LF DBIMO Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Name in Czech: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
doctoral combined specialized, language of instruction: English English
Included in the programme: LF D-BIOM_A Biomedical Sciences

Final state doctoral examination and defence of the doctoral thesis

The state doctoral examination takes place within the PhD conference of Biomedical Sciences. As part of the state doctoral examination, third-year students present the results of their dissertation in the context of biomedical sciences in a 20-minute presentation. The presentation is followed by a discussion including questions specific to the project itself as well as theoretical questions linked to the specialization and focus of the research.
Standard defense of the dissertation requires unconditional fulfillment of all criteria, including publication activity;
During the defense, the student presents his dissertation theses in a 15-minute presentation, followed by the presentation of the opponent's reports and the student's response to the questions of the opponents. Next follows the public discussion and the non-public voting of the Board of Directors;
The only exception is the possibility of admitting a PhD Candidate whose defense first article is at the time of the defense in a scientific journal just before submitting it to the review process or the review process (only applies to cases where the work of extraordinary importance and quality) Of course, the condition of other co-author articles or aggregate publications continues to apply.
Under these exceptional circumstances:
Mentors and trainers specialists (in the case of students with external trainers) will assess the quality of the dissertation and, if they find it exceptionally good with extraordinary potential, recommend the end of the study by the type of defense "viva voce" (hereinafter "viva").
As a rule, they are the articles of the 1st decil of the discipline or similarly high quality (carefully judged by the OR).
The form of defense is modified in that case. The PhD candidate presents the dissertation thesis 30 minutes instead of the standard 15 minutes and in another structure (more detailed methodology, negative data, emphasis on actual candidate's contribution, etc.).
There is a minimum of one-hour expert discussion, which will be attended by both opponents and mentors. Queries are given throughout the dissertation and very detailed, from methods to results. Discussion is not controlled and queries are made arbitrarily. Queries are not known in advance by the candidate (except the questions formulated in the written opinion). The defense is closed by a public discussion and a standard rating.
Emphasis is placed on verifying:
Methodological readiness;
Candidates' skills to design and perform experiments;
Candidates' ability to interpret the results and interpret them in context;
Intellectual and manual participation of experimental candidates;
Candidates' ability to express themselves both in word and in writing (publications);
Motivation of candidates for scientific work or other work in the field;
Overall readiness and maturity of candidates for continuing careers.
Opponents' testimonies in the case of viva type may be less extensive, basically only consensus to the "viva" defense and containing key queries. The report must state that most of the opponent's questions will be the content of the defense record and the overall assessment, ie that they recommend that they award PhD degrees or do not recommend following a successful defense. Other comments and questions on the PhD Candidate will be put on the spot and will not be known in advance. If the doctoral thesis does not recommend the defense, the proceedings are not started.
In the report the opponents express explicitly and very briefly to the topicality of the chosen topic whether the dissertation fulfilled the objective pursued, the chosen methods of processing, the results of the dissertation, indicating the new knowledge, the significance in the wider context and the further development of science, social practice or the further development of science.

Requirements of the study

The basis of the doctoral studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the MU is the procedural pursuit of preparation of the doctoral thesis in close and regular interaction with the tutor and supplemented by the faculty-wide applicable terms for completing the postgraduate studies.
Before the defence of the doctoral thesis is performed, the following conditions need to be met:
- fulfil the requirements of the given individual study plan
- complete at least 4 courses of a common basis
- complete at least 4 subject-area courses (within the competence of the doctoral board)
- meet the publication activity requirements at least in the specified range (see below)
- undergo an internship abroad (with the duration of at least one month)
- present original data at an international conference
- submit the doctoral thesis
- pass the final state doctoral examination
- acquire the total amount of 240 credits over the course of studies (in case the MU study and examination regulations change, the credit system may be bypassed at the discretion of the doctoral board).
The participation in teaching can then only reach the maximum of 150 hours/4 years
The common courses encompass the stated fields of scientific knowledge and capabilities. They can be completed as a part of the organised courses at the MU (with cooperation with CEITEC, Faculty of Science, etc.).
Every doctoral student enrolled at LF MU after 1 September 2023 is required to take an online course FR_p2023 FRESHERS: Skills for Research Careers.
Completion of the course DSEBRa Ethics of Biomedical Research is highly recommended for all Ph.D. candidates of the Faculty of Medicine.
THE FIELDS OF STUDY COURSES OF A COMMON BASIS:
1. Scientific Information, medicine based on evidence
2. Ethical and legal aspects of research
3. Organisation of research projects and clinical trials
4. Data analysis (e.g. the Analysis of Clinical Data courses)
5. Publication, presentation and grant-related skills
6. Computer Network User

CURRICULUM-SPECIFIC COURSES:
Mandatory course: Advances in Molecular Biology and Genetics (DSMBz01)
An indicative list of the elective courses: Data Analysis in Neuroscience; Life Science Seminar; Molecular Biology and Genetics; New Trends in Pathological Physiology; Planning, Organising, and Evaluating Clinical Studies; Advanced Methods of Data Analysis in Neuroscience; Rhetorics. The Culture of Interpersonal Communication, Trends in Medical Immunology, Gathering Scientific Information
THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING AN INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN CAN BE DESCRIBED BY THE FOLLOWING:
25 ECTS - THE SHARED COURSES OF THE FM MU
20 ECTS - CURRICULUM-SPECIFIC COURSES
195 ECTS - the doctoral (defence of the doctoral thesis + the final state doctoral examination), publication activities, internship abroad, attendance at an international conference, assistance in pedagogical acti

Proposal of dissertation topics and topics of defended dissertations

Bacteriocinogeny of yersiniae: molecular interactions of colicin FY with a susceptible bacterial cell

Comparative studies on Treponema pallidum: comparative genomics of yaws agents and phenomics
of BAC clones of syphilis agent
Archiv: http://is.muni.cz/th/q2g6j/

The role of growth factors in self-renewal and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells
Archiv: http://is.muni.cz/th/cix80/

Bacteriocinogeny of yersiniae: molecular interactions of colicin FY with a susceptible bacterial cell
Archiv: http://is.muni.cz/th/yw8iz/

Signalling pathways in cell fate specification of pluripotent stem cells
Archiv: http://is.muni.cz/th/s9dt9/

Recommended progress through the study plan

Warning:

The study plan does not contain any courses.