Universidad
Politécnica de Madrid

Biotechnology has experienced in recent years a great scientific advance that led to the development of a new technological revolution (the Genomic Revolution) which has changed the way we approach the study of living organisms and their use in the productive processes.

The goal of the PhD Program in Biotechnology and Genetic Resources of Plants and Associated Microorganisms from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica of Madrid, UPM) is to train doctors in the knowledge of living organisms of interest in food/feed and forestry production and in industrial processes in which those are involved. These PhDs must be able to lead the new activities in Research, Development and Technological Innovation (I+D+i) in areas such as biotechnology, agriculture, food production and environmental technologies.

The PhD, which has received the POSITIVE REPORT from ANECA on 03/07/2013, has a long tradition on research and training, and it is a required adaptation to the novel regulations (RD 99/2011) from Spanish Ministry of Education. The program derives from a previous verified program that obtained the Mention towards Excellence by the Ministry of Education (Mention 2011-0295) for academic years 2011-2012 to 2013-2014.

The Program hosts renowned researchers in these disciplines grouped in different departments of the School of Agronomic Engineering (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, ETSIA) and the School of Engineering Forestry (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Montes, ETSIM) of UPM as well as researchers from Departments and Research Centers from National Research Institute for Agriculture and Food Technology (INIA), National Research Council (CSIC) and the Institute for Research and Rural Development, Agriculture and Food from Madrid (IMIDRA). A significant number of these researchers belong to the Department of Biotechnology and conduct their research activity in the Center for Biotechnology and Plant Genomics (CBGP), a joint center of excellence between UPM and INIA. The Biology Department also participates in this PhD Program. This Program has a clear international projection, with a high number of foreign PhD students (28% in the last 5 years) and a clear commitment of researcher and students to participate in training activities and short-stages in laboratories of international universities and research centers of excellence.