Advanced Degree Programmes

The goal of the PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (PDBEB) is to train a new generation of scientists able not only to perform cutting-edge Biomedical research but also to translate findings into translational approaches and ventures that create added value. The PDBEB focuses on the areas of 1) Neuroscience and Disease; 2) Metabolism, Aging and Disease; and 3) Innovative Therapies. Aging, the brain and innovative therapies are major challenges in Biomedicine, and these are also the areas of intervention of the CNC-UC, where PDBEB is based.

The Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences is coordinated by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra and grants degrees in the areas of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences.

The PhDHS offers a unique opportunity for highly motivated students wishing to pursue a doctoral degree in Health Sciences.
The training opportunities encompass laboratory-based research, pre-clinical and translational research, as well as clinical research.

Integrating institutions devoted to different aspects of Health research, the Programme creates a privileged environment that fosters the development of transdisciplinary projects on health sciences.

There will be opportunities for students to tailor their own curriculum, integrating a variety of different subjects, by selecting the courses that best meet their training expectations. The Programme comprises:

Mandatory courses in core structuring and transversal areas;
Optional courses in areas of specialization;
An annual plan of seminars;
Research leading to the doctoral thesis.

The Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences enrolls 30 students per year holding a degree in Medicine, Dentistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Nursing, Health Technologies, or other areas of relevance to pursue a Doctoral degree in Health Sciences.

Syn2Psy is an Innovative Training Network (ITN-ETN, the E standing for European) funded by the EU Horizon 2020 framework program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) initiative. Its mission is to provide advanced (PhD-level) training to 14 early-stage researchers in the molecular, synaptic, circuit and behaviour basis of neuropsychiatric disorders.

The European Training Network (ETN) FOIE GRAS: Bioenergetic Remodeling in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is an international doctoral school sponsored by H2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions that will train 13 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs).

FOIE GRAS links extensive expertise in liver diseases, metabolism research, gut-liver crosstalk and science in society, hosted in distinguished universities and academic institutions, together with biotechnological companies and one patient’s association, located in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and Portugal. The ESRs will have access to this inter/multidisciplinary expertise, timely technology transfer know-how and international exchanges within an excellent training programme.

PhDOC is an inter-University program coordinated by several iCBR researchers within the UC-Faculty of Medicine. The main aim of PhDOC is to create training opportunities for the most talented students in Biomedical areas of research in aging, age-related and chronic diseases. To achieve this objective, the program builds upon the well established and solid expertise of a multidisciplinary team composed by members of 3 Medical Schools in Portugal (Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, the NOVA Medical School of the NOVA University of Lisbon and the ), and associated research units. The curriculum is designed to allow flexibility in specialization choice while providing training in necessary basic skills in science and biomedical research practice. The major hallmarks of this program are the high degree of inter-institutional collaboration, the mobility of the students and faculty between the three affiliated universities and the flexibility allowed to students to shape their curriculum path, in order to meet their needs, aspirations and expectations. In order to strengthen the collaborations between the institutions, the students are supervised by researchers of two of the participating institutions. With this strategy a central role is ascribed to students in catalysing the collaborations between institutions. Through PhDOC, CIBB builds a collaborative training program on ageing and chronic diseases.

The Master in Cellular and Molecular Biology provides advanced, research-oriented training in emerging areas of modern Biology, from the molecular and cellular to the system level. The program provides the students interested in a scientific career in Life and Health Sciences with the knowledge and the experimental tools to deeply understand the mechanisms of life and disease, and the modern diagnostic tools and therapies, particularly in Neuroscience, Toxicology, Oncobiology, Human Reproduction and Fertility.