Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific field of the programme, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The applicants considered most suitable for admission to the doctoral programme in Materials Science and Engineering are bachelor’s degree holders with a scientific and technological background who have completed a master's degree in Materials Science and Advanced Materials Engineering or a related field.

In addition to having suitable academic qualifications, it is considered important that applicants have certain personal characteristics – namely, an interest in the research projects carried out within the framework of the programme; critical and analytical skills; initiative, perseverance and persistence in their academic work; the ability to work in a team; and the ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.

The main entrance qualifications for the programme are as follows:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or higher engineering degree (Industrial, Materials or Chemical Engineering) or a pre-EHEA degree in Physical and/or Chemical Sciences with a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering (or proof of having completed 60 ECTS credits of this master’s degree), or another master’s degree with the same content, from any higher education institution in the EHEA, or a non-EHEA country if the applicant is eligible for admission to doctoral studies in that country.

Students with the following qualifications are eligible for direct admission:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or a pre-EHEA degree in Physics and/or Chemistry with a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

With bridging courses:

Holders of a bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or a pre-EHEA degree in Physics and/or Chemistry who have completed a master's degree in a field other than Materials Science and Engineering. If admitted, these students will be required to take bridging courses carrying up to 60 ECTS credits (subjects of the master’s degree that they have not taken).

Output profile

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

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

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

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

Number of places

15

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

• Jimenez Pique, Emilio

• Arencon Osuna, David
• De La Cruz Jesús, Lucía Guadalupe
• Jimenez Pique, Emilio
• Mas Moruno, Carlos
• Perez Campdepadros, Irene

• Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy (PROMOTORA)

Diagonal-Besòs Campus Management and Support Unit
Building A
Av. Eduard Maristany, 16
08019 Barcelona

Tel: (+34) 934 011 792
Email: doctorat.eebe@upc.edu

Agreements with other institutions

Access profile

Given the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific field of the programme, there are a wide range of degrees that qualify applicants for admission. The applicants considered most suitable for admission to the doctoral programme in Materials Science and Engineering are bachelor’s degree holders with a scientific and technological background who have completed a master's degree in Materials Science and Advanced Materials Engineering or a related field.

In addition to having suitable academic qualifications, it is considered important that applicants have certain personal characteristics – namely, an interest in the research projects carried out within the framework of the programme; critical and analytical skills; initiative, perseverance and persistence in their academic work; the ability to work in a team; and the ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.

The main entrance qualifications for the programme are as follows:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or higher engineering degree (Industrial, Materials or Chemical Engineering) or a pre-EHEA degree in Physical and/or Chemical Sciences with a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering (or proof of having completed 60 ECTS credits of this master’s degree), or another master’s degree with the same content, from any higher education institution in the EHEA, or a non-EHEA country if the applicant is eligible for admission to doctoral studies in that country.

Students with the following qualifications are eligible for direct admission:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or a pre-EHEA degree in Physics and/or Chemistry with a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

With bridging courses:

Holders of a bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Materials, Chemical or similar) or a pre-EHEA degree in Physics and/or Chemistry who have completed a master's degree in a field other than Materials Science and Engineering. If admitted, these students will be required to take bridging courses carrying up to 60 ECTS credits (subjects of the master’s degree that they have not taken).

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

Weighting of admission criteria:

Training complements

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

The ordinary enrolment period starts in September and ends on 15 October of each academic year, though the enrolment date will depend on the admission decision.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

The enrolment period will be from 15 September to 15 October of each 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: Preparation and initial defence of research plan.
Hours: 4.
Type: compulsory

Activity: Programme-specific courses, seminars and workshops.
Hours: 15.
Type: compulsory

Activity: Programme-specific courses, seminars and workshops.
Hours: 40.
Type: optional

Activity: Complementary courses and seminars given by visiting professors.
Hours: 12.
Type: optional

Activity: Publications
Hours: 100.
Type: optional

Activity: Research stays.
Hours: 480.
Type: optional

Activity: Cross-disciplinary activities.
Hours: 15.
Type: compulsory

Activity: Cross-disciplinary activities.
Hours: 30.
Type: optional

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

• MONTERDE GASCÓN, MARIA CARMEN: Nuevos interconectores pulvimetalúrgicos para sistemas de óxido sólido de alta temperatura: desarrollo, optimización y prototipado
  
  Author: MONTERDE GASCÓN, MARIA CARMEN
  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: (CEM)
  Mode: Confidentiality
  Deposit date: 13/12/2022
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: JIMENEZ PIQUÉ, EMILIO | CALERO MARTINEZ, JOSÉ ANTONIO | TORRELL FARO, MARC
  Committee:
       PRESIDENT: GARCÍA CANO, IRENE
       SECRETARI: MORALES COMAS, MIGUEL
       VOCAL: ETXEBERRIA URANGA, JON JOSEBA
  Thesis abstract: The transition towards to low carbon energy generation is promoting the installation of renewable energy sources, their successful deployment requires efficient energy storage systems in order to meet demand. Hydrogen generation has emerged as a good alternative for energy storage. High-temperature solid oxide electrolyze (SOEC) systems are the most efficient systems for generating hydrogen from electrolysis of water. These SOEC systems exhibit 80% energy conversion rates in the operating temperature range of 700 - 900ºC.The manufacturing techniques of the components is one of the main drawbacks of SOEC systems, and both performance and durability are under investigation in order to increase their lifetime and market penetration in competition with other electrolysis technologies with lower efficiencies.Metal interconnects are a vital part of high-temperature solid oxide systems as they electrically connect the cells and distribute the flow of gases that feed the final stack. The commercialization of these systems can be boosted by improving the lifetime and lowering the cost of these systems, which is partly driven by the high cost of the interconnect. Research is currently being carried out on ferritic stainless steel (FSS) interconnects, which are cheaper than ceramic materials, but shaw degradation problems at the high working temperatures of 750-800 ºC. Corrosion phenomena and chromium evaporation negatively affect system performance dueto increased electrlcal resistance and oxygen electrode polsoning has been shown to be effective In mitigation. The effectiveness in mitlgating these effects has been preven by the application of chromium barrier coatings such as MnCo2O4. This thesis deals with the design, developrnent, manufacture and optirnizatlon of a flat coated FSS metal lnterconnect manufactured by conventional powder metallurgy. The functionality in a single repeat unit has been validated in a high temperature electrolyze apparatus designed and built also within this study. This thesis can be divided into three blocks: i)design and fabrication by conventional powder metallurgy of a functional FSS interconnector, ii) study of various application techniques of the MnCo2O4 barrier coating such as roll coating, an additive manufacturing technique such as ink jet printing on demand (DOD) and electrophore!lc deposition (EPD), iii) design, construction and validation of a first high temperature electrolyze at national level built and validated with a commercial stack and which has been working directly connected to an industrial station such as the Riu Sec in Spain and iiii) validation of the interconnect and barrier !ayer efficiency with a commercia/ ce// in SOEC mode in tlle e/ectro/yzer for 750h at BOO"C and in SOFC mode after 150h in an /REC measurement station.In summary, this thesis deals with the design, development, manufacture and optimization of a flat coated FSS metal interconnect manufactured by conventional powder metallurgy. The functionality in a single repeat unit has been validated in a high temperature electrolyze apparatus designed and built also within this study. The results obtained show a functional interconnect in high temperature solid oxide systems in both SOFC and SOEC rnodes fabricated by conventional powder metallurgy.The results obtained show a functional interconnect in high temperature solid oxide systems in both SOFC and SOEC modes fabricated by conventional powder metallurgy.Finally, this thesis details a journey through the different maturity levels of high temperature solid oxide technology particularly in SOEC mode. The study has started ata TRL 3 proof of concept of high temperature solid oxide technology and has reached TRL 7 where a high temperature electrolyzer apparatus has been fabricated, validated and connected toan industrial installation, and a flat coated FSS metal interconnector validated on electrolyzer equipment designed and built in this study.
  

Last update: 27/01/2023 05:45:11.

List of lodged theses

Last update: 27/01/2023 05:30:20.

List of defended theses by year

No hi ha registres per mostrar.

Last update: 27/01/2023 06:00:13.

Research groups

• BBT-Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering
• CDAL-Light Alloys and Surface Treatment Design Centre
• CIEFMA-Structural Integrity, Micromechanics and Materials Reliability Centre
• e-PLASCOM-Eco-friendly Plastics and Composites
• InSup-Surface Interaction in Bioengineering and Materials Science Research Group
• POLY2-Polyfunctional polymeric materials
• PROCOMAME-Conformation Processes of Metallic Materials

Teachers

• Alcala Cabrelles, Jorge
• Arencon Osuna, David
• Baile Puig, Maria Teresa
• Benito Paramo, Josep Antoni
• Cabrera Marrero, Jose Maria
• Calvo Muñoz, Jesica
• Canal Barnils, Cristina
• de Redondo Realinho, Vera Cristina
• de Sousa Pais Antunes, Marcelo
• Engel Lopez, Elisabet
• Español Pons, Montserrat
• Fargas Ribas, Gemma
• Fernandez Aguado, Enrique
• Ginebra Molins, Maria Pau
• Jimenez Pique, Emilio
• Llanes Pitarch, Luis M.
• Manero Planella, Jose M.
• Martin Fuentes, Enric
• Mas Moruno, Carlos
• Maspoch Ruldua, Maria Lluïsa
• Mateo Garcia, Antonio
• Pegueroles Neyra, Marta
• Picas Barrachina, Josep A.
• Riera Colom, Maria Dolores
• Roa Rovira, Joan Josep
• Rodriguez Rius, Daniel
• Ruperez de Gracia, Elisa
• Sanchez Soto, Miguel Angel
• Santana Perez, Orlando
• Velasco Perero, Jose Ignacio

• Casellas Padro, Daniel