Go to:
Logótipo
Você está em: Start > Programmes/Cycle of Studies > PDCTA

Environmental Toxicology and Contamination

InformationThe course/SC is accredited by the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES).
The Doctoral Programme in Environmental Toxicology and Contamination (PDCTA) is a joint third-cycle degree offered by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), the Faculty of Sciences (FCUP), and the Faculty of Pharmacy (FFUP) of the University of Porto. The PDCTA provides a platform of advanced education, research, and innovation excellence, bringing together teaching staff and researchers from diverse fields within Environmental and Life Sciences.
It offers advanced training (third cycle) in ecotoxicology, ecology, toxicology, chemistry, environment and health, among other areas. The programme addresses priority topics such as risk assessment and management (e.g. pollution, climate change) for environmental, animal and human health (One Health); biodiversity and ecosystem services; invasive alien species; new products and technologies; circular economy; blue biotechnology; sustainability, among others.
The PDCTA has a duration of four years, with the doctoral thesis project commencing in the first semester within an environment of scientific research excellence, thereby naturally promoting the production of high-quality scientific output. Accordingly, among other requirements, it is a condition for submitting the thesis for public defence that it includes at least one original scientific article, with the doctoral candidate as first author, accepted, in press, or already published in an international peer-reviewed journal indexed in Web of Science, PubMed, or Scopus.

Partner Institutions: The main partnerships are with three centres of scientific research and innovation excellence, namely the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), and the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE). Other academic institutions, governmental bodies, and industry/business/technology organisations from various sectors also participate.

Objectives

The central objective is to prepare highly qualified human resources (Doctoral degree) with multidisciplinary scientific and technical training who can contribute to addressing and overcoming global environmental challenges, particularly regarding the adverse effects and risks of pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of resources, among others.
The protection of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and environmental, animal, and human health (One Health), the production of new materials, pharmaceuticals, and technology, development and sustainability, the circular economy, and blue biotechnology are priority topics.


Professional Abilities

Advanced interdisciplinary knowledge and training will be offered in Environmental Toxicology and Contamination and related areas in an international and multidisciplinary context. This includes the ability to recognise and characterise environmental problems and their effects on human, animal, and ecosystem health; to plan and implement research, innovation, and management programmes capable of effectively addressing theoretical and applied situations; to collect, analyse, and interpret data; to assess and manage environmental risks and resources; and to communicate results and risks to different audiences, among other skills.
Doctoral graduates will be prepared to carry out research, develop technology, products, and innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change, ensure access to essential resources for society (food, clean water, medicines, energy, etc.), reduce pollution, and promote environmental quality, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, sustainability, and global health.

Among other requirements, it is an absolute condition for submitting the thesis for public defence that it includes at least one original article published, in press, or accepted for publication in an international indexed journal (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed), with the doctoral student as first author.

Employment Prospects

Academic, business, and governmental sectors (national/international) across various fields, for example: research and innovation; conservation and biodiversity; environmental and health risk assessment, management, and communication; environmental policy and management; health; technology; circular economy; water and energy; tourism; waste treatment and recovery; exploration and management of natural resources; among others.


Information

Course Information:

  • Start of academic year: 02 January 2026
  • Timetable: Daytime
  • Mode of study: In-person
  • Language of instruction: Portuguese, English
  • Standard Duration of the Course: 4 years (8 semesters)
  • Minimum number of students for the cycle of studies to operate – 1

OPEN COMPETITION 2025/2026 link: Vacancies, deadlines and criteria ( document in portuguese and english).

Link: Tuition fees 2025/2026

Re-entry applications link: 25 June to 15 July 2025 - Information here

International Students:
Important information for international students:

International students, find all the information you need to study at the University of Porto at the following links:

Although foreign candidates do not need recognition of a (graduate/master) degree to enroll in the Doctoral Programs in Portugal, if they want to apply for doctoral scholarships it will be necessary to have the recognition.

Data Protection Policy:
Consult the U.Porto Data Protection Policy here for more information on the processing of your personal data.


Contacts

Director of the Doctoral Programme
Prof. Dr. Lúcia Guilhermino

For any queries regarding the thesis, please contact via email: lguilher@icbas.up.pt 

For further information, please contact:

Postgraduate and Continuing Education Unit

Telephone: 220428006

Schedule:

In-Person and Telephone Assistance*

  • Monday and Thursday: 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–18:00

  • Wednesday: 10:00–12:00

  • Tuesday and Friday: 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–15:30

*Due to difficulties in handling all telephone requests, we recommend that if you are unable to reach us by phone, you send your inquiry by email.

E-mail: posgrad@icbas.up.pt


Secretariat to Councils, Directors of Study Cycles and Specialised Commissions: gabsec@icbas.up.pt

General information

Official code: 5867
Director: Lúcia Guilhermino
Acronym: PDCTA
Academic Degree: Doctor
Type of course/cycle of study: Doctoral Degree
Start: 2012/2013
Duration: 4 Years

Study Plan

Involved Organic Units

Certificates

  • Environmental Toxicology and Contamination (240 ECTS credits)

Predominant Scientific Areas

Recommend this page Top
Copyright 1996-2026 © Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto  I Terms and Conditions  I Acessibility  I Index A-Z
Page created on: 2026-05-01 at 06:41:56 | Privacy Policy | Personal Data Protection Policy | Whistleblowing | Electronic Yellow Book