Doctoral Program in Analytical Science in Chemistry 2021–2022




Introduction

The doctoral program in Analytical Science in Chemistry (RD 99/2011) has evolved from various doctoral programs given by the Analytical Chemistry area and whose quality has been recognized by different assessment bodies:
  • Doctoral program in Analytical Science (RD 778/1998). Recognized with the Quality Mention of the Ministry of Science and Education (MCD2005-00286), from the academic years 2005-06 to 2008-09.
  • Doctoral program in Analytical Science in Chemistry (RD 1393/2007). Recognized with the Mention towards Excellence of the Ministry of Education (MEE2011-0046), from the academic years 2011-12 to 2013-2014.

Researchers belonging to seven research groups at the University of Zaragoza contribute to the program, all of them recognized as reference groups by the Government of Aragon.


Program Objectives

The general objective of this doctoral program is the training of Master in Science graduates as research professionals in different fields of Analytical Sciences in Chemistry.

The specific objectives of this program involve the specialization in the following fields:

  • Analytical sensors
  • Materials and packaging
  • Direct analysis of solids
  • Analytical nanometrology
  • Analytical chemistry of flavour

Outgoing Student Profile

Research professionals with specific training in different fields of Analytical Sciences in Chemistry, qualified to develop their activity at the university, in public and private research centres and R&D departments.


Contact

Administrative address:
Secretaría del Departamento de Química Analítica
Facultad de Ciencias
Pedro Cerbuna, 12
50009 Zaragoza (Spain)

Academics:
Coordinator: Francisco Laborda García
Phone: 976762252 - Ext.: 842252
Email: flaborda@unizar.es


Administrative Information:

Phone:  976761290 - Ext.: 841290
Email: quiman@unizar.es


Basic Skills

The students of the program acquire the basic competences indicated in article 5 of Royal Decree 99/2011 on doctorate. They are the following:

  1. Systematic understanding of their field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.
  2. Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
  3. Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
  4. Ability to perform a critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
  5. Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.
  6. Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural advancement within a society based on knowledge.

Personal Abilities and Skills

The RD 99/2011 highlights the high professional training of doctors in various fields, especially those that require creativity and innovation. Therefore, the doctors of the program will have acquired, at least, personal skills and abilities to:

  1. Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
  2. Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
  3. Design, create, develop and undertake innovative and innovative projects in their field of knowledge.
  4. Work both as a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
  5. Integrate knowledge, face complexity and formulate judgements with limited information.
  6. The criticism and intellectual defence of solutions.

General Information

The requirements for access to doctoral studies are set by the RD 99/2011, of 28 January. In general, access to the programme is open to those who hold an official Spanish Bachelor's and Master's degree or equivalent, having passed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits in these two degrees.

Students with a foreign degree issued by a country included in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) may apply for admission directly (info). If the degree was issued by a non-EHEA country, the application for admission with a foreign degree that has not been recognised (info) must be submitted.

Interested parties can find more information about acceso and admission at the Doctoral School section and at the administrative office of the programme (see contact details in the general information section of the programme).


Interested students can obtain further information about


Program Specific Information

Oferta de plazas: 15


Recommended profiles:

  • Graduate in Chemistry with a Master degree in Science.
  • Graduate in another degree (Food Science, Pharmacy...) with a Master degree in Science. Both degrees must include at least 24 ECTS in the field of Chemistry, of which at least 12 ECTS must be in the field of Analytical Chemistry.

Selection Criteria:

  • Academic records (60%)
  • Scholarships and awards (25%)
  • Research experience (10%)
  • Other merits (5%)

The application for admission will include a letter of motivation, which should express the interest of the candidate in a research line of the program and propose a researcher from that research line as a potential director.

 

The languages of the doctoral program are Spanish and English. Those students whose mother tongue is different from Spanish or English, must accredit a B2 level of the Common European Framework of Recognition in one of the two languages.


Specific Training Activities

Profile: Students with university degrees that do not include at least 24 ECTS corresponding to the field of Chemistry, and of which at least 12 ECTS correspond to the field of Analytical Chemistry.

Complements to be studied: The complements will consist of a training period in subjects related to Analytical Chemistry selected from Master and Degree courses taught at the University of Zaragoza, or other equivalent courses from the academic offer of this university.


Enrolment Dates, Deadlines and Procedure

Doctoral students, as researchers in training and students of the University of Zaragoza, must register annually with the corresponding fees for the academic supervision of the doctoral programme while they continue their doctoral training. The enrolment period will be the one established for this purpose in the calendar of the corresponding academic year.

As a general rule, enrolment will be done online through the Virtual Secretariat of the University of Zaragoza, having previously obtained a personal identification number (PIN) and password from the identity management service of the University of Zaragoza. Those who are unable to enrol online will be allowed to do so in person by going to the Doctoral School Section during opening hours. For the first, second and subsequent enrolments, doctoral students will have to present various documents about their previous studies, depending on whether they have been studied in countries within or outside the European Education Area.

The website of the Doctoral School provides complete and updated information about the enrolment procedure including key points, prices, discounts and insurancelegalisation and translation of documents and various practical details.


Thesis Supervision

The procedures for the supervision of students on the programme are set out in article 11 of Royal Decree 99/2011 regulating doctoral studies. Thesis supervision is also covered by Title I of the Regulations on Doctoral Theses of the University of Zaragoza.

Doctoral students admitted to the programme will register annually for academic supervision at the University of Zaragoza. The academic committee of the programme will assign a thesis supervisor and a tutor, who may or may not coincide. The thesis supervisor will be responsible for the overall management of the student's research tasks, for the coherence and suitability of the training activities, for the impact and novelty of the subject matter of the doctoral thesis in his/her field, and for guiding the planning and, where appropriate, its adaptation to that of other projects and activities in which the student is enrolled. The tutor is responsible for ensuring that the training and research activity is in line with the principles of the programme and the Doctoral School and will ensure the interaction of the PhD student with the programme's Academic Committee, the body responsible for supervising the progress of the research and training and for authorising the presentation of the thesis of each PhD student on the programme.

The supervision of doctoral students will be set out in the Doctoral Charter which, once enrolment has been completed, will be signed by the doctoral student, his/her tutor and supervisor, the programme coordinator and the director of the School for Doctoral Studies. For further information on thesis supervision, please contact the programme's administrative office (see contact details in the programme's general information) or the programme coordinator.


Student's Follow-up and Evaluation

The mechanisms for monitoring doctoral students are in accordance with the provisions of Article 11. Doctoral supervision and monitoring of RD 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies.

Before the end of the first year of enrolment, the PhD student must present a document that includes the research plan and the personal training plan. This may be improved and detailed throughout their stay on the programme and must be endorsed by the supervisor and tutor.

The research plan shall include, at least, the methodology to be used and the objectives to be achieved, as well as the means and timetable for achieving them.

The personal training plan will contain a forecast of the different training activities to be carried out during the doctoral thesis (courses, seminars, mobility actions, etc.).

The activities document is the record of all the activities - stays, courses, attendance at conferences, etc. - that the PhD student carries out from enrolment in the doctoral programme until the submission of the doctoral thesis.

These documents, as well as the director's and tutor's reports, are managed through the doctoral management application, SIGMA.

The academic committee of the programme will annually evaluate the progress of the doctoral student in terms of his/her research plan and the activities document together with the reports that the director and tutor must issue for this purpose. A positive evaluation will be a prerequisite for continuing on the programme. In the event of a negative evaluation, the PhD student must be evaluated again within a maximum period of six months. In the event that significant shortcomings continue to occur, the Academic Committee must issue a reasoned report, after hearing the interested party, and the doctoral student will be definitively withdrawn from the programme.

Once the thesis has been completed, the PhD student must proceed to its deposit and defence in accordance with the provisions set out in the thesis regulations of the University of Zaragoza and in the procedure that develops it, available on the EDUZ regulations website


Transversal Training Activities

The Doctoral School of the University of Zaragoza offers its doctoral students various transversal training activities focused on facilitating the acquisition of the necessary skills to actively participate in the knowledge society and to successfully manage in a complex and changing labour market. The activities in module 1, Communication skills, help PhD students to effectively disseminate research and its results and to share knowledge in an attractive way, both in writing and orally. Module 2, Scientific Information Management, provides training in searching, processing and managing bibliographic information. Module 3 includes activities that improve the doctoral student's readiness to manage in a professional environment. The activities in module 4, Research and Society, provide doctoral students with a space for reflection on issues of interest to participate fully and responsibly in today's diverse, digital and global society. Module 5 contains activities on instrumental or technical aspects necessary to apply cutting-edge research methodologies.

The training offer is completed with online activities for all G9 doctoral students, teaching and research training activities organised by the Institute of Education Sciences of the University of Zaragoza and with those carried out within the framework of inter-university and international Doctoral Conferences.

The complete offer for each academic year is published here.


Specific Training Activities

Doctoral students can carry out transversal activities, offered by the Doctoral School, as well as other training activities, specific of the Doctoral Program. None of these activities are compulsory, however, the following ones are highly recommended:

  • The participation in the doctoral program workshops.
  • The publication of, at least, one scientific article.
  • The attendance at one scientific conference.
  • Carrying out transversal training activities from the Doctoral School.

All the activities carried out by the student will be assessed by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program as equivalent hours, according to the attached scale. A total of 120 hours during the academic tutelage period is required for all students, both full-time (F-T) and part-time (P-T).

Scale of activities:

  • Attendance at doctoral program workshops: 15 hours/workshop (max. 45 hours).
  • Publication of scientific articles: 40 hours/article (max. 120 hours).
  • Attendance at conferences with presentation of communication (oral/poster): 10 hours/conference (max. 30 hours).
  • Attendance at research meetings: up to 8 hours/year (max. 24 hours).
  • Attendance at workshops and specific courses: up to 4 hours/course (max. 20 hours).
  • Attendance at workshops organized by Research Institutes: up to 4 hours/workshop (max. 12 hours).
  • Mobility: 12 hours/month (max. 72 hours).
  • Collaboration in teaching activities: 2 hours/ECTS  (max. 36 hours).
  • Transversal training activities from the Doctoral School: hours of activity (max 40 hours).


Title: Doctoral program workshops.

Description: Students will make a presentation of their research in progress related with the doctoral project during the annual workshop organised by the Doctoral Program, with participation of the rest of doctoral students as well as the teaching staff. Students will show a subject related with their doctoral research, which will followed by a discussion.

Time planning: All the students, both F-T and P-T will participate in a first session during their first doctoral course. F-T students will participate in a second session during their second doctoral course, whereas T-P students may do so during their second/third course.

Control procedure: The Academic Committee will keep a record of the attendants at doctoral sessions and will issue the corresponding certificate that will be incorporated to the DAD (doctoral student activities document).


Title: Publication of scientific articles.

Description: Preparation and publication of scientific articles derived from the work directly related to the doctoral thesis.

Time planning: Continuous training during the doctoral thesis realisation.

Control procedure: The student will justify this activity with the presentation of up to three articles published/accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals during all the training period as a doctoral program student.

 

Title: Attendance at conferences.

Description: Attendance at scientific conferences and presentation of communications during the training period as doctoral student.

Time planning: From 2nd to 3rd course for F-T students and from 2nd to 4th course for P-T students.

Control procedure: Certificates of both attendance and presentation of communication.

 

Title: Attendance at research meetings.

Description: Attendance at meetings with other researchers of their own group or other groups with whom projects or ideas are shared. Students will participate by presenting their contributions to the common project and assessing the contributions of the rest of the members.

Time planning: Continuous training during the doctoral thesis realisation.

Control procedure: The principal investigator of the research group will issue an annual report describing the doctoral student participation in the meetings of the group.

 

Title: Attendance at workshops and specific courses related to the research work.

Description: Attendance at workshops or specific courses organised by companies or other institutions about subjects related with the doctoral student research work.

Time planning: Continuous training during the doctoral thesis realisation.

Control procedure: Attendance certificate issued by the organiser.

 

Title: Attendance at workshops organized by Research Institutes.

Description: Attendance at workshops organised by university research institutes or other research centres where the doctoral students might develop their activity.

Time planning: Continuous training during the doctoral thesis realisation.

Control procedure: Attendance certificate issued by the institute or organising centre or, in its absence, attendance letter signed by the thesis director or tutor. In addition, students will submit a summary with the key points developed in the workshop.

 

Title: Mobility.

Description: Stays of research in centres different to the one where the doctoral student usually works, being the minimum length of stay one week.

Time planning: From 2nd to 3rd course for F-T students and from 2nd to 4th course for P-T students. One or several stays of variable length are allowed, between one week (minimum) and six months (maximum).

Control procedure: Report issued by the responsible person from the host research group stating the key points of the developed work during the stay period, as well as the degree of achievement.

 

Title: Collaboration in teaching activities.

Description: If allowed by the contract, students will be able to participate in the teaching activities of a university department.

Time planning: Depending on the contract terms.

Control procedure: Report issued by the head of department where the teaching activities are carried out.

 



Mobility

Doctoral students enrolled on doctoral programmes benefit from the mobility grants established in various national and international calls for applications. The calls of the Erasmus+ programme stand out. In the Modality Erasmus+ Studies, doctoral students can choose from a wide range of destinations as most of the agreements signed by the University of Zaragoza with other universities include places for doctoral students from all branches.

This mobility is carried out in accordance with the procedure Q-312_1. Procedure for the Management of the International Mobility of Undergraduate, Master and PhD Students.

With regard to the Erasmus+ Internships mode, doctoral students have access to two calls: the University of Zaragoza's own call and the one carried out by the Campus Iberus of International Excellence for the universities that are part of it, including Zaragoza.

Other interesting mobility calls are the Erasmus+ Short Mobility, the UNITA mobility, the external internships, those specifically aimed at Ibero-American students and those that finance international stays for pre-doctoral students, among others.

The mobility of doctoral students at the University of Zaragoza is also encouraged through the signing of co-supervision agreements with several foreign universities.


Research Lines


    Research Teams


    Academic Regulations

    The Doctoral School of the University of Zaragoza has rules, regulations and procedures to facilitate the achievement of its various objectives. It is worth highlighting the Internal Regulations of the Doctoral School, the Instruction of the Doctoral School: Requirements for access, admission, dedication and permanence in the doctoral studies of the University of Zaragoza adapted to R.D. 99/2011. 99/2011; the Procedure for the elaboration of the Report on the Quality of Doctoral Studies and its different Programmes (ICED); the Code of Good Practices for the School and the doctoral programmes; the Doctoral Charter; the Procedure and model agreement to request the mention of doctorate industrial in the thesis or the Regulation of extraordinary doctoral awards. The aforementioned documents, drawn up with the participation and consensus of the various bodies of the Doctoral School, are published on its website.

    The regulations section of the Doctoral School's website contains other important regulatory references for doctoral studies such as RD 99/2011 regulating official doctoral studies, the Regulations for Doctoral Studies (2012) and the Regulations on doctoral theses (2014), both from the University of Zaragoza.


    PhD Duration and Their Management Rules

    Rules of duration and permanence in the doctorate are established in Instrucción de23 de mayo de 2018 de la Escuela de Doctorado relativa al acceso, admisión,dedicación y permanencia en los estudios de doctorado de la Universidad deZaragoza (R.D. 99/2011).

    Full-time thesis should be complete in three years, from the date of admission to the doctoral program, although the Academic Committee of the program may authorize the extension of this period for one more year. Part-time doctoral students will have five years from their admission to the presentation of the thesis, and the Academic Committee may authorize an extension for two more years. Exceptionally, an additional year of extension can be added.

    PhD candidates may request a change in dedication (full-time / part-time) as well as the temporary withdrawal for justified reasons of the Academic Committee. They can cause a definitive withdrawal and see their file closed in these cases: if the available time to deposit the thesis is exceeded or if they receive two consecutive negative evaluations of the research plan.

    These processes are explained in detail on our website (info) and the doctoral students are told how to proceed in cases of temporary withdrawal (info).


    Academic Calendar

    Doctoral activity in an academic year is governed by the deadlines established in the specific doctoral academic calendar. This calendar, which is approved well in advance, sets the periods for application for access, admission to programmes, registration at the University of Zaragoza, presentation by doctoral students of the research plan and the activities document, as well as the deadlines for the defence of doctoral theses.

    The website of the Doctoral School publishes the calendar for the current academic year, as well as for the two previous years.


    Learning Resources

    The doctoral program, through the research groups and institutes involved, the centres where the Department of Analytical Chemistry carries out its activity and the University of Zaragoza itself, offers a series of material, technological and scientific resources and facilities that guarantee the development of the doctoral theses. The specific resources and facilities available are detailed below.

    Research laboratories   

    There are research laboratories specialized in Analytical Science and perfectly equipped for the development of the research lines of the doctoral program. These laboratories are located in different areas of the Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, School of Engineering and Architecture, Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon, Institute of Research and Engineering of Aragon and the Food and Agriculture Institute of Aragon.
    The University of Zaragoza has been sensitive to aspects related to equal opportunities, taking as a priority objective to make university buildings and their environment accessible by eliminating architectural barriers. It should be noted that present and future university infrastructures have among their design standards the considerations prescribed by Law 51/2003.


    General Research Support Service

    Researchers linked to the doctoral program have access to the facilities of the General Research Support Service (link), which includes physical and chemical characterisation, biomedicine and animal experimentation, as well as other transversal services.


    Administration and Service staff  (Personal)

    The doctoral program is supported by the services of an administrative manager, an administrative assistant and five laboratory technicians.


    Doctoral School Service

    This is the unit of the University of Zaragoza responsible for providing technical and administrative support to the university community linked to doctoral studies.

    Its main services are:

    • Information and attention to the university community with special consideration to the information shown on the Web page.
    • Support to government bodies and academic committees.
    • Enrolment and records management.
    • Support in the process of verification and mention of excellence.
    • Support in the calls for Erasmus Mundus programs.


    International Relations Service 

    The International Relations Service, by means of the offices of reception of international students, promotes mobility, welcomes international students of Doctorate and facilitates their integration in the University.
    International doctoral students are provided with support and information about the city, accommodation, Spanish and other language courses, medical assistance, grants and scholarships, etc.
    Spanish doctoral students interested in abroad research stays as part of their training are also provided with support in relation with Erasmus Mundus and Campus Iberus programs.


    Other supports:    

    Research mobility centre (EURAXESS)

    The University of Zaragoza, through the Vice-Rectorate of Scientific Policy, is part of the EURAXESS European Network of Aragon and constitutes an information point that provides personalized assistance to both foreign researchers who travel to Aragon to develop their research work, as well as Aragonese researchers who are interested in traveling abroad temporarily. This support deals with topics such as procedures for obtaining visas, residence cards and their renewals, homologation of university degrees, job offers, Social Security and health care, schooling and other useful information to facilitate the movement and integration of the researcher in the country of destination.


    Career guidance service

    Graduates of the program have at their disposal the career guidance service of the University of Zaragoza, Universa (link), composed of experts in Human Resources. Universa provides personalized information on job searches, company selection tests and preparation of curricula and cover letters.

     

    Provision of external resources and travel grants for attending conferences and stays abroad to support doctoral students in their training

    Support will be given to the calls for mobility grants for doctoral students.
    The signing of agreements with higher education institutions that favour student mobility within the framework of European Programmes (Erasmus, Leonardo...) will be encouraged in accordance with the guidelines given by the Vice-rectorate of International Relations.


    Regulation

    Documents

    Commissions

    Forms