Access profile

Applicants who meet the admission requirements to enter the doctoral programme in Electronic Engineering and can be accepted without the need for bridging courses must meet three conditions:

• Specific research training in the area of electronic technology.
• Oral and written communication skills in English.
• Have contacted a lecturer associated with the programme who considers that the applicant has the ability and motivation to start a doctoral thesis in one of the subject areas.

The first condition is met if the applicant has gained at least 60 ECTS credits for an EHEA master’s degree with a research focus, or a qualification that proves an equivalent level of training and leads to a doctoral programme in the country of issue, and that these master’s degree credits correspond to training in the area of electronic technology or one of the four subject areas covered by the programme. The list of main entrance qualifications shows which degrees meet this condition. Holders of these qualifications can be admitted without having to take bridging courses. Other qualifications can be identified that could meet the admission requirements, depending on the specialisation and the academic pathway followed by students.

The second condition in the admission requirements is met if the applicant’s native language is English or he/she holds an official, internationally recognised English language certificate (First Certificate, TOEFL, certificates from official language academies) or through a personal interview.

The third condition in the admission requirements is met when, after a meeting with the applicant, the lecturer gives a positive evaluation to the programme coordinator.

Main entrance qualifications
Some of the official Spanish qualifications that meet the first condition in the admission requirements. Candidates who hold these qualifications could be admitted without having to take bridging courses. These qualifications are:
• master's degree in Electronic Engineering
• master’s degree in Automatic Systems Engineering and Industrial Electronics
• master’s degree in Electronic Engineering and Automatic Control
• master's degree in Telecommunications Engineering, specialisation in Electronics
• master’s degree in Network Engineering and Communications, specialisation in Electronics
• master’s degree in Engineering and Management of Telecommunications, specialisation in Research
• master’s degree in Micro- and Nanotechnology Engineering
• master’s degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, specialisation in Physical Sciences and Technologies, Information Technologies, Energy and Environment
• master’s degree in Energy and Power Electronics

Other qualifications have some specialisations or academic pathways that could meet the first condition in the admission requirements. These include:
• master's degree in Industrial Engineering
• master's degree in Energy Engineering
• master's degree in Biomedical Engineering
• master’s degree in Information Technologies and Communications
• master’s degree in Physics
• master’s degree in Photonics

In these cases, students may be admitted, but the academic committee of the doctoral programme will examine the candidate’s academic record and determine whether they have obtained specific research training in the field of electronic technology or need to take bridging courses.

Output profile

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

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

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

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

Finally, with respect to competencies, doctoral students must:
a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields;
b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community;
c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work;
d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer;
e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity;
f) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society;
g) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.

Number of places

20

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is three years, counted from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is five years, counting from the date of admission to the programme to the date of submission of the doctoral thesis. For calculating these periods, the date of admission is considered to be the date of the first enrolment for tutorials, and the date of submission the moment in which the Doctoral School officially deposits the doctoral thesis.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years. When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the minimum period of study requirement.

The calculation of periods of study will not include periods of absence due to illness, pregnancy or any other reason provided for in the regulations in force. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which, where appropriate, must inform the Doctoral School. Doctoral candidates may also temporarily withdraw from the programme for up to one year, and this period may be extended for an additional year. Doctoral candidates who wish to interrupt their studies must submit a justified request to the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which will decide whether or not to approve the request. Each programme will establish conditions for readmission to doctoral studies.

Extension
If full-time doctoral candidates have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, the academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year. In exceptional circumstances, a further one-year extension may be granted, subject to the conditions established by the corresponding doctoral programme. In the case of part-time doctoral candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

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

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

Organization

• Moll Echeto, Francesc

• del Rio Fernandez, Joaquin
• Martinez Garcia, Herminio
• Moll Echeto, Francesc
• Puigdollers Gonzalez, Joaquim
• Rodriguez Montañes, Rosa

University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)

• Department of Electronic Engineering (PROMOTORA)

doctorat.eel@upc.edu

Access profile

Applicants who meet the admission requirements to enter the doctoral programme in Electronic Engineering and can be accepted without the need for bridging courses must meet three conditions:

• Specific research training in the area of electronic technology.
• Oral and written communication skills in English.
• Have contacted a lecturer associated with the programme who considers that the applicant has the ability and motivation to start a doctoral thesis in one of the subject areas.

The first condition is met if the applicant has gained at least 60 ECTS credits for an EHEA master’s degree with a research focus, or a qualification that proves an equivalent level of training and leads to a doctoral programme in the country of issue, and that these master’s degree credits correspond to training in the area of electronic technology or one of the four subject areas covered by the programme. The list of main entrance qualifications shows which degrees meet this condition. Holders of these qualifications can be admitted without having to take bridging courses. Other qualifications can be identified that could meet the admission requirements, depending on the specialisation and the academic pathway followed by students.

The second condition in the admission requirements is met if the applicant’s native language is English or he/she holds an official, internationally recognised English language certificate (First Certificate, TOEFL, certificates from official language academies) or through a personal interview.

The third condition in the admission requirements is met when, after a meeting with the applicant, the lecturer gives a positive evaluation to the programme coordinator.

Main entrance qualifications
Some of the official Spanish qualifications that meet the first condition in the admission requirements. Candidates who hold these qualifications could be admitted without having to take bridging courses. These qualifications are:
• master's degree in Electronic Engineering
• master’s degree in Automatic Systems Engineering and Industrial Electronics
• master’s degree in Electronic Engineering and Automatic Control
• master's degree in Telecommunications Engineering, specialisation in Electronics
• master’s degree in Network Engineering and Communications, specialisation in Electronics
• master’s degree in Engineering and Management of Telecommunications, specialisation in Research
• master’s degree in Micro- and Nanotechnology Engineering
• master’s degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, specialisation in Physical Sciences and Technologies, Information Technologies, Energy and Environment
• master’s degree in Energy and Power Electronics

Other qualifications have some specialisations or academic pathways that could meet the first condition in the admission requirements. These include:
• master's degree in Industrial Engineering
• master's degree in Energy Engineering
• master's degree in Biomedical Engineering
• master’s degree in Information Technologies and Communications
• master’s degree in Physics
• master’s degree in Photonics

In these cases, students may be admitted, but the academic committee of the doctoral programme will examine the candidate’s academic record and determine whether they have obtained specific research training in the field of electronic technology or need to take bridging courses.

Access requirements

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

In addition, the following may apply:

• Holders of an official degree awarded by a university in Spain or any other country in the European Higher Education Area, pursuant to the provisions of Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, which establishes official university course regulations, who have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on official university degrees, of which at least 60 must be at the master's degree level.
• Holders of an official Spanish bachelor’s degree comprising at least 300 credits, as provided for by EU regulations. Holder of degrees of this kind must complete bridging courses unless the curriculum of the bachelor’s degree in question included research training credits equivalent in value to those which would be earned on a master's degree.
• Holders of an official university qualification who, having passed the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have completed at least two years of a training course leading to an official degree in a health-sciences specialisation.
• Holders of a degree issued under a foreign education system. In these cases, homologation is not required, but the UPC must verify that the degree certifies a level of training equivalent to an official Spanish master's degree and qualifies the holder for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued. Admission on this basis does not imply homologation of the foreign degree or its recognition for any purpose other than admission to doctoral studies.
• Holders of a Spanish doctoral qualification issued under previous university regulations.

Note 1: Doctoral studies entrance regulations for holders of an undergraduate degree awarded before the introduction of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014)

Note 2: Governing Council Decision 64/2014, which approves the procedure and criteria for assessing the fulfilment of academic admission requirements for doctoral studies by holders of non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014)

Admission criteria and merits assessment

The academic committee checks compliance with the admission requirements according to current legislation. It makes the decision on admission and whether bridging courses are required. The decision is based on the documents that have been submitted, and the principles of merit and equal opportunities are upheld.

The following aspects are assessed for each applicant and points are given for each one:

• Suitability of the competencies gained by students in their entrance qualification (up to 3 points).
• Academic record (up to 3 points).
• Knowledge of the English language (up to 1 point).
• Assessment by the research group and integration into projects (up to 3 points).

The points for each aspect will be added to give each applicant’s entrance score. In general, candidates who meet the conditions in the admission requirement and obtain an entrance score of at least 6 points will be admitted. If the demand is greater than the offer of places, applicants will be ranked according to the score obtained. Applicants who gained the highest scores will be admitted first.

Criteria for establishing bridging courses

For the following three admission cases:

1. Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and master’s degree issued in Spain.
2. Applicants who have a university qualification issued in Spain or another country within the European Higher Education Area that qualifies them to access master’s degree studies and who have gained at least 300 ECTS credits in all their university courses, of which at least 60 credits must have been awarded for master’s degree studies.
3. Applicants who have a qualification obtained in a foreign education system that does not require homologation, once the UPC has checked that the qualification demonstrates a level of training equivalent to the Spanish master’s degree and qualifies the holder to access doctoral studies in the country of issue.

• If the applicant demonstrates that they meet all three admission requirements, they are accepted on the programme without having to take bridging courses and are assigned a tutor.
  
• If, after an examination of the academic record for the master’s degree, the applicants have not demonstrated sufficient specific research training in the electronic technology field but they have the approval of a research group to prepare their doctoral thesis, they will be admitted on the condition that they take certain bridging courses, after consultation with the proposed tutor.

4. In the case of applicants who hold a Spanish bachelor’s degree whose duration was at least 300 ECTS credits, in accordance with European community regulations:

• If applicants meet the three specific admission requirements because the bachelor’s degree curriculum includes research credits that are equivalent in terms of training value to research credits from master’s degree courses, they are accepted on the programme without having to take bridging courses and are assigned a tutor.
• If the bachelor’s degree curriculum does not include research credits that are equivalent in terms of training value to research credits from master’s degree studies, but the applicants have the approval of a research group to prepare the doctoral thesis, they are accepted with the requirement of taking bridging courses, after consultation with the proposed tutor.

Training complements

The academic committee for the programme may require that doctoral students pass specific bridging courses. In this case, it will monitor the bridging courses that are taken and establish suitable criteria to limit their duration.

The bridging courses will be on research training, but doctoral students will never be required to enrol for a number of credits equal to or above 60 ECTS. The academic regulations of doctoral studies state that bridging courses may also be cross-disciplinary. However, this point is likely to be amended so that bridging courses are only associated with research credits, particularly when an applicant enters the doctoral programme with a bachelor’s degree worth 300 ECTS.

Considering the doctoral student activity report (DAD), the academic committee of the programme could propose additional measures to those established in the regulations that lead to the withdrawal of doctoral students who do not meet the established criteria.

As described in the admission requirements, bridging courses are only required of students who are admitted and do not have evidence of specific research training in the area of electronic technology. Students who hold one of the main entrance qualifications specified in the admission requirements will not be assigned any bridging courses.

The bridging courses that are required will always consist of ECTS credits associated with research subjects from the master's degree in Electronic Engineering at the UPC or the UIB, or other related master’s degrees, that are proposed by the thesis tutor.

For students described in cases 1, 2 or 3 in the section on admission requirements, the number of credits will be between 5 and 30, and will be established depending on the applicant's academic record and after consultation with the proposed tutor.

For students described in case 4 in the section on admission requirements, the number of credits will be between 15 and 50, and will be established depending on the applicant’s academic record and after consultation with the proposed tutor.

Bridging courses should be passed within a year from the first enrolment, and the academic committee of the programme will be responsible for verifying this at the time of the annual tutorial assessment. Students will be considered to have passed the bridging courses if they have passed the assessments established in the master’s degree subjects for which they have enrolled.

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

Students enrolling in the doctoral programme for the first time must do so by the deadline specified in the admission decision.

Unless otherwise expressly indicated, enrolments corresponding to admission decisions issued from the second half of April on must be completed within the ordinary enrolment period for the current academic year.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

Ordinary period for second and successive enrolments: first half of October in the current academic year.

More information at the general registration section

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

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

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

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

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

Formation activities

Activity: Tutorial.
Hours: 288.
Type: compulsory.
Description:
Advice, assistance, monitoring and assessment of doctoral students so that they gain the competencies they are expected to have by the end of the programme.
Tutorials are held periodically during the entire programme.

Activity: Writing research reports as part of funded research projects.
Hours: 20.
Type: optional.
Description: Participation in funded research projects and the preparation of progress reports and final reports, as training in carrying out research with teams from the same and other institutions, and with a contractual structure.

Activity: Attendance of conferences.
Hours: 24.
Type: optional.
Description: Attendance of scientific conferences relating to the research area that are preferably international and of proven relevance, to find out the latest advances in the doctoral student’s research area and to make contact, present and discuss the progress of the research with other researchers working in the same area.

Activity: Publications.
Hours: 30.
Type: compulsory.
Description: Publication of the thesis results in indexed journals, preferably high impact journals (JCR index), patents accepted, or publications at international conferences of proven relevance (notable conference, according to UPC classification).
Type: compulsory. Estimate of time in hours to write a four-page article = 30 hours.
Doctoral students are expected to carry out this activity between the second and third years of the thesis.
In the annual tutorial assessment of the second year, doctoral students must describe a paper they have published.
Before the thesis submission is authorised, doctoral students must also describe a paper they have published. In all cases, the doctoral student should be the first author.

Activity: Doctoral-company meetings.
Hours: 8.
Type: optional.
Description: Participation in doctoral meetings, to disseminate the research work within the university community and in the surrounding social and business environment, with a view to joining the job market.

Activity: Mobility.
Hours: 480.
Type: optional.
Description: Research visit to centres abroad to complete part of the thesis, in order to participate in different teams/work systems, establish collaborations and benefit from the experience and resources of other work teams.
Research visits: Calculation of 40 hours a week for 12 weeks approximately.

Activity: Assessment based on doctoral student activity report (DAD) and research plan.
Hours: 4.
Type: compulsory.
Description: Validation of the academic progress of doctoral students and of the objectives and methodology that they are following in the research work.

Activity: Courses and conferences.
Hours: 10.
Type: optional.
Description: Enhancement of knowledge in the area related to the doctoral thesis research, by attending courses and talks given by lecturers who are not involved in the programme. Previous example: http://eel.postgrau.upc.edu/informacion-academica/cursos-y-seminarios.

Activity: Participation in specific seminars of research groups within the university.
Hours: 10.
Type: optional.
Description: Participation in seminars organised by research groups within the university, as an internal forum for presentation and discussion of individual and joint research progress.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The academic committee of the programme may authorise an extension of up to one year for full-time doctoral candidates who have not applied to deposit their thesis by the end of the three-year period of study, in the terms outlined in the Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. In the case of part-time candidates, an extension of two years may be authorised. In both cases, in exceptional circumstances a further one-year extension may be granted by the Doctoral School's Standing Committee, upon the submission of a reasoned application by the academic committee of the doctoral programme.

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

• The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
• The maximum period of study and of extensions thereof ending.
• The doctoral candidate not having enrolled every academic year (unless he or she has been authorised to temporarily withdraw).
• The doctoral candidate failing two consecutive assessments.
• The doctoral candidate having disciplinary proceedings filed against him or her that rule that he or she must be dismissed from the UPC.

Dismissal from the programme implies that doctoral candidates cannot continue studying at the UPC and the closing of their academic record. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission and the committee must reevaluate them in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

International Mention

The doctoral degree certificate may include International Doctorate mention. In this case, the doctoral candidate must meet the following requirements:

a) During the period of study leading to the award of the doctoral degree, the doctoral candidate must have spent at least three months at a respected higher education institution or research centre outside Spain to complete courses or do research work. The stays and activities carried out must be endorsed by the thesis supervisor and authorised by the academic committee of the programme. The candidate must provide a certifying document issued by the person responsible for the research group of the body or bodies where the stay or activity was completed. This information will be added to the doctoral student’s activity report.
b) Part of the thesis (at least the summary and conclusions) must be written and presented in one of the languages commonly used for science communication in the relevant field of knowledge, which must not be an official language of Spain. This rule does not apply to stays and reports in Spanish or to experts from Spanish-speaking countries.
c) At least two PhD-holding experts belonging to a higher education institution or research centre outside Spain must have issued officially certified reports on the thesis.
d) The thesis examination committee must have included at least one PhD-holding expert from a higher education or research institution outside Spain who was not responsible for the candidate’s stay abroad (point a) above).
e) The thesis defence must have taken place on UPC premises or, in the case of joint programmes, at the location specified in the collaboration agreement.

List of authorized thesis for defense

• AYMERICH GUBERN, JOAN: Low-Power Read-Out Ics for Smart Electrochemical Sensors
  
  Author: AYMERICH GUBERN, JOAN
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 01/12/2020
  Reading date: 18/03/2021
  Reading time: 10:00
  Reading place: Aula Teleensenyament Edifici B3 - UPC Campus Nord - Videoconferència: https://meet.google.com/psk-qkma-ctk
  Thesis director: SERRA GRAELLS, FRANCESC | DEI, MICHELE
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: BALDI COLL, ANTONI
       SECRETARI: MOLL ECHETO, FRANCESC DE BORJA
       VOCAL: PANTELIS, GEORGIOU
  Thesis abstract: Electrochemical sensors are expanding rapidly over other chemical sensoring technologies because of their potential to generate precise, selective, miniaturized and cost-effective analytical devices. These features satisfy the emerging global demand for disposable testing systems at the point-of-need, where usability, portability, and price counts most, enabling to detect critical analytical evidence by anyone, any-where and at any time, without concerning about recalibration and limited shelf life. In particular a disposable electrochemical device must include a paired smart electronic interface to specifically bias the electrochemical cell, acquire signals, per-form data conversion and communicate measurements through a standard digital interface, all under severe restrictions of size and power consumption.This thesis describes the development of a novel, cost-effective, disposable, high-performance and user-friendly electrochemical sensing platform that combines the smartness of CMOS integrated circuits (ICs) with the flexibility of printed electronics.Two practical µW-range readout integrated circuit (ROIC) realizations in 65-nm and0.18-µmCMOS technologies are presented and specifically optimized for the potentiostatic biasing and amperometric read-out of electrochemical sensors. The proposed frontend architectures yield very elegant and compact CMOS implementations by reusing the dynamic properties of the sensor itself to implement continuous-time mixed electrochemical delta-sigma modulators (¿SM). The topologies include differential potentiostats to extend its range. Furthermore, low limit of detection (LOD) values can be achieved by implementing a novel cancellation mechanism of the flicker noise coming from the feedback DAC of the electrochemical ¿SM. A standard interface based onI2Cis included on-chip not only to control the extensive system configuration but also to limit the number of IC pads towards a low-cost flip-chip assembly on flexible substrates. Experimental results from both electrical and electrochemical tests are presented and compared to other state-of-the-art electrochemical sensor frontends.A cost-effective hybrid electronics interfacing approach is proposed, where the electrochemical sensor is directly printed on a flexible PEN substrate that also hosts the CMOS readout integrated circuit (ROIC) as a bare die without wire bonding. Low-cost inkjet printing technology is employed for the development of a three-electrode sensor and all the required connectivity. Anisotropic conductive adhesives are investigated as an emerging approach for mechanical and electrical contact between the IC die and printed inks in order to obtain a disposable flexible smart electrochemical sensory device.
  
• SEGURA GARCIA, DANIEL: Development of silicon photonic structures for sensing and signal processing
  
  Author: SEGURA GARCIA, DANIEL
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Electronic Engineering (EEL)
  Mode: Temporary seizure
  Deposit date: 19/11/2020
  Reading date: 19/03/2021
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: Aula Teleensenyament B3 planta 1 - UPC Campus Nord - videoconferència: meet.google.com/cek-kqof-dnt
  Thesis director: RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ, ANGEL
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: MARSAL GARVI, LLUIS FRANCESC
       SECRETARI: PUIGDOLLERS GONZALEZ, JOAQUIN
       VOCAL: MORENO SERENO, MAURICIO
  Thesis abstract: Silicon photonics is the opportunity that one of the most amazing materials in nature, silicon, has offered once its electronic technological possibilities are reaching its limit. The transparency of this material in the near and mid infrared, along with the extensively developed manufacturing processes, opens the door to the miniaturisation of complex optical systems used in innumerable applications. Ultra-fast communications with low power consumption or highly selective and sensible sensors are some of the most promising ones. In this thesis the optical properties of silicon have been exploded from two differentiated perspectives: the study of macroporous silicon photonic crystals applied to selective gas detection, and the development of in-house fabrication process for integrated silicon photonic circuits. In the first part of the thesis, devoted to macroporous silicon photonic crystal, efforts have been focused on understanding the multiple sources of distortion of the optical response of the same as well as the improvement of some figures of merit such as bandgap width, quality factor or transmittance. The improvement of these figures of merit could lead to the obtaining of photonic structures with potential selective light filtering market applications, in our case, focused to spectroscopic gas detection.On the other hand, in the second part of the thesis, a prospective work on the development of a standardised in-house fabrication-simulation-measurement process has been performed. In our group, and as far as I now at UPC, there was no previous knowledge on the fabrication of these devices. Therefore, we have had to develop all the fabrication/measurement protocols and measurement tools. With these processes optimized, different resonating optical structures have been obtained with high quality factors and relatively low losses. This thesis opens the door to the in-house fabrication of more complex optical circuits, which can be used to many applications, such as integrated optical gas sensors or beam stirring of THz antennas.
  

Last update: 05/03/2021 06:04:22.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 05/03/2021 06:03:42.

List of defended theses by year

No hi ha registres per mostrar.

Last update: 05/03/2021 06:02:58.

Research groups

• DISEN-Distributed Sensor Networks
• e-CAT-Electronic Circuits and Transducers
• EPIC-Energy Processing and Integrated Circuits
• GREP-Power Electronics Research Group
• GRUP ISI-Instrumentation, Sensors and Interfaces Group
• GSS-Sensor Systems Group
• HIPICS-High Performance Integrated Circuits and Systems
• IEB-Electronic and Biomedical Instrumentation
• ISSET-Integrated Smart Sensors and Health Technologies
• MCIA-Motion Control and Industrial Applications Research Group
• MNT-Micro and Nanotechnologies Research Group
• QINE-Low Power Design, Test, Verification and Security ICs
• RFEMC-Grup de Radiofrequencia i Compatibilitat Electromagnetica en Xarxes de Comunicacions
• SARTI-MAR-Sistemes d'Adquisicio Remota de dades i Tractament de la Informacio en el Medi Mari
• SEPIC-Power and Control Electronics Systems
• TIEG-Terrassa Industrial Electronics Group

Electronic Systems Group (GSE), UIB

Electronic Engineering Group (GEE), UIB

Teachers

• Alarcon Cot, Eduard
• Alepuz Menendez, Salvador
• Altet Sanahujes, Josep
• Aragones Cervera, Xavier
• Arias Pujol, Antoni
• Arumi Delgado, Daniel
• Balado Suarez, Luz Maria
• Bermejo Broto, Sandra
• Biel Sole, Domingo
• Bordonau Farrerons, Josep
• Bragos Bardia, Ramon
• Busquets Monge, Sergio
• Cabestany Moncusi, Joan
• Carrasco Lopez, Juan Antonio
• Casanella Alonso, Ramon
• Casas Piedrafita, Jaime Oscar
• Castilla Fernandez, Miquel
• Chavez Dominguez, Juan Antonio
• Cosp Vilella, Jordi
• Cuadras Tomas, Angel
• del Rio Fernandez, Joaquin
• Delgado Prieto, Miquel
• Dominguez Pumar, Manuel M.
• Fernandez Chimeno, Mireya
• Fernandez Garcia, Raul
• Gago Barrio, Javier
• Garcia de Vicuña Muñoz de la Nava, Jose Luis
• Garcia Gonzalez, Miquel A.
• Garcia Hernandez, Miguel Jesus
• Gasulla Forner, Manel
• Gil Gali, Ignacio
• Gomariz Castro, Spartacus
• Gonzalez Diez, David
• Guinjoan Gispert, Francesc
• Jimenez Serres, Vicente
• Lamich Arocas, Manuel
• Lopez Garcia, Mariano
• Lopez Gonzalez, Juan Miguel
• Lopez Lapeña, Oscar
• Lopez Martinez, Antonio Miguel
• Madrenas Boadas, Jordi
• Manich Bou, Salvador
• Martin Garcia, Isidro
• Martinez Garcia, Herminio
• Matas Alcala, Jose
• Mateo Peña, Diego
• Miret Tomas, Jaume
• Moll Echeto, Francesc
• Mon Gonzalez, Juan
• Moreno Arostegui, Juan Manuel
• Moreno Eguilaz, Juan M.
• Nescolarde Selva, Lexa Digna
• Orpella Garcia, Albert
• Ortega Redondo, Juan Antonio
• Ortega Villasclaras, Pablo Rafael
• Pallàs Areny, Ramon
• Parisi Baradad, Vicenç
• Polo Cantero, Jose
• Pons Nin, Joan
• Puigdollers Gonzalez, Joaquim
• Quilez Figuerola, Marcos
• Ramos Castro, Juan Jose
• Ramos Lara, Rafa
• Reverter Cubarsi, Ferran
• Riu Costa, Pere Joan
• Rodriguez Martinez, Angel
• Rodriguez Montañes, Rosa
• Romeral Martinez, J.L.
• Rosell Ferrer, Javier
• Rubio Sola, Jose Antonio
• Salaet Pereira, Joan Ferran
• Salazar Soler, Jorge
• Serrano Finetti, Roberto Ernesto
• Silva Martinez, Ferran
• Silvestre Berges, Santiago
• Torrents Dolz, Josep Maria
• Turo Peroy, Antonio
• Voz Sanchez, Cristobal
• Zaragoza Bertomeu, Jordi

Alorda Ladaria, Bartomeu (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABTE3MzA5

Bota Ferragut, Sebastián (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABTE3MjAw

Canals Guinand, Vicente José (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABTE5Njk1

Isern Riutort, Eugenio Miguel (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABDQ1NjE

Roca Adrover, Miguel Jesús (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABDU0MDI

Rosselló Sanz, José Luis (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABTExMzIx

Segura Fuster, Jaume Agapit (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABDUzMjE

Verd Martorell, Jaume (UIB) http://www.uib.cat/ca/personal/ABTE5Mzg5