Genetics

The "Genetics" Doctoral Program reveals the commitment of the Universitat de Barcelona in the advanced training of doctoral students in genetic research.

Its purpose is to train specialist researchers in the fields of Evolutionary Genetics, Human Molecular Genetics, Developmental Genetics and Biotechnology, training them for their future incorporation into universities, research institutes and private and public management centers. The Program offers students the opportunity to work with recognized specialists in various fields related to the current research priorities of the research institutions involved.

The "Genetics" Doctoral Program is integrated within the Official Postgraduate Studies (POP) in Systems Biology of the Universitat de Barcelona. It is a four-year program (1 + 3) on a full-time basis, regulated by Royal Decree 56/2005, of January 21st, 2006, which is framed within the reforms of third-cycle education that is the objective is the setting-up of a single European Higher Education Area. It includes a training period (first year) followed by a research period (three years). Regarding the first period, our program is closely linked to the official master's degree "Genetics and Genomics" at the Universitat de Barcelona. However, it also contemplates the transfer of students who have completed 60 ECTS of an Official Master or equivalent to carry out the Doctoral Thesis and obtain the title of Doctor. The "Genetics" Doctoral Program obtained the "Mención hacia la Excelencia a los Programas de Doctorado" by the General Secretariat of Universities of the Ministry of Education (BOE of 4th January 2011), with reference MEE2011-0321. The "Genetics" Program was rated with 92 points out of 100 by ANECA and exceeded the 'concurrencia competitiva' of the Ministry of Education. This distinction is still valid.

Previously it had been awarded the "Mención de Calidad" awarded by the General Directorate of Universities (Reference MCD-2003 00366), which was renewed until the "Mención hacia la Excelencia a los Programas de Doctorado".

The "Genetics" Doctoral Program has Catalan, Spanish and English as official languages.

The main objective of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program is to train professionals with a solid education in the most innovative areas of developmental biology, evolution, human genetics and biotechnology. These areas are scientifically very current and students receive and complete training in them. Additionally, students learn the scientific complements required and genomics, bioinformatics and other basic tools to carry out studies in advanced genetic analysis. To achieve the objectives, the multidisciplinary skills theoretical and practice you need to work out in specific areas of specialized research are taught. They are fundamental to work in universities and research centers applied, in practice emerging professions and expanding, and research work of the private companies.

General aspects:

The "Genetics" Doctoral Program is a commitment to the future of the Universitat de Barcelona for training and research in genetics.

Students receive specialized training in current research methods and the current state of knowledge that enable them to join the most prestigious research institutions in the various fields of genetics. It also allows them to work in highly specialized fields of applied research such as diagnosis, therapy, forensic genetics or species conservation. Some graduates can be integrated into the science dissemination and the specialized or high-school teaching.

Periods:

The completion of the Doctoral Program includes:

• · A training period of one year, aimed at the initiation, guidance and methodological research training, during which the student must complete a total of 60 ECTS Postgraduate Studies Officer, being our program closely linked to the official Master "Genetics and Genomics" of the Universitat de Barcelona. The program also contemplates the transfer of students who have already taken 60 ECTS from another Official Master or equivalent.
• · A three-year research period for the preparation and presentation of the doctoral thesis. During this time the training is completed with activities such as seminars and course will relate specialized field of genetic research.

Study method:

The expected duration of the Doctorate Program is four years on a full-time basis (one for official postgraduate and three for research). However, in justified cases, the possibility of carrying out the Program on a part-time basis is also contemplated. In these cases, the expected duration will be longer and will depend on the specific dedication regime.

The main objective of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program is to train professionals with a solid foundation in the most current areas of developmental biology, evolution, human genetics and biotechnology. These are mainstream areas and students receive a complete training in them. Additionally, students learn the scientific complements required in genomics, bioinformatics and other basic tools to carry out studies in advanced genetic analysis. To achieve these objectives, the multidisciplinary skills theoretical and practice you need to work out in specific areas of specialized research are taught. They are fundamental to work in universities and research centers, in new emerging professions, and in research departments of the private companies.

The “Genetics” Doctoral Program comprises two training periods:

1- A first period in which the main objective is to consolidate and expand knowledge in an integrative way. The student must take a minimum of 60 ECTS of postgraduate within the masters linked to the Doctoral Program “Genetics”. The most common way is to attend the official Master "Genetics and Genomics" from the Universitat de Barcelona. The teaching objectives at this stage are specified in a specific way in each of the master's degrees.

2- After having completed 60 ECTS, the student will carry out a second training period: the development of their doctoral thesis project. This will be carried out in a laboratory linked to one of the research lines of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program. The purpose of this period is the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills and competencies in the genetics research that enable the students to:

• Understanding the value and limitations of the scientific method.
• To act in accordance with the scientific methodology in terms of the definition of the problems, the formulation of hypotheses, the selection of the strategy and the experimental methodology, the obtaining, evaluation and interpretation of the results, and the drawing of conclusions.
• Search, obtain, organize and interpret scientific information in databases and various sources.
• Communicate the results, using the various means at their disposal and with knowledge of their limitations.
• Work in groups and interact with their scientific environment.
• Maintain a socially and scientifically ethical attitude.

The Academic Committee of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program will be in charge of validating the credits obtained in masters degrees not linked to the "Genetics" Doctoral Program. For admission to the Program, the applicant must have a Supervisor of the Thesis Project and a motivation letter. If the Supervisor is not a professor at the Universitat de Barcelona, he will need a Tutor linked to the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics (Biomedical, Evolutionary and Development Genetics Section) of the Universitat de Barcelona. The supervisor / tutor will be the academic responsible for the training of the doctoral student.

The general lines of research related to the "Genetics" Doctoral Program are:

• Developmental biology and genetics
• Biotechnology
• Evolution and development
• Evolutionary genetics
• Human molecular genetics

List of tutors of the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics (Section Biomedical Genetics, Evolutionary and Development) of the Universitat de Barcelona:

Dr. Josep F. Abril

Dr. Teresa Adell

Dr. Ricard Albalat

Dr. Sofía Araújo

Dr. Joan Balanyà

Dr. Susanna Balcells

Dr. David Bueno

Dr. Cristian Cañestro

Dr. Carles Careers

Dr. Francesc Cebrià

Dr. Bru Cormand

Dra. Montserrat Corominas

Dr. Noelia Fernández

Dr. Jordi Garcia

Dr. Gemma Marfany

Dr. Pere Martinez

Dr. Francesc Mestres

Dr. Marta Morey

Dr. Marta Pascual

Dr. Raquel Rabionet

Dr. Marta Riutort

Dr. Rafael Romero

Dr. Julio Rozas

Dr. Emili Saló

Dr. Alejandro Sánchez

Dr. Florenci Serras

Dr. Marc Valls

How to proceed:

The interested person should contact a professor linked to the area of genetics, to see if he/she accepts him/her as director of his doctoral thesis. The same procedure has to be applied to be in contact with a possible tutor linked to the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics (Section Biomedical Genetics, Evolutionary and Development) belonging to the research area where the student wants to develop the doctoral thesis.

Admission requirements:

Admission requirements will depend fundamentally on the student's academic record and career, as well as their motivation. You must have a supervisor and a tutor who will be responsible, together with you, for the development of the doctoral thesis project.

Academic Requirements:

To be in possession of a university degree or graduate degree, and prove that they have completed a minimum of 240 ECTS. The validation of credits taken in other master's degrees and courses from other Catalan, or the Spanish State or foreign universities is also possible. The evaluation of this documentation is carried out by the Department of Students (Doctorate) of the Faculty of Biology (Universitat de Barcelona) together with the Academic Commission of the "Genetics" Doctorate Program.

In any case, to start the research period, the student must have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS, of which at least 60 ECTS must be from an official postgraduate program.

The entire access and admission process is carried out through a computer application that can be found on the website of the Faculty of Biology: https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/biologia/acces-doctorat

For additional information: http://www.ub.edu/escola_doctorat/ca

Once the favorable resolution of the access and admission procedure to the program has been obtained, you should enroll in the program. There are usually two terms, the first in the fall and the second in late winter for new students. The exact dates vary each course and depend on the Secretary of Students (Doctorate) of the Faculty of Biology (Universitat de Barcelona). The information can be found on the web:

https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/biologia/matricula-doctorat

Enrollment implies membership in the doctoral program with the corresponding rights and duties. It also entails having an e-mail from the Universitat de Barcelona and access to the Doctoral Program “Genetics” Virtual Campus, where all information related documents to the program can be found. It is important to check the e-mails that are sent from this space and regularly visit this Virtual Campus.

According to the rules of the EDUB (Doctoral School of the Universitat de Barcelona) during the first-year enrolled students must submit a Research Plan explaining the objectives to develop in his doctoral thesis. Throughout the duration of the thesis, the student must complete each course the Follow-up of their doctoral thesis, which will be evaluated by the Follow-up Thesis Commission, closely related to the Academic Commission of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program.

Once the Research Plan has been presented, if different circumstances make it necessary, it can be modified by presenting the corresponding documentation. These modifications must be approved by the Academic Commission of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program.

All the necessary documentation can be found on the Virtual Campus of the Program.

Once the doctoral thesis project has been completed and properly drafted according to the corresponding regulations, the doctoral student (with the authorization of the supervisor and tutor) can proceed to submit the deposit proposal for his or her thesis. The calendar and the corresponding regulations can be found on the Virtual Campus of the Program. All the documentation that accompanies the thesis can be found on that Campus and on the Faculty's website:

https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/biologia/guia-tesi

On the dates established according to the aforementioned calendar, the Academic Commission of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program and the Doctoral Committee of the Faculty will evalaute the proposed deposit of the doctoral thesis. If both evaluate it favorably, you can proceed with your deposit and schedule the defense. The thesis defense procedures must be carried out at the Secretary for Students (Doctorate) of the Faculty of Biology (Universitat de Barcelona).

Detailed information on the scholarships to carry out the doctoral thesis can be found at:

https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/biology/scholarships-doctorate

Coordinator of the "Genetics" Doctoral Program: Dr. Marc Valls (doctorat.genetica@ub.edu)

Secretary of Students (Doctorate) of the Faculty of Biology (Universitat de Barcelona): doctorat.biologia@ub.edu

Doctoral School of the Universitat de Barcelona: escola.doctorat@ub.edu

More information about doctoral studies at the Universitat de Barcelona can be found on the following web pages:

https://www.ub.edu/web/portal/ca/apren/doctorat/

http://www.ub.edu/escola_doctorat/ca

https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/biologia/doctorat-docencia

https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/dp-genmicrostat/genetica-biomedica-evolucio-i-desenvolupament