Doutoramento em Nanotecnologias e Nanociências

Education

PhD in Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences

Started in 2008/2009: the minimum number of credits to conclude the degree is 240 (4 years).

Objectives

Nanotechnology and nanoscience are emerging scientific areas, whose main objective is the ability to control and to manipulate matter at nano-scale, which usually is between 1 and 100 nm (1 nm = 10-9 m). At this new "dimension", matter has completely different properties which will enable the understanding of new phenomena, as well as create new features that can be used in completely disruptive applications. As a summary form, we can say that nanotechnology and nanosciences act primarily in the areas of: nanoelectronics, nanobiotechnology and nanomaterials.

The PhD in Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences of NOVA FCT aims to enable students with the necessary tools in the areas of nanotechnologies and nanosciences and their applications. This is achieved by the faculty responsible for this doctoral level, as well as through the research laboratories that support all the excellence of the pursuited research, which is internationally recognized.

This PhD aims to satisfy a critical need in the market in terms of engineering professionals and researchers specialized in an area of world wide recognition, considered central to the sustained development of knowledge-based industry and disruptive innovation. 

More information on current areas of research at the Materials Science Department, framed in this doctoral plan, can be found at:

www.cenimat.fct.unl.pt

www.i3n.org

 

In addition, the objectives of this study cycle are:

Promote the connection of Education to quality Research, typical of the so- called Schools of Graduate Studies.

Provide a solid and varied background in the field of nanotechnology and its applications which come from the Life Sciences, Information and Communication Technologies and Energy / Environment.

Form researchers with multidisciplinary scientific expertise and specific training in the area of entrepreneurship, capable of integrating in disruptive knowledge and innovative activities or, for themselves, promote the creation of small and medium-sized knowledge-based companies.

Beyond the objectives set for the Postgraduate Course 3rd Cycle in Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences, the objectives of the PhD in Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences are: contribute to the production of scientific knowledge on Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences, in collaboration with other internal or external scientific units the University NOVA Lisbon, as in the case of scientific units of the Universities of Minho and Aveiro integrating the Associated Laboratory I3N, Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication.

In addition to the primary objective, mentioned above, the doctoral program now proposed intends to respond to the need to have PhDs with multidisciplinary comprehensive training, able to operate in the areas of processing, functionality and design of new materials and their integration into systems and devices, beyond advancing the implementation of new techniques for processing materials, at macro and nano scales relevant to engineering.

In this context, it is central objectives of the 3rd cycle of studies leading to the degree of Doctor of Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences to ensure that a holder of this degree is equipped with following capabilities:

  • Well grounded argumentation capacity in the most current scientific knowledge.
  • Conscious attitude on issues of science and social ethics. 
  • Proactive attitude in knowledge transfer 'from the laboratory to the industry'.
  • Good joint work group work / individual initiatives.
  • Good planning, execution and experimental work analysis.
  • Advanced knowledge in Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences.
  • Like to keep updated about knowledge  frontiers.
  • Implementation of innovative solutions to complex engineering problems.
  • Integrated and critical vision of Nanotechnology and its aplications.
  • Domain over methods and research capacity.
  • Cultivate and promote the vocation of applied research associated with nanotechnologies.

 

PhDs in this area will have appropriate training (scientific and technical expertise) to continue their research or research and development in public and private institutions or to create their own businesses and act as technologies and processes promoters and makers of in the areas where disruptive Micro and Nano-technologies are crucial, such as biotechnology and information and communication technologies.

Curriculum

Career opportunities

Emerging markets associated with Micro and Nanotechnology where materials and devices integration processes are crucial, from which stand out:

Life Sciences;
Information and Communication Technologies;
Energy, Transportation, Environment and Renewable Energy Sources.

Schedule

Day and tutorial system

Tuition fee

Portuguese students:

2 750 Euros/ year 

Foreign students:

2 750 Euros/ year 

Applications

1st phase: 11th march to 5th april 2024

2nd phase: 3rd to 28th june 2024

3rd phase: 19th August to 6th September 2024

Applications

Entrance requirements for the 2024/2025 academic year

Vacancies for 2024/2025:

10

Admission rules:

The applicant must meet at least one of following conditions:

Hold a master's degree, or equivalent, obtained in a national or foreign institution in an area recognized as appropriate by the Scientific Committee of the Programme. The applicant must have a minimum final grade of fourteen values in this study cycles (or C in the range of ECTS).

Possess an undergraduate degree and hold a relevant academic or scientific curriculum that is recognized by the FCT NOVA Scientific Committee as attesting the capacity to accomplish this study cycle;

Holds an academic, scientific or professional curriculum that is recognized by the NOVA FCT’s Scientific Council as attesting the capacity to accomplish this cycle of studies.

The recognition referred to in subparagraphs b) and c) of the above conditions:

Will be based on the issued recommendations by two professors or PhD researchers, considered experts in the scientific field of application and appointed by the Scientific Committee of the corresponding doctoral program;

It does not confer to its holder the equivalence to the bachelor's degree or master or his recognition.

 

NOVA FCT’s on-line application

Necessary documentation:

  1. Qualifications certificate listing the obtained grades;
  2. CV;
  3. Declaration of Intent in which the candidate explains why he/she is interested in doing this PhD program.

Ranking:

Candidates will be selected taking into account following criteria:

Academic and scientific curriculum;

Professional curriculum.

A text with a maximum of 5 pages indicating the research topic he/she is interested in deepening.

The application process can include an individual interview for intentions, interests and motivations clarification of the candidate.

Course coordinator:

Professor Pedro Barquinha

pdnn.coordenador@fct.unl.pt

Accreditation and Registration

A3ES - Publication date of the accreditation decision: 14/04/2022

Period of validity of the accreditation: 6 years from 30/07/2020

DGES - Registration number R/A-Ef 3082/2011/AL01 on 28/09/2022

About the Department of Materials Science

The Department of Materials Science (DCM), NOVA School of Science and Technology, was the first to be created nationally in 1976 at the initiative of its first president, Prof. Leopoldo Guimarães. The initial aim was to create university extension courses in the field of materials leading to the creation of a root degree covering a wide range of scientific areas, including metallurgy, semiconductor materials, polymeric materials and mesomorph, ceramic materials and crystals, crystal chemistry and quality control.

Since then the Department of Materials Science has grown and diversified its activities, mainly due to the efforts of its faculty and staff, embodied in a large number of projects (academic and industrial) funded by National, European and International authorities. This allowed its modern adaptation to new technologies, providing  for such a unique laboratory infrastructure in Portugal, for teaching and research, internationally recognized and that has allowed to form Material Science Engineers of high scientific quality , able to respond to current society's demands.

More info