PhD in Geological Engineering

The development prospects for Portugal point to the need for technicians and scientists in the field of the Engineering Sciences, Geological Engineering and Geology. The Geological Engineering and Earth Sciences in general, are considered major scientific areas in many of the developed countries of the world. The course began operating in the academic year 2008/2009. The minimum number of credits for the degree is 180 (3 years)

Objectives

The objectives of the PhD in Geological Engineering, relate with highly qualified trainee researchers in this scientific field and with the power to conduct and develop research and projects with autonomy in economic and social activity and / or university environment sectors.

The skills to be acquired by doctoral students are:

a) Competence of knowledge and understanding capacity;

a.1) Systematic understanding capacity in the scientific study of Geological Engineering, to enable them to deepen knowledge at the level of 1st and 2nd cycles in its field and gain sustainable basis to develop tasks autonomously in the research context;

a.2) To acquire scientific training and advanced techniques that give them skills and research methods associated with the scientific field of Geological Engineering allowing to understand and to solve new problems and situations in multidisciplinary contexts;

b) Application of knowledge and understanding Skills;

b.1) Ability to devise, design and implement major research projects in Geographical Engineering, developing management and technical monitoring coordination capabilities autonomously in the center of research in which they operate (Centre for Research in Science and Geological Engineering, CICEGe, or other), other research institutions or companies, respecting the requirements imposed by the academic quality and integrity standards;

c) Competency achievement of judgment / decision making;

c.1) Developing integration capabilities of knowledge in order to be able to critically analyze, evaluate and synthesize new ideas in complex situations always presenting solutions and proposing implementation of projects taking into account economic and social implications;

d) Communication skills;

e) Self-learning skills.

Career opportunities

The areas of intervention of the future Ph.D. in Geological Engineering are related to the construction and public works, including communication routes (roads, bridges, airports, ports), the prospection, characterization and exploration of geological resources and the decontamination of soils and groundwater.

These activities will lack the technical and scientific support, both at project level as monitoring and enforcement. Some even have a leading role. The advanced training at doctoral level, will allow high levels of achieved development, which undoubtedly contribute to innovation and significant improvement of the developed work.

The PhD course in Geological Engineering is based on the guiding principles and objectives underlying their integration into the European higher education space. With this design, their doctorates will operate in national and international space, in highly competitive environments, conducting up their training and the course organization by high quality standards.