Manual host for new doctoral students

1.2 Presentation of the Department
The Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB) was created by resolution of the University Senate of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, on 2 April 2001 to integrate the faculty of the School of Agriculture of Barcelona (ESAB) from Consortium Industrial School of Barcelona, attached to the UPC. The constitution of DEAB took place in 2003. The DEAB has a structure and internal organization governed by the rules of the department approved by the University Senate of the UPC on 19 July 2013.

The DEAB has 17 areas of knowledge recognized: Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Botany, Ecology, Economics, Sociology and Agricultural Policy, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Engineering, Physiology, Plant Physiology, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Nutrition and Food Science, Animal Husbandry, Vegetable Production, Food Technology, Zoology. 

The staff of DEAB, in the academic year 2019-2020, is comprised by 110 members, 90 Teaching and Research Staff (56 PhD's), 7 Researchers in training and 13 Administration and Services Staff. In the directory of the Department's website you can find the professional address and how to contact with all its members

The Management team of the Department is composed by: 

Director: José M. Gil
Academic Secretary: Ingrid Masaló
Subdirector for Infrastuctures and Research: M. Isabel Achaerandio
Administrative: Montserrat Mariné

The headquarter of the department is located at the Edifici D4, Campus Baix Llobregat UPC. 
The DEAB gives teaching first cycle and postgraduate studies. 

The bachelor’s degree studies are taught in Biosystems and Agri-Food Engineering in the specialties of Culinary and Gastronomic Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Food Engineering, Agronomic Science Engineering and Landscape Architecture, and in Applied Science in the specialty of Marine Sciences and Technologies, and collaborates in the degrees of Biomedical Engineering and Aerospace Systems Engineering.

Postgraduate studies began the 2001-02 academic year with the Doctoral Programme Agri-Food Biotechnology and Sustainability. The 2008-09 academic year, with the adaptation of the EHEA, the structure has changed and also the name, nowadays Agri-Food Technology and Biotechnology. In the academic year 2006-07, and for the first time, concret themselves the specific configuration of the new university in the EHEA, with the launch of the official master in various graduate programs. Teaching is currently taught in the university master's programs of:

• Biosystems and Agri-Food Engineering: Master's degree in Agricultural Engineering, in Aquaculture, and in Enabling Technologies for the Food and Bioprocessing Industry (KET4FOOD+BIO).

• Architecture, Urbanism and Building Construction:Master's degree in Landscape Architecture.

• Environment, Sustainability and Natural Resources: Master's degree in Environmental Engineering.

• ERASMUS Mundus Master’s Programme in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy Analysis (AFEPA).

• Specific degree UB-UPC: Sensory Sciences in Food
The research of the DEAB is channeled through Recognized Research Groups, coordinated by members of the DEAB, and by participation in other Recognized Research Groups and Research Centers:

a) Research Groups DEAB:

• GINEMQUAL - Integrated Management of Nematodes, Phytoparasites and Effects on Harvesting Performance and Quality.

• SPAq - Aquaculture Production Systems

• UMA - Agricultural Machinery Unit

b) Other Groups and Research Centers with the participation of DEAB members::

• CREDA (UPC-IRTA) - Centre for Agrifood Economics and Development. Its aims is to promote research and providing technical assistance in the areas of economics and social sciences applied to food industry.

• FMA - Miquel Agustí Foundation. Has as main objective research for the conservation, improvement and promotion of  the traditional agricultural varieties of high organoleptic value from Catalonia.

• BIOCOM-SC - Computational Biology and Complex Systems Group

• TECTEX - Textile Technology Research Group

• Research Group in Malherbology and Plant Ecology (UdL)

• TERRA - Technology, Environment and Resource Recovery for Agriculture (IRTA)

The Department also participates in the governing bodies of the entities linked to the UPC:

• Board of Trustees of the CREDA and the Miquel Agustí Foundation

Likewise, it also collaborates with other coordination and orientation entities of agri-food research:

• Triptolemos Fundation: your aim is the development and promotion of agri-food activities to facilitate the compliance about the objectives of man food rights (FAO Barcelona Declaration 1992).

• XRAq (Xarxa de Referència en Aqüicultura): Network formed by UB, UAB, UPC, IRTA and CSIC, with the aim of carrying out high level research and development in aquaculture.