Advanced Training

The ICIQ Graduate Student Programme ICIQ’s PhD student programme is at the core of our commitment to education. We foster graduate students in their path to think, design and execute a research project under the supervision and mentoring of an ICIQ Group Leader. The programme targets highly qualified and talented graduate students with an enthusiastic interest in chemical research and has been successful in attracting students from all over the world.

In 2021 we launched three calls of our PhD Fellowship Programme. A total of 17 graduate students joined ICIQ through ICIQ’s fellowship programme.

We also incorporated PhD students through other funding calls: 3 FI (AGAUR); 2 FPU (MUNI); 8 FPI (MCIN/AEI).

During 2021, 27 doctoral theses were developed at ICIQ and directed by Group Leaders of the Institute.

Most of them were defended in virtual format due to the restrictions imposed by the health situation.

Postdoctoral researchers at ICIQ have an outstanding opportunity to develop their research careers in a collaborative and international environment. We believe in empowering postdoctoral researchers and strengthening their leadership skills.

In 2021 we succeeded in obtaining:

• 8 Marie Curie Sklodowska Actions – Individual Fellowships (MSCA-IF) grants
• 1 Beatriu de Pinóo grant from AGAUR
• 6 post-doctoral grants from ICIQ Impulse for Talented Postdoctoral Fellows program (801474-I2- ICIQ Impulsion) coordinated by ICIQ.
• 2 Junior Leader post-doctoral grants from «La Caixa» Foundation.
• 5 Juan de la Cierva Training grants

We participated in two Master programmes. The URV/ICIQ Master in Synthesis, Catalysis and Molecular Design provides scientific training in the design of new methods of synthesis, development of catalysts, computational design and management of environmentally friendly chemical processes. The Master also focuses on providing the skills needed to address research and development tasks and innovative activities in the industry. Three ICIQ Master students were awarded one of the institute’s master projects fellowships. Three students enrolled in this master thanks to the ICIQ master research projects grants.

We also participated in the Master of Multidisciplinary Research in Experimental Sciences (BIST-UPF), which provides in-depth hands-on research training in multiple fields. Students undertake a 6-month major project and a 10-week minor project in two different research disciplines in different BIST centers. 

ICIQ Summer Internship Programme, which is sponsored by Fundació Bancària La Caixa, brings together outstanding undergraduate students who make the most of their Summer holidays by working in one of ICIQ’s research groups during the months of July, August, and September. In 2021, due to COVID-19 pandemic, we had to cancel this programme. Instead, we had nine undergraduate students who did short internships in different research groups throughout the year.

ICIQ works to offer complementary training adapted to the needs of our researchers. Apart from the recognized seminar programs, ICIQ promotes courses that address important skills to take advantage of in the development of a research career.