The main goal of this Curricular Unit is to make the PhD students familiar with the scientific project that will be the basis of their PhD thesis. Namely it is intended that students explore in depth the state‐of‐the‐art, work plan, aims, and methodologies associated to the theme of their thesis. The students are expected to develop scientific skils (including methodological ones)  that could contribute for their autonomy in carrying out the research project.

The aim is to provide training in intellectual property, communication skills, entrepreneurship, research management skills, grant writing, among other competencies. 

This Curricular Unit aims to stimulate the doctoral students to attend short advanced courses to obtain expertise considered to be essential in the scope of molecular and cellular biotechnology and on the student dissertation field.

With the participation in the advanced courses, the students will have the opportunity to learn new experimental approaches, to have an in-depth training in known techniques and/or be aided by experts in solving problems and questions associated with the execution/ implementation of the methodology during their experimental work. It is therefore intended to provide a deeper and extended training on specific experimental methodologies and, as such, to develop the scientific skills and autonomy of the students in their area of expertise.