PhD in Geology

The development prospects for Portugal point to the need for technicians and scientists in the field of the Earth Sciences, particularly in Geology, with high scientific qualifications. Earth sciences are considered major scientific areas in many of developed countries worldwide. The course began operating in the academic year 2008/2009. The minimum number of credits for the degree is 180 (3 years).

Objectives

Course objectives are to train highly qualified researchers in this scientific field and with the power to conduct and develop research and projects with autonomy in economic and social activity and / or university environment sectors.

The skills to be acquired by doctoral students are:

a) Competence of knowledge and understanding capacity;

a.1) Systematic understanding capacity in the scientific study of geology, to enable them with deepen knowledge at the level of 1st and 2nd cycles in this field and gain sustainable basis to develop tasks autonomously in the research context;

a.2) To acquire scientific training and advanced techniques that give them skills and research methods associated with the scientific field of Geology allowing understand and solve new problems and situations in multidisciplinary contexts;

b) Application of knowledge and understanding Skills;

b.1) Ability to devise, design and implement major research projects in geology, developing management and technical monitoring coordination capabilities autonomously in the center of research in which they operate (Centre for Research in Science and Geological Engineering, CICEGe, or other), other research institutions or companies, respecting the requirements imposed by the academic quality and integrity standards;

c) Competency achievement of judgment / decision making;

c.1) Developing integration capabilities of knowledge in order to be able to critically analyze, evaluate and synthesize new ideas in complex situations always presenting solutions and proposing implementation of projects taking into account economic and social implications;

d) Communication skills;

e) Self-learning skills. 

Career opportunities

The areas of intervention of the future Doctors in Geology are related to the characterization and exploration of geological resources and geological and geo-environmental mapping, characterization and preservation of the geological and paleontological heritage as well as secondary education. Also, in construction and public works a doctorate in geology contribute to the training of experts who can play a key role in the stages of geological characterization of the deployment areas of civil works. 

These activities will lack the technical and scientific support, both at project level as monitoring and enforcement. Some even have a leading role. The advanced training at doctoral level, will allow high levels of achieved development, which undoubtedly contributes to innovation and significant improvement of the developed work.

The PhD course in Geological Engineering is based on the guiding principles and objectives underlying their integration into the European higher education space. With this design, their doctorates will operate in national and international space, in highly competitive environments, conducting up their training and the course organization by high quality standards.