PhD in Biomedical and Evolutionary Biotechnology

Academic year 2024-25

See the pre-registration, admission and registration deadlines for the 2024-25 academic year.
You may also check this information for the 2023-24 academic year.

Interdisciplinary and specific educational activities

The Academic Committee for the PhD Programme recommends students take a minimum of 30 mandatory hours of common cross-cutting activities (similar courses provided and taken at other universities shall be considered). In turn, full-time students are recommended to do these activities in their first year on the programme, whilst part-time students should do them in the first and second year.

Cross-cutting training programme for PhD students at the University of the Balearic Islands

The cross-cutting training activities proposed will have specific assessment procedures based on objective tests. As a general rule, the supervisor or tutor shall be responsible for incorporating the assessment or successful completion into the PhD activities document.

Communication Skills in English: Written and Oral expression (Module I)
Objective
A cross-cutting training activity aimed at attaining advanced knowledge of English (written and oral communication)
Number of hours
30
Requirements
--
Method
Intensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
Semester one in each academic year
Year
First year
Assessment procedure
Activities where students can practise their writing abilities in English to attain C1-level skills
Mobility
Not applicable

Communication Skills in English: Written and Oral Expression (Module II)
Objective
A cross-cutting training activity aimed at attaining advanced knowledge of English (written and oral communication). Students shall work on their English usage based on immersion in the communication context for the speciality, linked to inherent situations and documents for each area. The specific content of this module shall be oral fluency (seminars, presentations and workshops)
Number of hours
30
Requirements
--
Method
Intensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
Semester two in each academic year
Year
First year
Assessment procedure
Activities where students can practise their writing abilities to attain C1-level skills
Mobility
Not applicable
Ethics and Integrity in Scientific Research
Objective
An activity aimed at students understanding the purpose and objectives of scientific research in any area. The scientific method. Classification of scientific disciplines. Ethical problems in scientific research. Experiments with animals and humans. The bioethics committee
Number of hours
30
Requirements
 --
Method
Intensive and cross-cutting
Schedule
Semester two in each academic year
Year
First year
Assessment procedure
This activity shall be assessed by undertaking case studies
Mobility
Not applicable

Specific activities

Up-to-date Bibliographic Review of a Research Topic
Objective
A specific training activity aimed at students acquiring the ability to undertake and manage bibliograhpic searches on a research topic across public and private databases.
Certification for this activity may be obtained by submitting a review document on a topic, preferably one linked to the PhD thesis
Number of hours
30
Schedule
Both full-time and part-time students must undertake this activity in their first year on the programme
Year
First year
Method
Mandatory
Research Seminars
Objective
A specific research activity comprising attendance at seminars given by researchers linked to the PhD programme and renowned guest researchers (preferably from overseas research centres). The sessions will be given in either Spanish, Catalan or English, depending on the guest speaker.
Certification for this activity may be obtained by presenting certificates of attendance and/or delivery of lectures, theses, seminars, classes, etc., linked to the general subject matter of the PhD programme, totalling at least 10 hours 
Number of hours
10
Schedule
This activity may be undertaken spread across the three years of the PhD programme (for full-time students) or across five (for part-time students)
Year
Throughout the student's time on the programme
Method
Mandatory
Preparing and Presenting Scientific Papers
Objective
In this activity students will prepare a scientific paper linked to the thesis topic and do a public presentation of it. The objective is for this work to be presented at conferences or published in journals of recognised prestige.
Certification for this activity may be obtained by accrediting some of the following requirements:
- Present 1 article linked to the thesis topic (published or submitted), where the student is the first or last signatory, or the corresponding author
- Present 2 conference papers (oral or posters) on subjects linked to the thesis topic, where the student is the first author
- Present 1 conference paper (oral or poster) linked to the thesis topic, where the student is the first author, and 3 papers where the student is in other positions within the list of authors, together with a document justifying their specific participation in the work, signed by the supervisor
Number of hours
30
Schedule
Both full-time and part-time students should take this activity in the second or third year. In any event, students may choose to do it earlier
Year
Second or third year
Method
Mandatory
Practical Placements in Biotechnology Companies
Objective
This activity is aimed, first and foremost, at students coming into direct contact with the industrial biotechnology sector, which will allow them to get to know the intricacies of the sector and the requirements to work in it. In turn, students will come into contact with a company which they may end up joining, in the event that both parties agree on it.
Certification for these non-regulated activies can be obtained by accrediting placements at other research centres, such as practicals undertaken in Biotechnology Companies (up to 150 hours)
Number of hours
150
Schedule
This activity has a flexible schedule, so that it can be easily adapted to the student's and the company's timetable. Thus, the student can arrange a series of daily or weekly hours spread across the academic year, or do a month of intensive work in the summer
Year
In line with student availability
Method
Elective
Research Stays at Overseas Centres
Objective
Duration: three months in one or several periods and research centres.
Certification for these activities may be obtained by accrediting stays in other national or overseas laboratories or centres
Number of hours
480
Schedule
This activity shall be performed during the later years of the programme, both for full-time students (in their second and third year) and part-time students whose external responsibilities enable them to take a leave of absence (in their third, fourth and fifth year)
Year
In line with student availability
Method
Elective