PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Started in the academic year 2009/2010. The minimum number of credits to obtain the degree is 240 (4 years).

Objectives

With great tradition in the United States, but recently established in Europe, Biomedical Engineering is a scientific / technological field that deals with the methodologies and equipment for diagnosis and therapy, as well as for research in healthcare.

The professionals in this area must have scientific and technological bases to innovate and optimize methodologies and equipment, while having acquired knowledge that facilitate their dialogue with doctors.

The importance of this area resides not only in its great social interest, due to its potential to improve the health system, but also in the training aspects of methodology and associated instrumentation, which endows students with conceptual resources that enable them to have an innovative vision on the issues that work.

Fulfilling the objectives of the 3rd cycle to ensure training leading to conceptual or instrumental innovation capabilities, critical analysis and evaluation, promotion of technological progress, skills that result from specialization and systematic understanding of a scientific-technological sub-area and the acquisition of skills and methods of research, this doctoral program aims at training specialists with great capacity for innovation and technological progress to promote following sub-areas of Biomedical Engineering:

1. Imaging (MRI)

2. Techniques of medical diagnosis using optical characterization

3. Biomechanics
4. Hemodynamic
5. Tissues Engineering (skin substitutes)

6. Interaction of radiation with biological matter (dosimetry, effects on biological molecules)

7. Bionanotechnology

8. Atomic and nuclear techniques for elemental characterization of biological samples

In these sub-areas, covered topics correspond to areas of high importance (with big international repercussions), not only in the scientific point of view but also due to its potential social impact.

Structure

Career opportunities

While ensuring specialists  training with strong innovation capabilities and of promoting technological progress in the area of Biomedical Engineering, this doctoral program brings career opportunities regarding university teaching careers and / or research, the physical hospital career and technical top places in hospitals and clinics and enterprise development, especially in the sub-areas indicated in the objectives. Among the capabilities with which candidates are provided these include critical thinking, conceptual autonomy and entrepreneurship, aiming at the creation of new businesses.

ORGANIZATION

The program consists of a doctoral program with 60 ECTs, and a doctoral thesis with 180 ECTs.

The completion of the doctoral program entitles an Advanced Studies Diploma (DEA).

OBSERVATIONS

The course is unique. As initial preparation, the student may be asked to conduct courses of the 2nd cycle of the Master in Biomedical Engineering. Students can obtain 12 ECTS by attending and passing courses belonging to the 3rd cycle of any other doctoral program of this University and others with which it will establish a cooperation agreement. Also included are subjects of the 2nd cycle of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of NOVA.

The first year corresponds to the Advanced Studies Diploma (60 ECTS)

Study plan