Doctoral Program in
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

All proposed activities are specific to this doctoral program. The student must complete a total of 300 hours of training to acquire the required skills:

  • 170 hours correspond to four mandatory activities
  • 130 hours correspond to optional activities that will be recognized by completing one of the six proposed optional activities.

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Mandatory activities

CTA 1: Publication of a scientific article

Doctoral students must publish the original results of their research in accordance with the standards of scientific literature.

This activity will allow the development of competencies CA01, CA04, CA05 and CB12.

Number of hours: 50

Period of realization: This activity can be carried out in any year of the doctorate, although it is expected to be carried out from the second year (for full-time doctoral students) or the third year (for part-time doctoral students), when the doctoral student has obtained sufficient results to publish a scientific article.

Control procedure: All data related to scientific articles will be included in the Doctoral Student Activity Document (CAD), and proof of submission to a specialized journal will be provided. After validation by the supervisor, this document will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral student's activity record.

CTA 2: Attendance at a specialized course (ESMolNa)

Students must attend the European School of Molecular Nanoscience (ESMoLNa).

This school has been held annually since 2008 and brings together the most active European groups in molecular nanoscience. It offers a current overview of the different facets of molecular materials and molecular nanoscience (molecular magnetism, molecular electronics, applications of molecular nanoscience and materials, etc.). At the same time, it creates a discussion forum where young generations of researchers (European master's and doctoral students) have the opportunity to present their latest research results to this distinguished scientific community.

This school is considered essential for the cohesion of the interuniversity program and for the creation of a scientific community that researches these areas, as it is the main meeting point for students and professors in these fields. At this meeting, doctoral students will be able to orally present the results obtained during their research activities and will be recognized as CTA3 or OTA6.

This activity is conducted in English. This activity will help develop skills CB11, CB14, CB15, CA05, and CA06.

Number of hours: 40

Period of realization: It is mandatory for each student to participate at least once during the completion of their doctoral thesis at ESMolNa. This activity is recommended starting in the second year of the doctorate (for full-time students) or the third year (for part-time students). For part-time students, date and time restrictions will be taken into account when deciding which year to enroll at ESMolNa.

Control procedure: A certificate of attendance at the school and, if applicable, of the presentation of an oral presentation will be issued. After validation by the tutor, this document will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral student's activity record.

CTA 3: Presentation of research results at national or international conferences

Students must participate in at least two scientific conferences during the completion of their doctoral thesis. It is recommended that these conferences be highly prestigious in their field of research and international in scope. At these conferences, students must present a scientific contribution in the form of an oral presentation or poster.

This activity will also be recognized if the communication is made during ESMolNa (CTA2) or ENMM (OTA4).

This activity will serve to develop the CB15 and CA06 competencies.

Number of hours: 40

Period of realization: It is recommended that this activity be carried out starting from the second year of the doctorate (in the case of full-time students) or the third year (in the case of part-time students), when the student has obtained adequate results.

For part-time enrollment, limitations will be taken into account when deciding which year and dates the student will attend these conferences.

Control procedure: All information regarding papers presented at scientific conferences will be included in the PhD Student's Activity Document. Specifically, it will include the title and date of the conference, the title and nature of the presentation (oral presentation or poster), the abstract, and the certificate of attendance. After validation by the supervisor, this document will be sent to the CAD (Center for Research and Development) and included in the PhD student's activity record.

CTA4: Preparation and presentation of research results in 2 seminars

Students will present their research in seminars that may take place locally or be organized as part of research projects or training activities.

The first seminar will be held during the first 18 months and will include the development of the research work plan and the initial results. The second seminar will contain the results and conclusions and should be presented before the thesis defense, thus serving as preparation for it.

It is recommended that this activity be conducted in English.

It will allow the development of CB15 and CA06 skills.

Number of hours: 40

Period of realization: The first seminar will be held during the first 18 months and will include the development of the research work plan and the initial results. The second seminar will contain the results and conclusions and should be presented before the thesis defense, thus serving as preparation for it.

These guidelines apply to all enrolled students, both part-time and full-time. For part-time students, date and time restrictions will be taken into account.

Control procedure: All information about the seminars taught by doctoral students will be included in the Doctoral Student Activity Document. After validation by the tutor, this document will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the information into the doctoral student's activity record.

Optional activities

OTA1: Attendance at Research Seminars

The student will attend a research seminar related to nanoscience and nanotechnology.

This seminar will serve to develop the CB11, CB15 and CA05 competencies.

Number of hours: 2 h/seminar, up to a maximum of 30 h

Period of realization: This activity can be completed in any year of the doctoral program. These guidelines apply to all enrolled students, both part-time and full-time. For part-time students, date and time restrictions will be taken into account.

Control procedure: All information about the seminars will be included in the PhD Student's Activity Document. After the supervisor's approval, this document will be sent to the CAD. Certification of the seminars attended will not be required, only the supervisor's approval.

OTA2: Mobility. Stays at Research Centers or Higher Education Institutions

This activity is based on the convenience of doctoral program students being able to undertake internships at another university or research center to complement their research. The objective of this activity is to exchange and acquire new knowledge at other higher education institutions, research centers, or companies.

This activity is conducted in English or the working language of the student's host institution. This training activity ensures that the doctoral student acquires most of the core competencies (CB11, CB13, CB15, CB16), particularly those related to teamwork (CA04).

Number of hours: 40 hours/week, up to a maximum of 130 hours.

Period of realization: This activity can be completed during any year of the doctoral program. This recommendation applies to all enrolled students, both part-time and full-time. For part-time students, date and time restrictions will be taken into account.

Control procedure: The student must apply for a stay at a research center and be accepted by a research group at that center to conduct research complementary to that conducted at their home university. Finally, the student must present a certificate from the group director certifying the completion and optimal use of the stay.

These documents will be included in the PhD Student's Activity Document. After the supervisor's approval, this document will be sent to the CAD (Center for Research and Development), which will incorporate the data into the PhD student's activity record.

OTA3: Publication of a second scientific article

This activity will be recognized if the student publishes a second scientific article in addition to the mandatory one (CTA1).

The doctoral student may publish the results of his or her original research in accordance with the standards of scientific literature.

This activity is conducted in English.

It will allow the development of the CA01, CA04, CA05 and CB12 competencies.

Number of hours: 50 for a second published article.

Period of realization: This activity can be completed during any of the three years of the doctoral program. This recommendation applies to all enrolled students, both part-time and full-time. For part-time students, date and time limitations will be taken into account.

Control procedure: All information related to the scientific articles will be included in the PhD Student Activity Document, and proof of acceptance in a specialized journal will be provided. After the supervisor's approval, this document will be sent to the CAD.

OTA4: Attendance at other specialization courses: Scientific schools

Students can attend other specialized training courses and scientific schools. Attendance at the National School of Molecular Materials (ENMM) is especially recommended.

The National School of Molecular Materials (ENMM) has been held biannually since 1992. This event analyzes and debates the current status and future prospects of research conducted in Spain in the field of molecular materials, those composed of discrete molecules or polymers with physical or chemical properties of high technological interest. The most prestigious Spanish professors and researchers specializing in this field participate in this school. The conference fosters scientific interactions and collaborations between the various research groups at Spanish universities and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) active in the field of molecular materials. The ENMM complements the training of future PhDs and facilitates their incorporation into a scientific community distinguished by its enormous multidisciplinarity.

This activity will also be validated for attendance at other national or international schools similar to ENMM, including a second attendance at ESMolNa.

At this school, doctoral students will be able to orally present the results obtained during their research activity, and they will be validated as CTA3 or OTA6.

This activity is conducted in Spanish for ENMM and other Spanish schools, or in English for international schools, or in other languages.

This activity will serve to develop the CB11, CB14, CB15, CA05 and CA06 competencies.

Number of hours: 20 hours per course, maximum 40 hours

Completion time: It is recommended that this activity be undertaken starting in the second year of doctoral studies. This recommendation applies to all enrolled staff, both part-time and full-time. For part-time applications, date and time restrictions will be taken into account.

Control procedure: A certificate of attendance at the school and, if applicable, an oral presentation must be submitted. After validation by the tutor, this document will be sent to the Doctoral Academic Committee, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral student's activity file.

OTA5: Attendance at Congresses

This activity will be recognized if the student attends a national or international scientific conference. During these conferences, doctoral students may present oral presentations of the results obtained during their research, in which case they will be recognized as CTA3 or OTA6.

This activity is conducted primarily in English, in Spanish in the case of national conferences, or in other languages.

These activities will serve to develop the CB11, CB14, CB15, CA05 and CA06 competencies.

Number of hours: 20 hours per conference, with a maximum of 60 hours.

Completion time: It is recommended that this activity be undertaken starting in the second year of doctoral studies. This recommendation applies to all enrolled staff, both part-time and full-time. For part-time applications, date and time restrictions will be taken into account.

Control procedure: A certificate of attendance at the conference and, if applicable, of the presentation of an oral presentation must be submitted. After validation by the tutor, this document will be sent to the Doctoral Academic Committee and the data will be added to the doctoral student's activity record.

OTA6: Other presentations (Poster) at national or international scientific conferences

This activity will be recognized if the student makes more than the two mandatory conference presentations (CTA3).

It is recommended that conferences be highly prestigious in the doctoral student's field of research and international in scope. At these conferences, students must present a scientific contribution in the form of an oral presentation or poster.

This activity is conducted in English in most cases. It will help develop skills CB15 and CA06.

Number of hours: 20 hours per presentation, with a maximum of 40 hours.

Completion time: It is recommended that this activity be undertaken starting in the second year of the doctoral program. This recommendation applies to all enrolled staff, both part-time and full-time. For part-time enrollment, date and time restrictions will be taken into account.

Control procedure: All details of the papers presented at scientific conferences will be included in the PhD student's Activity Report. Specifically, the title and date of the conference, the title and nature of the presentation (oral presentation or poster), the abstract, and the certificate of attendance must be included. After validation by the supervisor, this document will be sent to the PhD Academic Committee, which will incorporate the data into the PhD student's activity record.

Mandatory Activities

  • Number of hours: 20
  • Description: The Vice-Rectorate for Postgraduate Studies at each participating university and, at the University of La Laguna, the centre to which the doctoral programme is attached (initially, the Faculty of Physics and, as soon as the Doctoral School is authorised), will organise transversal activities of the following type:

Scientific communication skills

• Writing scientific articles
• Oral expression and argumentation skills.

Information skills

• The Open movement in science and research.
• Citations and impact: evaluation of research activity in Sciences and Health Sciences.
• RefWorks 2.0 for personal bibliography management in Sciences and Health Sciences
• Evaluation of research activity and open scientific publication (online)
• Calls for research grants
• The transfer of research results.

Each of these activities will last 15 hours. Students will have to choose between 3 and 4 activities.

These activities will be carried out during the first year of the PhD. This recommendation applies to all personnel enrolled both part-time and full-time. In the case of persons enrolled part-time, date and time restrictions will be taken into account.

These activities will serve to develop the CB12, CA01 and CE01 competencies.

  • Adaptation procedure: The doctoral student's tutor will include all the data on attendance at these activities in the Doctoral Student's Activities Document. This document will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral student's activities record.

Each University will issue the corresponding certificate of achievement when the student adequately completes and passes the control tests established for the activity.

At the end of the academic year, the Doctoral Academic Committee will include it in the student's Annual Personalized Activities Document, once the approval of his/her director and/or tutor has been obtained.

  • Mobility activities: This activity, as it involves local seminars, does not involve mobility.

Attendance at specialized training courses (National School of Molecular Materials (ENMM) and European School of Molecular Nanoscience (ESMolNa))

  • Number of hours: 80
  • Description: The “National School of Molecular Materials (ENMM)” (since 1992) and the “European School on Molecular Nanoscience (ESMolNa)” (since 2008) will be organized every year. These schools are part of the Master in Molecular Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and each year they have the participation of the most active Spanish and European groups in these areas.

ENMM takes place during the month of February, while ESMOLNA takes place during the second half of October.

During these two schools, a current overview of the state of the art in the different facets of molecular materials and molecular nanoscience (molecular magnetism, molecular electronics, applications of molecular nanoscience and materials, etc.) is provided. At the same time, a discussion forum is created where young generations of researchers (national master's students and PhD students from all over Europe) have the opportunity to present their latest research results to this distinguished scientific community.

These two schools are considered essential for the cohesion of the interuniversity programme and for the creation of a scientific community that researches in these areas, since they are the main meeting points for the students of this doctoral programme with other students and professors active in these areas. At these meetings, the doctoral students will make oral presentations with the results achieved during their research activity. These presentations will allow an assessment of the activities carried out. This activity will be carried out in Spanish for the ENMM and in English for the ESMOLNA.

It is mandatory for each student to participate at least once during the completion of his or her doctoral thesis in each of the two schools.

It is advisable that these activities be carried out from the second year of the doctorate. This recommendation applies to all personnel enrolled both part-time and full-time. In the case of persons enrolled part-time, date and time restrictions must be taken into account.

These activities will serve to develop the skills CB11, CB14, CB15, CA05, CA06 and CE02.

  • Adaptation procedure: The doctoral tutor will include all the data on attendance at these schools in the doctoral activities document. A certificate of attendance and details of the school's content will be included, as well as a certificate with the oral presentation made by the student and a summary of it. This documentation will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral activities register. In the case of ESMOLNA, a group of professors from the participating universities will participate in the school and will issue a report on the presentations made by each doctoral candidate, giving special importance to the doctoral candidate's ability to answer questions posed. This report will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral activities register.
  • Mobility activities: Attendance at these schools will require mobility in most cases, since they are usually taught in cities other than the student's home university.

Presentation of papers at national or international scientific conferences

  • Number of hours: 50
  • Description: The number of hours is indicative. Participation in at least two scientific conferences during the completion of the doctoral thesis is recommended. The conference should preferably be of high prestige in the doctoral candidate's field of research and of an international character. At these conferences the student will present a scientific contribution in the form of an oral or poster contribution. In any of them, it will be obligatory to carry out at least two activities of this type during the completion of the doctoral thesis.

This recommendation applies to all staff registered both part-time and full-time. In the case of persons registered part-time, date and time restrictions must be taken into account.
This activity will serve to develop the skills CB15, CA06 and CE02

  • Adaptation procedure: The PhD student's tutor will include in the PhD Student's Activities Document all the data of the papers presented at scientific conferences. In particular, the title and date of the conference, the title and nature of the presentation (oral communication or poster) will be indicated, and the summary of the presentation and the certificate of attendance will be included. This document will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the PhD student's activities register.
  • Mobility activities: Attendance at conferences will require mobility in most cases, therefore, they will be financed by the research team's own projects in which the doctoral student participates or with travel grants awarded by the university.

Attendance at national or international conferences

  • Number of hours: 20
  • Description: The number of hours is indicative. It is generally recommended to attend one seminar per semester, given at the student's university.

This recommendation applies to all staff registered both part-time and full-time. In the case of persons registered part-time, date and time restrictions must be taken into account.
It will serve to develop the CB11, CB15, CA05 and CE02 skills

  • Adaptation procedure: The doctoral student's tutor will include all the data on attendance at seminars in the Doctoral Student's Activities Document. This document will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral student's activity register. A certification of the seminars attended will not be necessary; only the signature of the report by the tutor or the director will be necessary.

For this activity, only the student's attendance at the seminars will be evaluated. Therefore, the number of seminars that the student has attended will be evaluated.

  • Mobility activities: This activity, as it involves local seminars, does not involve mobility.

Preparation and presentation of two formal seminars

  • Number of hours: 50
  • Description: The PhD candidate must prepare and present two formal seminars. The first one will be held in the first 18 months and will contain the formulation of his/her research work plan and the first results. The second one will contain his/her results and conclusions and must be presented prior to the thesis defense, thus serving as preparation for it.

Both seminars may take place locally or within the student's participation in the European School of Molecular Nanoscience.

The estimated time includes the preparation time for the seminars.

This recommendation applies to all staff registered both part-time and full-time. In the case of persons registered part-time, date and time restrictions must be taken into account.
This activity will serve to develop the CB15 and CA06 competencies

  • Adaptation procedure: The tutor will include in the Doctoral Student's Activities Document all the data on the presentation of seminars carried out by the doctoral candidate. This document will be sent to the CAD, which will incorporate the data into the doctoral student's activities register.
  • Mobility activities: In the case of local seminars, this does not imply mobility. If the presentations are made at the annual doctoral meeting, this will involve the corresponding mobility to participate in it.

Stays at other research centers (mobility)

  • Number of hours: 300
  • Description: It is based on the convenience of a PhD student being able to undertake stays at another University or Research Centre to complement his or her research.

Justification. Currently, the University and other public bodies are promoting the exchange of PhD students with the aim of exchanging knowledge, acquiring new knowledge and new technologies developed in other higher education institutions or research centres/companies.

Details and planning of the training activity: The student must request a stay at a research centre and must be admitted by a group from said centre to carry out research work complementary to that carried out at his/her home university. Finally, he/she must provide a certificate from the Director of the group to prove that he/she has carried out and made the most of the stay.

The stay and activities must be endorsed by the director and authorized by the Academic Committee of Doctoral Studies, and will be incorporated into the doctoral student's activities document.

This training activity ensures that the PhD candidate acquires most of the basic skills described in section 2 of this report, in particular those related to teamwork; it also promotes the acquisition of the specific skills, abilities and competences described in that section.

Timing and location of delivery. This activity may be carried out in any of the three years of the doctorate.

This recommendation applies to all staff registered both part-time and full-time. In the case of persons registered part-time, date and time restrictions must be taken into account.

  • Adaptation procedure: Each university will issue the corresponding certificate of achievement. At the end of the academic year, the Doctoral Academic Committee will include it in the student's Annual Personalized Activity Document, once it has received approval from their supervisor and/or tutor.
  • Mobility actions: Involves mobility.