Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Education objectives

The Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (PDEQB) aims to be an excellence project at the 3rd Study Cycle level , which is strongly oriented towards research, supported on the proven expertise of teachers and researchers of the Chemical and Biochemistry Engineering Section of FCT- NOVA’s Chemistry Department and the associated R & D Laboratories.

The PDEQB aims to train highly qualified professionals able to play a major role in terms of research, education, entrepreneurship and leadership in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and horizontally in related fields such as environment, energy and materials.

Main objectives to ensure that the holder of this degree is equipped with the following capabilities:

1. Systematic understanding capacity of new situations or wide multidisciplinary situations in the various fields of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering;
2. Has acquired, through the Doctoral Course, components and developed research work for the preparation of their thesis, competencies, skills and research methods associated with the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, in its various aspects;
3. Ability to conceive, to design and develop original scientific research in Chemical  and Biochemical Engineering, identifying suitable research methods for solving complex problems with no single solutions, in new situations or contexts, that require the use of multidisciplinary knowledge situations;
4. Have performed a significant number of original and competitive research, in accordance with the internationally accepted requirements and quality standards; at least part of that investigation should have been published or accepted for publication in journals with an independent evaluation system;
5. Be able to communicate with his/her peers  and with the academic comunity and with society in general on the specialization area and to formulate arguments and conclusions in a clear and unambiguous way;
6. Be capable of using their knowledge and / or research results, to illustrate the link between knowledge and technology and to reflect on the relevance of both to social, cultural or technological progress.

Career opportunities

The curricular component includes compulsory subjects (Entrepreneurship and Thesis Project Preparation), optional courses integrated into five major scientific fields (Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Chemistry, Engineering Sciences and Social and Economic Sciences), and a targeted elective course belonging to the scientific areas of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering or where the contents of which has great affinity with the dissertation subject.

The differentiating elements between the two PDEQB specialties - Chemical and Biochemical Engineering - are the syllabus individually set for each student by the Scientific Committee assisted by the Tutor, the program content of the Optional Directed Discipline and the PhD theme.

Chemical and biochemical engineers work in a wide range of industries, including petrochemical and natural gas, chemicals synthesis, polymer and plastics production, food industry, pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology and new materials, wastewater treatment, biotechnology, environmental protection and quality control. Potential career opportunities include advanced production areas, process development, industrial plants design and construction, and applied and basic research.

Doctors in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering will have further career opportunities in research or research and development centers associated with public and private institutions, and with higher education institutions.