Previous experience in teaching doctoral programs with similar characteristics.
The proposed Interuniversity Doctorate in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology has its origins in the National School of Molecular Materials, which has been running on a biennial basis since 1992. This School has served to articulate and consolidate a scientific community in Spain in the area of Nanoscience and Molecular Materials, which has now become a specialized group of the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry. Furthermore, the School has contributed decisively to the training of several generations of young scientists.
Since 2007, the training period for this doctorate has been structured around the Interuniversity Master's degree in "Nanoscience and Molecular Nanotechnology", which received positive verification in 2009 (resolution of 5 October 2009) and in which the following universities currently participate: Valencia (UVEG, coordinator), Alicante University (UA), Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), Jaume I University of Castellón (UJI), La Laguna University (ULL), Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) and Valladolid University (UVA).
As such, this doctoral programme received in October 2011 the mention of excellence from the Ministry of Education with a weighted overall score of 94/100 (Reference MEE2011-00194). This doctorate also received the mention of quality in the first call since the date on which the programme was created (reference MCD2008-00082).
The training period prior to the doctoral programme was structured around the "Master's Degree in Nanoscience and Molecular Nanotechnology", regulated according to RD1393/2007 and positively verified through the abbreviated procedure (resolution 29/06/2009). In addition to the universities mentioned in the Doctoral Programme, the Autonomous University of Madrid and the University of Valladolid participate in it. This master's degree came from the transformation of the "Master's Degree in Nanoscience and Molecular Nanotechnology" regulated according to RD56/2005 and had a favorable report from the Valencian Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assessment (CVAEC) dated January 23, 2006 and was authorized for implementation according to Decree 44/2006, of March 31, of the Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV No. 5233 of 04/04/2006).
Program demand and interest to society.
In recent years, certain scientific areas, such as supramolecular chemistry, molecular biology, surface physics and low-temperature physics, have achieved remarkable development in our country. Research groups have been formed that have achieved an excellent competitive position in the international arena. Furthermore, in a natural way, the very object of research in these disciplines has been converging towards what is called Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. The strategic importance of these areas in R&D is clearly demonstrated by the fact that they have been prioritized in all National, European and International Programs in all developed countries. In these areas, physicists, chemists, biologists, doctors and engineers are responsible for obtaining, manipulating, organizing, studying and taking advantage of the properties of nanometric-sized objects. Maintaining a truly competitive international position in some areas of Nanoscience today and in the future, however, requires a level of competence that can only be achieved with a thematic focus and with adequate training of research personnel that allows them to acquire the multidisciplinary knowledge that these areas require.
The “molecular” orientation of this PhD in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology makes it unique at a national (and also European) level. This orientation allows the development of those aspects of Nanoscience that are at the intersection between physics, chemistry and biomedicine, making it truly multidisciplinary. Thus, the PhD in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:
In relation to the career opportunities of students who obtain this PhD, we must point out that our experience is that a significant part of them have established themselves as researchers in Universities and other OPIS (both Spanish and foreign). Currently, the panorama is changing and more and more students of this PhD are finding work in industries and technological centres (such as the production of devices based on the use of nanomaterials, coatings and paints for the metallurgical industry, companies in the field of nanotubes and other carbon nanostructures for the development of new advanced materials for applications in nanotechnology, services related to surface coatings based on chemical research at nanotechnological levels, microelectronics centres, etc.), the Chemical and Pharmaceutical industries related to the synthesis of molecules, sensors and biosensors and new advanced materials, Materials analysis laboratories, centres for biomedical, agri-food, environmental and energy applications, etc.
This PhD programme involves prestigious groups from the Departments of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Applied Physics of the Universities of Valencia (UVEG), Alicante (UA), Jaume I (UJI), La Laguna (LL) and Castilla la Mancha (CLM), which gives it the multidisciplinary nature and critical size needed to become a national benchmark in this strategic area. Most of these groups are integrated into university research institutes and structures. Thus, at UVEG these groups carry out their research at the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol), while at UCLM they do so at the Institute of Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials (INAMol).
The main lines of research associated with the doctoral program are the following:
In section 6.1 on research lines and teams, these lines are described in greater detail. As we can see, the lines cover the various facets of Molecular Nanoscience: from the chemical design and synthesis of functional molecules and materials based on these molecules, to the manufacture of molecular nanostructures, the study and theoretical modelling of their properties at the nanoscale and the development of electronic, chemical and biological applications of these.
The quality of the research of the Universities participating in the Doctorate is reflected in the results that the different research groups involved have obtained in the last three years: more than 1000 publications in international journals, 15 invention patents, more than 100 research projects funded by MINECO, the Autonomous Communities and the European Union, among other institutions, more than 15 research contracts with private companies and public institutions (Kimberly-Clark, Neuropharma, Osram, Philips, etc.) and more than 100 Doctoral Theses read.
Sufficient student demand is guaranteed by:
1) the excellence of the participating research groups, which have a strong tradition in training doctoral students, and
2) the current importance of the field: nanotechnology has established itself as a strategic area of research at the global, European and national levels, both from the point of view of research and technological applications.
Over the past three years, the number of students enrolled has been increasing: 32 in the 2009/2010 academic year, 35 in 2010/2011 and 43 in 2011/2012.
Relationship of the proposal with the situation of R&D&I in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
The researchers participating in this PhD are at the forefront of Molecular Nanoscience both nationally and internationally. Thus, at a national level, four of the five universities participating in this PhD are participating in three research projects of excellence of the “Consolider-Ingenio 2010” Program: One general project on Molecular Nanoscience (NANOMOL Project, coordinated by UVEG (E. Coronado) and with the participation of the UA), another on the applications of Molecular Nanoscience in the energy sector (HOPE Project, coordinated by UJI (J. Bisquert) and with the participation of UCLM) and a third on the biomedical applications of Supramolecular Chemistry (coordinated by UVEG (E. García España)).
Furthermore, the fact that the University of Valencia, coordinator of the doctoral programme, is a member of a European network of excellence in Molecular Materials and Magnetism (“Molecular Approach to Nanomagnets and Multifunctional Materials” MAGMANET) and that it also holds the scientific direction of the European Institute in Molecular Magnetism (E. Coronado), makes this National Doctorate possible to serve as the seed of an International Doctorate. In fact, one of the priority objectives of this European research institute is the implementation of an International Doctorate in Molecular Nanoscience, with the capacity to attract non-EU students through the Erasmus-Mundus programme.
Integration of the PhD Program into a Doctoral School.
As we have just indicated, this programme aims to become the seed of an International Doctorate in Molecular Nanoscience in the coming years. In the medium term, this Programme aims to be the nucleus around which an International School in Molecular Nanoscience is articulated, bringing together the different European doctorates that currently exist in this area, thus creating an international scientific community where the new generations of scientists who research these strategic topics from a molecular perspective can be trained and collaborate.
In the short term, we should point out that this doctoral programme is part of the research offering of the VLC/Campus Campus of Excellence. This initiative has initiated the process of creating a joint International School in which the training offer of master's and doctoral degrees of international excellence will be coordinated and managed: master's degrees that enjoy Erasmus Mundus recognition, interuniversity and international and doctorates with a Quality Mention, and which are closely related to the areas of specialization of VLC/CAMPUS, that is, Health, Information/Communication and Sustainability. The degrees taught at this School are characterized by a research and professional orientation; the training offer proposes to develop a strong interrelation of training, research and innovation, contributing to the establishment of a virtuous circle between these three elements, following the principles established in the campus model; the teaching-learning processes will be supported by the appropriate technological resources and equipment and by the services of the Learning and Research Resource Centers of VLC/CAMPUS; Furthermore, and in accordance with its international character, within the framework of the School, special importance will be given to communication in English and the development of multilingual and intercultural skills.
Full-time and part-time students.
Among the universities in the agreement, 5% of the places will be reserved for part-time students at any of the universities. If there are no students in this category, they will be used as full-time places.