Theses authorised for defence

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN AGRI-FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

• CHE MUSTAPA, MUHAMMAD ADZRAN: Consumer Preferences and Acceptance for Sustainable Food Systems
  
  Author: CHE MUSTAPA, MUHAMMAD ADZRAN
  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: Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 18/06/2025
  Reading date: 25/09/2025
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Sala de Graus de l'EEABB, Campus del Baix Llobregat-UPC, C. Esteve Terradas 8, Castelldefels // I en sessió pública al meet.google.com/sph-anam-gqv
  Thesis director: KALLAS CALOT, ZEIN
  Thesis abstract: As consumers increasingly recognise the health, ethical, and environmental impacts of their dietary choices, a shift toward sustainable food systems is emerging. This dissertation explores consumer preferences, willingness to pay (WTP), and factors influencing the acceptance of innovative and sustainable food products through seven empirical studies.The first study examines Spanish consumers’ willingness to consume (WTC) animal products fed with insects. A survey of 1,260 individuals analysed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests reveals significant uncertainty, with females showing greater acceptance. Key factors influencing WTC include financial situation, age, and education.The second study explores the effect of informational contexts on WTP for insect-fed animal products using a Heckman model with 1,006 responses. Findings indicate WTP premiums of 21%–31%, with higher education, online shopping habits, and shopping at municipal markets increasing WTC likelihood.The third study assesses WTP for organic aquaculture products, focusing on organic sea bass. A survey of 1,300 consumers analysed via binary logistic regression finds a €2.26 (25%) WTP premium. Age, financial stability, and attributes like price, origin, and freshness significantly influence WTP.The fourth study examines Spanish consumers’ sensory acceptance of plant-based products. Data from 132 respondents analysed using SPSS and PLS-SEM show that perceived behavioural control, sensory perceptions, attitudes, and informed tasting significantly impact purchasing intentions.The fifth study investigates acceptance and WTP for legume-based gnocchi using the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) auction method. A hedonic evaluation of 127 consumers reveals moderate attitudes toward legume-based products. Tasting negatively impacts WTP, while education, income, government support perceptions, and sensory attributes influence WTP.The sixth study analyses European meat substitute consumption patterns using Mintel data from 5,000 consumers across four countries. Over half have reduced red meat intake, with Germans showing the highest vegan adherence. Women consume less meat and are more inclined to reduce intake. Economic and sustainability concerns drive reduction, with preferences for locally sourced, natural, and meat-like substitutes.The seventh study conducts a meta-analysis of consumer WTP for short food supply chain (SFSC) products across 47 studies. Findings indicate an average 34.5% premium, with gender, education, study year, age, region, product category, and sustainability attributes affecting WTP. Organic products receive the highest WTP, with meat, poultry, dairy, and honey leading categories.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

• ALVAREZ BEAUMONT GRAYEB, LORENA DENISSE: Alvar Aalto. Maison Louis Carré. Del concepto a la obra: Procesos compositivos e influencias culturales
  
  Author: ALVAREZ BEAUMONT GRAYEB, LORENA DENISSE
  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 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
  Department: Department of Architectural Design (PA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 14/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: SAUQUET LLONCH, ROGER JOAN | LINARES SOLER, ALFREDO
  Thesis abstract: Alvar Aalto was one of the most important architects of the 20th century and a key figure in the history of design. He was part of the so-called Modern Movement and is considered one of the great masters of architecture from that period. Although much of his work has been extensively studied, the Maison Louis Carré has received less attention due to its private nature until 2007. Built between 1957 and 1959 in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne (Yvelines), near Paris, the house was designed for Louis Carré, a renowned French art dealer and collector of modern art. Given the limited availability of both specific and general published sources on the subject, this study aims to contribute new insights into the Maison Louis Carré and Alvar Aalto's architecture.The information presented in this research has been 'constructed' primarily through the collection of period documents, site visits, and interviews with individuals connected to the building. Its objective is to analyze the underlying process behind the design and construction of the house by identifying the architectural strategies employed by Aalto.The study first offers an overview of the historical, social, artistic, and architectural context of Aalto’s time, as well as earlier influences. It also examines the impact of various architectural traditions—particularly from Finland, Greece, Italy, and Japan—whose presence is evident in specific formal and conceptual elements of the house, suggesting potential sources of inspiration from these cultures.The second part of the study focuses on the influence of the client-architect relationship, which played a crucial role in shaping the architectural program and design decisions. It also considers the significant involvement of the Aaltos and Louis Carré in the realization of the building, a project of high logistical complexity that would have been unfeasible without the sustained commitment of all three parties. Similarly, the analysis explores the Finnish and Nordic elements integrated by Aalto into the design, thoughtfully adapted to the client’s lifestyle, as well as to French culture and landscape—resulting in a coherent synthesis between both cultural contexts.The final section presents a more technical analysis of the design process developed by the architect—from the initial site visit to the completion of the work—covering aspects such as design strategies, environmental considerations, functionality, materiality, and structural systems, with the goal of offering a comprehensive view of the making of the Maison Louis Carré.This building occupies a special place in Alvar Aalto’s body of work, not only because it is set in a new context like France, but also because—beyond its aesthetics and timeless quality—it belongs to a period when the architect had already reached a high level of professional maturity. This is evident in his design approach and in how he engages with the landscape, incorporating a range of innovative construction techniques. These techniques manage to reflect the culture and interpretations of their time while endowing the work with a distinct language that remains evocative, dynamic, and of exceptional quality and originality even today.But what can we learn from Alvar Aalto today? In what ways could contemporary architecture achieve the level of quality and originality so clearly embodied in the timeless beauty of this house? Addressing these questions and demonstrating how the conceptual, compositional, and aesthetic values embedded in the Maison Louis Carré could still enrich contemporary architectural practice—when reinterpreted in light of current technological and productive capacities—is what drives the development of this research.
  
• BACH, ANNA KAARINA: Alison & Peter Smithson, Axel Bruchhäuser and the Hexenhaus. The added value of the conglomerate ordering
  
  Author: BACH, ANNA KAARINA
  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 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
  Department: Department of Architectural Design (PA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: MÀRIA SERRANO, MARIA MAGDALENA
  Thesis abstract: Between 1985 and 2002, British architects Alison and Peter Smithson transformed the Hexenhaus—a modest half-timbered building in Bad Karlshafen, Germany—into one of the late twentieth century's most remarkable houses. Through additions, extractions, satellite buildings, furnishing operations, and alternative routes, they redefined the relationship between the house and its landscape. This process fostered a close relationship with their client, Axel Bruchhäuser, who still resides in the house.This research provides a detailed study of the design and construction process of the Hexenhaus, using new graphic materials to illustrate its chronological evolution. The thesis examines 22 distinct interventions, considering them as both individual elements and parts of the overall project. It offers insights into an important but lesser-known period in the Smithsons' careers, spanning from the late 1970s until their deaths (Alison in 1993 and Peter in 2003). The Hexenhaus encapsulates the Smithsons' recurring themes of territory and fabric, place-response, internal project logic, and the ephemeral versus the permanent. The Hexenhaus architecture is examined within the context of the Smithsons' broader work and unique project conditions, marked by an extended design process that transcended the conventional architect-client relationship. The thesis focuses on the Hexenhaus, learning from its unique conditions and strategies, and shedding light on an obscure period of the Smithsons' professional journey. The house is interpreted through the concept of Conglomerate Ordering, linking its form to the Smithsons' mature ideas and observations.Two preliminary visits in 2013 and 2015 and the further research trips to the house and the Tecta Archive in 2018, 2019, and 2023 provided essential first-hand and archival information. Reorganising Hexenhaus documents at the Tecta Archive in 2018 offered a crucial overview of materials, such as plans, sketches, meeting minutes, notes, letters, and postcards, which became the focus of close study. The graphic material produced by the Smithsons and their correspondence with Axel Bruchhäuser illustrate their close intellectual relationship and reveal the design process's intricacies.The direct examination of the Hexenhaus yielded direct information, including precise measurements, photographs, and audio-recorded interviews with Axel Bruchhäuser. The thesis views the Hexenhaus as a collection of micro-architectures and objects forming a living, evolving organism. Consequently, the research extends beyond the house to include a detailed inventory of its furniture and miscellanea that play a crucial role in the architectural experience and design process of the Hexenhaus.The thesis exemplifies an accumulative architecture that responds to pre-existence, embracing the 'as found' as a situation to learn from and contribute to. The time embedded in the process allows architecture to be tested, adjusted, and corrected throughout an extended development, positioning Hexenhaus as an open-ended conclusion to Alison and Peter Smithson’s life’s work.
  
• DE LA FUENTE GONZÁLEZ, FÉLIX: Arquitectura Comparada
  
  Author: DE LA FUENTE GONZÁLEZ, FÉLIX
  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 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
  Department: Department of Architectural Design (PA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/07/2025
  Reading date: 02/09/2025
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ETSAB (Esc. Técnica Sup. Arquitectura de Bcn)-Pl Baja-Sala GradosAv. Diagonal, 649-651-BCN(MEET: https://meet.google.com/fva-tfab-tgu; 10:30 h)
  Thesis director: MÀRIA SERRANO, MARIA MAGDALENA | MONTEYS ROIG, FCO JAVIER
  Thesis abstract: —I— Architecture is a way of ordering the pieces of the world according to their reciprocal affinities, and this involves comparing. Because the word “architecture”, as well as referring to how buildings, cities, territory and objects find their form and technical intelligence according to what is human in them, also refers to another, perhaps more elementary notion: that an architecture is a meaningful order between things, an associative and deliberate order, an order based on the bond provided by the intimate affinities between things. Discovering these affinities, constructing them and judging them entails placing them in a comparative space where they become legible in between the pieces, in their interdistances. In this way we often become aware of unsuspected arguments between images, which we would find difficult to appreciate in their individual quality, without relation, without architecture.—II— Comparative Architecture is a field of knowledge based on three foundations. The first is a specific methodology, the critical comparative method, with a dual facet of analysis and hermeneutics, and with a transversal approach based on the affinities between things. In Comparative Architecture the method is king and prior to the themes, since its incisive application on collected objects will be what “activates” their relationships and makes arguments emerge according to relative positions and distances. The second foundation is its object of study, which are the forms and concepts of material culture: those of buildings, objects, territory, cities and landscape, and also the pure forms of technology... forms, in short, projected by man according to his knowledge and sensibility. Finally, the third foundation of Comparative Architecture is that its design is constructed with two critical devices: the comparative montage and the comparative essay, both equally intentional and representative as analysis, either in visual language or in the language of words.—III— Comparative Architecture is aligned with the spirit of many of those comparative sciences that were sprouting throughout the 19th century in very diverse fields of knowledge, as an authentic “culture of comparison”: Comparative Anatomy, Comparative Physiology, Comparative Linguistics, Comparative Mythology, Comparative Geology, Comparative Literature, etc. All of them shared a genuine outlook that involved adopting the critical comparative method as a constructive principle and the space of affinities as a space for thought and research. But if there was one thing that these comparative sciences had in common, it was the ability to take advantage of an environment of widespread accessibility and abundance of study material, starting from the handling of copious collections in an effort to critically order their pieces to unravel their reciprocal attributes, their invariances and transversalities.—IV— Today, images of material culture are presented to us in social networks and web publications in such a degree of hyper-accessibility and hyper-abundance that it would seem that the nineteenth-century condition of the fragmentary and unconnected has now reached an ultimate limit state in perpetual crisis. Insofar as the sciences of comparison encourage knowledge among the dislocated and disconnected, Comparative Architecture seems especially attuned to this hypermodern condition of our times, to offer us a critical incentive with which to handle ourselves in the profusion, simultaneity and synchronicity of publications and social networks. This thesis presents Comparative Architecture in a self-contained way, as a recognisable field of knowledge with an unprecedented potential for development thanks to the contemporary image, reproduced digitally. The thesis is composed of a homonymous volume dedicated to theoretical concerns, and an annex entitled “the coupled and the multiple” dedicated to the practical facet of comparing.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• GUTIÉRREZ MONDRAGÓN, MARIO ALBERTO: Exploring the Dynamics of the beta2-Adrenergic Receptor: Insights from Explainable AI in GPCR Research
  
  Author: GUTIÉRREZ MONDRAGÓN, MARIO ALBERTO
  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 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
  Department: Department of Computer Science (CS)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 12/05/2025
  Reading date: 16/09/2025
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: FIB Sala d'actes Manuel Martí Recober B6-planta 0
  Thesis director: VELLIDO ALCACENA, ALFREDO | KÖNIG, CAROLINE LEONORE
  Thesis abstract: G-protein coupled receptors are transmembrane proteins that serve as critical mediators between extracellular signals and intracellular responses. These highly dynamic entities orchestrate a wide array of cellular processes in response to various stimuli, including hormones, neurotransmitters, and environmental signals. Due to their versatility and central role in cellular communication, GPCRs are prime pharmacological targets for treating a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from diabetes and Alzheimer's to various forms of cancer. Despite significant advances in understanding their dynamic conformational landscapes, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying their transient and intricate shifts, especially upon ligand binding, remain obscured by the complexity of their structures. This poses substantial challenges to the elucidation of the processes that govern their signaling mechanisms. In this thesis, we leverage the wealth of information generated by Molecular Dynamics simulations through advanced Machine Learning models to help decode the complex conformational landscape of GPCRs. A crucial step in our approach involves transforming the raw MD data into structured formats that are more suitable for analysis. Deep Neural Networks, known for their strength in capturing intricate relationships within large datasets, form the backbone of the thesis. When coupled with state-of-the-art explainability techniques, these models not only produce accurate classifications, but also reveal molecular mechanisms that drive the behavior of GPCRs.Our goal extends beyond building reliable models for classification. We aim to reveal critical patterns and insights that deepen our understanding of GPCR dynamics. By focusing on the beta2 -adrenergic receptor, our aim is to improve the interpretation of receptor behavior while creating a reliable framework for broader applications in proteomics.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

• SAVALL MAÑO, MARIA: Towards a more sustainable B2C delivery in Barcelona: bridging consumer, parcel carrier, and municipal perspectives
  
  Author: SAVALL MAÑO, MARIA
  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 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
  Department: Department of Management (OE)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 15/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: RIBAS VILA, IMMACULADA
  Thesis abstract: The rapid growth of e-commerce is worsening the negative effects of urban distribution on cities. Although the last-mile segment comprises only a small part of the supply chain, its impact is disproportionately high in terms of noise, congestion, emissions, and public space use. As online shopping expands, the distribution model has remained largely unchanged, with companies simply adding more delivery vehicles to meet demand. This vehicle increase intensifies negative urban impacts, and Barcelona is no exception.Given the significant social, environmental, and economic consequences of the current urban distribution model for online purchases, exploring and implementing alternative approaches is essential. This requires considering the perspectives of all stakeholders involved in or influencing urban e-commerce distribution: consumers, parcel carriers, and municipalities. Understanding these perspectives helps identify the actions each group must take to transition toward more sustainable distribution models. This thesis proposes and analyses sustainable B2C distribution solutions for Barcelona by bridging these three perspectives, aiming to reduce noise, congestion, and pollution while improving public spaces.First, the perspective of consumers is examined. The literature highlights that e-commerce consumer behaviour is highly location-dependent; thus, a dedicated survey is conducted among Barcelona consumers. Analysis revealed four distinct consumer clusters: occasional male shoppers, who shop online once or less per month and prefer home delivery; frequent male shoppers, who shop more than three times per month and also favour home delivery; regular female shoppers, who shop once or twice per month and tend to use collection points; and occasional female shoppers, who shop online once or less per month and also prefer home delivery. To encourage greener delivery choices, increasing home delivery costs may influence occasional shoppers, while alternative strategies are needed for frequent male shoppers.Second, the perspective of parcel carriers is analysed. The literature suggests that Out-of-Home Delivery (OOHD) options and Urban Consolidation Centres (UCCs) support more sustainable distribution. Based on the characteristics of parcel carriers in Barcelona, a methodology is designed to identify optimal locations for these infrastructures and quantify associated transport and environmental costs. Implementing OOHD and UCCs in Barcelona is evaluated across various carrier types and scenarios. Results show both strategies reduce costs, with the greatest benefits observed when transhipment spaces and trolleys are used by high- and medium-volume carriers. For low-volume carriers, delivering 50% of parcels to collection points offers greater savings than using transhipment spaces.Third, the municipal government’s perspective is considered. The literature identifies designated loading and unloading time windows and road pricing strategies as possible regulatory tools to reduce freight distribution impacts. These measures are adapted to Barcelona’s context. Simulations show that avoiding peak hours with time windows significantly reduces economic impacts. To further reduce B2C externalities, introducing a strategic, variable fee for L/U area use proves even more effective.Through its methodologies and results, this thesis demonstrates the potential to reduce the impact of B2C distribution in Barcelona. Moreover, the findings offer a valuable resource not only for local authorities and parcel carriers seeking to lower economic and environmental costs but also for other cities facing similar challenges.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING

• LU, XUAN: Metal-Decorated Ceria-Based Reducible Oxide Catalysts for CO2 Transformation
  
  Author: LU, XUAN
  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 CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 16/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: LLORCA PIQUE, JORDI | CABOT CODINA, ANDREU
  Thesis abstract: Noble metal clusters and single atoms have been considered as effective co-catalysts for the enhancement of carbon dioxide hydrogenation due to their singular geometric structures, electronic properties and unique reactivity. Nevertheless, the design of a low-cost and easy synthesis procedure for ultrasmall metal species is an urgent yet challenging task. In this thesis, we have synthesized CeO2-based catalysts decorated with non-noble metals (Cu and Ni) and bimetallic clusters (Cu-Ga) through hydrothermal and mechanochemical processes for CO2 transformation. In Chapter 3, bimetallic clusters (Cu-Ga) loaded on Ce0.9Zr0.1O2 are synthesized and characterized, and their catalytic performance for methanol production was investigated. By maintaining a constant total amount of Cu and Ga while varying the Cu/Ga ratio, we demonstrate that modifying the support surface with an optimal Cu/Ga ratio enhances CO2 adsorption and activation. This improvement stems from the compensatory generation of H2 dissociation at Ga sites, which directly interact with oxygen vacancies-a critical factor in the catalytic process.In Chapter 4, CeO2 exposing preferentially {001}, {110} and {111} facets are prepared and loaded with Ni monometallic clusters to investigate their unique catalytic properties for CO2 methanation. Experimental characterization reveals that Ni supported on CeO2 nanorods exposing {110} and {111} facets exhibited the highest activity.In Chapter 5, I analyze the effect of different highly-dispersed copper on CeO2 for the reverse water-gas shift reaction (RWGS). I systematically examine both the copper loading amount and the preparation method (ball milling versus conventional incipient wetness impregnation), observing significant differences in catalytic activity. To elucidate the enhanced Cu-CeO2 interaction induced by ball milling, I conduct comprehensive characterization (XRD, XPS, N2O Titration and in situ DRIFT et. al) studies to determine copper speciation at varying dispersion levels and to clarify the reaction mechanism. In Chapter 6, the effect of the introduction of Ga to Cu/CeO2 for thermostability during the RWGS reaction is studied. To improve the stability of Cu/CeO2 catalysts, a strategy through Ga incorporation is developed, achieving an optimal balance between activity and stability for the RWGS reaction. It is also observed that Ga doping in the CeO2 support effectively suppresses Cu aggregation during reduction treatments by modulating both CeO2 reducibility and electron transfer from CeO2 to Cu.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

• BAL, PRADEEP KUMAR: Mathematical and computational modeling of the active mechanics of multicellular systems: from cell-cell adhesion to epithelial reshaping
  
  Author: BAL, PRADEEP KUMAR
  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: 30/06/2025
  Reading date: 18/09/2025
  Reading time: 10:30
  Reading place: Sala Zienkiewich (CIMNE) Building C1, UPC - Campus North Gran Capitan S/N 08034 Barcelona
  Thesis director: ARROYO BALAGUER, MARINO
  Thesis abstract: This thesis develops theoretical and computational frameworks to model two fundamental mechanical functions of multicellular tissues: cell-cell adhesion and epithelial reshaping. These processes are controlled by sub-cellular dynamics, yet they manifest at mesoscopic scales, posing a challenge for existing models. The work is structured in two parts, each addressing a different aspect of tissue mechanics while sharing a common approach based on irreversible thermodynamics and active gel theory.In Part I, the focus is on modeling the dynamic formation and organization of cell-cell adhesions, particularly between pairs of cells. A mesoscale theoretical model is developed that couples the mechanics of the cellular surface, chemical kinetics of adhesion molecules, their lateral diffusion on the membrane, and feedback with the actomyosin cortex. The framework relies on Onsager's variational formalism to ensure thermodynamic consistency and is implemented computationally in both axisymmetric and 3D finite element formulations. Simulations reveal how mechano-chemical couplings (including the reduction of cortical contractility within adhesions, force-induced bond activation, and immobilization of activated bonds) drive the self-organization of mature adhesion patches. This work not only reproduces experimental observations of adhesion behavior but also sets the stage for future modeling of adhesion turnover, decohesion dynamics, and asymmetrical cell contacts.Part II focuses on epithelial reshaping, a key driver of morphogenesis. We propose a continuum shell theory for epithelial monolayers derived from sub-cellular descriptions of the actin cortex as an active gel. Two formulations are introduced: a Kirchhoff shell theory with perpendicular lateral junctions, and a more general Cosserat theory that allows for junctional tilt. These models are implemented numerically using finite element methods and validated against 3D vertex simulations. Applications include the study of apico-basal asymmetries, buckling, and wrinkling in epithelial tissues, particularly under rapid deflation as in recent experimental setups. The continuum model demonstrates how cortical viscoelasticity, viscous drag by the surrounding medium, and curvature anisotropy determine the morphology and patterning of wrinkles in epithelial shells. Future directions include accounting for evolving junctional networks and for biochemical signaling.Together, these contributions offer a mesoscale framework to bridge sub-cellular dynamics with tissue-scale mechanical behavior, providing mechanistic insight into processes central to tissue development, integrity, and morphogenesis
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

• DE HARO RUIZ, JUAN MIGUEL: Accelerating many-core, heterogeneous, and distributed architectures with hardware runtimes and programming models
  
  Author: DE HARO RUIZ, JUAN MIGUEL
  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 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of Computer Architecture (DAC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 10/07/2025
  Reading date: 10/09/2025
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: C6-E106
  Thesis director: ALVAREZ MARTINEZ, CARLOS | JIMENEZ GONZALEZ, DANIEL
  Thesis abstract: Due to increasing concern about energy efficiency and the current trend to scale out HPC systems to many computing nodes, this thesis tries to tackle both problems with the help of hardware acceleration and programming models.Regarding the first topic, FPGAs have been the target of study due to their high flexibility to adapt to any computing workload and due to their high energy efficiency. We present extensions to the OmpSs@FPGA framework, which provides a high-level task-based programming interface to non-FPGA experts.These extensions include compiler directives to automatically optimize FPGA code, a hardware task scheduling runtime with dependence analysis called POM, and a multi-FPGA MPI-like API and runtime, called OMPIF.In addition, we present the Implicit Message Passing (IMP) model, which combines task-based and message-passing programming models, leveraging dependence information and a static data distribution.IMP automatically communicates data between nodes when required by the data dependencies of a task.Therefore, the user does not need to write any call to MPI or OMPIF in the code, as this is handled by IMP.We evaluate this model on both FPGA and CPU clusters, with hardware acceleration for task scheduling and message passing using the POM and OMPIF runtimes.For CPU clusters, we study several ways to incorporate POM into an SoC, first with an embedded FPGA, then we design it as an ASIC for a RISC-V core, and finally in an FPGA softcore also based on RISC-V.In the last case, we use both POM and OMPIF to evaluate distributed applications with a cluster of FPGAs that emulate a CPU cluster.We evaluate IMP and regular MPI+tasks programming with several benchmarks: Matrix Multiply, Spectra, N-body, Heat, and Cholesky.With the mentioned contributions, we achieve several objectives.First, we demonstrate that with OmpSs@FPGA we can achieve similar absolute performance to a CPU node for some benchmarks, like N-body, and outperform in energy efficiency to similar CPU and GPU architectures (in area and technology).Second, we also evaluate multi-FPGA applications on three different clusters: cloudFPGA, ESSPER, and MEEP, which have very distinct characteristics.With IMP, we show that we can scale linearly the N-body, Heat, and Cholesky benchmarks to 64 FPGAs.For CPUs, we are also able to scale linearly with the same benchmarks on an 8-core, 64-node cluster, with 512 cores in total.With our hardware-software co-design, which combines the hardware acceleration of task scheduling and message passing with IMP, we show a solution to accelerate HPC workloads as transparently as possible to the programmer, thus boosting productivity.This solution has been designed for heterogeneous systems based on FPGAs, but also based on CPUs.The latter also benefit significantly from the runtime overhead reduction thanks to the hardware acceleration.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN COMPUTING

• QUISHPI BETÚN, LUIS HERNÁN: Generación de Modelos de Procesos y Decisiones a partir de Documentos de Texto
  
  Author: QUISHPI BETÚN, LUIS HERNÁN
  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 COMPUTING
  Department: Department of Computer Science (CS)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 13/06/2025
  Reading date: 08/09/2025
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: FIB Sala d'actes Manuel Martí Recober, B6-planta 0
  Thesis director: CARMONA VARGAS, JOSE | PADRO CIRERA, LLUIS
  Thesis abstract: This thesis addresses the importance of formal models for the efficient management of business processes (BPM) and business decision management (BDM) in a constantly evolving corporate environment. Within the BPM context, the relevance of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is emphasized as a standardized modeling language for the coherent and comprehensible representation of business processes. Similarly, in BDM, the utility of Decision Model and Notation (DMN) is highlighted for the standardization of decision modeling and documentation in organizations.This research identifies a common challenge in organizations: the reliance on documents in various formats, including textual descriptions in natural language, for process and decision documentation. These documents pose difficulties due to the ambiguity of natural language and their unstructured nature, leading to significant time investment in their interpretation and the need for specialized personnel to convert them into formal models such as BPMN and DMN.The main contribution of this dissertation is the proposal of an innovative solution through the development of an automated technique for extracting and generating formal BPMN and DMN models from textual documents. Two distinct methodological approaches are presented:* A traditional Natural Language Processing (NLP) approach, leveraging structured patterns based on syntactic trees (Tree-based patterns), which enables the precise extraction of key textual fragments (such as activities, conditions, and decisions) and their transformation into formal models like BPMN and DMN.* A Large Language Models (LLM)-based approach that employs advanced language processing techniques and deep learning capabilities to interpret textual descriptions in natural language and transform them into formal representations such as BPMN and DMN. Through strategically designed prompt instructions, this approach guides the extraction of processes and decisions, enabling a more flexible and adaptable generation of formal models without relying on rigid syntactic rules.Both approaches aim to address the limitations of traditional methodologies by reducing the cognitive load on modelers, minimizing human intervention in the conversion of text into formal models, and enabling the automated integration of these models into business process management systems (BPMS).The focus of this thesis is not merely on reviewing and understanding existing models but on proposing substantial and practical improvements based on experience in generating formal models in real business environments. Strategies for generating graphical representations of processes and decisions (e.g., BPMN, DMN) are explored.This doctoral thesis seeks to make a significant contribution to the field of business process and decision management by combining established BPMN and DMN theory with practical approaches and innovative solutions. The automatic generation of these models will not only provide a clearer representation of processes but will also enhance organizations' ability to make efficient decisions in a dynamic and competitive business environment.Keywords: Business Process Management, Business Decision Management, BPMN, DMN, Natural Language Processing, NLP, Large Language Models, LLM, Tree-based Patterns, Process Mining
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

• GONZÁLEZ CURBELO, MIGUEL ÁNGEL: Plastic Pollution in Marine Ecosystems: Spatiotemporal Assessment in Beach Sediments of Protected Coastal Areas
  
  Author: GONZÁLEZ CURBELO, MIGUEL ÁNGEL
  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 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 15/05/2025
  Reading date: 04/09/2025
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Sala de actos del Intexter. Edificio TR-7.Campus de Terrassa.Carrer de Colom, 15, 08222 Terrassa, Barcelona
  Thesis director:
  Thesis abstract: Plastic pollution has emerged as a critical threat to marine ecosystems, particularly in ecologically sensitive and protected coastal areas. This doctoral thesis presents a spatiotemporal assessment of plastic particle debris, including microplastics, in beach sediments from marine protected areas (MPAs) on the Caribbean coast of La Guajira, Colombia, and marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Fieldwork involved systematic sampling across 13 beaches (seven in La Guajira and six in Tenerife), representing a variety of environmental conditions. The study in La Guajira, the first of its kind in the region, revealed microplastic abundance ranging from 2.4 ± 0.6 to 22 ± 7 microplastics/m2, with concentrations varying statistically by beach use but not significantly between the two sampling periods. Filaments, primarily from fishing activities, were the most prevalent type (38.5%). In Tenerife´s marine SACs, a comprehensive 12-week assessment of macro-, meso-, and microplastics uncovered significant spatial and temporal variability. Playa de Montaña Roja emerged as a notable pollution hotspot, with 64 ± 36 mesoplastics/m2 and 506 ± 364 microplastics/m2. Fragments dominated the samples (80%), especially white and light-colored, indicating their likely origin as secondary particles from consumer products. In both scenarios, the most common polymers detected were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene, due to their buoyancy in marine environments, which also reflects global trends in production. Further analysis of heavy metal presence in microplastics from Tenerife´s SACs, using microwave-assisted acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, identified sixteen elements, including appreciable levels of six Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-priority heavy metals: chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead. Comparative analysis showed a preferential accumulation of chromium, copper, lead, and cadmium in PE fragments over PP pellets, highlighting the role of polymer type. Cadmium concentration was particularly high (105 ± 15 mg/kg) in PE fragments from Playa de Montaña Roja SAC. In summary, this doctoral thesis provides robust empirical evidence on the abundance, spatiotemporal distribution, and characteristics (shape, color, and polymer type) of microplastics in MPAs, along with associated heavy metal concentrations. The findings presented herein not only reinforce the urgency of addressing plastic pollution but also offer practical tools and insights to guide the development of public policies aimed at protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems from microplastic-related threats.
  
• RUALES DÁVILA, EVELYN ALICIA: Biogas and Bio-Based Products Recovery from Microalgae: A Biorefinery Approach
  
  Author: RUALES DÁVILA, EVELYN ALICIA
  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 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 03/07/2025
  Reading date: 26/09/2025
  Reading time: 10:30
  Reading place: Place: ETSECCPB UPC, Campus Nord Building A3. Classroom: Aula Master C/Jordi Girona, 1-3 08034 B arcelona
  Thesis director: FERRER MARTI, IVET | GARFI, MARIANNA
  Thesis abstract: Microalgal biomass has attracted significant interest due its potential to produce valuable bio-based products and biofuels, owing to its rapid growth, high photosynthetic efficiency, and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. However, challenges such as enhancing productivity, achieving cost-effective processing, and maximising biomass utilisation persist in this field. This PhD thesis aimed to develop an integrated microalgal biorefinery approach for the sustainable valorisation of microalgal biomass, focusing on the recovery of valuable bio-based products and biogas through anaerobic digestion (AD) of extracted microalgal biomass. Three studies were conducted, each representing different microalgal biorefinery scenarios, to evaluate the performance of these biorefinery approaches in a circular bioeconomy model. The first study assessed the dual recovery of biostimulants and biogas from Scenedesmus sp. cultivated in an outdoor demonstrative high-rate algal pond (HRAP) using freshwater and recycled nutrient media. The biostimulant extracts improved seed germination, root and shoot growth, and chlorophyll retention in watercress, mung beans, cucumbers, and wheat. The potential for biogas production from harvested biomass (Raw) and biostimulant-extracted biomass (Stim-E) was evaluated using mesophilic biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests. AD of Stim-E increased methane yield by 20% (293 mL CH₄/ g VS), and improved the kinetics by 10% compared to Raw biomass. The second study expanded upon this approach by treating wastewater with a Scenedesmus-bacterial consortium cultivated in a demonstrative HRAP to treat urban wastewater. Harvested biomass was processed to extract biostimulants, which maintained their plant growth-promoting properties. Downstream processing functioned as a pretreatment, preserving 91% of the methane yield from Raw biomass (276 mL CH4/g VS). Co-digestion with primary sludge (PS) enhanced methane yield and kinetics by 24% and 43%, respectively, compared to Raw biomass. Additionally, the fate of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) was analysed to evaluate their mitigation during microalgae-based wastewater treatment and bioproduct recovery. Over 80% of the analysed CECs were removed during the wastewater treatment, and the low residual CECs in the biostimulant extracts confirmed their environmental safety for agricultural applications. These results demonstrated the successful integration of resource recovery within microalgae-based wastewater treatment processes and their alignment with circular bioeconomy principles. The third study focused on carotenoid and biogas recovery from Scenedesmus sp. cultivated in HRAPs treating urban wastewater. Carotenoid extraction yielded up to 4.3 mg/g total suspended solids (TSS), with lutein identified as the predominant pigment. AD of carotenoid-extracted biomass (CEB) retained 86% of the methane yield from Raw biomass, while co-digestion with PS increased yields by 44-86%. These findings demonstrate the potential of a cascading microalgal biorefinery model that integrates the extraction of valuable products with bioenergy generation to enhance resource efficiency and waste valorisation. This thesis demonstrates the versatility of microalgae in three interconnected domains: AD, extraction of valuable products, and wastewater treatment. This study provides insights into scalable strategies for integrated microalgal biorefineries, offering sustainable solutions to energy and environmental challenges. The outcomes highlight synergies across biorefinery processes and lay a foundation for future research aimed at enhancing technical performance, reducing environmental impacts, and improving economic viability within circular bioeconomy frameworks.
  
• SAZDOVSKI, ILIJA: Relativity of time, circularity and recycled material quality in LCA for fast-moving products
  
  Author: SAZDOVSKI, ILIJA
  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 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 14/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: FULLANA PALMER, PERE
  Thesis abstract: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the preferred methodology for quantifying the environmental impact of systems along value chains. The LCA’s most important methodological feature is the use of the Functional Unit (FU) and focusing on the services that the system delivers.Circular Economy (CEc) has more recently proposed overarching principles to move towards sustainability. This new concept is introduced to overcome the limitations of the traditional linear economy model.The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is a common LCA science-based methodology developed by the European Commission. It aims at making LCA more suitable for comparing products.PEF’s most important methodological feature is the Circular Footprint Formula (CFF). CFF offers circularity-driven insights and defines a method to allocate emissions and avoided emissions of use and recycling materials and energy between upstream and downstream production systems, as well to include the influence of the materials' quality.A growing body of scientific literature aims at providing adequate metrics to improve the comparison between the two economic paradigms (linear vs circular), or among systems serving the same function primarily through LCA. To develop more comprehensive LCA research, by the principles of the circular economy, the definitions of the FU need to be changed by including multiple-loop recycling of the materials. Firstly, this Ph.D. thesis aims to improve the framework for usage of LCA methodology by involving circularity principles for fast-moving goods, through the involvement of additional variables such as time.The proposed theoretical contribution is focused on packaging, which is a special case of fast-moving products. The proposed method can be replicated for all other fast-moving goods circulating in the technical cycles. The need to include the time variable is particularly obvious for fast-moving goods, such as packaging. The introduction of time as a variable offered a possibility for the development of circularity indicators using mathematical representation and the development of a formula for production of an “n+1” product. Involving time in LCA exposes the slow recycling process of the secondary materials, extended shelf-life, and some methodological circumstances, like the calculation of the biogenic carbon. These aspects are not covered if the environmental assessments only consider the life cycle perspective along the value chain and not along time. The importance of involving the time variable in environmental assessments is proven as well with the practical examples. Secondly, the thesis highlights the importance of accurate values for the quality of the material in multiple recycling, which prolongs the presence of the material in the technosphere.Our literature review showed that quality degradation has mostly been neglected. Understanding the quality changes of the material over time, together with knowledge of the number of loops a material can be recycled, is key to improving the assessments. A laboratory testing of the quality changes is conducted utilizing fossil-based and bio-based plastic materials in closed-loop recycling based on the “cradle to cradle principles”. The tests consider the mechanical, optical and processing changes, and the maximal recycling cycles that a material can undergo in the extrusion process.These test-based indicators of quality can be used by the PEF method as the maximal value for quality degradation at the point of substitution. The LCA practice has been changed previously. The oil crisis prompted the calculation of cumulative energy demand, while the climate crisis forced the development of the Global Warming Potential. Based on the problem of depletion of materials and the linear practices, the science needs to involve the circularity paradigm in environmental assessment studies.
  
• TUCI, FRANCESCA: Identification of Critical Issues and Development of Strategies to Increase the Environmental Sustainability of Textile Districts in Europe
  
  Author: TUCI, FRANCESCA
  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 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: LOPEZ GRIMAU, VICTOR | GORI, RICCARDO
  Thesis abstract: The textile industry is highly water-intensive, consuming 200-400 liters of freshwater per kg of product, making it the EU's 3rd largest water consumer. The Textile BAT Reference document (TXT Bref) highlights the volume of water discharged and its chemical load as key environmental concerns applicable throughout the European Union, including Italy and Spain. This study examines water-related challenges in the textile districts of Prato (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain), aiming to develop strategies for enhanced sustainability through innovative wastewater management, resource recycling, and sludge treatment. TXT BAT conclusions introduced associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) for direct and indirect wastewater discharges. Consequently, textile companies characterized by indirect discharge will be supposed to respect the BAT-AELs of certain contaminants unless the downstream wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) can abate these contaminants. In this study, mass balance calculations of two WWTPs located in Prato were conducted to verify that the removal of specific pollutants primarily originating from textile processes resulted from an effective treatment process and not merely a dilution effect with domestic wastewater. The findings confirmed the effective removal of critical compounds like COD, BiAS, sulfides, phenols, and hydrocarbons. Contaminants like Zn, Cu, Ba, Crtot, and Sb showed >50% removal efficiency, though results varied with sampling procedures. TXT BAT conclusions promote reuse and recycling to reduce freshwater use and wastewater generation. Prato, home to Europe’s largest wastewater recycling plant, faces challenges with high hardness in reclaimed water from Baciacavallo WWTP. It was demonstrated that an ultrafiltration-nanofiltration (UF-NF) pilot plant can reduce water hardness by more than 98%, regardless of the operating conditions. Furthermore, a simplified steady-state model of the chloride cycle revealed that replacing ion-exchange resin technology, used in Prato for water softening, with a UF-NF system leads to a substantial reduction in chloride concentration, enabling the reuse of reclaimed wastewater for other purposes such as irrigation.This research demonstrated that NF can treat dyeing wastewater and reuse the permeate for the dyeing process, thereby avoiding freshwater consumption and recovering salts. To this end, a laboratory NF pilot plant was employed to treat and reuse wastewater from the dyeing of cotton with reactive dyes. Permeate reuse had no impact on the final product's color reproducibility and allowed saving up to 24% of NaCl and 32% of Na2CO3. Moreover, electrochemical oxidation was applied to treat the NF concentrate, resulting in a color degradation level exceeding 95%. This outcome suggests the potential for the reuse of the concentrate, accompanied by the recovery of additional resources. Textile sludge (TXS) disposal, mainly via landfilling or incineration, is an environmental challenge. Therefore, in this work, biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests were conducted on three types of sludge (i.e., municipal, textile, and mixed) to assess anaerobic digestion (AD) as a potential sustainable treatment alternative. The results demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of AD for the valorization of TXS, with co-digestion as a promising approach to maximize biogas production efficiency. Finally, the study addressed microplastic (MP) pollution, proposing a method to quantify and identify MPs in wastewater. Understanding WWTP efficiency in MP removal supports efforts to mitigate emerging environmental concerns. The study outlines strategies to improve the environmental sustainability of textile districts. By adopting technologies like NF and AD, industries could reduce resource use, enhance wastewater treatment, and recover byproducts. It also highlights the need to tackle issues like microplastics with advanced monitoring, promoting sustainable practices in the European textile sector.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

• TORRA I TRUNCAL, ONA: A multitemporal and multiscale analysis of soil erosion and sediment transport. Application to the badlands in the Upper Llobregat River Basin.
  
  Author: TORRA I TRUNCAL, ONA
  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 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 09/07/2025
  Reading date: 05/09/2025
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB. UPC, Campus Nord Building C1. Classroom: 002 C/Jordi Girona, 1-3 08034 Barcelona
  Thesis director: HURLIMANN ZIEGLER, MARCEL | PUIG POLO, CAROLINA
  Thesis abstract: Badlands are among the most active geomorphic environments on Earth, exhibiting extreme erosion rates, sparse vegetation, and steep, deeply dissected slopes. In mountainous Mediterranean regions, seasonal climate variability - characterized by winter freeze-thaw cycles and intense summer convective storms - amplifies sediment production and transport. This study investigates the drivers and dynamics of erosion in the Upper Llobregat River Basin (ULRB), a representative Mediterranean badland system in the southeastern Pyrenees. Using a multi-scale and multi-method approach that integrates TLS monitoring, UAV-based photogrammetry, physically-based modelling, and machine learning, we assess sediment dynamics at slope, catchment, and regional scales. Erosion rates at the slope scale ranged from 16500 T km−2 year−1 to 30000 T km−2 year−1. Sediment export at the catchment scale ranged from 42 to 105 T·km⁻²·year⁻¹ over the study period (2020–2024), averaging only 10.7% of the long-term annual yield of 880 T·km⁻²·year-1. Landscape Evolution Model (LEM) reproduced seasonal sediment cycles and highlighted the importance of hydrological connectivity and temporary sediment storage. At the regional scale, Random Forest models predicted badland susceptibility with high accuracy, although model generalizability declined outside the training domain. Additionally, shallow landslides also played a minor episodic role in sediment delivery during some intense, widespread rainstorms, although not directly linked to badland dynamics. The findings underscore the importance of integrating diverse methods and spatial scales to capture the complexity of badland erosion processes. The work also provides essential insights for erosion monitoring, land management, and sediment risk mitigation in sensitive Mediterranean mountain landscapes.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MARINE SCIENCES

• YILMAZ, ELIF: Interannual to decadal variability in the Southern Ocean surface CO2 fluxes in relation with the large-scale atmospheric modes.
  
  Author: YILMAZ, ELIF
  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 MARINE SCIENCES
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 03/07/2025
  Reading date: 25/09/2025
  Reading time: 15:00
  Reading place: Place: ETSECCPB UPC, Campus Nord Building C2. Classroom: 212 C/Jordi Girona, 1-3 08034 Barcelona
  Thesis director: BERNARDELLO, RAFFAELE | MARTIN, ADRIAN PETER
  Thesis abstract: AbstractThe Southern Ocean (<35◦S), which encircles Antarctica, plays a disproportionately large role in the global carbon cycle, accounting for nearly half of the ocean’s uptake of anthropogenic CO₂. This critical function has helped mitigate the pace of atmospheric CO₂ accumulation and climate change. However, observations over recent decades have revealed substantial interannual to decadal variability in the Southern Ocean carbon sink, characterized by alternating periods of weakening and reinvigoration. Understanding the drivers of this variability is crucial for improving predictions of the ocean’s future carbon uptake capacity and its feedbacks on the climate system.This thesis investigates the atmospheric and oceanic processes underlying the variability of Southern Ocean CO₂ fluxes, with a focus on the influence of major climate modes including the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), the Pacific-South American (PSA) pattern, and Zonal Wave 3 (ZW3). Through a combination of reanalysis datasets, empirical orthogonal function and wavelet analyses, observation-based CO₂ flux products, and ocean-only numerical simulations, the thesis systematically diagnoses the mechanisms linking atmospheric variability to ocean carbon dynamics.The results identify SAM as the principal driver of CO₂ flux variability on seasonal to decadal timescales, modulating surface wind patterns, Ekman upwelling, and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies that affect CO₂ exchange. ENSO and ZW3 are shown to exert important secondary effects, introducing regional asymmetries and modulating the physical and biological drivers of CO₂ fluxes, particularly in the Pacific sector. A novel finding is the detection of a delayed warming mechanism, whereby positive SAM phases enhance eddy kinetic energy, amplifying thermal effects on surface pCO₂ and partially offsetting the expected CO₂ uptake from weakened upwelling.The thesis also conducts a comprehensive evaluation of nine observation-based CO₂ products, highlighting uncertainties, mismatches, and shared patterns that improve our understanding of carbon cycle variability. Importantly, the results underscore the need to improve the representation of mesoscale processes, asymmetric climate modes, and atmosphere-ocean coupling in Earth system models to enhance their predictive capability.Overall, this research provides new insights into the drivers of Southern Ocean CO₂ variability, offering a framework to refine predictions of future carbon-climate feedbacks and to better anticipate the ocean’s role in mitigating anthropogenic climate change.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

• SOUSA MACHADO, PEDRO VINÍCIUS: Computational Constitutive Modeling of WC-Co Hardmetals: From Small to Large Specimen Scale
  
  Author: SOUSA MACHADO, PEDRO VINÍCIUS
  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 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Materials Science and Engineering (CEM)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 26/06/2025
  Reading date: 05/09/2025
  Reading time: 11:30
  Reading place: ESCOLA D'ENGINYERIA BARCELONA EST C/Eduard Maristany, 16 (08019 Barcelona) 934137400 Planta 0 Aula A A0.02 https://eebe.upc.edu/ca/lescola/com-arribar
  Thesis director: JIMENEZ PIQUÉ, EMILIO | CANER BASKURT, FERHUN CEM
  Thesis abstract: In this thesis, the mechanical behavior of tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) hardmetal, a multiphase composite, is thoroughly investigated through computational modeling techniques. First, the thesis focusses on the small-scale, where the constituent’s assemblage and constitution are not only clearly visible and discernible, but also play a major role in the mechanical behavior. Then, stochastic factors that affect small-scale specimens’ strength are accounted for. Finally, the thesis focuses on the large-scale, through the implementation of a model that connects small- and large-scale properties into a single framework.At the first stage of the work, data published on (1) nanoindentation on WC particles and the Co matrix; (2) tensile tests on nanowires (NWs) made of WC-Co hardmetals; and (3) compression tests on micropillars made of WC-Co hardmetals are used for the development of a numerical methodology. To do so, it is developed a novel computational framework that includes two distinct microplane constitutive models developed for the WC and Co phases separately. For the Co matrix, the microplane J2-plasticity model, called MPJ2, is developed, while for the WC particles, a modified version of the microplane model M7 is used, called M7WC. As for simulation meshes, a full realistic 3D representation is used, derived from experimental tomography reconstructions of two WC-Co hardmetal grades. After optimizing the parameters of MPJ2 and the M7WC models with experimental data, the finite element (FE) predictions not only confirm the extensive experimental observations but also provide further insights into the mechanical behavior of these composites.In the second stage of the thesis, significant uncertainties in the mechanical behavior of the WC-Co hardmetals at the small specimen level are addressed. They arise due to factors such as the intrinsic randomness of the microstructure and possible existence of defects. A stochastic finite element method (SFEM) is used in conjunction with the deterministic models, M7WC and MPJ2, by introducing controlled randomness to some of the parameters of these models. The meshes are sampled from an existing tomography of a WC-Co grade using LHS. The results effectively capture the strength distribution of these ceramic-metal composites at small-scale under tension.Finally, in the third part of the thesis, and aiming to demonstrate that at the large-scale the mechanical properties are also dependent on the microstructure, a new constitutive model for the FE modeling of WC-Co hardmetals at the large-scale is introduced, effectively serving as a multiscale approach. Known as the microplane model for hardmetals (MPHM), the model is calibrated using stress-strain test data obtained under uniaxial tension and compression from specimens with varying grain sizes and cobalt contents. Once calibrated, the model with fixed parameters is employed to predict additional experimental data from uniaxial tension, uniaxial compression, and four-point bending tests sourced from literature. The model demonstrates a high level of accuracy in predicting experimental data across a broad range of cobalt weight fractions (3 to 27 wt%) and WC grain sizes (0.35 to 1.85 μm). The model requires only four commonly available material constants as inputs: cobalt content, grain size, uniaxial compressive strength, and uniaxial tensile strength. Put simply, it is developed a model for large-scale behavior of a wide range of WC-Co grades where only easily measurable material properties are necessary as input parameters.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

• SAVADKOOHI, MARJAN: Evaluating harmonized equivalent black carbon mass concentration and source apportionment for air quality assessment
  
  Author: SAVADKOOHI, MARJAN
  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 NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  Department: Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering (EMIT)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 26/06/2025
  Reading date: 06/10/2025
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Sala Multimèdia B3 - Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Telecomunicació de Barcelona
  Thesis director: PANDOLFI, MARCO | ALASTUEY UROS, JOSE ANDRES
  Thesis abstract: Black carbon (BC), derived from optical absorption measurements, has emerged as an air quality (AQ) metric due to its significant effects on air quality, climate, and public health. As BC cannot be directly measured, inconsistencies arise in estimating its equivalent mass. The Europeans’ new AQ directive mandates BC monitoring at supersites and recommends it at hotspots, defining it as carbonaceous aerosols measured by light absorption. In atmospheric sciences, equivalent black carbon (eBC) is commonly defined as the mass concentration indirectly derived from measuring light attenuation by particles collected on filters at specific wavelengths (λ) using filter absorption photometers (FAPs). The measured attenuation is converted to absorption coefficient (babs), and then to eBC mass using predefined mass absorption cross-section (MAC), either default or calibrated with elemental carbon (EC). Despite regulatory progress, accurate eBC quantification and source apportionment remain challenging due to the absence of a standardized reference method and operational inconsistencies across monitoring networks. This thesis addresses these limitations by harmonizing absorption measurements, refining eBC estimation, and improving source apportionment methodologies. It further incorporates advanced computational tools to enhance consistency and interpretability in eBC reporting. Ambient eBC data from 50+ monitoring sites across Europe, including urban background (UB), traffic (TR), suburban (SUB), and regional background (RB) areas, were analyzed to study spatial and temporal variability. In the first phase, harmonized light absorption measurements and historical eBC data revealed a clear decreasing trend in eBC concentrations, TR > UB > SUB > RB, with a northward gradient consistent with other pollutants such as PM2.5. Strong seasonal variability was observed, with winter peaks at UB and SUB due to increased domestic heating and low atmospheric mixing. This methodology was also applied in harmonizing eBC observations across US regions, where emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles were reduced, but wildfires increased regional eBC levels. eBC was apportioned into liquid fuel (eBCLF) and solid fuel (eBCSF) sources using Aethalometer (AE33) data and the common Aethalometer model. Despite its limitations, the method showed strong eBCLF dominance, while eBCSF retained regional relevance. A decreasing eBCLF trend was linked to reduced diesel emissions, whereas eBCSF remained stable or increased in some areas, suggesting persistent solid fuel use. To enhance eBC estimation, the second phase explored the spatial-temporal variability of site- and instrument-specific MACs using collocated EC and absorption data. Estimations based on nominal MACs overestimated eBC by up to 50%, whereas rolling site-specific MACs improved accuracy. A strong seasonal MAC dependence highlighted the need for continuous calibration. In the third phase, source apportionment was refined by deriving site-specific Absorption Ångström Exponent (AAE) values from AE33 data. A percentile-based method to estimate AAELF and AAESF (from summer and winter AAE distributions, respectively) was validated using chemical tracers (e.g., m/z 60 for biomass burning). Results showed that fixed AAE values were not universally applicable, reinforcing the need for site- and season-specific values to improve source characterization. Finally, integrating multi-wavelength optical and chemical datasets with multi-time resolution factor analysis improved the determination of site- and source-specific AAE. Machine learning models were also developed as virtual sensors for eBC estimation, showing strong cross-site transferability and offering a scalable solution for AQ monitoring. Overall, this thesis lays the foundation for a more standardized approach of eBC monitoring, supporting its inclusion as a regulated pollutant and reinforcing its role in AQ and climate policies.
  
• VERA BURAU, MARIA ALEJANDRA: Estrategias para una Extracción Sostenible en Minería de Superficie
  
  Author: VERA BURAU, MARIA ALEJANDRA
  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 NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
  Department: Department of Mining, Industrial and ICT Engineering (EMIT)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 05/06/2025
  Reading date: 10/09/2025
  Reading time: 16:00
  Reading place: Sala d'Actes Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Manresa
  Thesis director: SANMIQUEL PERA, LLUIS | BASCOMPTA MASSANÈS, MARC
  Thesis abstract: Mining is a fundamental sector for global economic development; however, it faces significant challenges related to the environmental impacts of its operations and the growing demand from stakeholders for sustainable and responsible practices. To ensure the long-term viability of the sector, it is essential to implement technical innovations and strategies that optimize costs, timelines, and productivity, while simultaneously integrating sustainability criteria from a holistic perspective.This study analyzes the incorporation of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria in the early stages of mining engineering, design, and planning, through the analysis of two surface mining case studies. In the first case, different economic and design scenarios are evaluated by integrating technical and economic parameters, comparing fleet models in terms of operating costs, production efficiency, fuel consumption, and CO₂ emissions. In the second case study, ESG criteria are integrated from the geological modeling phase through the inclusion of specific variables, combining technical, economic, and socio-environmental aspects such as energy consumption, emissions, and investment in human capital.The results of this research demonstrate that the early integration of ESG criteria into mine planning not only optimizes economic performance but also minimizes negative impacts on the environment and local communities. In this way, it promotes the development of mining projects that are economically viable, environmentally responsible, and socially acceptable, reducing uncertainty and strengthening the social license to operate.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN NETWORK ENGINEERING

• SÁNCHEZ VITAL, ROGER: Contributions to energy-efficient multi-radio architectures for novel IoT scenarios
  
  Author: SÁNCHEZ VITAL, ROGER
  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 NETWORK ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Network Engineering (ENTEL)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 15/07/2025
  Reading date: 09/09/2025
  Reading time: 16:00
  Reading place: Sala d'actes (C4-001PG) de l'EETAC enllaç de Meet: https://meet.google.com/mbr-hgaj-wix
  Thesis director: GARCIA VILLEGAS, EDUARDO | GOMEZ MONTENEGRO, CARLOS
  Thesis abstract: As wireless networks continue to evolve to support a growing variety of applications, energy efficiency has become a critical design requirement, particularly for devices operating on constrained power sources. Effective energy management strategies are essential to enable sustained and reliable wireless communication across heterogeneous landscapes, where certain nodes must remain active over extended periods with minimal energy availability. These requirements become increasingly complex with the advent of next-generation Internet of Things (IoT) applications, which often introduce additional constraints such as reduced latency and increased bandwidth demands. Although Wi-Fi presents a potentially viable solution, it does not fully align with the needs of these applications, particularly in terms of energy consumption and communication range. Despite ongoing efforts by the IEEE P802.11 Working Group to tailor Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies for IoT contexts, the inherent trade-offs between energy efficiency and performance metrics, like data rate and latency, remain an unresolved challenge.A promising way to improve the energy efficiency of Wi-Fi-based IoT devices is to integrate a secondary radio. Said interface may be a simple, low-cost, ultra-low-power Wake-up Radio (WuR) or a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology (e.g., LoRaWAN). Its role is to allow the primary Wi-Fi radio to remain in a low-power sleep state for extended periods. In this multi-radio setup, the high-rate interface handles the transmission of application data, while the low-rate, energy-efficient interface extends its functionality by maintaining connectivity and managing wake-ups when necessary. This design allows the device to stay network-aware even when the main radio is inactive, to save energy. Even currently deployed IoT devices and appliances equipped with a single-radio Wi-Fi interface could be integrated into the proposed scheme through the use of softAPs, which are nowadays a common solution to provide connectivity. They allow any device with sufficient capabilities (e.g., smartphones) to act as a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) running on a limited power source. To further extend device lifetime, particularly in dense network environments where AP activity significantly impacts energy consumption, this thesis explores the AP Power Save framework, which is under discussion by the IEEE 802.11bn Task Group (TGbn). Additionally, the LoRa Alliance has introduced Long Range-Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (LR-FHSS), a new physical layer modulation for LoRaWAN offering greater scalability and robustness for Satellite IoT use cases, among others. This thesis investigates whether LR-FHSS maintains the low-power characteristics required for energy-constrained IoT deployments.Analytical modeling and simulation results show that a multi-radio architecture incorporating a WuR as the secondary interface maintains latency figures comparable to conventional single-interface networks while significantly reducing energy consumption (by up to almost two orders of magnitude). Real-world device measurements further validate these findings. Additionally, the thesis presents an in-depth analysis of key energy-saving mechanisms proposed within the IEEE 802.11 TGbn, including Scheduled Power Save, (Semi-)Dynamic Power Save, and Cross-Link Power Save, among others. Open research challenges in this domain are also discussed. Numerical evaluations suggest that AP power consumption can be reduced by an average of one-third, with the possibility for further optimization. In parallel, the assessment of LR-FHSS reveals that although it may exhibit higher energy consumption than LoRa under certain conditions, it can nonetheless support long battery lifetimes when optimally configured. Specifically, with the appropriate payload size, LR-FHSS end devices can operate for many years on modest power sources like coin-cell batteries.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN PHOTONICS

• KOKABEE, OMID: High-power ultrafast optical parametric oscillators from the visible to mid-infrared
  
  Author: KOKABEE, OMID
  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: 09/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: EBRAHIM-ZADEH, MAJID
  Thesis abstract: In a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO), the pump laser pulses are timed to arrive at the OPO crystal in synchronism with the circulating signal pulses, enabling efficient energy transfer and the generation of high-power, high-repetition-rate, widely tunable, ultrashort pulses. This synchronization allows SPOPOs to achieve high conversion efficiencies and excellent temporal, spectral and spatial characteristics. The research presented in this thesis focuses on the development of high-power ultrafast SPOPOs at repetition rates from 76 MHz to as high as 1 GHz covering the visible to mid-infrared spectrum.First, we presented a method for efficient generation of femtosecond pulses with wide tuning in the red spectrum using a periodically-poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) as the nonlinear gain crystal combined with bismuth triborate (BIBO) for internal frequency doubling. High nonlinear gain in both PPLN and BIBO, combined with collinear pumping, results in a conversion efficiency of 17.2%, providing tunable coverage across the 665-785 nm range. The large spectral acceptance in PPLN and BIBO facilitates convenient wavelength tuning by adjusting the SPOPO cavity delay, without modifying other parameters such as PPLN crystal temperature, BIBO phase-match angle, or pump wavelength.Further, we reported the implementation of a femtosecond SPOPO operating at an approximate repetition rate of 1 GHz using a novel technique to enhance the MHz pump repetition rate. The system uses PPLN as the nonlinear medium and features an innovative cavity design exceeding the fundamental synchronous cavity length. Driven by a Kerr-lens mode-locked (KLM) Ti:sapphire laser operating at 76 MHz, the system generates near-transform-limited pulses at the 13th harmonic of the pump laser frequency, corresponding to 988 MHz. Internal dispersion compensation using a pair of SF11 prisms in the linear cavity configuration achieves stable near-transform-limited output signal pulses up to the 14th harmonic of the pump laser repetition rate, corresponding to 1064 MHz.Later, we introduced a universal method for maximizing output power from optical oscillators through interferometry. By incorporating an antiresonant ring interferometer into one arm of the oscillator cavity, continuously variable output coupling is achieved over a broad spectral range and under any operating conditions. Demonstrated using a femtosecond SPOPO, this technique enables continuously adjustable output coupling from 1% to 60%. At an optimized output coupling of approximately 30%, around 200 mW of power is extracted, more than double the output compared to a conventional output coupler with around 4%. The method maintains a Gaussian beam profile and near-transform-limited pulse durations.Additionally, we detailed the development and characterization of a highly efficient and stable picosecond SPOPO system based on magnesium oxide-doped PPLN (MgO:PPLN), pumped by a ytterbium (Yb) fiber laser. The system achieves exceptional performance in power output and conversion efficiency, with a total average power extraction of 11.7 W. This includes 7.1 W of signal radiation at 1.56 μm and 4.6 W of idler radiation at 3.33 μm, with a remarkable extraction efficiency of 73%. This performance is accompanied by superior spectral and spatial beam characteristics, exhibiting exceptional output power stability.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS

• ARIOLI, MATTEO: Novel polyamides containing bio-based units: thermal properties, polymorphic transitions, chemical modifications and evaluation of processing conditions.
  
  Author: ARIOLI, MATTEO
  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: 15/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: FRANCO GARCIA, MARIA LOURDES
  Thesis abstract: Nylons, a class of linear polyamides, are well-known materials used in a huge number of different applications. Since the first production occurred during the last years of the 1940s, these polymers showed their ability to being used as technical polymers in the production of ropes, lines, nets, and injection molded pieces for the automotives industry and for household utensils. Their characteristic properties, such as the mechanical strength and the chemical and thermal resistance, are derived from their peculiar molecular conformations, characterized by the presence of strongly developed hydrogen bonds between the amidic groups of the macromolecules. The different organizations of the polymeric chains confer to nylons multiple crystalline structure. With the development of technology, nylons have been used for modern applications, such as in the 3D-printing technique, in the electronic field as triboelectric materials and in biomedicine as sutures, part of prosthetics, dental implants and catheters. In the last decades, greater attention has been devoted to the study of non-conventional nylons, based on monomers derived from bioresources or containing odd numbered carbon chains, enabling a deeper understanding of these materials and paving the way for new applications. In this sense, this doctoral thesis has been developed taking into account a new series of nylons, derived from biobased pimelic derivatives and containing monomers with a odd number of carbons. The work of the first part will be devoted to their synthesis, the crystalline characterization and the study of the thermal behavior and characterization, taking advantage of different techniques, including synchrotron light based analytical instruments. A second part of the thesis has been centered on the synthesis of poly(ester amide)s containing a bioactive triazole ring moiety. The inclusion of ester bonds in the macromolecular chains allows the introduction of a degradable group, obtaining a material that possesses the characteristic of a polyamide with the bio applicability of a polyester. The triazole ring, included in the macromolecules via a one-pot alkyne-azide click reaction, has been further studied for its bioactivity, as anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. Lastly, a real application of a commercially used odd-even nylon has been tested. An injection molding machine has been used for in-situ X-ray measurement, by installing the equipment directly in a synchrotron beamline. With this configuration, the machine has been tested for direct study of the behavior of polymeric materials during the process of molding by injection.
  
• GAMBOA RIVERA, JILLIAN TRICIA: Development of conducting materials as electrodes for biomedical sensors
  
  Author: GAMBOA RIVERA, JILLIAN TRICIA
  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: 13/06/2025
  Reading date: 22/09/2025
  Reading time: 11:30
  Reading place: ESCOLA D'ENGINYERIA BARCELONA ESTSALA POLIVALENT EDIFICI IEDF. I, PLANTA 0, ESPAI I.0.1AVDA. EDUARD MARISTANY 16 (08019) BARCELONA934137400
  Thesis director: TORRAS COSTA, JUAN | ESTRANY CODA, FRANCISCO
  Thesis abstract: The cost of healthcare is an increasing concern worldwide, driven by the emergence of new diseases as well as the progression of lifestyle-related conditions. For this reason, expenditure on healthcare-related research is expected to rise over the next decade. One of the main lines of research is biosensors, which have shown great potential in improving patient care, as demonstrated by the success of sensors such as glucometers. Biosensors can aid not only in disease detection but also in the regular monitoring of a patient’s status.In this work, new materials based on conducting polymers and carbon quantum dots were developed for use as electrodes in various biosensors. The work is divided into four different parts, each focusing on a different material and application. In the first part, a thin film electrode was developed based on the carbon quantum dot doping of PEDOT, which was synthesized via electropolymerization. Doping quantity optimization and as well as chemical and morphological characterizations were performed on the films. The films were then deposited on substrate and on an organic electrochemical transistor for the electrochemical detection of dopamine. In the second part, carbon quantum dots were used in an immunosensor. The carbon quantum dots were first immobilized on the surface of a carbon electrode to enhance electroconductivity then functionalized with antibodies to obtain a highly selective sensor. Electrochemical and chemical characterizations were performed for each subsequent layer. Finally, the resulting immunosensor was tested against the D-dimer antigen via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The third and fourth parts focus on conducting polymer hydrogel, wherein the main hydrogel matrix was mixed with the conducting polymer, PEDOT:PSS, along with other additives. In the third part, the main hydrogel used was PVA modified with tannic acid for strength and carbon quantum dot for electroactivity enhancement; while the fourth part is a GelMA-based hydrogel modified with alginate. In both works, optimization of the additive amounts was performed and as well as the investigation of the individual and synergistic effects of the components on various characteristics such as mechanical and electrochemical properties. Finally, the PVA-based hydrogel was used as a pressure sensor, while the GelMA-based hydrogel was employed as a 3D cell culture platform for an impedance-based cell monitoring system.Overall, this PhD work demonstrated the application of various techniques and materials in the development of novel conductive biomaterials for biomedical sensors. These innovative materials could serve as a foundation for next-generation biosensors, with the potential to enhance patient care and quality of life.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS

• LLAVERIA GODOY, DAVID: Neural Network-Based Data Processing for Satellite Imagery in Small Satellite Earth Observation Missions
  
  Author: LLAVERIA GODOY, DAVID
  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 SIGNAL THEORY AND COMMUNICATIONS
  Department: Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC)
  Mode: Article-based thesis
  Deposit date: 11/07/2025
  Reading date: 09/09/2025
  Reading time: 16:00
  Reading place: Sala de Graus ETSETB, Edifici C4, Campus Nord, Barcelona
  Thesis director: CAMPS CARMONA, ADRIANO JOSE
  Thesis abstract: The increasing availability and miniaturization of satellite sensors have enabled CubeSats to emerge as powerful platforms for Earth Observation (EO). Despite their reduced size and low cost, CubeSats can provide high-resolution geophysical information, provided that their intrinsic limitations, limited onboard power, processing capacity, storage, and downlink bandwidth, are effectively addressed. This thesis explores the development and implementation of efficient data processing methodologies that can operate under such constraints. By shifting part of the EO processing pipeline from the ground segment to the satellite itself, the goal is to enable autonomous, real-time analysis onboard, thus reducing the volume of data transmitted and increasing the timeliness and scientific value of satellite products.To this end, the thesis presents a series of algorithmic contributions spanning both traditional signal processing techniques and machine learning approaches, including neural networks. First, a lightweight deblurring methodology is proposed to mitigate image degradation caused by Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)-induced jitter in high-resolution optical CubeSat imagery. The method relies exclusively on inertial telemetry, estimating a spatially variant blur kernel and performing regularized deconvolution to restore image sharpness with minimal computational overhead.Second, the work introduces a two-stage neural network architecture to retrieve Sea Ice Concentration (SIC) and Sea Ice Extent (SIE) from L-band radiometric, and GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) data acquired by the FSSCat mission. The first network estimates coarse SIC/SIE maps using radiometry and auxiliary variables, while the second enhances resolution over GNSS-R reflection points, effectively combining the complementary strengths of both sensors.Third, the thesis proposes the Sequential Band Selection and Ranking (SBSR) algorithm for hyperspectral dimensionality reduction. This unsupervised method employs simple, interpretable metrics, entropy and spectral correlation, to iteratively select bands that maximize information content while minimizing redundancy. Its low computational complexity makes it well-suited for onboard execution.Finally, the SBSR approach is extended through a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based model capable of performing band selection directly on coarsely aligned hyperspectral data, as typically encountered in pushbroom sensors onboard CubeSats. The CNN processes cross-correlation and autocorrelation matrices to produce band relevance scores, enabling robust selection without prior spatial co-registration.All methods were validated using real-world datasets from the PRISMA and FSSCat missions, as well as benchmark hyperspectral scenes (Indian Pines, Houston 2018). The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms achieve comparable or superior performance to existing approaches while drastically reducing computational cost and data volume.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN SUSTAINABILITY

• ROURA SALIETTI, MIREYA: Reuse of ICT devices as commons: A property rights governance model for collective access
  
  Author: ROURA SALIETTI, MIREYA
  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: Normal
  Deposit date: 15/07/2025
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director:
  Thesis abstract: Understanding the role of property rights in managing Information and Communication Technology devices, primarily computers, is fundamental to addressing resource waste and achieving digital inclusion and sustainability goals. Although ICT device acquisition, use, and disposal are predominantly governed by individual property, reuse ecosystems demonstrate significant benefits. In such ecosystems, diverse actors collaborate to recover discarded ICT devices, refurbish, maintain and deliver them at minimal environmental and economic cost to vulnerable populations. Based on Common-Pool Resources theory, this thesis introduces a model that applies a community property approach to govern the reuse of ICT devices, using the bundle of rights framework to organise and manage reuse ecosystems. Building on the eReuse initiative, developed through action-research by a multistakeholder community involved in computer refurbishment for social inclusion in Spain, it captures patterns of collective action, classifies participants by roles, and maps the property rights underpinning their interactions, ensuring fair relationships within the ecosystem. To assess the suitability and application in Ibero-American contexts, the model was evaluated in three reuse ecosystems in Argentina and Uruguay. Results indicate that, although local adaptation is often needed, the model works in practice and shows strong potential to inform the governance design in culturally aligned ICT reuse ecosystems. The model is operationalised through two digital tools, DeviceHub and Workbench, which facilitate the tracing of property changes in devices throughout their life cycle, while also collecting detailed usage and performance metrics. In eReuse, it was found that approximately 46% of discarded and donated devices could be reused, highlighting the premature recycling of functional equipment due to criteria such as accounting or software obsolescence. Data collected through these tools also enables more precise estimation of impacts and supports the creation of indicators for comparing digital inclusion strategies across various regions and scenarios. The results show that the CO2 equivalent efficiency of reusing devices ranges from 30% in areas with a higher proportion of renewable energy to 5% in regions dependent on fossil fuels, when compared to new devices. This underscores that reuse is not inherently efficient but is instead dependent on contextual factors. Furthermore, these findings emphasize the need for more granular data to refine these estimates and gain a better understanding of the full impact of ICT reuse in different contexts. Finally, this governance model was tested through practical case studies in real-world contexts. Our results demonstrate that the success or failure of reuse depends on the sociocultural context and barriers such as ensuring long-term maintenance and usability, which are more effectively mitigated in servitised reuse ecosystems, where maintainers and ICT agents ensure device performance in the face of rapid technological change. These insights contribute to bridging the gap between sustainability goals and ICT governance, highlighting the role of digitally enabled reuse ecosystems in fostering equitable, low-carbon digital transitions and generating local employment opportunities.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN THEORY AND HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

• GHAFFARI POUR JAHROMI, NEGIN: The geometry of vision: A comparative study of Persian architecture and miniature painting as a unified system (Ilkhanid and Timurid periods)
  
  Author: GHAFFARI POUR JAHROMI, NEGIN
  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 THEORY AND HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of History and Theory of Architecture and Communication Techniques (THATC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 26/05/2025
  Reading date: 25/09/2025
  Reading time: 12:00
  Reading place: ETSAB (Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona) - Planta Baja - Sala de Grados Av. Diagonal, 649-651 - 08028 - Barcelona
  Thesis director: AZARA NICOLAS, PEDRO
  Thesis abstract: This doctoral thesis explores the shared geometric foundations of Persian architecture and miniature painting between 1256 and 1550, spanning the Ilkhanid, Timurid, and early Safavid periods. It argues that both art forms are governed by a unified visual and symbolic system rooted in Persian cosmology and Islamic intellectual traditions.Combining historical research, visual analysis, and geometric reconstruction using tools such as AutoCAD, Illustrator, and Rhino, the study examines architectural structures (domes, iwans, courtyards) and miniature compositions side by side. Sources include architectural plans, treatises by mathematicians like Buzjani, Al-Biruni, and Al-Kashi, and illustrated manuscripts preserved in collections such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France.The thesis demonstrates that both architecture and miniature painting utilize similar spatial strategies—layered compositions, symbolic depth, and geometric order—eschewing linear perspective to create immersive, contemplative environments. It identifies recurring elements such as ornamental geometry, garden motifs, and architectural symbols across both media.Comparative case studies align miniature representations with real architectural sites, revealing formal and conceptual correspondences. These findings suggest that Persian visual culture operated as a coherent system where geometry functioned as both an aesthetic principle and a reflection of divine harmony.By bridging artistic and architectural traditions, the thesis contributes a new interdisciplinary model to Islamic art history and highlights the cultural continuity between intellectual, visual, and spatial practices in Persian civilization. The Geometry of Vision offers a new lens through which to understand how Persian visual culture articulates a unified geometry of space, symbol, and spirit.
  

DOCTORAL DEGREE IN THERMAL ENGINEERING

• RUANO PÉREZ, JESÚS: Novel dispersion error and Grey Area Mitigation approaches for subsonic jet noise spectra
  
  Author: RUANO PÉREZ, JESÚS
  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 THERMAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Heat Engines (MMT)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 14/07/2025
  Reading date: 05/09/2025
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Sala de Conferències del TR5, ESEIAAT (Carrer Colom 11, Terrassa)
  Thesis director: OLIVA LLENA, ASENSIO | TRIAS MIQUEL, FRANCESC XAVIER
  Thesis abstract: In Computational AeroAcoustics, scientists deal with a numerical error not always considered in other disciplines: the dispersion error. This error generates that waves with different frequencies travel at different speeds, distorting the acoustic spectrum.Additionally, new issues appear when turbulence modelling is added to the problem. Within the family of Detached Eddy Simulations (DES), the Gray Area Problem delays the transition from the RANS mode into the LES mode, generating non-physical oscillations that contaminate the full noise spectra.Here, we present a new methodology to numerically analyse and evaluate this error, without the primary constraint of being limited to structured uniform meshes, but also applicable to stretched ones. When applied to stretched grids, the extracted conclusions with this new method do not show a clear difference between high and low-order numerical schemes, as the former quickly degrades its order of accuracy. As an application case, we simulate a subsonic round jet using two different numerical codes: NOISEtte, which uses high-accuracy schemes, and OpenFOAM, an open-source code that uses low-order schemes. This case allows us to compare the effect that the order of the scheme has on the acoustic spectra of the subsonic round jet. Additionally, this case allows us to analyse how the selection of the filtering length scale and the turbulence model within a DES approach can act as a Gray Area Mitigation technique, conditioning the validity of the results.