Education

PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Innovating for the health of the future

The PhD in Biomedical Engineering trains specialists with advanced skills in technological and methodological innovation in the fields of medical diagnosis and therapy. With a curriculum that covers subfields such as Imaging, Biomechanics, and Tissue Engineering, the program prepares doctoral students for careers in academia, healthcare, and industry, fostering the development of innovative solutions in the health sector.

In close collaboration with the LIBPHYS, CEFITEC, and Cenimat/i3N research centers, students have access to research teams involved in national and European projects focused on the application of Science and Engineering to Health. The program includes an Advanced Studies Diploma and a PhD thesis, with opportunities for collaboration and research stays at prestigious international institutions.

Why this PhD Programme?

  • Advanced scientific and technological training to lead research and development in Biomedical Engineering.
  • Development of skills to design, coordinate, and carry out innovative research projects in the healthcare field.
  • Focus on real-world, multidisciplinary challenges in areas such as biosignal processing, medical instrumentation, medical equipment, clinical engineering, machine learning, medical imaging, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
  • Opportunity to work in national and international excellence-driven environments in the health sector.
  • Diverse career opportunities in hospitals, clinics, the medical device industry, and research centers, across both public and private institutions.

Applications 2025/26

1st Phase: Mar. 14 to Apr. 7

2nd Phase: Jun. 2 to Jul. 28

Vacancies: 10

Duration: 4 years (240 ECTS)

Format: Full-time

Language: Portuguese

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

Course Coordinator: Hugo Gamboa, pdebm.coordenador@fct.unl.pt

Academic divison: div.aea.helpdesk@fct.unl.pt

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Program

Aligned with the guiding principles and objectives underlying its integration into the European Higher Education Area, the program enables research in internationally recognized centers of excellence.

Curriculum

Career opportunities

Ensuring the training of specialists with strong innovation skills and the ability to drive technological progress in the field of Biomedical Engineering, this doctoral program leads to career opportunities such as:

  • Academic and/or research careers in higher education;

  • Careers as hospital physicists;

  • High-level technical positions in hospitals, clinics, and development companies, particularly in the subfields outlined in the program objectives.

The program also aims to equip candidates with critical thinking, conceptual autonomy, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

About the Department of Physics

The Department of Physics (DF), formally established in 1986, was a pioneer in Portugal in teaching Physics Engineering. The DF's scientific activity mainly develops in two Research Units, LIBPhys and CEFITEC. Among the research and development activities are atomic, molecular, nuclear physics instrumentation and electronic and industrial automation with applications in analytical methods, radiation detection, and biomedical engineering, optics, and photonics, metrology, and spectrometries.

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