55 Natural Sciences PhD Degree Programs

The Ph.D. School in Science and Technology of Materials (STM) aims to provide to MS graduates in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering the skills needed to carry out highly qualified scientific and professional research in the field of Materials Science at Universities and public or private agencies

The study program provides advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of computational mathematics, which deals with the solution of mathematical problems describing phenomena in natural, technical and social sciences. The study is focused on the understanding of problems in a wider context.

The subject of the study program within the concept of the complex biomedical fields is the issue of physical processes in a living organism, the influence of physical factors on living organisms, and the use of modern physical methods in biomedical fields. Biophysics, as an interdisciplinary field, offers doctoral (Ph.D.) study to university graduates of various specializations (medicine, natural sciences, mathematics, physics, etc.). The study program is carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Physiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

The doctoral study program is primarily designated for graduates of master study program Bioanalytical Healthcare – as the third stage of education following after the bachelor and master study, and also for graduates from study programs of natural sciences, pharmacy, medicine and related. It is a unique doctoral study, not established at other faculty or university (they have mostly bachelor and master levels only)

The PhD program in "Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics", based in Firenze, is managed by a Consortium among the University of Firenze, the University of Perugia and the Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica "F. Severi"-Rome (INdAM). This PhD program inherited the tradition of the pre-existing three separate PhD's in Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, and can rely upon the very many, and well established, scientific connections of the involved institutions with Universities and Research Centers in many Countries of the World. The relevant number of offered scholarships allows the achievement of a critical mass of PhD students and activities, which are fundamental for a doctorate with an interdisciplinary character.

The aim of the study is the preparation for highly qualified research work with deep theoretical and practical knowledge in xenobiochemistry and pathobiochemistry and good knowledge in other biochemical sciences and related sciences in the field of pharmacy, biology, and medicine. The core of the program is experimental laboratory work, the results of which are published and are included in the dissertation theses.

Computational linguistics is an interdisciplinary scientific field involving mathematics (including topics such as discrete mathematics, statistics, and probability), computer science (e.g. algorithmization, machine learning, artificial intelligence), and classical linguistics (e.g. morphology, syntax, language typology). Computational linguistics investigates language from a formal point of view, and it aims at developing methods that could be used in software applications in the field of Natural Language Processing, in which languages in their spoken or written form are handled. The program does not contain specializations.

The study field of mathematical analysis is focused on the study of basic and advanced parts of mathematical analysis. It is a subdiscipline of mathematics whose primary goal is the description of natural or social processes which involve a certain form of dynamic progress, mostly a motion or a change. The basic principles of mathematical analysis consist of all forms of limiting processes. The top education in mathematical analysis consists of the ability to solve differential equations of all types.

Longevity Studies enables a better understanding of the interfaces and challenges of prolongation of human life (longevity). It fosters further understanding and finding of appropriate answers and solutions of theoretical, applied, and ethical contexts of longevity. It reflects not only current demographic changes of population (such as gerontology), but also reflects the fact that nowadays people with severe disabilities, chronic illnesses and impairment live longer than ever before, and also that some other specific groups of our population have needs related to longevity. Longevity Studies offers an integrated study on the boarder of humanities, social, biomedical, and other mainly applied sciences. The course responds to needs of specialist analyses and solutions to problems related to longevity and demographic changes in society and in various fields of human life and activity. The PhD Longevity studies produces highly skilled and knowledgeable specialists in research, expertise, and transference of knowledge into practice. On the scientific level they are able to tackle problems related to the longevity of human life. They are aware, and able to use relevant scientific methods, to coordinate interdisciplinary teams. And furthermore, able to publish both scientific publications and materials for decision making at all levels and problems related to longevity.

The aim of the Study Program is to provide a comprehensive view of substances of natural origin as sources of pharmaceuticals (from used and potential curative sources) in human therapy and nutraceuticals - substances derived from food sources or new sources of raw materials used in nutrition. The dominant area is the information on obtaining active substances (isolation, biotechnology, semi-synthetic pathway), methods of isolation from biological material, including solution of structure, mechanisms of biological activity in vitro, screening methodology for individual types of biological effects, and development of analytical methods for monitoring substances in the natural matrix from the therapeutic, tissue-protection and, to a certain extent, even toxicological point of view. The aim of these studies is to find out the possibilities of their use as phytopharmaceuticals, food supplements, and novel foods for the normalization of human physiological processes for the strengthening of health and prevention of chronic diseases together with the use of nutrigenomic phenomena that can be used in the administration of products in terms of interaction with food and pharmaceuticals (from the point of view of clinical pharmacy) and to influence the course of diseases.

Postgraduate study in Bioorganic Chemistry serves for the education of chemical experts with an emphasis on the structure and functions of small organic molecules in living organisms and on the possibility of influencing biological processes in these organisms through the action of such molecules. The program is thus directed towards the study of all aspects of organic compounds, which are indispensable for the structure and functioning of living organisms. The broad spectrum of these compounds includes molecules with a building (primary metabolites) function, signaling function, activating or deactivating function in relationship to strategic proteins within the living organisms, and also compounds, which are produced by these organisms (natural products, secondary metabolites, metabolites of xenobiotics). The study is founded on the structure and synthesis of organic compounds with a focus on natural products, heterocycles, and other organic compounds, which are capable of modulating biological processes. Elucidation of the function of such compounds as parts of biological structures as well as that of their influence on biological processes and the possibility to modify this influence through structural changes are no less important. Bioorganic Chemistry thus serves as a link between Organic Chemistry and biomedical disciplines and partially overlaps with Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry. Bioorganic Chemistry is, however, more general than the latter two programs, which are primarily focused on the study and development of drugs, ie. a more limited subgroup of biologically active compounds.

The study program Medical Biophysics is an interdisciplinary branch of science that employs virtually all biological fields and is focused on scientific study and independent research activities in interdisciplinary settings, from natural science up to clinical medical work. This branch of science originated from the need to separate medical applications observing interactions of physical fields and radiation with a living organism from the bulk of technological and biological disciplines. The goal of the study of Medical Biophysics is understanding basic biological processes for development in innovative methods and/or devices for clinical application in diagnosis and therapy. Doctorands, further to their Master's education, are recruited for scientific and research projects at the training institutions and motivated by their Supervising Tutors to solve scientific and research problems of their own. In keeping with the recent developments, the program Medical Biophysics is also focused on the interconnection of the studies with the needs of clinical practice. The program is carried out without any specialization.

The study program focuses on the physical nature of a wide range of atmospheric phenomena and processes, which, however, also have interdisciplinary applications in atmospheric chemistry, oceanology, physical geography, environmental sciences, etc. It is a unique program at Charles University that provides a comprehensive view of the dynamic system of the Earth's atmosphere in a broad interdisciplinary context. Even within the Czech Republic, it is the only program offering education in atmospheric physics, meteorology, and climatology. From a methodological point of view, a wide range of theoretical, experimental, and computational physics applications are used interactively and complementarily. The program does not contain specializations.

Homologous and heterogeneous gene expression and its regulation, gene manipulation industrial strain of microorganisms, degree of ribosomal biosynthesis of proteins. Influence of application spheres of medicine (hereditary and infectious diseases, vaccines, new drugs), agriculture (transgenic organisms, and plant and animal breeding), ecology, and biotechnology. The study program is carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. This program of study is offered without any specialization.

The study program is focused on the problems of didactics of physics and general problems of physics. It stems from scientific disciplines such as physics, didactics of physics, pedagogy, and psychology. The main goal is to provide students with a complex overview of the didactics of physics, teach them independent scientific practice in this field and allow for a deeper understanding of some parts of physics. This program naturally follows the master’s program Physics Education for Secondary Schools which, out of the whole Charles University, can be studied solely at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. It is therefore natural that this faculty also has a doctorate program focused on didactics of physics and general problems of physics. This study program is unique by being the only one at our university to offer doctorate-level studies in the field of didactics of physics.

Pharmacology and toxicology are sciences that study the mechanisms of mutual interactions of substances and medicinal preparations with biologic systems and observe their both favorable and adverse impact on the organism. The final goal is the use of this knowledge in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human and veterinary conditions. A great advantage of the study of pharmacology and toxicology is the close interconnection of the theoretic field with all clinical specialties that perform therapy, prevention, and diagnosis. The study program in Pharmacology and Toxicology is therefore suitable not only for those interested in experimental research but also for those seeking their prospective careers in clinical work. The main bias of the study program, nevertheless, is experimental, at both the pre-clinical and clinical levels. The goal of the doctoral program Pharmacology and Toxicology is to train specialists with deep knowledge in the areas of clinical as well experimental pharmacology and toxicology. This envelops knowledge of wide areas of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, effects, and toxicity of medications, including the knowledge of properties of particular forms of medicinal preparations. The program is carried out without any specialization.