PhD Theses

PhD title: From enzymes to reprogrammed bacteria using AI and CRISPR for sustainable PET recycling
Name of the PhD student: Paula Vidal Ramón
Director: Manuel Ferrer
Co-director: Rafael Bargiela
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Catalysis (ICP), CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias (Dept. Microbiología).
Date of defence: 22.05.2026.
Unesco code: 2302
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision

PhD title: Expanding the collection of biocatalysts: From natural enzymes to new artificial designs
Name of the PhD student: Laura Fernández-López
Director: Manuel Ferrer
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Catalysis (ICP), CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias (Dept. Biología Molecular).
Date of defence: 19.03.2023.
Unesco code: 2302
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision

PhD title: Bases estructurales de la especificidad de sustrato en éster-hidrolasas nativas y obtenidas por ingeniería supramolecular y de proteína.
Name of the PhD student: Isabel Cea Rama.
Director: Julia Sanz
Codirector: Manuel Ferrer
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Physical-Chemistry Rocasolana (IQFR) and Institute of Catalysis (ICP), CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias (Dept. Biología Molecular).
Date of defence: 12.07.2022.
Unesco code: 2302.
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision

PhD title: Identification, prediction and engineering of industrially-relevant versatile enzymes. Taking advantage of biodiversity through metagenomics
Name of the PhD student: Cristina Coscolín Galán (MINECO-FPI).
Director: Manuel Ferrer
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Catalysis, CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias (Dept. Biología Molecular).
Date of defence: 07.02.2020.
Unesco code: 2302.
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision. Extraordinary Doctoral Thesis Award from the Autonomous University of Madrid.

PhD title: Efecto de la contaminación crónica, factores geoquímicos y bioestimulación en el catabolismo de hidrocarburos en ambientes marinos contaminados: una aproximación multi-ómica.
Name of the PhD student: Rafael Bargiela Bargiela.
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Catalysis, CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Biología (Dept. Microbiología).
Date of defence: 19.02.2016.
Unesco code: 2302.
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision. Extraordinary Doctoral Thesis Award from the Autonomous University of Madrid.

PhD title: Meta-genómica aplicada a estudios estructura-función en comunidades microbianas de diferentes sistemas acuáticos.
Name of the PhD student: María Alcaide López.
Director: Manuel Ferrer
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Catalysis, CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias (Dept. Biología Molecular).
Date of defence: 24.04.2015.
Unesco code: 2302.
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision.

PhD title: Aproximaciones metagenómicas para la identificación de glicosil hidrolasas (GH) de rumen bovino y lombriz de tierra Aporrectodea caliginosa: análisis funcional y estructural de R_02-15, una nueva GH de la familia 13 altamente promiscua y termo-sensible.
Name of the PhD student: Azam Ghazi
Director: Manuel Ferrer
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Catalysis, CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias (Dept. Biología Molecular).
Date of defence: 03.12.2010.
Unesco code: 2302.
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision.

PhD title: Metagenómica funcional para el estudio de mecanismos de diversificación enzimática y para la reconstrucción de reactomas microbianos.
Name of the PhD student: Ana Beloqui Elizazu (FPI-MEC).
Director: Manuel Ferrer
Name of the Centre where the training activity was carried out: Institute of Catalysis, CSIC.
University: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias (Dept. Biología Molecular).
Date of defence: 17.04.2009.
Unesco code: 2302.
Qualification: Outstanding Cum Laude by unanimous decision. Extraordinary Doctoral Thesis Award from the Autonomous University of Madrid.