Initiation Research Science Tecnology Polymers

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical concepts will be taught in seminars, lectures, workshops and short courses, by professors, fellow doctoral students and/or guest researchers and experts. Real case studies will be requested, as a means of promoting interactive and clarifying sessions. The seminars on laboratory techniques and equipment will include practical learning, with a brief explanation of how to use the equipment and the respective software for results analysis.

Learning Outcomes

The intention in this module is that students develop appropriate skills for conducting research work, including all the steps in the scientific process, from state of the art research and experimental planning to the protection of intellectual property, through the formulation of hypotheses,experimentation, critical analysis and conclusion. PhD students will participate in technical seminars about laboratorial equipment, bibliographic research and management tools, computer modelling programs, which will complement the topics studied in the optional modules in the study programme. Most topics considered essential for scientific research and that will be necessary to carry out the thesis work will therefore be touched upon.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

PhD students will attend scientific presentations, seminars, lectures, workshops and short courses, led by fellow students and/or guest researchers and experts, focused on the essential topics for scientific research activities, namely:

- Planning of experiments, scientific thinking and critical analysis of results;

- Laboratory techniques and equipment (e.g. FTIR, GPC/SEC, DLS, DSC, DMA, etc);

- Strategies for equipping and maintaining laboratory facilities;

- Advanced analytical techniques;

- Methodologies and tools for bibliographic research and management;

- Intellectual property;

- Computer software for information and data processing and results analysis, including mathematical modelling;

- Sustainability of research processes and projects;

Students will also attend sessions for analysing scientific papers and problems proposed by companies, in which the students should offer a critical opinion.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
1.Analysis and discussion of a scientific paper within the scope of Polymers Science and Technology, and writing a proposal for a research project; 2. Diagnosis of a problem presented by a partner company of the programme, contributing to a better understand of the problem and suggesting appropriate solutions. In both cases an oral presentation will be given..: 100.0%

Bibliography

• Fried, Joel R.; Polymer Science & Technology, 3rd ed., Prentice-Hall, 2014.

• Brazel, C.S., Rosen, S.L.; Fundamental Principles of Polymeric Materials, 3rd ed., Wiley, 2012.

• Carraher, C.E.; Carraher’s Polymer Chemistry, 9th ed., CRC Press, 2013.

• L. H. Sperling; Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, 4th ed., Wiley, 2006.