After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Formulate research questions and hypothesis to be tested.
• Design and conduct pilot testing of an experiment.
• Apply selected neuroscience methods.
• Correctly interpret collected data.
• Publish the results of his/her work in prestigious international scholarly journals.
• Present his/her findings at international scientific events.
• Produce a high-quality grant application.

Graduates of the programme can work in neuroscience research labs and clinical facilities that participate in research projects.

The study programme is offered in full-time and combined (part-time) mode and the standard length of the studies is 4 years (8 semesters).

To be admitted to the programme, applicants must:

- Have a Master’s degree in fields related to neuroscience research (such as general medicine, biology, applied physics, applied mathematics, applied informatics, cybernetics, biomedical engineering, etc.).

- Pass an entrance examination.

- Obtain approval for their doctoral thesis.

Study schedule:

The board for doctoral studies in Neuroscience leaves it up to the students and their supervisors to choose from among the required courses based on general recommendations for PhD students. Students choose courses that correspond with their doctoral thesis topic.

Courses

Required courses common to all PhD students:

English (DSAJz01)

Selective courses common to all PhD students:

Data Analysis for Neuroscience (DSAN01)

Acquisition of Scientific Information (DSVIz01)

Ethics of Biomedical Research (DSETz01)

Elective courses common to all PhD students:

Molecular Biology and Genetics (DSMBz01)

New Trends in Pathophysiology (DSNTz01)

New Trends in Medical Immunology (DSTIz01)

Rhetoric. Standards of Interpersonal Communication. (DSREz01)

Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials (DSAM051)

Clinical Data Analysis (DSAK051)

Computer Network User (DSUP031)

Selective specialized courses (= Professional Training I–VIII):

Neuroanatomy

Neurophysiology

Neuropsychology and Experimental Psychology

Neuropsychopharmacology

Pathophysiology of the nervous system

Neurology

Psychiatry

Behavioural pharmacology

Animal Models of CNS Disorders

General Psychology

Processing and Analysis of Signals and Images

Computational Neuroscience

Supervisors of elective neuroscience courses:

Neuroanatomy: Professor Dubový

Neurophysiology: dr. Roman, PhD

Neuropsychology and Experimental Psychology: Professor Urbánek

Neuropsychopharmacology: Professor Sulcová

Pathophysiology of the nervous system: Professor Rektor

Neurology: Professor Bednařík

Psychiatry: Professor Cešková

Behavioural pharmacology: Professor Sulcová

Animal Models of CNS Disorders: Professor Sulcová

General Psychology: doc. Tyrlík

Processing and Analysis of Signals and Images: Professor Jan, Ing. Jurák

Computational Neuroscience: Ing. Mikl, PhD

Syllabuses, requirements, and recommended literature are available from course supervisors.

As an essential part of the Neuroscience doctoral degree programme, students regularly work in research laboratories on their own research projects.

As a part of the Neuroscience doctoral degree programme, students have to complete an English course and at least 4 courses from among the selective courses (at least two from among the common selective courses and one from among the specialized courses). The courses are completed with an exam or non-graded credit based on the decision of the programme supervisor.

Other requirements:

- Teaching undergraduate students (in accordance with the Faculty of Medicine study regulations).

- Active participation in scientific events in the Czech Republic and abroad, including presentation of own research findings.

- It is recommended that students complete at least one internship abroad (at least 1 month).

- Publications in international scholarly journals with an impact factor.

- Submission and defence of a doctoral thesis. The presentation of the doctoral thesis should include a detailed list of all the published papers, including the impact factors of the journals.

Doctoral state examination:

- Required knowledge of neuroscience.

- Detailed knowledge of the specific area based on the doctoral thesis topic.

Before defending the doctoral dissertation, students must publish at least THREE papers in international journals with a minimum impact factor of 1 (at least two of them must be first-author papers and at least one of these must be original work).