Life as chemical reactions

Degree programme objectives

The goal of studies is to prepare highly-qualified specialists for further working in the field of biochemistry. The student will get necessary theoretical background and skills to realize his/her own research project in a research group under the guidance of a supervisor. Modern instrumentation and experienced personnel at the Department of Biochemistry create unique opportunities for student to be involved in numerous research activities concerning metabolic and regulatory processes in bacteria, fungi and higher plants as well as various biochemical aspects of human pathogenesis. The research covers a wide spectrum of biological levels from whole organisms to tissues, cells and individual proteins. The palette of possibilities is broadened through long-term cooperation with several research institutions at home and abroad. Biochemistry is marked by its open and interdisciplinary character, the classical biochemical approaches being frequently combined with methodology from other disciplines such as microbiology, molecular biology, informatics, and biophysics. This increases graduates’ adaptability and their ability to apply acquired skills in working life.

Study plans

Admission Procedures
Admission to Doctoral degree programmes in 2025/2026 (beginning: Autumn 2025)
Submission deadline until midnight 30/4/2025

  • Information on entrance examinations designed for this degree programme
    Průběh přijímacího řízení
    K doktorskému studiu biochemie jsou přijímáni absolventi magisterského vysokoškolského studia stejného nebo příbuzného oboru. Předchozí praxe není podmínkou přijetí. Uchazeč by měl na základě diplomové práce případně vlastních publikací prokázat předpoklady tvořivé práce v oboru. Kromě toho by měl mít aktivní znalosti z biochemie obecné (struktura a metabolismus sacharidů, lipidů, bílkovin a nukleových kyselin) a rovněž preparativní a analytické (postupy izolace bílkovin, enzymů, nukleových kyselin a nízkomolekulárních látek, základní principy a aplikace metod optických, chromatografických, elektromigračních, elektrochemických a imunochemických). Požaduje se schopnost komunikace v anglickém jazyce na úrovni překladu populárně naučného článku z angličtiny do češtiny, napsání krátkého anglického souhrnu a obecné diskuse na témata související zejména s vlastním životopisem, vysokými školami a výzkumnou činností. Součástí přijímacího řízení je navržení školitele (ze seznamu odborníků předem schválených vědeckou radou PřF a jmenovaných děkanem) a rámcového studijního plánu.

    Termín přijímací zkoušky
    Pozvánka k přijímací zkoušce je uchazeči zpřístupněna nejméně 10 dní před termínem konání zkoušky přes e-přihlášku. Vždy prosím kontrolujte své e-maily, včetně složky spam.

    Podmínky přijetí
    Kandidáti jsou bodově hodnoceni podle svých znalostí biochemie (maximum 200 bodů) a anglického jazyka (maximum 100 bodů). Do seznamu navržených k přijetí jsou zařazeni ti, kteří získali alespoň 120 bodů v odborné části a 60 bodů v jazykové části zkoušky.
    Úspěšný uchazeč je informován o přijetí v e-přihlášce a následně obdrží pozvánku k zápisu.

    Kapacita programu
    Kapacita daného programu není pevně stanovena, studenti jsou přijímáni na základě rozhodnutí oborové rady po posouzení jejich předpokladů ke studiu a motivace.

Studies

  • Objectives
    The goal of studies is to prepare highly-qualified specialists for further working in the field of biochemistry. The student will get necessary theoretical background and skills to realize his/her own research project in a research group under the guidance of a supervisor. Modern instrumentation and experienced personnel at the Department of Biochemistry create unique opportunities for student to be involved in numerous research activities concerning metabolic and regulatory processes in bacteria, fungi and higher plants as well as various biochemical aspects of human pathogenesis. The research covers a wide spectrum of biological levels from whole organisms to tissues, cells and individual proteins. The palette of possibilities is broadened through long-term cooperation with several research institutions at home and abroad. Biochemistry is marked by its open and interdisciplinary character, the classical biochemical approaches being frequently combined with methodology from other disciplines such as microbiology, molecular biology, informatics, and biophysics. This increases graduates’ adaptability and their ability to apply acquired skills in working life.
  • Learning Outcomes

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

    • autonomously plan and conduct research projects with appropriate methodology and research techniques
    • prepare and publish an original scientific article
    • present and defend the results of his/her research at an international scientific forum
    • use broader theoretical and practical knowledge of biochemistry
    • critically evaluate and appropriately employ the newest thematic and methodological development in the field
    • understand and communicate in professional English
    • gain experience in international cooperation
    • transfer the knowledge and skills to other persons by their teaching
    • demonstrate transferable skills such as team building, leadership and communication, project management

  • Occupational Profiles of Graduates
    Graduates a doctoral degree program may continue their academic career at universities and research institutions both in the Czech Republic and abroad. They will be qualified for team member and leadership positions in scientific research and development at private firms and biochemical laboratories at a broad range of institutions specializing in human or veterinary medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and biotechnology. The professional specialization of the graduates is also compatible with further work in the field of environmental protection and with environmental movements and initiatives.
  • Goals of Theses
    The thesis is a compulsory part of the education for doctoral studies the purpose of which is to demonstrate the students' ability to make an original contribution to the empirical or theoretical research. It can be written in Czech, Slovak or English language.

    The thesis must contain new research findings which the student has uncovered independently or in cooperation with others and which have been published or accepted for publication in internationally recognised scientific journal(s) with peer review. The minimum requirement is one research paper published in a journal from the first or second quartile (Q1 or Q2) of impact factor according to ISI Web of Knowledge. A possible but not preferred alternative are two thematically related papers published in less ranked journals (Q3 or Q4). However, this option requires prior consultation and approval by the doctoral board.

    The PhD student must be the first author of at least one original research article in a peer-reviewed journal. The publication with joint first authorship counts for one divided by the number of first authors (i.e., in case of two first authors it counts for 1/2 publication and so on). This means that one publication with co-first author is not enough to meet the first authorship requirement.

    The thesis can either be written as a monograph or as a compilation thesis including scientific articles. A monograph is typically 80-100 pages long (without counting the list of references) with standard formatting (Times New Roman size 12 point or equivalent, 1.5 line spacing) and consists of the parts Title page, Acknowledgement (optional), Abstract, Introduction, Literature review, Aims, Material and Methods , Results, Discussion, Conclusion and References, followed by a list of the student's papers and conference presentations. It does not contain the copies of the papers which are delivered separately by the student. A compilation thesis should, apart from separate papers attached as appendices, include a text of about 30-50 pages divided into before mentioned sections. The Material and Methods section can be restricted to a short list of techniques used. In the Results section all the details of publications need not be repeated, but instead it is to emphasize the main findings of the student. The discussion should bring out the general importance of new findings and put them in context of current knowledge in the field. If the attached publications are the work of several authors, the student’s independent role in these must be proven by including a statement in which a student's contribution to each publication is defined and confirmed by the supervisor.

Basic information

Abbreviation
D-BCH_
Type
doctoral degree programme
Degree
Ph.D.
Length of studies
4 years
Language of instruction
Czech Czech

32
number of active students
30
number of theses/dissertations

Faculty of Science
Programme guaranteed by
In cooperation with
The Czech Academy of Sciences
Biofyzikální ústav AV ČR
Programme guarantor