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Doctoral Programme in Advances in Microbial and Parasitic Biology

Modality
In-person
Branch of knowledge
Health Sciences
School(s)
International PhD School
Avenida das Ciencias, 6, 15782
Santiago de Compostela
Campus
Santiago de Compostela
Contact
pd.microbioloxiaparasitoloxia [at] usc.es

Due to the interfaculty and intercampus nature (Santiago and Lugo campuses) of the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the scientific interest of this doctoral programme lies in the fact that it brings together the different lines of research in the fields of Biology, Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Medicine and Food Science and Technology developed by the members of the Department within the areas of knowledge of Microbiology and Parasitology.

Duration: 3 academic years
RUCT code: 5600481
Seats number: 12

Title coordinator:
Maria Alicia Carolina Estevez Toranzo
alicia.estevez.toranzo [at] usc.es

Coordinator university:
University of Santiago de Compostela

Partaker universities:
University of Santiago de Compostela

Xunta de Galicia title implantation authorization date:
05/12/2013

BOE publication date:
11/03/2014

Last accreditation date:
03/06/2022

ISCED codes:
(420) Ciencias de la vida
(421) Biología y Bioquímica
(0511) Biología

The transversal and interdisciplinary nature of the PhD programme will allow students to deepen their research topic from a comparative perspective and to specialise in clinical, ecological, taxonomic or biotechnological aspects of great socio-economic interest, which will be of great use to the PhD student in his/her future professional career as a researcher.
Given the inter-faculty and inter-campus (Santiago and Lugo Campuses) nature of the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the scientific interest of this PhD programme lies in the fact that it brings together the different lines of research in the fields of Biology, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Food Science and Technology developed by members of the Department within the Areas of Knowledge of Microbiology and Parasitology.

The transversal and interdisciplinary nature of the doctoral programme enables students to go further into their research topic from a comparative perspective and to specialize in clinical, ecological, taxonomic and biotechnological aspects that are of great socio-economic interest and which will be extremely useful for them in their future careers as researchers.

Generally speaking, the Master's degrees that provide access to this programme without supplementary training are:

  • Aquaculture
  • Biomedical research
  • Innovation in food safety and technology
  • Biodiversity and preservation of the natural environment
  • Biotechnology
  • Marine biology

offered by the USC.

Students holders of the Diploma of Advanced studies obtained through the USC's Doctoral Programme in Microbiology and Parasitology will also have access without supplementary training.

In the case of candidates with profiles different to those mentioned above, the Academic Committee evaluates each case individually. The possibility of requiring supplementary training (maximum 15 ECTS credits) will be considered.

Points for each merit are evaluated by the committee in the following way:

  1. Academic transcript: 50%
  2. Curriculum: 20%
  3. Interview with the Committee: 10%
  4. Proof of English proficiency equivalent to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: 20 %

The admission profile establishes the knowledge, skills and abilities that students wishing to access this programme must possess and, consequently, the most suitable qualifications for access to the programme and which determine admission and, where appropriate, the need or otherwise for PhD students to undertake additional training.
In general, those students who can accredit a minimum training at master´s degree level in the areas of Microbiology and Parasitology, mainly within the following fields of knowledge indicated in RD 822/2021, may access this PhD programme, without the need to undertake complementary training: Biology and genetics; biochemistry and biotechnology; agricultural sciences and food technology; biomedical sciences; environmental sciences and ecology; pharmacy; medicine and dentistry and veterinary medicine.

Access

The general access and admission requirements are those set out in Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official PhD studies, and as amended by Royal Decree 576/2023, of 4 July. These are:
1. In general, in order to access an official PhD programme, it shall be necessary to hold an official Spanish Bachelor´s degree, or equivalent, and a Master´s degree or equivalent, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been obtained in these two courses as a whole.
2. Access may also be granted to those who are in one of the following situations:
a) To hold official university degrees or equivalent Spanish degrees, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been passed in these courses as a whole, and accredit a level 3 of the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
b) To hold a degree obtained in accordance with foreign education systems belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), without the need for homologation, which accredits a level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, provided that this degree entitles access to PhD studies in the country of issue of the same. This admission shall not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party nor its recognition for purposes other than access to PhD studies.
c) To hold a degree obtained in accordance with foreign education systems outside the EHEA, without the need for its recognition, after verification by the university that it accredits a level of training equivalent to that of the official Spanish university Master´s degree and that it entitles the holder to access PhD studies in the country in which the degree was awarded. This admission shall not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party, nor its recognition for purposes other than that of access to PhD studies.
d) To hold another PhD or Doctorate degree.
e) Likewise, university graduates who, after obtaining a place in training in the corresponding entrance examination to specialised health training posts, have passed with a positive evaluation at least two years of training in a programme for obtaining the official qualification in one of the specialities in Health Sciences, may also be admitted.

A compulsory requirement for admission to the PhD programme is the submission of a report by the student consisting of a reference letter from a lecturer on the programme who i) endorses the potential viability of the future thesis within the framework of a line of research of the programme to which it is linked, and who ii) could act as supervisor if the necessary requirements for this are met.
Furthermore, given the characteristics and scientific level of the PhD programme, the student must have a minimum level of English equivalent to level B1, not only because it is currently the common language of scientific communication at international level, but also because part of the courses, both specific and transversal, as well as various activities of the programme can be carried out in this language. The language level will be accredited with the corresponding official certification of those included in the list of accreditations recognised by the Modern Language Centre (CLM) of the USC for the different levels of the Common
European Framework: https://www.usc.gal/es/centro/centro-lenguas-modernas.
In the case of not having this certification at the time of admission, the equivalent of this level B1 must be demonstrated through a personal interview with the CAPD of the Programme.

Students will be selected for admission to the programme on the basis of the following criteria:
• Academic record (50%) determined by the grades obtained in the bachelor´s and master´s degree (or DEA or research proficiency).
• Curriculum Vitae (20%). In this section, preference will be given to previous research experience and its results (publications, communications and other scientific contributions to conferences) and their adaptation to the lines of research of the PhD programme. Likewise, professional experience related to the lines of research of the PhD programme, research stays, courses taken or taught will also be valued. Candidates must submit supporting documentation.
• Accreditation of a level of English equivalent to level B1 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages (20%).
• Personal interview (10%): In this section, motivation and aptitude, communication skills, etc. will be assessed.
The same criteria will be applied to all students regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time.

The PhD programme may be terminated for any of the following reasons:
• Failure to pass the accreditation renewal process established in article 10 of RD 99/2011.
• Failure to accredit compliance with the requirements established by the state or regional regulations in force.
• A proposal is made to terminate the programme as part of the degree review and improvement process in accordance with the procedure approved by the university.
• The occurrence of any exceptional situation that prevents the correct development of the PhD programme.
Termination shall have the following effects:
• It will entail the loss of its official status and its removal from the RUCT.
• It will not be possible to enrol new students in the PhD programme.
• In any case, all affected students must be informed of the termination and of the consequences for the development of their studies.
The University shall adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the academic rights of the students who are taking these studies under the terms established in the resolution for the termination of the study plan, and shall approve the procedure for the termination of the PhD programmes within the University.

Asistencia a Congresos y Jornadas Científicas Nacioanles e Internacionales

  • E1011A01

Estancia en otros Centros de Investigación

  • E1011A02

Presentación del Estado del Proyecto de Investigación del Doctorado

  • E1011A03

Attendance at training courses, seminars and conferences

  • E1011A04
Teachers Area
Carlos Pereira Dopazo
Microbiology
Maria Isabel Santos Rodriguez
Microbiology
Jesús Ángel López Romalde
Microbiology
Maria Alicia Carolina Estevez Toranzo
Microbiology
Ana Maria Otero Casal
Microbiology
Juan Luis Barja Perez
Microbiology
Manuel Luis Lemos Ramos
Microbiology
Maria Isabel Bandin Matos
Microbiology
Carlos Rodriguez Osorio
Microbiology
Beatriz Magariños Ferro
Microbiology
Noemi Bujan Gomez
Microbiology
Javier Dubert Perez
Microbiology
Ana Vences Lorenzo
Microbiology
Miguel Balado Dacosta
Microbiology
Teachers Area
Maria Isabel Santos Rodriguez
Microbiology
Miguel Blanco Alvarez
Microbiology
Ana Maria Otero Casal
Microbiology
Jesus Eulogio Blanco Alvarez
Microbiology
Jorge Blanco Alvarez
Microbiology
Maria Elvira Ares Mazas
Parasitology
Azucena Del Carmen Mora Gutierrez
Microbiology
Hipolito Gomez Couso
Parasitology
María Trinidad De Miguel Bouzas
Microbiology
Maria Sandra Sanchez Poza
Microbiology
Noemi Bujan Gomez
Microbiology
Manuel Romero Bernardez
Microbiology
Antonio Aguilera Guirao
Microbiology
Saskia Camille Flament Simon
Microbiology
Teachers Area
Carlos Pereira Dopazo
Microbiology
Jesús Ángel López Romalde
Microbiology
Ana Maria Otero Casal
Microbiology
María Trinidad De Miguel Bouzas
Microbiology
David Polo Montero
Microbiology
Maria Sandra Sanchez Poza
Microbiology
Sabela Balboa Mendez
Microbiology
Manuel Romero Bernardez
Microbiology
Teachers Area
Maria Elvira Ares Mazas
Parasitology
Jose Manuel Leiro Vidal
Parasitology
Jesus Lamas Fernandez
Cellular Biology
Hipolito Gomez Couso
Parasitology

The transversal and interdisciplinary nature of the PhD programme will allow students to deepen their research topic from a comparative perspective and to specialise in clinical, ecological, taxonomic or biotechnological aspects of great socio-economic interest, which will be of great use to the PhD student in his/her future professional career as a researcher.
Given the inter-faculty and inter-campus (Santiago and Lugo Campuses) nature of the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the scientific interest of this PhD programme lies in the fact that it brings together the different lines of research in the fields of Biology, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Food Science and Technology developed by members of the Department within the Areas of Knowledge of Microbiology and Parasitology.

- Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.
- Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or creative process.
- Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
- Ability to carry out critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
- Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.
- Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society.
- Ability to promote Open Science and Citizen Science, in accordance with article 12 of Organic Law 2/2023 of 22 March, as a way of contributing to the consideration of scientific knowledge as a common good, through the evaluation of transversal activities carried out by the PhD student related to different dimensions of Open Science and Citizen Science, as well as the training acquired in these disciplines in the form of micro-credentials or similar.

‐ Specific advanced training in Microbiology and Parasitology research, mainly in genomics, proteomics and immunology techniques, which may vary depending on the line of research in which the PhD student is integrated to carry out his/her PhD thesis.
- Specialisation in clinical, ecological, taxonomic and biotechnological aspects that will allow future PhD students to lead competitive teams in both academic and professional contexts.

The PhD programme in Advances in Microbial and Parasitic Biology maintains its significance and is updated according to the requirements of the discipline of Microbiology and Parasitology and scientific and technological advances, mainly in terms of genomics, proteomics and immunology techniques, which are adapted to the line of research in which the PhD student is integrated to carry out his/her PhD thesis. Therefore, the graduates of the Programme have achieved and will achieve the competences, capacities, knowledge and skills established in the verification report.
The transversal and interdisciplinary nature of the PhD programme allows students to study their research topic in depth from a comparative perspective and to specialise in clinical, ecological, taxonomic or biotechnological aspects of great socio-economic interest, which is of great use to the PhD student in his/her professional future as a researcher and which will allow graduates of the programme to lead competitive teams in both academic and professional contexts.

The main objective of this Masters degree is to train professionals and researchers in aquaculture; professionals with a solid recognised training at job level and researchers whose training allows them to carry out their research, with cutting-edge technologies, while keeping abreast of problems in production processing.

No data available for the selected academic year.

Coordinator
Maria Alicia Carolina Estevez Toranzo

Secretary
Jesús Ángel López Romalde

Vowels
Jorge Blanco Alvarez
Tomas Gonzalez Villa
Florencio Cesar Martinez Ubeira
Fernanda Romaris Martinez
Rafael Seoane Prado

Indicator

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

ID-01
Offered Places

Number of places offered for each academic year. Provides information on the evolution of the offer of places associated with that program.

Scale info: Whole number

15,0

12,0

12,0

12,0

12,0

10,0

ID-02
Demand

Percentage ratio of applications submitted on the offer of places

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

26,67

58,33

16,67

116,67

125,0

150,0

ID-03
New Enrollment

Number of newly enrolled students.

Scale info: Whole number

3,0

3,0

1,0

7,0

6,0

8,0

ID-06
Total Student Enrollment

Total number of students enrolled in the ordinary enrollment system

Scale info: Whole number

42,0

29,0

24,0

26,0

21,0

22,0

ID-07
Percentage of New Students Coming from Master's Studies

Percentage relationship between the number of new students coming from master's studies and the number of newly enrolled students after deducting the number of new students due to adaptation.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

100,0

66,67

0,0

85,71

50,0

62,5

ID-08
Percentage of Students from Other Universities

Percentage relationship between the number of new students with access master's degrees from other universities and the number of newly enrolled students after deducting the number of new students due to adaptation

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

33,33

0,0

0,0

71,43

33,33

0,0

ID-09
Percentage of New Students from National Universities Outside SUG

Percentage relationship between the number of new students from other national universities, outside the SUG, and the total number of enrolled students

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

0,0

0,0

0,0

14,29

33,33

0,0

ID-10
Percentage of New Students from Other SUG Universities

Percentage relationship between the number of new students from other SUG universities and the number of newly enrolled students.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

33,33

0,0

0,0

57,14

0,0

0,0

ID-11
Percentage of Foreign Students in the Total Enrollment

Percentage ratio of the number of foreign students (from outside Spain) to the total number of enrolled students.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

16,67

20,69

20,83

11,54

4,76

9,09

ID-12
Percentage of Foreign Students from the EHEA

Percentage ratio of the number of foreign students in the EHEA to the total number of enrolled students.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

4,76

6,9

8,33

3,85

0,0

0,0

ID-22
Percentage of Students by Admission Profile

Percentage of students according to entry profile

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

-

Indicator

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

ID-13
Percentage of New Students Requiring Bridging Courses

Percentage ratio of the number of new students who need additional training to the number of newly enrolled students, once the number of new students admitted for adaptation is discounted.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

0,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

ID-14
Percentage of Full-Time Students

Percentage ratio of the number of full-time students to the total number of enrolled students. Note: Full-time students are considered those who have the same dedication throughout the academic year.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

83,33

82,76

79,17

84,62

76,19

59,09

ID-15
Percentage of Part-Time Students

Percentage relationship between the number of part-time students and the total number of enrolled students. Note: Part-time students are considered those who have the same dedication throughout the academic year.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

4,76

0,0

4,17

3,85

19,05

31,82

ID-16
Percentage of Students with Mixed Dedication

Percentage ratio of the number of students with mixed dedication to the total number of enrolled students. Note: Students with mixed dedication are considered those who alternate between full-time and part-time dedication during the same academic year.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

11,9

17,24

16,67

11,54

4,76

9,09

Indicator

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

ID-17
Percentage of Students Undertaking Research Stays (Outgoing) Authorized by the CAPD

Percentage ratio of the number of students doing research stays on the number of students enrolled full-time

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

11,43

8,33

15,79

4,55

0,0

0,0

ID-19
Percentage of Students Participating in Mobility Programs (Incoming)

Percentage ratio of the number of students participating in mobility programs (incoming) over the number of students enrolled full-time

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

11,43

4,17

5,26

9,09

18,75

30,77

ID-21
Percentage of Students with Scholarships or Predoctoral Contracts (FPI, FPU, Xunta, etc.)

Percentage ratio of the number of students with a scholarship or pre-doctoral contract (FPI, FPU, Xunta,...) to the number of students enrolled full-time.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

28,57

33,33

36,84

31,82

31,25

53,85

Indicator

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

ID-24
Ratio of Theses Defended under Co-Supervision Regime

Percentage ratio of the number of theses defended under co-direction to the total number of theses defended.

Scale info: Rational number with two decimal places

0,6667

0,5

0,3333

0,6667

0,5

0,0

ID-25
Total number of six-year periods

Total number of six-year terms.

Scale info: Whole number

121,0

129,0

116,0

117,0

119,0

115,0

ID-26
Average number of six-year periods per PDI

Average number of sexenios per PDI.

Scale info: Rational number with two decimal places

4,3214

4,7778

4,4615

4,68

4,76

4,7917

ID-27
Percentage of PDI with six-year periods

Percentage ratio of the number of POIs with six-year terms over the number of POIs with the option of six-year terms.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

ID-28
Percentage of PDI with active six-year periods

Percentage ratio of the number of PDI with six-year-olds living on the number of PDI with option to six-year-olds.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

96,43

88,89

84,62

88,0

80,0

79,17

ID-29
Percentage of Foreign Professors in the Total Program Faculty

Percentage ratio of the number of foreign thesis supervisors to the total number of thesis supervisors

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

8,51

7,84

8,33

5,56

0,0

0,0

ID-30
Percentage of International Experts in Thesis Committees

Percentage ratio of the number of foreign members of the courts to the total number of members of the courts

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

5,71

16,67

26,67

0,0

16,96

33,33

Indicator

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

ID-31
Number of Defended Theses

Number of theses defended

Scale info: Whole number

12,0

8,0

6,0

6,0

6,0

1,0

ID-32
Percentage of Theses Completed Full-Time

Percentage ratio of the number of full-time theses over the total number of theses defended.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

91,67

87,5

83,33

100,0

100,0

100,0

ID-33
Percentage of Theses Completed Part-Time

Percentage ratio of the number of part-time theses on or total defended theses.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

8,33

12,5

16,67

0,0

0,0

0,0

ID-34
Percentage of Theses Completed with Mixed Dedication

Percentage ratio of the number of theses completed with mixed dedication on the total number of theses defended

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

0,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

ID-35
Number of Theses Presented in Galician

Number of theses presented in Galician

Scale info: Whole number

0,0

1,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

0,0

ID-36
Number of Theses Presented in Spanish

Number of theses presented in Spanish

Scale info: Whole number

10,0

4,0

2,0

3,0

3,0

0,0

ID-37
Number of Theses Presented in Other Languages

Number of theses presented in another language

Scale info: Whole number

2,0

3,0

4,0

3,0

3,0

0,0

ID-38
Average Duration of Studies for Full-Time Students

Average duration (in years) of full-time studies

Scale info: Whole number

4,5659

4,7671

4,4384

4,8323

4,1123

4,8548

ID-39
Average Duration of Studies for Part-Time Students

Average duration (in years) of part-time studies.

Scale info: Whole number

1,9918

2,626

4,9055

5,2986

5,1288

-

ID-40
Percentage of Doctoral Students Defending Their Thesis Without Requesting an Extension

Percentage ratio of the number of students defending the thesis without an extension on the total number of theses defended.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

8,33

25,0

16,67

0,0

16,67

100,0

ID-43
Percentage of Theses with International Mention

Percentage ratio of the number of theses that achieve the "cum laude" qualification over the total number of theses defended

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

100,0

ID-44
Percentage of Theses with International Mention

Percentage ratio of the number of theses with international mention over the total number of defended theses

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

33,33

37,5

66,67

16,67

50,0

100,0

ID-45
Percentage of Program Dropouts

Percentage ratio of the number of students who did not enroll or defend their thesis in the academic year to the total number of students enrolled in the previous year, after deducting the number of students who defended their thesis in the academic year and students who have been granted a temporary leave of absence.

Scale info: Percentage with two decimal places

13,89

14,71

21,74

0,0

20,0

22,22

The contents of this page were updated on 07.07.2023.