Doctorate in Sciences in Chemistry Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana

The Doctorate in Science in Chemistry is a research-oriented program and is the most important in the northwestern region of the country, since it is recognized nationally considering its infrastructure, productivity and quality of the studies carried out. This program contributes to the training of high-level researchers to participate in scientific and technological development, that generate, transmit and apply knowledge in an original and innovative way in the area of chemistry, and meet the scientific and technological needs demanded by the Country development

It began in the year of 1992 and its continuity has been possible thanks to the fact that there is a plant of professors of great recognition in the areas of Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Polymers and Electrochemistry.

100% of the academic plant has the degree of doctor, 94.12% belonging to the National System of Researchers (SNI), of which 11.76% have level III, 29.41% level II and 52.94% level I. 41.18% are members of SIN level III and level II. To date, a competitive infrastructure has been combined in the four lines of research and a solid academic plant.

Trust "Tru" Katsande / Unsplash

Objectives and goals

Overall objective

To train high-level researchers who participate in scientific and technological development in the area of chemistry and related sciences, as well as in the generation, transmission and application of knowledge in an original and innovative way that can meet the scientific and technological needs demanded by the Country development

Particular objectives

• Train human resources with high scientific and educational quality
• Establish programs of scientific collaboration and academic exchange with national and international institutions of the highest level
• Establish linkage programs with the regional industry of the area
• Strengthen program research groups to obtain greater productivity and international projection
• Consolidate the organic unit as an educational and research center in Chemistry of excellence and high performance

Goals

To train researchers capable of actively participating in the national scientific development, through the application of knowledge in an original and innovative way, managing to influence the scientific and technological development of the country.

Admission profile

Candidates to enter the PhD program in Sciences in Chemistry must have a postgraduate training. The important characteristics and requirements that a candidate must meet to enter the program are listed below:

• Must have advanced knowledge in the field of chemistry and skills for experimental laboratory work
• Ability to analyze results and teamwork
• Ability to correlate the information reported in the literature with the experimental results obtained in the laboratory

Egress Profile

The program recognizes the need to improve the communication skills, both written and verbal, of chemists and, in particular, of those who will work in the chemical industry sector because they will strengthen the link with higher education institutions and research. The professional participating in the program should be able to detect areas, issues and problems that need observation in order to propose research projects that provide viable solutions to improve the situation under study.

The graduate of the Doctorate in Sciences in Chemistry has a deep and integrative chemical knowledge of the scientific bases, of the concepts, methods, advances and techniques of his field of study. It also has the ability to propose, plan, identify, evaluate and execute original and independent research projects and develop and innovate in the field of chemical science and technology.

Use specialized sources of information in a critical way to extract information appropriate for your research work.

It updates and continues its training autonomously and develops its professional activity with an ethical and humanistic approach.

Punctuating, upon successful completion of the PhD program, the graduate is able to:

• Perform original research projects
• Plan and execute an investigation
• Join and / or lead research groups
• Efficiently transmit your knowledge
• Publish the results of your research in national and international journals
• Develop the ability to transfer technology to adapt it to the particular conditions of the country or industry
• Form high-level human resources

Entry and Exit Requirements

Entry requirements

Applicants to enter the PhD program in Science in Chemistry must have a Master's degree in Science in an area related to the program, according to the background of the curriculum of the program taken by the applicant and their qualifications in chemistry . In case of being graduated from an external master's program, the admission committee will make the decision on the possible acceptance.

The admission committee is made up of four professors of the doctoral faculty, which, in a general but not strict manner, is made up of the president of the faculty, a professor of the basic nucleus, the postgraduate coordinator and the head of the department. The admission committee is responsible for analyzing and assessing academic proficiency and the ability to conduct research of the applicant, through the following requirements:

• Admission exam approval
• Submit curriculum vitae with supporting documents of your research career
• Deliver two letters of academic recommendation, addressed to the program coordinator and signed by chemistry specialists
• Fulfill the interview with the Admission Committee
• Show skills for reading and understanding technical writings in the English language

The admission exam will be presented in two parts, the first one covers the four main areas of chemistry: Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Physicochemistry. The second part consists of a more in-depth examination in the area in which the applicant wishes to develop his research work.

Additionally, when applicants are graduates of our Master of Science program in Chemistry who have obtained a minimum average of 88 and have less than two years of having graduated, they may enter the doctoral program without covering the admission exam requirement. In this case, a curriculum analysis by the Admission Committee and the recommendation of your master's thesis advisor will be necessary to enter the program.

The procedure that is followed for the student to be accepted and subsequently enrolled in the PhD program in Science in Chemistry is as follows:

Contact the postgraduate coordinator in Science in Chemistry to request reports on the lines of research offered by the center and the documentation required to complete the corresponding procedures

Submit the following documentation:

• Letter of intent of entry addressed to the coordinator, expressing the reasons why you want to enter the PhD program
• Professional degree of master's degree or proof of application pending
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of birth certificate, for foreigners this document must be legalized and / or apostilled
• Copy of official identification (INE, passport), Foreigners (identity card, passport)
• Copy of the Unique Population Registration Code (CURP), when the applicant is of Mexican nationality
• Copy of the certificate with master's degree qualifications with a minimum average of 80 (to apply for the admission exam)

Name and emails of three academic references in a format pre-established by the coordinator. In order for the coordinator to request letters of recommendation, the applicant is required to provide names and contact information (email) of teachers who are willing to issue an academic recommendation.

Once the documentation is received, a general chemistry knowledge test and an examination of your area of expertise will be scheduled. Additionally, the skills for reading and understanding technical writings in the English language can be assessed by translating an article in English into Spanish or applying an exam. These assessments may be face-to-face in the same center or via the Internet.

Upon obtaining the test results, the coordinator will summon the admission committee to interview each of the candidates. The interview can be conducted in the offices of the research center or by conference via Skype.

After the interview, all the documents of the candidates will be analyzed by the admission committee. After this a decision will be made on the acceptance or rejection of the students according to the competencies, abilities, values and skills shown in the evaluations and documents presented by the applicant.

Once the student is accepted, an official letter of acceptance will be sent to the program which will be signed and endorsed by the admission committee.

In the case of foreign students, they will be guided and supported to process their Mexican immigration form.

Once students are present at the center, they will formally enroll in the system and will be discharged in the subjects they will take in the first semester. In addition, they will be assigned a follow-up tutor to provide guidance and support for the duration of their postgraduate studies.

Upon entering the program, the student will decide the line of research that is of interest and select a thesis director to develop a research thesis project, which will be proposed by the thesis director.

12 months after the student has entered the program, a Thesis Tutorial Committee will be assigned consisting of five members, which will be proposed by the Thesis Director and endorsed by the Doctoral Senate

Exit Requirements

To obtain the degree of Doctor of Science in Chemistry, the student must:

• Accredit all the subjects and academic activities corresponding to the program with a minimum general average of eighty (80), without considering the credits of the thesis
• Present the results of an individual research project embodied in a thesis document, in which it demonstrates the ability to generate original contributions in the field of program knowledge
• Demonstrate mastery of a second language, which must be accredited by an exam, at the suggestion of the Doctoral Senate
• Have accepted for publication a scientific article with the results of his thesis
• Have the authorization to print the thesis issued by the Head of the Postgraduate Studies Division, at the proposal of the Tutorial Committee
• Submit and pass the Doctor of Science degree in Chemistry exam
• Be within the period of four years counted from the date he began his studies. After this period, the student must request authorization from the campus address

Curriculum

164 credits must be covered in the PhD curriculum. This consists of the following subjects: predoctoral seminar, predoctoral exam, research seminar, research projects I to V and Thesis, which must be covered in a maximum period of 48 months (8 semesters).

Subjects

The Graduate and Research Center in Chemistry has four lines of research. The research lines are the axis through which the activities that support the scientific work of the postgraduate are organized, it is understood as the set of activities carried out by the groups of researchers and students, aimed at generating and / or applying knowledge.