Aims: The programme aims to complete a doctoral thesis on cutting-edge topics in Physiology, training competent people in the development of the research techniques involved. To this end, it offers excellent training and preparation as specialist researchers in Physiology, a fundamental science in the area of health, whose advances are the basis for the development of other biomedical fields. Given the nature of experimental science, throughout the programme students will acquire the necessary skills and abilities to master information sources, both traditional and using new technologies, to apply the scientific method and the necessary experimental techniques, to analyse the research results obtained and present them verbally and in writing. They will also acquire a critical mindset to assess their results and other authors’ outcomes.

Description: The Programme started in the academic year 1986-87, has a “quality mention” from the academic year 2004-2005 and nowadays is distinguished with a “mention towards excellence” by the Ministry for Education (from 2011-2012). The Programme responds to the increasing demand of students with interest in the carrying out of the Doctoral Thesis in a field of a great scientific relevance as is the case of Physiology. Those interested students can carry out their Doctoral Thesis in one of the research lines successfully developed in the Department of Physiology of the UV, offered by the research groups of the Department and whose prestige is well-known nationally and internationally, with the development of several projects with public and private funding. These lines cover an important part of the issues of greater impact of the current scientist bibliography, such as cardiovascular physiology, oxidative stress physiology and physiopathology in biomedicine, physiological effect of physical activity, the development of new therapies against cancer and the use of structured light and the analysis of image in biomedicine, among others. With this wide range of options, can be given a response to doctoral students’ initiative to carry out their research in a field of interest. Our students come from the degrees of Medicine, Veterinary, Odontology, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Podiatry, Speech Therapy, Physics, Pharmacy, Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Food Science and Technology, Physical Activity Sciences, as well as other related degrees, which reflect on the strategic importance of the Programme. With regard to employability, the graduates, with the training they have been provided, apart from achieving a doctoral degree, they can work in consolidated research groups. Moreover, they can work in the direction of research works, setting out issues open to request competitive projects in public and private calls. Students acquire researching skills which enable them to accede to work positions in Universities, highlighting that Physiology is present in several current degrees. Likewise, they can opt for work positions in Centres and Research institutions, as well as in private companies or other official Bodies in where a research activity related to the field of health is developed. In fact, there is a high number of graduates of this Programme who are developing their work, both in the UV and national or international universities and researching Centres.