PhD in Environmental Science and Technology

2025/2026

What you learn

In the doctoral programme in Environmental Science and Technology it is possible to approach research in all scientific-technological fields related to the environment as shown in the following list of lines of research:

  • Characterization and monitoring of environmental pollutants. Air quality, water, marine environment. Food safety.
  • Environmental Education: Chemical-analytical aspects.
  • Environmental radiological surveillance.
  • Radon in homes in Galicia.
  • Application of constructed wetlands for domestic and industrial effluent treatment.
  • Chemical use of plant biomass.
  • Environmental Law.
  • Soil quality.
  • Study of the response to heavy metals in microalgae.
  • Removal/Recovery of ecotoxic metals in effluents by combining electrochemical and biological techniques.
  • Calculations of chemical speciation in the field of geochemistry, oceanography and natural waters in general.
  • Degradation of compounds of environmental interest.
  • Elucidation of oxidation mechanisms of compounds of environmental interest.
  • Renewable energies.
  • Biofilm technologies for wastewater purification.
  • Wastewater treatment technologies in small nuclei.
  • Modelling of wastewater treatment processes.

All these lines of research fit perfectly into the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme .

The completion of the doctoral thesis in the aforementioned lines of research and/or variations thereof can be carried out within the following research groups:

  • Applied Analytical Chemistry -QANAP-
  • Environmental Chemical Engineering -EnQA-
  • Geology
  • Microalgae -MICROALGAE-
  • Physicochemistry of Natural Waters -QUIFISAGUA-
  • Mixtures -MESTURAS-
  • Chemical Reactivity and Photoreactivity -REAFOTOCON-
  • Environmental Law
  • Environmental Radioactivity
  • Water and Environmental Engineering -GEAMA-

Generic skills

CB1 - Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.

CB2 - Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or creation process.

CB3 - Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.

CB4 - Ability to perform critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.

CB5 - 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.

CB6 - Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society.

CA01 - Function in contexts in which there is little specific information.

CA02 - Find the key questions that need to be answered to solve a complex problem.

CA03 - Design, create, develop and undertake novel and innovative projects in their field of knowledge.

CA04 – Work both in a team and autonomously in an international or multidisciplinary context.

CA05 - Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgments with limited information.

CA06 - The critique and intellectual defense of solutions.

Specific skills

CE1. To understand and diagnose the different environmental problems associated with the environmental compartments that are the object of the research work, as well as to propose possible solutions.

CE2. Understand and/or deepen the knowledge of the phenomena of transport, diffusion and transformation of pollutants in relation to the object of research of the work.

CE3. Understand, master and/or innovate in the different advanced techniques for analysing and/or characterising pollutants present in the environment.

CE4. Understand, master and/or innovate in advanced technologies for the elimination or reduction of pollution.

CE5. Understand, master and/or innovate in advanced techniques for reducing environmental impact, as well as to carry out studies on it, and/or on environmental quality control.

CE6. Know, understand and know how to apply legislation and regulations related to the environment.

CE7. To be able to advise and innovate scientifically and technologically and to transfer knowledge in the field of companies and administrations.

CE8 - Be able to design, direct and manage studies aimed at solving environmental problems.

CE9 - Be able to work safely in advanced research laboratories, know and apply hygiene standards, as well as know how to act in the event of possible risk incidents.

Transversal skills

CB1 - Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.

CB2 - Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial research or creation process.

CB3 - Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.

CB4 - Ability to perform critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.

CB5 - 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.

CB6 - Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society.

CA01 - Function in contexts in which there is little specific information.

CA02 - Find the key questions that need to be answered to solve a complex problem.

CA03 - Design, create, develop and undertake novel and innovative projects in their field of knowledge.

CA04 – Work both in a team and autonomously in an international or multidisciplinary context.

CA05 - Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgments with limited information.

CA06 - The critique and intellectual defense of solutions.

Professional and academic career

As a result of the scientific-technological training received, doctors trained in the Environmental Science and Technology doctoral programme will be prepared to access the labour market both professionally and academically.

Career opportunities

  • Incorporation, and where appropriate, management in companies in the environmental sector (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Integration, and where appropriate, management, in the R+D+i department of both companies in the environmental sector and the public administration (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Incorporation, and where appropriate, management in the environmental management department of companies from various productive sectors (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Integration, and where appropriate, management, in the environmental management department of public bodies (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Entrepreneurship in the field of environmental science and technology (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Management and/or technical advice of NGOs oriented to the protection of the environment (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Incorporation into research groups of R+D+i institutions in the environmental sector, both public and private (regional, national and international level).
  • Management and development of R+D+i projects in the field of environmental science and technology (regional, national and international level).

Academic outings

  • University professor in different departments.
  • Primary and/or secondary school teacher.

Professional and academic career

As a result of the scientific-technological training received, doctors trained in the Environmental Science and Technology doctoral programme will be prepared to access the labour market both professionally and academically.

Career opportunities

  • Incorporation, and where appropriate, management in companies in the environmental sector (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Integration, and where appropriate, management, in the R+D+i department of both companies in the environmental sector and the public administration (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Incorporation, and where appropriate, management in the environmental management department of companies from various productive sectors (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Integration, and where appropriate, management, in the environmental management department of public bodies (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Entrepreneurship in the field of environmental science and technology (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Management and/or technical advice of NGOs oriented to the protection of the environment (local, regional, national and/or international level).
  • Incorporation into research groups of R+D+i institutions in the environmental sector, both public and private (regional, national and international level).
  • Management and development of R+D+i projects in the field of environmental science and technology (regional, national and international level).

Academic outings

  • University professor in different departments.
  • Primary and/or secondary school teacher.

Companies and institutions involved

Entities that collaborate in the doctoral programme with which there is a signed collaboration agreement:

  • College of Chemists of Galicia
  • University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC)
  • Universitatea din Bucuresti (Romania)
  • Fatih Universitesi (Turkey)
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium)
  • Université de Bretagne Occidentale (France)
  • Universitatea de Vest din Timisoara (Romania)
  • Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Santa Fe - Argentina)
  • Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (Brazil)

Participation in research networks:

  • Spanish Composting Network (REC)
  • Galician Network of Ionic Liquids (REGALIS)

Research groups/researchers collaborating in the doctoral programme:

  • Collaboration with the QANAP Group group. Coordinator: Dr. Darío Prada Rodríguez
    • Water Institute of the Northern Region of Portugal-IAREN and University of Porto (Portugal)
    • Department of Water Quality-Technical University of Berlin and Institute for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig (Germany)
    • Department of Chemistry and Biosciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (Sweden)
    • Institute for Nuclear Sciences (INW), Ghent, Belgium
    • Università degli Sutdi di Friese- Dipartimento di Biología Animale e Genetica "Leopardi" (Italy)
    • Organization for the development of the Western Crete (Greece)
    • Instituto Sant'Anna Pisa (Italy)
    • Pharmaceutical Development Testing Laboratory-National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) (Mexico)
    • Australian Center for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS-University of Tasmania (Australia)
    • Department of Chemistry-Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal)
    • Dipartimento di Scienza Dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, Università Degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca. (Italy)
  • Collaboration with the EnQA Group group. Coordinator: Dr. Manuel Soto Castiñeira
    • Dr. Robin Sen, (School of Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester – UK)
  • Collaboration with the QUIMFISAGUA Group. Coordinator: Dr. Manuel E. Sastre de Vicente
    • Department of Chemistry. University of Patras (Greece)
    • School of Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences. University of Southampton (U.K)
    • School of Ocean and Earth Sciences. University of Plymouth (U.K)
    • Department of Chemistry. University of Timisoara (Romania)
  • Collaboration with the "Mesturas" Group [G000347]. Coordinator: Dr. Oscar Cabeza Gras
    • Dr. Joao Coutinho (University of Aveiro – Portugal)
    • Dr. Abel Ferreira (University of Coimbra – Portugal)
    • Dr. Mireille Turmine (University of Paris VI – France)
  • Collaboration with the REAFOTOCON Group. Coordinator: Dr. J. Arturo Santaballa López
    • Dr. E. Humeres Allende (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil)
    • Dr. H. D. Burrows (University of Coimbra, Portugal)
    • Dr. J. Faria (Universidade de Porto, Portugal)
    • Dr. H. Maskill (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
    • Dr. M. Sarakha (Université Blaise Pascal, France)
    • Dr. J. Kumar Ray (Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur - India)

Research lines

This are the main research lines for current study.

  • Análisis, evaluación y gestión sostenible de los recursos edáficos, hidrológicos y sedimentarios.
  • Aplicación de humedales construidos para tratamiento de efluentes domésticos e industriales
  • Biorremediación ambiental utilizando microalgas.
  • Cálculos de especiación química en el ámbito de la geoquímica,oceanografía y aguas naturales en general.
  • Caracterización y monitorización de contaminantes ambientales. Calidad de aire, aguas, medio marino. Seguridad alimentaria
  • Degradación de compuestos de interés ambiental
  • Derecho ambiental
  • Educación Ambiental: Aspectos químico-analíticos
  • Eliminación/Recuperación metales ecotóxicos en efluentes mediante combinación de técnicas electroquímicas y biológicas.
  • Elucidación de mecanismos de oxidación de compuestos de interés ambiental
  • Energías renovables
  • Gestión sostenible y aprovechamiento químico de biomasa vegetal.
  • Modelación de procesos de depuración de aguas residuales
  • Radón en las viviendas en Galicia
  • Tecnologías biopelícula de depuración de aguas residuales
  • Tecnologías de depuración de aguas residuales en pequeños núcleos
  • Tecnologías fisicoquímicas y biológicas amigables para la remediación ambiental de aguas naturales y residiuales.
  • Vigilancia radiológica ambiental

Planning for teaching

Additional subject teaching

Candidates who do not meet all the necessary prior learning conditions for the programme may be required to complete additional courses in the form of subjects and modules from UDC Master’s and undergraduate programmes. The number of credits from additional subject teaching will not exceed 15 ECTS credits, which students may choose to complete before or after enrolment in the PhD programme.

Students who do not opt to complete additional coursework prior to enrolment should register for their extra subjects or modules at the same time as the PhD. Failure to complete additional coursework within a period of three consecutive terms will result in the termination of the student’s registration.

See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 5: Applications.

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

EIDUDC teaching and training activities

Programme-specific teaching and training activities

1. Redacción y publicación de artículos y/o publicaciones científicas.

    Una de las actividades esenciales asociada a la actividad investigadora es la comunicación de los resultados al resto de la comunidad científica. Una vez que haya los primeros resultados de investigación suficientes para la elaboración de un artículo o publicación científica se le indicarán al estudiante las directrices generales para la redacción del mismo.

    De forma genérica se prevé la publicación de al menos tres artículos durante el tiempo de realización de la tesis doctoral, uno por año; siendo, preferentemente, el idioma a emplear el inglés. Se asume que esta actividad formativa implica una ocupación horaria en el entorno de las 300 horas (100 h por publicación).

    La validación de esta actividad se hará con la propia publicación, o, en su caso, la comunicación de aceptación definitiva por parte del editor de la publicación.

2. Estancias en Centros de I+D (+i).

    La estancia en otros centros de investigación es una experiencia muy enriquecedora, que permite tanto el aprendizaje de métodos y técnicas como facilitar el acercamiento a otras formas en la concepción de la investigación. La estancia en centros extranjeros puede permitir obtener el doctorado con la mención internacional, siempre que la duración de la(s) estancia(s) sea la que exige la correspondiente normativa.

    Esta actividad se validará con la presentación de la correspondiente certificación emitida por el doctor que supervise al doctorando en el centro de acogida.

    Para la financiación de esta actividad se acudirá a ayudas públicas y /o privadas .

3. Participación activa en seminarios (actividad obligatoria).

    Estos seminarios, a los que se asignan un total de 42 horas, pueden ser organizados por:

    • la comisión académica del programa de doctorado (2 por año),
    • personal docente e investigador participante en el programa doctorado (4 por año),
    • profesores e investigadores visitantes.

    La validación de esta actividad se hará de diversas formas: firma en hoja de asistencia, documento firmado por el tutor, director o por un miembro de la Comisión Académica.

4. Participación en congresos y talleres.

    Se trata de participar activamente en:

    • congresos especializados (especialmente recomendado) (se asignan 20 horas): es aconsejable que previamente a la defensa de la tesis doctoral, el doctorando haya asistido al menos a un congreso presentando un mural o realizando una exposición oral –preferentemente–,
    • talleres y/o seminarios promovidos por instituciones, empresas, ferias, exposiciones, eventos de difusión científico-tecnológica, etc. relacionadas con los objetivos del programa de doctorado, así como colaboración en la organización de los mismos (se asignan 5 h): igualmente es deseable que el estudiante participe como colaborador en la organización de talleres, congresos, seminarios, etc.

    La validación de esta actividad requiere la certificación de asistencia y de presentación de la comunicación, o, en su caso, de colaboración.

    Cuando sea el caso, para la financiación de esta actividad se acudirá a ayudas públicas y/o privadas.

Supervision agreement

The PhD supervision agreement defines the academic relationship between the candidate and the University, the rights and responsibilities of each (including any intellectual and/or industrial property rights resulting from the candidate’s research), the procedures in place in relation to conflict resolution, and the duration of the agreement. It also specifies the duties of the PhD tutor and supervisor.

The supervision agreement must be signed by the candidate, tutor and designated university representative (or representatives) within a maximum period of one month as from the date of registration. The supervisor’s signature may be added subsequently, once a supervisor has been appointed.

When the document has been signed by all the relevant parties, the agreement is then added to the candidate’s record of activities.

See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 13: Supervision agreement.

Research plan

The candidate must prepare a research plan within six months of registration, with information regarding methodology, objectives, resources and milestones. The research plan is submitted together with the report of the supervisor and/or tutor for approval by the Academic Committee for PhD Programmes (CAPD). Improvements to the plan may be introduced with the approval of the supervisor and/or tutor based on the annual review of the student’s research progress.

Research plans are subject to annual review by the CAPD, including the report(s) of the supervisor and/or tutor and the candidate’s record of activities. Students will be permitted to continue with their studies if the outcome of the review is satisfactory. If the outcome is negative, the student will be required to submit a new plan within a period of six months. If the committee is still not satisfied, the candidate will be removed from the programme.

See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 15: Research plan.

Student mobility

UDC holds student mobility agreements with universities and other third-level institutions across four continents. Students are offered several opportunities each year to apply to study abroad in one of these centres (for a single term or for a whole year), with the guarantee that all credits obtained will be duly recognised in their academic record upon their return.

For each round of applications, the University publishes the list of exchange options available to students and, where relevant, the specific conditions associated with each. Students may also apply to the University for funding for international work experience placements and internships.

Work experience placements are accredited in the student's academic record and the European diploma supplement. Students are free to decide in which host company or academic institution within the EHEA they wish to carry out their placement. To assist them in their search, the University has created an online noticeboard with jobs postings and other news.

Work-study placements in A Coruña are arranged by the International Relations Office (ORI) of the UDC in collaboration with the international relations coordinators in the student’s home university. The general entry criteria, rights and obligations of students, and admission and acceptance procedures for the programme, are regulated by the UDC Mobility Policy.