Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics

Doctoral degree in full-time or combined form. The language of instruction is Czech.

The programme can be studied only as a single subject.

Application deadline depending on the admission procedure chosen (midnight 30 April 2025 or 15 December 2025)

What will you learn?

The program is product of fusion of former independent Molecular and Cellular Biology with General and Molecular Genetics. We propose the fusion to reflect modern holistic approaches dominating in both fields that converge them to close proximity and bringing benefits to both of them. The aim of the program is providing excellent scientific education in the field of molecular and cell biology and genetics. The graduates thus should be proficient to accomplish research of living phenomena on molecular, cellular, tissue or organismal levels. To achieve this aim, students are systematically guided to advance their theoretical knowledge in the field and master practical skills in applications of modern methods of molecular and cellular biology, genetics and other related fields. The key themes include study of genes and genomes and their expression in microorganisms, plants, animals and humans. Special attention is paid to their relations to pathological conditions. Research performed on microorganisms is focused preferentially on molecular diagnosis and genomics of selected pathogenic and clinically significant bacterial strains and their interactions with bacteriophages. Research of plants is concentrated mainly on genes of model plants and plants used in agriculture. In animals and humans, research is focused on genetical structure of populations, molecular diagnosis of prenatal and postnatal pathogenic situations, genetics of tumors, study of signalling processes connected with deregulation of proliferation, differentiation and programmed cell death in tumor cells and detection of genetical factors associated with certain polygenic diseases. Students are free to perform independent research in well-equipped laboratories and experienced supervisors are nominated to guide them in this effort. Students are continuously confronted with progress in the field by discussions in regular laboratory meetings, institutional seminars or conferences. Students successfully presenting their results in conferences or written articles can be awarded by special scholarships for excellent representation of the Deparmtent of Experimental Biology and following activities:

1. Successfull presentation record resulting from reaching aims of Ph.D. thesis projects, such as:

  • papers in international journals or chapters in monographies, considering ranking of the journal (IF, Q), placings of the student among co-authors, number of co-authors, proportion of the student efforts on the published results.
  • presentation of the results on conferencies, considering placings of the student amnog co-authors, number of co-authors, proportion of the student efforts on the published results and the type of the conference (international or domestic).

The scholarship can be used for partial covering of travel/accomodation expenses or conference fees.

The essential condition for awarding the scholarship is correct affiliation of the presentations (both papers and conference abstracts) to the Deparment of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University.

2. Participation in teaching younger students of Master programmes how to perform experimental methods and interprete the results obtained.

3. Participation in grant projects. Long-lasting participation and significant contribution to accomplishing the projects aims can be awarded by getting part-time job or contract for certain period.

“Windows of the living cell universe wide-opened.”

Practical training

The students who are interested in applied research can collaborate with companies as Repromeda (assisted reproduction), MB Pharma (devising phage preparations) or to participate in grant projects funded by TACR leading to applied outcomes. We aim to further support contractual research with applied potential, search for suitable partners and provide them with option to collaborate with students interested in this kind of research.

Further information

Additional information can be found in following addresses:

http://www.sci.muni.cz/cz/DoktorskeStudium/Prehled-programu-a-oboru

http://www.sci.muni.cz/cz/UEB

The Office for Doctoral Studies, Quality, Academic Affairs and Internationalization takes care of doctoral students SCI MU

https://www.sci.muni.cz/en/students/phd

On the department's website, you can find the following information:

  • Forms (application forms for state examinations and defences, various applications, etc. )
  • Legislation (links to: MU Study and Examination Regulations, Scholarship Regulations of MU, Terms of Scholarship Programmes of the Faculty of Science)
  • Dissertations (Guidelines for dissertations, templates)
  • Manuals (guidelines for Individual Study Plans, study and research obligations in DSP, etc.)
  • Doctoral study programmes (recommended study plans, examination committees, overview of accredited programmes)
  • Deadlines for the doctoral state examinations and defences
  • Enrolment (information needed for the enrolment to the next semester)
  • Graduation

but also office hours, contacts, news, information on skills development and scholarships.

Detailed information on stays abroad can be found on this website:

https://www.sci.muni.cz/en/students/phd/develop-your-skills/stay-abroad

Career opportunities

Graduates find positions in various research institutes, universities, hospitals and other medical facilities and laboratories oriented to virology, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, pathology, etc. They are ready to perform independent research, draft scientific projects, create grant applications, design experimental work itself, interprete results rigorously and present them in oral as well as written forms. They are also educated to act as teachers. Graduates from this program are sought-after by employers and many of them currently work on positions of leading researchers, university teachers, top managers and directors in various research and education institutions in Brno, Prague, Ostrava, České Budějovice, Olomouc, etc. Many graduates leaves for postdoctoral stays abroad, especially to west-european countries, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia. They often become highly-appreciated members of research teams there.

Admission requirements

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

Admission procedure
The admission procedure takes place in the form of an oral entrance examination (usually in an online form), which has two parts:
1) Expert interview – the committee examines the applicant's professional competence and motivation on the basis of his/her CV, motivation letter and letter of recommendation, submitted by the applicant together with the application form. During the interview candidates present their PhD research project including methodology, and expected outputs in the presence of the supervisor. The committee also evaluates the candidate's knowledge of molecular and cell biology and genetics, with an emphasis on the area of planned research and his/her ability to put the findings into a general context (maximum 100 points).
2) Language part – the committee evaluates the candidate's ability to present and discuss his/her previous/current scientific (diploma) work and the concept of the planned PhD research in English. (max. 100 points).

More information about admission process for international applicants in general can be found here.

Date of the entrance exam
The applicants will receive information about the entrance exam by e-mail usually at least 10 days before the exam.
Please, always check your e-mails, including spam folders.

Conditions of admission
To be admitted, a candidate must obtain a total of 70 out of 100 points in the expert knowledge part and 60 out of 100 points in the language part.
Successful applicants are informed of their acceptance by e-mail and subsequently receive an invitation to the enrolment.

Programme capacity
The capacity of a given programme is not fixed; students are admitted based on a decision by the Doctoral Board after assessing their aptitude for study and motivation.

International applicants for doctoral study (Czech and Slovak Republics applicants NOT included)
— Submission deadline until midnight 15 Dec 2025

Admission procedure
The admission interview is usually in an online form and consists of two parts:
1) Expert interview – the committee examines the applicant's professional competence and motivation on the basis of his/her CV, motivation letter and letter of recommendation, submitted by the applicant together with the application form. During the interview candidates present their PhD research project including methodology, and expected outputs in the presence of the supervisor. The committee also evaluates the candidate's knowledge of molecular and cell biology and genetics, with an emphasis on the area of planned research and his/her ability to put the findings into a general context (maximum 100 points),
2) Language part – the committee evaluates the candidate's ability to present and discuss his/her previous/current scientific (diploma) work and the concept of the planned PhD research in English. (max. 100 points).

More information about admission process for international applicants in general can be found in the section Admission Process.

Date of the entrance exam
The applicants will receive information about the entrance exam by e-mail usually at least 10 days before the exam.
Please, always check your e-mails, including spam folders.

Conditions of admission
To be admitted, a candidate must obtain a total of 70 out of 100 points in the expert knowledge part and 60 out of 100 points in the language part.
Successful applicants are informed of their acceptance by e-mail and subsequently receive an invitation to the enrolment.

Programme capacity
The capacity of a given programme is not fixed; students are admitted based on a decision by the Doctoral Board after assessing their aptitude for study and motivation.

Deadlines

1 Jan – 30 Apr 2025

Submit your application during this period

Admission to Doctoral degree programmes in 2025/2026 (beginning: Autumn 2025)

2 Jan – 15 Dec 2025

Submit your application during this period

International applicants for doctoral study (Czech and Slovak Republics applicants NOT included)

Dissertation topics

Single-subject studies

Changes in control of cell cycle and chromosome segregation in mammalian eraly embryo
Supervisor: doc. MVDr. Martin Anger, CSc.

Časný embryonální vývoj savců se vyznačuje zvýšeným výskytem poruch, vedoucích k jeho předčasnému ukončení. Tento problém ovlivňuje jak přirozený vývoj, kde zapříčiňuje snížení fertility, tak i umělé oplodnění, kde dochází ke ztrátám cenných buněk. Nejčastěji se poruchy týkají dělení chromosomů a souvisí se sestavením dělícího aparátu a s regulací buněčného cyklu. Z vývojového hlediska se toto období vyznačuje rychlými změnami v chování a aktivitě buněk, z nichž některé jsou zatím velmi málo prozkoumány. Projekt bude tedy zaměřen na objasnění kontrolních mechanismů časného vývoje, zejména regulace buněčného cyklu a dělení chromozomů, a na objasnění jejich role během poruch vývoje. V laboratoři budou využity techniky mikroinjekce, mikromanipulace, konfokální časosběrné mikroskopie a také analýza transkriptomu a proteomu buněk.



 

Early embryonic development in mammals is characterized by high incidence of errors, which leads into its premature termination. That makes it a problem during natural conception, causing subfertility, as well as during artificial reproduction, causing loss of valuable cells and embryos. The most common causes are those related to chromosome segregation, and they are associated with errors in cell cycle and spindle apparatus regulatory mechanisms. This period of development is characterized by rapid changes in cellular behavior, some of which are still not understood well. The project will be aimed on elucidation of fundamental control mechanisms of early development, especially those concerning cell cycle regulation and control of chromosome segregation, and also on the link between these mechanisms and failure of development. Techniques, such as micromanipulation, microinjection, time lapse microscopy and functional microscopy will be utilized for the project.

Notes

Laboratoř: Výzkumný ústav veterinárního lékařství, v.v.i.

Supervisor

doc. MVDr. Martin Anger, CSc.

Pokročilé modely neuroblastomu pro identifikaci nových léčiv
Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Jan Škoda, Ph.D.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and remains a major therapeutic challenge. Despite intensive multimodal therapies, about half of the high-risk neuroblastoma patients eventually die from the disease, highlighting the urgent need for more predictive preclinical models to support the identification of novel and clinically effective therapeutics. This PhD project aims to utilize and refine advanced in vitro and in vivo models of neuroblastoma to improve drug discovery and validation. Specifically, the work will focus on 3D tumor spheroid cultures, which better replicate the architecture and heterogeneity of pediatric solid tumors compared to conventional 2D models. Complementary in vivo models will be used to assess therapeutic responses in a systemic and physiologically relevant context. These models will be applied to test therapeutic approaches that act on mitochondrial synthetic lethality (Borankova et al., Cell Death Dis. 2023) or additional targets identified by our group (Kameneva et al., Nat Commun. 2022). The overall goal is to establish a robust platform that bridges the gap between preclinical and clinical neuroblastoma research, ultimately facilitating the discovery of more effective and clinically relevant therapies for high-risk neuroblastoma.
Notes

Funding:
AZV ČR, funds by the Department of Experimental Biology (Laboratory of Tumor Biology) and by the International Clinical Research Center (Laboratory Oncology Translational Research). The candidate will have a 0,5 FTE covered by the grant/institutional support + scholarship + will have full support in applying for other sources of funding (Brno PhD talent, travel grants, individual research projects, etc.). The candidate will have the opportunity to present their results at various international conferences and will be supported in undertaking a short-term research stay abroad at relevant institutions, including collaborating groups at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Cambridge, DKFZ, University College Dublin or the Medical University of Vienna.

Information about Supervisor:
Assoc. Prof. Jan Škoda, Ph.D. is a cancer biologist with extensive expertise in pediatric cancer research and a long-standing focus on identifying molecular targets and therapeutic strategies to eliminate therapy-resistant cells in aggressive childhood tumors. He has published 28 articles on this topic, and his research has attracted 34.5M CZK in competitive research grants (2x AZV, 2x GAČR, ECR Kickstart Grant). The supervisor has gained international research experience at excellent institutions (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Sydney) and established additional productive international collaborations across Europe (Karolinska Institutet, DKFZ, The University of Cambridge, TU Dresden, etc.). He currently leads the Laboratory of Tumor Biology and the Laboratory Oncology Translation Research groups at the Department of Experimental Biology (Faculty of Science, Masaryk University) and the International Clinical Research Center (St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno), respectively. He has been supervising/mentoring 4 PhD, 5 Master’s, and 5 Bachelor’s students, several of them awarded for their research, e.g., 3x Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Master’s & Bachelor’s Students, or Brno Ph.D. Talent Scholarship. The supervisor fosters a collaborative and supportive team environment, working closely with PhD students to support their career development – graduates have been highly competitive on the job market, securing research positions in R&D companies and prestigious institutions such as Karolinska Institutet.

Supervisor

doc. RNDr. Jan Škoda, Ph.D.

Supervisors

Study information

Provided by Faculty of Science
Type of studies Doctoral
Mode full-time Yes
combined Yes
distance No
Study options single-subject studies Yes
single-subject studies with specialization No
major/minor studies No
Standard length of studies 4 years
Language of instruction Czech
Collaborating institutions
  • The Czech Academy of Sciences
  • Biofyzikální ústav AV ČR
Doctoral board and doctoral committees

Do you have any questions?
Send us an e-mail to

prof. Mgr. Petr Beneš, Ph.D.

Consultant

e‑mail:

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