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Why take a doctoral degree at the UPC

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Because of Excellence

The UPC is listed in the main international rankings as one of the top technological and research universities in southern Europe and is among the world's 40 best young universities.

Its main asset: people

Satisfaction with the work of the thesis supervisor is highlighted by 7 out of 10 UPC doctoral students. Support and availability get the best ratings.

Internationalisation

More than half of the students of the UPC’s Doctoral School are international and a third obtain the International Doctorate mention.

 

Graduate employment of a high quality

Almost all UPC doctoral degree holders are successful in finding employment, mostly in jobs related to their degree.

The best industrial doctorate

The UPC offers the most industrial doctoral programmes in Catalonia (a third) with a hundred companies involved.

The industrial setting

The UPC’s location in an especially creative and innovative industrial and technological ecosystem is an added value for UPC doctoral students.

Theses for defense agenda

Reading date: 05/04/2024
  • JIMÉNEZ REYES, SERGIO: Development of a unified fatigue constitutive model: from high to low cycle regime.
    Author: JIMÉNEZ REYES, SERGIO
    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 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
    Department: (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Deposit date: 01/03/2024
    Reading date: 05/04/2024
    Reading time: 12:00
    Reading place: Sala Zienkiewicz del Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics a l'Enginyeria (CIMNE) Edifici C1, planta 2, Campus Nord - UPC C.Gran Capità s/n. 08034 BCN- Enllaç https://meet.google.com/zon-mupk-jui
    Thesis director: OÑATE IBAÑEZ DE NAVARRA, EUGENIO | BARBU, LUCIA GRATIELA
    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: MARTINEZ GARCIA, JAVIER
         SECRETARI: PEREZ MARTINEZ, MARCO ANTONIO
         VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: LUCCIONI, BIBIANA MARIA
    Thesis abstract: n a context in which research lines such as optimised design, smart design, use of new materials, weight reduction, etc. are becoming more and more common in the engineering field, techniques that allow for an accurate analysis of the real behaviour of materials, parts and structures are becoming essential. This involves understanding the actual overall response exhibited by a material subjected to a heterogeneous set of external forces, which is only possible by abandoning the reductionist view typically adopted in the design phases in which external forces are amplified, resistance properties are diminished and deterioration phenomena are studied one by one. A clear example of this is the treatment given to the study of fatigue phenomenon, which, in general, is limited to an extrapolation of results obtained in a controlled laboratory environment in order to predict failure, disregarding the process and focusing only on the consequences, thus preventing an integrated study of fatigue with any other inelastic process.Unlike conventional approaches based on simplified analytical calculations or specific numerical models for certain regimes, a unified treatment of fatigue is proposed in this thesis based on plastic-damage constitutive laws. Using the Finite Element method, a framework is built to capture the response of a material exposed to quasi-static loading states in both monotonic and fatigue regimes, resulting in the accumulation of plastic strains and/or stiffness degradation.To reach this point, a study of the individual mechanisms of deterioration encompassed within the unified approach proposed in the thesis is carried out. On the one hand, the characterisation of the constitutive response associated with plastic-damage processes is undertaken. This analysis is carried out by adopting three approaches that involve different levels of coupling in the description of damage and plasticity, resulting in three laws that are further exploited for their potential to be adapted for the study of fatigue processes, yielding to fluctuating plastic-damage models. On the other hand, the characterisation of the behaviour under fatigue loading conditions is addressed by studying the effects that cyclic loads inducing dominant tensile stresses have in a material, including scenarios where the stress level may exceed the yield limit. Having identified the inelastic processes associated with fatigue, the objective methodology is then constructed to coherently study and quantify the successive deterioration mechanisms to which a material may be subjected.This sets the guidelines for further work in the simulation of complex processes involving multiple mechanical deterioration phenomena. Thus, this thesis serves as the first step aimed at: defining the foundations, outlining the applications and initiating the exploration of the potential of the proposed approach.
  • OSORIO PEÑA, MANUEL: Development of concentrated beer products by applying freeze concentration technology
    Author: OSORIO PEÑA, MANUEL
    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 AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
    Department: (DEAB)
    Mode: Change of supervisor
    Deposit date: 11/03/2024
    Reading date: 05/04/2024
    Reading time: 13:00
    Reading place: Universidad de La Sabana, Campus del Puente del Común,Colombia: Conexión online (13h p.m. Europa)
    Thesis director: HERNANDEZ YAÑEZ, EDUARDO | MORENO MORENO, FABIAN LEONARDO | RUIZ PARDO, RUTH YOLANDA
    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: NAKAGAWA, KYUYA
         SECRETARI: ORELLANA PALMA, PATRICIO
         VOCAL: PRUDÊNCIO, ELANE SCHWINDEN
    Thesis abstract: Beer is an essential product in the economic field, being considered the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world. It is also a product in which innovations are constantly presented, being a potential market for developing new products and processes, mainly those that seek to highlight qualities such as flavour or their quality, as occurs, for example, with concentrated drinks. However, the technique to be applied must be chosen with caution since several volatile compounds in beer could be lost when applying a thermal concentration treatment, generating a loss in the quality of the product since these compounds are directly related to the sensory profile of the beer. Freeze concentration has presented good results in the concentration of solutes and conservation of properties (sensory and bioactivity), which is a viable technique for several liquid food matrices, such as juices, wines, dairy products and coffee extracts, and non-food, such as water treatments.Through this work, we sought to analyze the application of progressive stirred and block freeze concentration in different types of beer. To do this, in the first instance, the effect of a known freeze concentration technique, such as falling film, on the sensory profile of a commercial beer was studied, and then a comment analysis was carried out to choose the craft beers that were used later. Finally, time versus ice fraction models were developed for these beers in the progressive stirred freeze concentration technique.Subsequently, changes in the physicochemical composition of three types of beer were evaluated before and after applying the progressive stirred and block techniques, finding significant effects of operational variables. Additionally, volatile component analysis was carried out using gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrum. It evaluated the original beers, the concentrated liquids and the diluted fractions in each technique, finding significant differences in the relative composition of the compounds through their area percentage of the chromatograms. Finally, sensory analyses of the evaluated fractions were carried out, through a multidimensional analysis, evaluating the intensity of each sample's aroma, flavour and sensation descriptors, finding variations in the sensory profiles, and correlating said changes with the changes in the physicochemical parameters, and the relative composition of volatiles.The document is structured in nine chapters, highlighting generalities, objectives and structure in the first three chapters, while chapters four to six present detailed results. Finally, chapters seven and eight show the main results and general conclusions of the project, highlighting the relevance and viability of freeze concentration in improving and preserving the sensory quality of beer, revealing the potential to develop new concentrated beer products.
Reading date: 09/04/2024
  • COLL VALENTÍ, ARNAU: Advanced c-Si solar cell structures: application of laser processes and optical nanostructures
    Author: COLL VALENTÍ, ARNAU
    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 ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
    Mode: Article-based thesis
    Deposit date: 08/03/2024
    Reading date: pending
    Reading time: pending
    Reading place: pending
    Thesis director: BERMEJO BROTO, ALEXANDRA | MARTIN GARCIA, ISIDRO
    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: VOZ SANCHEZ, CRISTOBAL
         SECRETARI: GARIN ESCRIVA, MOISES
         VOCAL: HERNÁNDEZ GARCÍA, DAVID
    Thesis abstract: This thesis works towards efficient and cost-effective methods to improve the performance of thin silicon solar cells. Focusing on two principal objectives, the Thesis develops novel techniques to enhance the production of colloidal crystals and the possibility to apply these crystals to improve the light trapping efficiency, as well as creating a unique structure for lased doped solar cells. Both advancements focus on improving the production solar cells using low-temperature processes and thin wafers, thus circumventing the dependences of high temperature procedures, while bolstering light trapping capabilities. This approach is motivated by the restarting trend to reduce silicon wafer thickness, therefore this work is pushed by the need to overcome the actual technical and physical constrains. The initial part of the Thesis focuses on the implementation of an electrospray system for the creation of colloidal crystals. These colloidal crystals are intended for application as photonic light trapping structures in solar cells. Afterwards, these structures are tested within a laser firing process to double check the viability to be used within the laser firing technique commonly used in solar cell fabrication.The main achievements within the electrospray deposition technique are the development of polystyrene and SiO2 colloidal crystals with areas in the range of 1-2cm2 and up to 17 layers of ordered particles while keep good optical quality. These layers are created at room temperature and with a process that could be adapted to batch processing and parallelized to increase the area. The technique has also been adapted to be used in non-even surfaces like C-Si pyramids or black silicon. At the same time, these structures had been used to create inverse colloidal crystals from Al2O3 and Al2O3 /TiO2 shells while getting rid of polystyrene nanoparticles. The final Al2O3 /TiO2 structure obtains high reflectivity values up to 98.2%. Finally, these inverse opals are created on top of Al2O3 passivated C-Si wafers. These structures are able to withstand a laser firing process while keeping the passivation, demonstrating the capability to be used with in the solar cells fabrication process.The second part of the thesis focuses in the creation of a process to achieve low temperature solar cells by means of highly-doped regions that are punctually defined through laser processed dielectric films. This technique call ¿DopLaCell¿ stand for doped by laser solar cell. In the initial stages of the process and as a proof of concept, 1x1 cm2 solar cells were created on both p- and n-type substrates with efficiencies of 11.6% and 12.8% respectively. In a second step, 1x1 cm2 n-type c-Si solar cells are created using the ¿cold¿ p+ emitters used in the ¿DopLaCell¿ structure. This second batch of solar cells uses a Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin layer (HIT) in the front face. This approach avoids the use of Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) on the back side of the cell thus improving the reflectivity especially with IR photons. These cells reach efficiencies up to 18.1%. Finally the process is being improved towards a pure texturized ¿DopLaCell¿. In this final step, totally ¿cold¿ 2x2 cm2 solar cells are fabricated with and efficiency up to 17.0 % .This work represents a one big step forward towards a future path of thin silicon solar cells fabrication, addressing the actual technology limitations and enabling the possibility to overcome the principal issues. This research lays the ground towards thin, affordable and efficient solar cells improving the path towards a more viable and eco-friendly energy future
Reading date: 11/04/2024
  • LI, SHANSHAN: Consumers¿ preferences and willingness to pay towards sustainable food products: Current situation and future perspective in EU and China
    Author: LI, SHANSHAN
    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 SUSTAINABILITY
    Department: University Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC)
    Mode: Article-based thesis
    Deposit date: 27/02/2024
    Reading date: 11/04/2024
    Reading time: 11:00
    Reading place: Edifici D4 (EEABB)- Sala de Graus, Campus CBL, Castelldefels
    Thesis director: KALLAS CALOT, ZEIN
    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: GIL ROIG, JOSE MARIA
         SECRETARI: BRUGAROLAS MOLLA-BAUZA, MARGARITA MARÍA
         VOCAL: DE MAGISTRIS, TIZIANA
    Thesis abstract: Currently, most of the world¿s agriculture is still based on conventional farming due to its high-yield characteristics, providing food for a growing global consumer population. However, this agricultural system is simultaneously contributing to biodiversity loss and climate change, making it unsustainable for the planet. As consumers are increasingly concerned about the potential environmental and health impacts of food, sustainable agricultural practices are beginning to be explored and developed. Both the European Union (EU) and China are making efforts in this regard. In this context, the overall objective of this dissertation is to explore, from a consumer perspective, the preferences, willingness to pay (WTP), factors affecting WTP for sustainable food products, and sustainable food-related behavior in two distinct regions: the EU and China.Firstly, a meta-analysis of 80 global studies covering a wide range of sustainable attributes was conducted. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression results showed that globally, consumers¿ average WTP premium for sustainable food products in percentage terms was 29.5%. It was worth noting that WTP estimates that were measured by hypothetical methods were typically higher than those by non-hypothetical approaches due to hypothetical bias. In addition, the organic attribute had significantly higher WTP values than other sustainable attributes. The fruit & vegetable category exhibited the highest WTP value, while the seafood category displayed the lowest one. Interestingly, the percentage of WTP for Asia exceeded that of North America and was similar to that of Europe.Secondly, consumers¿ food purchasing and consumption patterns have been reshaped by the global public health crisis (the COVID-19 pandemic). Therefore, the changes of consumers¿ food purchasing and consumption behavior in Spain and China during the COVID-19 lockdown, especially sustainable behavior, were explored. The study conducted in Spain analyzed three main dependent variables: total food consumption, expenditure, and sustainable food purchases. Data were collected from 1,203 respondents through an online semi-structured survey. To examine Chinese consumers¿ sustainable buying and consumption behavior, a semi-structured questionnaire was designed, and data were collected from 1,006 participants. Three dependent variables were measured, i.e., food purchasing behavior on sustainable attributes, sustainable and healthy diets, and food waste. In these two studies, some interesting results were found. Consumers¿ socio-demographic characteristics, emotions, trust in information sources, knowledge of COVID-19, risk attitudes, and risk perceptions played key roles in consumers¿ sustainable food-related behavior during the lockdown.Thirdly, circular farming was studied here as a sustainable agricultural system. Using the Open-Ended Choice Experiment (OECE) methodology, we conducted a questionnaire survey with 5,591 consumers from six EU countries, aiming to explore their WTP and demand for food products produced by circular farming. Three products were focused on: pork, milk, and bread. The study found that there was a demand for food produced by circular agriculture on the European market and that consumers were willing to pay higher prices than for conventional products. Among these six countries, consumers in Spain were willing to pay the highest premium (>26%), while consumers in Hungary exhibited a relatively low WTP for these products. Consumers¿ socio-demographic characteristics, environmental attitudes, and price influenced their purchases of circular food products.This dissertation provides insights for stakeholders. In addition, future research could explore consumers¿ food-related behavior in the current environment and investigate the market potential of the circular food products in China.
Reading date: 12/04/2024
  • FRAXANET MORALES, JOANA: Quantum many-body approaches to non-conventional topological phases of matter
    Author: FRAXANET MORALES, JOANA
    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 PHOTONICS
    Department: Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)
    Mode: Normal
    Deposit date: 13/02/2024
    Reading date: 12/04/2024
    Reading time: 10:00
    Reading place: ICFO, Mediterranean Technology Park, Avinguda Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona
    Thesis director: LEWENSTEIN, MACIEJ | DAUPHIN, ALEXANDRE
    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: SANTOS SANCHEZ, LUIS
         SECRETARI: RUBIO VERDÚ, CARMEN
         VOCAL: HAUKE, PHILIPP HANS-JÜRGEN
    Thesis abstract: In recent years, the evolution of quantum technologies has resulted in an unprecedented control over individual quantum particles and many-body systems. This remarkable progress has given rise to a new era, marked by the convergence of classical and quantum methodologies to investigate fundamental questions concerning the nature of quantum matter, improving our understanding of the role of entanglement in solid-state systems or the mechanisms behind high-energy physics. From analog quantum simulators to digital quantum computers, these advancements hold potential across diverse domains.This thesis explores the interplay between classical and quantum methods in understanding topological phases of matter. We concentrate on three distinct directions: non-conventional topological superconductors, interaction-induced topologicalphases in ultracold atom quantum simulators, and applications of variational quantum algorithms. Each trajectory relies on the combination of different techniques with the aim of understanding and characterizing topological phenomena indifferent settings.Exploring non-conventional topological superconductors involves extending the paradigmatic Kitaev chain model by incorporating additional terms in the Hamiltonian such as long-range interactions and quasi-periodic potentials. This investigation is relevant to better understand the impact of real-world conditions on the both the topological and localization properties of systems hosting non-local Majorana modes, which are promising candidates for topological quantum computation.In the realm of interacting systems, we explore the realization of interaction-induced topological phases in systems of ultracold atoms in optical lattices, both in one and two dimensions. The remarkable control and versatility of such platforms enable the simulation of both theoretical topological models and strongly correlated physics.Notably, the interplay between interactions and topology can give rise to intriguing phenomena, such as delocalized fractional charges and gapless topological phases,challenging existing intuition. We employ advanced numerical methods based on tensor networks to benchmark the experimental proposals that open the door to the realization and detection of novel many-body phases of matter, including topological quantum critical points and a higher-order topological Peierls insulator in Bose-Hubbard models with long-range interactions.Variational quantum algorithms, conversely, have the potential to efficiently tackle a wide range of problems, including ground state search, phase classification or accessing topological invariants. Despite current limitations in trainability and scalability, these hybrid classical-quantum algorithms provide practical insights into current quantum hardware capabilities and can inspire future architectures. We explore the application of variational quantum algorithms to shed light on topological phenomena, raising questions about their ability to discern topological phase transitions and compute topological invariants in situations where classical approaches fail.This thesis presents a comprehensive exploration of distinct approaches to topological quantum matter by leveraging quantum technologies and quantum-inspired classical algorithms. Our results not only advance our understanding of quantumsystems but also pave the way for the realization and discovery of novel physics extending to quantum information processing, materials science, and beyond.

The Doctoral School today

  • 45PhD programs
  • 2131doctoral students 21/22
  • 1591thesis supervisors 21/22
  • 305read theses 2021
  • 982021 thesis with I.M. and/or I.D.
  • 233 I.D. projects (29% from G.C. total)

I.M: International Mention, I.D.: Industrial Doctorate, G.C.: Generalitat de Catalunya