Nanomembranes
  
  Author: COLOMBI, SAMUELE
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 20/02/2026
  Reading date: 14/04/2026
  Reading time: 10:30
  Reading place: EEBE - UPCSala Polivalent, Ed. Ahttps://eebe.upc.edu/ca/lescola/com-arribar
  Thesis director: ALEMAN LLANSO, CARLOS ENRIQUE | GARCÍA TORRES, JOSÉ MANUEL
  Thesis abstract: Soft materials are key enablers of the next generation of flexible and multifunctional systems for applications spanning biomedicine, energy, and environmental technologies. This thesis focuses on the design, fabrication, and implementation of (nano)engineered polymeric materials with tailored properties for use in soft electronic devices, drug delivery systems, solar-driven water evaporators, and functional scaffolds for tissue engineering. To this end, three main families of materials were developed: composite alginate (Alg)-based hydrogels, composite gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)-based hydrogels, and polylactic acid (PLA)-based nanomembranes. For each material platform, structure–property–function relationships were systematically investigated across distinct biotechnological scenarios to achieve enhanced performance. Alg-based composite hydrogels were engineered as versatile, water-rich platforms through the incorporation of functional nanomaterials (such as PLA nanofibers and gold nanoparticles), enzymes, and conducting polymers (e.g., PEDOT:PSS). These systems were designed to exhibit improved mechanical robustness, controlled porosity, and tunable physicochemical and functional properties while maintaining their intrinsic biocompatibility. By modulating composition, the Alg-based hydrogels were successfully applied as drug delivery matrices for the sustained release of lactate, as soft electronic platforms for temperature and H₂O₂ sensing, and as flexible energy-storage devices. In addition, the introduction of secondary covalent crosslinking was explored as a strategy to enhance operational stability in H₂O₂ biosensing and solar-driven steam generation applications. In parallel, bilayered PANI–PLA nanomembranes incorporating aligned gold nanopillars were fabricated as free-standing, lightweight, conformable, and mechanically stable platforms for skin electronics. These nanomembranes enabled simultaneous pH and non-enzymatic NADH sensing, demonstrating their suitability for monitoring skin physiology and infection-related biomarkers. Finally, GelMA hydrogels were nanoengineered with magnetoelectric and/or graphene-based nanomaterials to develop bioactive scaffolds for cardiac tissue regeneration. The incorporation of these nanomaterials allowed precise tuning of the mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and biological properties of the hydrogels. Their ability to support cell adhesion and proliferation, combined with their capacity to sense cellular activity, highlights their potential as multifunctional scaffolds for engineered tissues and bioelectronic interfaces. Overall, this thesis demonstrates that rational materials design across multiple length scales enables the development of soft matter systems with tailored and synergistic functionalities, paving the way toward next-generation flexible electronic devices, controlled therapeutic platforms, and sustainable water-treatment technologies.
  

• DELGADO ZHAGUI, ERIKA BEATRIZ: Validation of MEMS Accelerometers for Static and Dynamic Bridge Assessment Integrating Automated Synchronization and Modal Parameter Extraction
  
  Author: DELGADO ZHAGUI, ERIKA BEATRIZ
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 19/03/2026
  Reading date: 14/04/2026
  Reading time: 14:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB, Sala Tesines C1-002 (C/Jordi Girona 1-3, mòdul C1, Campus Nord, Barcelona).
  Thesis director: TURMO CODERQUE, JOSE | KOMARIZADEHASL, SEYEDMILAD
  Thesis abstract: Aging bridge infrastructure worldwide faces growing challenges from increased traffic demand, environmental degradation, and sustained dynamic loads, compromising structural integrity and public safety. In this context, structural health monitoring (SHM) has emerged as a key tool for proactive infrastructure management. However, its widespread implementation remains limited by the high cost and operational complexity of commercial instrumentation systems. As a result, many bridges, especially those with limited resources, remain unmonitored, while the technical feasibility of low-cost alternatives for reliable structural assessment remains scientifically unvalidated.This research addresses this gap through the first multi-scale experimental validation of LARA (Low-Cost Adaptive Reliable Accelerometer) sensors applied to bridge monitoring, contributing to both the theoretical advancement and practical implementation of low-cost SHM systems. This work presents four original contributions.First, a methodology for indirect deformation estimation based on rotation measurement is developed and validated, using the dual-axis inclinometer capabilities of LARA. The methodology is validated through static load tests carried out on a railway bridge (access to Barcelona–El Prat Airport), allowing vertical displacements to be estimated with correlation coefficients greater than 0.95 compared to the reference instrumentation. These results demonstrate that rotations can accurately replace traditional displacement measurements.Second, controlled dynamic tests are carried out comparing the performance of LARA with commercial-grade accelerometers (IOLITEI-3XMEMS-ACC-S). The results show that LARA identifies fundamental frequencies with errors of less than 2% and estimates damping ratios with deviations of less than 4%. These results constitute the first quantitative benchmark on the use of low-cost sensors in the dynamic analysis of bridges, establishing validated performance thresholds previously unavailable in literature.Third, a complete automated procedure for modal identification is developed and validated, integrating noise filtering, peak picking algorithms, frequency domain decomposition, and quality assurance. Applied to a reinforced concrete isostatic bridge in the Basque Country, the procedure made it possible to extract modal parameters under environmental excitation with sufficient accuracy to update a finite element model (MAC>0.90), representing one of the first demonstrations of structural model calibration driven by low-cost sensors under operating conditions.Fourth, the thesis evaluates the sustainability of the LARA system from an environmental, economic, and social perspective. The results indicate a reduced carbon footprint and the possibility of expanding monitoring coverage at a fraction of the cost of commercial systems, while also contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Based on two experimental campaigns on bridges and multiple load scenarios, it has been confirmed that LARA achieves operational accuracy comparable to that of commercial sensors (frequency errors below 3% and modal correlation above 0.85) at approximately 8–10% of the cost. The main contribution of this thesis is the empirical demonstration that low-cost sensors can reliably perform structural identification tasks traditionally reserved for expensive instrumentation, providing a solid scientific foundation for the democratization of structural monitoring.
  

• SABÁN FOSCH, ALEJANDRO: End-to-end design and development of an Autonomous Flight Safety System enabling reusable space missions in Europe
  
  Author: SABÁN FOSCH, ALEJANDRO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MECHANICAL, FLUIDS AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering (EM)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 05/03/2026
  Reading date: 14/04/2026
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: ESEIAAT - Aula 3.6
  Thesis director: SORIA GUERRERO, MANUEL | DIEZ LLEDO, EDUARD | SUREDA ANFRES, MIQUEL
  Thesis abstract: This dissertation presents the design, development, and validation of an Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS) tailored to the operational and regulatory needs of reusable launch vehicles in Europe. Motivated by the shift from expendable rockets to reusable systems and the consequent need for autonomous range safety, the research situates itself at the intersection of technology, safety assurance, and certification.A requirement-driven approach, grounded in European and international regulations, ensured alignment with certification pathways. A review of current FSS and regulatory frameworks established the baseline from which requirements were derived. These were structured through a model-based systems engineering methodology, implemented in ARCADIA and SysML, guiding functional decomposition and definition of a three-layered architecture. The AFSS design comprises four application modules: navigation, flight dynamics assessment, decision-making, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM).Each module was independently implemented and validated. The navigation subsystem met outage-handling requirements, reliably bridging data gaps. The flight dynamics assessment integrated 3D flight corridor checks, and impact prediction with aerodynamic effects and dispersion evaluation at low operational cost. For reusable launchers, the IVHM subsystem is essential, as safe operation requires monitoring systems for re-entry. This module classified anomalies accurately, highlighting the trade-off between expert-tuned and data-driven approaches due to sensitivity to membership function parametrisation. The decision-making logic consistently executed termination rules under nominal and degraded conditions, confirming robustness.A RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) analysis critically assessed maturity. Navigation and decision-making were identified as the most safety-critical functions, with redundancy mitigating risks but leaving common-mode vulnerabilities. Prototype hardware (HW) was selected according to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) criteria, suitable for ground validation at TRL 7 system level. This reflected a focus on validating software and architecture, while dedicated space-qualified HW -required for certification under harsher conditions such as radiation and vibration- lay beyond scope.Integration testing guaranteed the correctness of the AFSS prototype before the ground campaign at the Kiruna spaceport to achieve TRL 7, a milestone in European AFSS development. The prototype demonstrated coherent behaviour across processors, reliable synchronization between redundant chains, and real-time telemetry from the Real-time target machine. Although processing loads neared the limits of the selected low-end HW, it met its main objective: validating the complete AFSS software chain. Nonetheless, borderline safety decisions under certain conditions showed that resilience depends on algorithmic choices, parametrisation, and execution margins.The research shows AFSS architectures are technically feasible, regulation-aware, and progressing towards operational use, though challenges remain. Future work should address processor scalability with multi-core, space-qualified platforms; enhance navigation robustness against GNSS jamming and spoofing; extend IVHM towards prognostics; and evaluate navigation architectures (IMU-only versus integrated IMU/GNSS) once launcher avionics are defined. Equally critical is institutional progress: certifying AFSS will require new regulatory frameworks and joint experimental programmes aligning technical validation with policy evolution.By combining regulatory awareness, rigorous engineering, and validation to TRL 7, this dissertation contributes not only a prototype but also a roadmap. It demonstrates feasibility while clarifying remaining challenges, providing a foundation for the safe deployment of autonomous flight safety in Europe's reusable launchers.
  

Reading date: 15/04/2026

• JEBBAD, RAGHDA: Impacts of climate change on the ports of the Southwestern coast of the Alboran Sea
  
  Author: JEBBAD, RAGHDA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
  Department: Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 18/02/2026
  Reading date: 15/04/2026
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB, Campus Nord BarcelonaC/ Jordi Girona, edificio B1 aula 005
  Thesis director: MÖSSO ARANDA, OCTAVIO CESAR | SIERRA PEDRICO, JUAN PABLO
  Thesis abstract: Climate change is altering the coastal conditions that ports are designed to withstand, through sea-level rise and changes in storm-driven wave regimes. These changes can reduce operability, increase overtopping impacts on exposed structures, and affect harbour agitation and breakwater performance. This thesis develops an applied and integrated framework to translate offshore climate projections into port‑scale impact indicators and adaptation pathway planning for Moroccan Mediterranean ports along the southwestern Alboran Sea.Offshore wave conditions are characterised using a four‑dataset Med-CORDEX ensemble under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, and propagated to the nearshore with a regional SWAN model featuring port‑scale nesting. Combined with sea level rise projections, these forcings are used to quantify four port‑impact indicators: berthing inoperability based on still‑water‑level exceedance relative to minimum freeboard requirements; wave overtopping discharge at exposed structures; harbour agitation exceedance within the basin; and breakwater stability under extreme forcing. The overtopping assessment is applied across eight ports to establish relative exposure and identify the most exposed sites. Berthing inoperability and an indicative dock‑raising cost estimate are developed for Tangier‑Med. A multi‑process assessment is carried out for Al Hoceima, together with an applied adaptation‑pathways case study that links impact levels to response options over time. The thesis also develops an uncertainty‑evaluation framework to support the interpretation of wave‑driven port impact projections.