PhD in Chemical Science and Technology

Academic year 2022-23

Lines of research

Renal lithiasis and biomineralisation

The Renal Lithiasis and Biomineralisation Research Group conducts research on the aetiology of kidney stones and the most suitable diagnosis procedures for this pathology, its treatment and its prophylaxis. All pathologies related to renal lithiasis, such as cardiovascular calcification, osteoporosis, renal tubular acidosis, etc., are also addressed.

Nanostructured materials and biomaterials

Development and characterisation of new materials based on porous solids, especially zeolites, periodic mesoporous silicas and metal-organic frameworks and their derivatives, for application in gas storage, catalysis and extraction of environmental pollutants. Development of new biomaterials with different properties, such as the stimulation of damaged tissue regeneration (bones, gums, wound tissues), controlled drug release (local chemotherapy) or anti-bacterial activity intended to prevent infections (prostheses, dental implants).

Analytical chemistry, automation and environment

Development of new automatic, miniaturised and portable analytical methodologies for the extraction, separation and determination of contaminants in environmental samples. Implementation of new materials and 3D printing technology in chemical analysis.

Bioorganic and bioinorganic chemistry

Transitional metal complexes with molecules showing biological and/or pharmacological activity, especially compounds derived from pyritic, pyrimidine and related bases. Study of weak interactions. Application to the development of bioMOFs derived from synthetic ligands. Studies of riboswitch RNAs dependent on vitamin B12 and its analogues.

Applied Organic Chemistry

Synthesis and characterisation of enantioselective catalysts for asymmetric synthesis.

Supramolecular Chemistry

Experimental and computational study of weak interactions. Development of molecular receptors and sensors for the recognition and detection of substances of biological and environmental interest. Synthesis and characterisation of self-assembled materials. Development of chemical vectors for the transport and release of bioactive compounds into biological environments.

Molecular reactivity and drug design

  1. Study and description of the post-translational modifications detected in vivo on the ability of alpha-synuclein, an intrinsically disordered protein related to Parkinson's disease, to interact with its natural receptors (biological membranes and proteins). 
    This study complements experimental techniques, such as the combined use of NMR and SAXS spectroscopy, with a computational methodology based on coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations.
    Both techniques have been successfully applied by our group in the description of native alpha-synuclein.
  2. The glycation mechanism and study of the inhibition of the glycation of biomolecules. Glycation is one of the post-translational modifications which have been our group’s object of study for years. It is a non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars such as glucose, and lysines (essentially), of a protein. Glycation leads to the formation of AGEs (Advanced glycation end products), whose accumulation causes alterations in the functionality of proteins. 
  3. Studies on the deposition and absorption on the surface of PAH (hydroxyapatite). Hydroxyapatite is the main mineral component of bone, and this line of research focuses on the design of new structures that show a better affinity for and selectivity of PAH to cope with the pathological processes associated with crystallisation and redissolution.

Food technologies

  • Intensification of mass transfer processes through the application of power ultrasound: Osmotic dehydration, biocompound extraction, convective drying and low pressure freeze-drying.
  • Use of agro-industrial waste to obtain and stabilise bioactive compounds: in vitro bioaccessibility studies and stabilisation by means of microencapsulation.
  • In vitro gastrointestinal digestion: Effect of processing on the bioccessibility of biocompounds
  • Traditional foods of recognised quality: Food differentiation and characterisation, sensory analysis and quality control.
  • Simulation of mass transference food processing.

General and specific competencies

Doctoral studies aim to provide advanced education to students in research techniques, and. They include the development and presentation of a corresponding doctorate thesis that consists of original work in research.

Doctoral studies aim to provide students with advanced training in research techniques. Usual activities in these studies could incorporate courses, seminars, or other activities directed at education in research. This also involves the preparation and presentation of a doctoral thesis, which needs to be an original work of research. Specific objectives of the Doctoral Programmes of the Balearic Islands University are: to train researchers and form research teams to successfully address current societal challenges making use of new sciences, techniques and methodologies; to promote the training of the teaching faculty, and to perfect professional, scientific, technical and artistic development of postgraduates.

Core Skills

  • CB11 - Systematic comprehension of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to this field
  • CB12 - The ability to devise, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or invention process
  • CB13 - The ability to contribute to widening the frontiers of knowledge through original research
  • CB14 - The ability to perform a critical analysis, assessment and synthesis of new and complex ideas
  • CB15 - The ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community, as well as with society as a whole, about their areas of knowledge in the methods and languages commonly used within the international scientific community
  • CB16 - The ability to promote scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural advancement in academic and professional settings within the knowledge-based society.

Personal Skills and Abilities

  • CA01 - Work in contexts where there is little specific information
  • CA02 - Uncover key questions that need to be answered in order to resolve a complex problem
  • CA03 - Design, create, develop and undertake new and innovative projects in their area of knowledge
  • CA04 - Work in a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary setting
  • CA05 - Incorporate knowledge, handle complexity and provide opinions with limited information
  • CA06 - Intellectual criticism and defence of solutions.

Acces and entry Requirements

The recommended entry profile for the PhD in Chemical Science and Technology is that of graduates in Science or Pharmacy, or industrial, chemical or agricultural engineers who possess a master's degree in areas linked to chemical science and technology.

In this sense, and without prejudice to doctorands having taken other equivalent studies, the following master's degrees of this type are available at the UIB:

  • Chemical Science and Technology
  • Experimental and Industrial Organic Chemistry
  • Theoretical Chemistry and Computer Modelling

A minimum level of English is required that enables students to read international publications, write articles for a global audience, and attend and participate in international conferences.

The PhD programme website at the University of the Balearic Islands will publish an updated list of official postgraduate programmes at the UIB, whether exclusive or in conjunction with other Spanish universities, and detailed information on the recommended entry profile for each programme. The information is available in Spanish, Catalan and English at the following link:

Moreover, there is information on guidance and welcome procedures for new students at:

And specifically for students with non-Spanish qualifications, there is information on legalising them for entry to PhD studies at:

Finally, information on available student grants and scholarships can be found at the following link:

List of agreements of the doctoral programme

Autonomous University of Nuevo León

Advanced Materials Research Center, S.C.

Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (Tétouan)

Sciware Systems S.L. (Industrial PhD)

Agreements and framework agreements of UIB. Search of agreements  .

Support and guidance information

PhD Programme Supervisory Activities

Once doctorands join the PhD programme, they receive specific training and support.

The procedure followed by the Academic Committee for the PhD programme to assign thesis tutors and supervisors is as follows:

  1. The committee shall designate a thesis tutor from amongst the permanent lecturers in the Department of Chemistry every academic year for each research area. The lecturers shall have attained a six-year research term or equivalent
  2. Once doctorands are admitted to the doctoral programme, the committee shall assign them a tutor depending on the research area selected in their admission application
  3. Tutors shall be responsible for proposing a thesis supervisor to the committee from amongst all participating lecturers on the PhD programme, taking into account the research topic and whether the doctorand has full- or part-time student status
  4. The Academic Committee shall appoint the supervisor and, where applicable, joint supervisor for the thesis within a maximum deadline of six months from the doctorand's registration
  5. PhD thesis supervisors shall be doctors with at least one accredited six-month research term or equivalent, and have developed research areas linked to the content of the doctoral thesis. This designation may be awarded to any Spanish or foreign doctor, regardless of the university, centre or institution where they work. However, where they do not work at the University of the Balearic Islands, they may not be the designated tutor.

Any changes that may occur with regard to thesis tutors and supervisors during the PhD period shall be resolved by the Academic Committee.

Once the production period of the doctoral thesis has started, the thesis supervisor and, where applicable, joint supervisor shall put forward different activities and deadlines for its successful outcome.

Supervisors and joint supervisors undertake to:

  • Personally and regularly maintain working contact with the doctorands under their supervision to oversee assigned tasks and ensure they are fulfilled
  • Facilitate periodic meetings to discuss progress on the assigned tasks and contribute to keeping doctorands up-to-date with regard to the science and methodology
  • Inform doctorands about current legal regulations that affect scientific practice.

In turn, an activity timeline shall be set with the following schedule:

  • A weekly one-hour meeting for doctorands to set out their work
  • A monthly meeting for supervisors to regularly monitor and supervise doctorands. This meeting will look at doctorands' fulfilment of the objectives set out in the previous meeting, as well as possible problems that may have arisen. Medium-term goals shall also be set based on the progress level of the thesis, possible publications to be written, attendance at conferences and planned stays at other universities by doctorands
  • An annual meeting of the Academic Committee for the PhD programme to take decisions on the status of all theses registered on the programme, assessing progress and results from each student.

The supervision and monitoring of doctorand training activities and their thesis shall be in line with UIB PhD procedures (RD 99/2011), the UIB doctoral degree course regulations (https://seu.uib.cat/fou/acord/13084/) and the approved degree report, which may be consulted in the 'Results' section. The administrative and academic procedures that students must perform during their PhD can be viewed on the UIB Doctoral School website in the 'Procedures' section:

Promoting Multiple Supervision for PhD Theses

Multiple or joint supervision is planned to favour multidisciplinary research. The University of the Balearic Islands allocates annual budget line items to both the centre responsible for PhD degrees and to departments in order to finance stays by renowned visiting lecturers at the UIB, with a view to improving the internationalisation of PhD programmes and facilitating joint supervision for doctoral theses.

Programme Internationalisation

Internationalisation of the PhD programme is planned via the participation of renowned researchers from overseas as joint PhD thesis supervisors and viva panel members, as well as authors of reports to award international mentions. They are also encouraged to take part in PhD programme monitoring committees specifically aimed at awarding international mentions. These international collaborations shall be formalised through agreements with overseas universities and research centres (mainly those mentioned in the 'Other Collaborations' section). In this vein, since the creation of the European PhD mention and with a view to promoting the participation of international experts on thesis viva panels, the University of the Balearic Islands allocates annual budget line items to the centre responsible for PhD degrees to cover the attendance of at least one expert researcher from overseas at thesis vivas.

More information: