Branch programme/details

The program is carried out without any specialization.

The study program provides students with advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in the broad field of experimental plant biology, including plant molecular and cell biology, plant molecular genetics, developmental biology, plant anatomy and physiology, and plant ecological physiology. All areas of the field are aimed at studying the structure and life processes of plant cells and plants: their structure, function, metabolism, ontogeny and interactions with the environment. Students acquire practical experience in advanced methodological approaches of experimental plant biology, such as anatomical, physiological, molecular, microscopic, biochemical, biophysical and bioinformatic methods, as well as in their application to solve current problems in biological sciences and interdisciplinary studies. The program includes the acquisition of standard methods of scientific research in plant molecular biology, plant physiology and anatomy, and plant ecological physiology. The aim of the study is also to create conditions for student participation in international scientific collaboration and for acquisition of necessary communication and professional skills, especially in the form of scientific meetings and internships at foreign research institutions.

The entrance exam is one round and the interview will deal mainly with the dissertation plan and candidate’s knowledge in the given field of study.

The applicant must be capable of critical biological thinking, be able to formulate relevant questions and hypotheses, and critically evaluate results. At the same time, the candidate must demonstrate high motivation for scientific work, sufficient orientation in the field and knowledge of English. The entrance examination consists of two parts:
1) First, the candidate will present in English (without technical support) his/her research activities to date, including key outputs and placing the work in a broader context. The candidate will give an outline presentation of the pre-selected dissertation topic, including information on research funding opportunities (5-10 min. in total).
2) In the second follow-up part of the entrance examination, there will be a discussion of the topics presented and the committee will ask the candidate several questions to assess the candidate's broader orientation in the field of plant biology.

The examination is graded with a maximum of 100 points. The evaluation includes the quality of the dissertation project, its feasibility and the way of presentation.

Based on a written request submitted electronically together with the application, but no later than by 5th May 2024, the dean may permit that the entrance exam will take place via information and communication technology, but only for serious and documented reasons such as health or study abroad.

Admission to Doctoral studies is conditioned by successful completion of a Master's study programme.

Verification method:	entrance exam
Confirmation date (of entrance exam) from:	10.06.2024	Until:	21.06.2024
Alternative date (of entrance exam):	24.06.2024	Until:	28.06.2024

The entrance examination may be waived based on a request of a candidate who has been accepted for the STARS project in the given academic years.

The request must be submitted electronically by 5th May 2024.

The graduate has a deep knowledge of plant biology, from the level of molecular structure and life processes of the plant cell, through the structure, metabolism and ontogenesis of the entire plant, to plant interactions with the environment. The graduate knows modern methods in experimental plant biology and understands their principles. They are oriented in the broader context of the field, can independently analyze a complex scientific problem, propose procedures to solve it, cooperate on its solution and correctly evaluate, interpret, and present the results of experiments. The graduate can find work in basic and applied research in biological fields, especially plant-oriented ones, at scientific, academic, and commercial institutions at home and abroad.