Study programme

Experimental and Molecular Biology

Interested in the nature of life? Do you enjoy discovering previously unknown biological patterns? Do you enjoy experimental work in the laboratory with microbes, plants, animals or human cells? We offer you a unique Bachelor's degree programme. You will gain a solid foundation in all the important biological disciplines and learn to investigate different forms of living organisms using molecular biology and other experimental approaches.

This programme offers 6 specializations. You choose the one that is most interesting to you when you apply, in which you can indicate up to 3 preferred specialisations. From the beginning of your studies, you can be sure that you will be able to pursue what really interests you in biology.

Language of instruction is Czech.

Programme specialization

• Cell biology (CZE)
• Human biology (CZE)
• Experimental plant biology (CZE)
• Experimental animal biology and immunology (CZE)
• Microbiology (CZE)
• Molecular biology and genetics (ENG)

Molecular and Cell Biology

Molecular and Cell Biology represents the specific field of study providing basis for all other disciplines of modern biology. The aim of this programme is to offer the Master education to English-speaking students who completed the Bachelor studies in Biology in various profilations. The study allows to understand unifying features and connections among different phenomena in biology.

The study programme is composed to explain principles of molecular and cell biology using various model systems - in microorganisms as well as plant/animal/human cells. The graduates should be able to extend the studies for postgraduate (PhD.) level as well as get a job in basic or applied research institutes or clinical laboratories.

Language of instruction is ENGLISH. Tuition fee is €3,000 / academic year.

Bioanalytical Laboratory Diagnostics in Medicine - Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics

Study programme Bioanalytical laboratory diagnostics in medicine - medical genetics and molecular diagnostics  is a professionally oriented master's program focused on the training of university-educated non-medical healthcare workers intended for work in healthcare laboratories.

The master's degree directly follows the bachelor's programme Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics taught at the Faculty of Science of the MU and includes specialized lectures, practical exercises and professional experience with an emphasis on the application of genetic, genomic and molecular biological methods used in clinical laboratories.

Follow-up Master's degree in full-time form. The language of instruction is Czech.

Cell Biology

The Master's degree programme in Cell Biology offers to the students an advanced knowledge of life processes in eukaryotic organisms at the cellular level. With regard to the direct continuity, this programme is primarily intended for graduates of the Bachelor's degree programme in Experimental and Molecular Biology, specialization Cell Biology.

Graduates of this program will gain a comprehensive understanding of important biological phenomena and processes such as cell architecture and cell-cell interactions, cell cycle and cell division, cell signaling and cell-to-cell communication, cell movement, cell differentiation, cell pathology, and cell death. The consequences of these processes at the tissue and organism levels are also emphasized.

You will acquire your practical knowledge in the exercises that are an integral part of many courses in the curriculum. However, you will be further involved in research, laboratory and clinical practice especially during your diploma thesis work, either in one of the research teams directly involved in teaching or in a collaborating external research institution.

Experimental Animal Biology and Immunology

The mission of the master's degree in Experimental Animal Biology and Immunology is to educate and prepare professionals to work in laboratories and institutions that require the standards of international excellence in laboratory work on animal models from the cellular and molecular level to the level of whole organisms and applicable to humans.

The programme comprises three related research areas methodologically covering a significant part of today's key biomedical topics. These areas, forming the three specialisations of the programme, are: Physiology, Immunology and Developmental biology. General courses connect previous knowledge of the functions of the organism at all its levels. Specialised courses then direct you according to the specialization and laboratory, where you decide for a diploma project. It has the character of finding a solution to the scientific problem and completes the preparation for a research career.

You will learn to know the principles of cellular, physiological, embryological and immune procedures, orient yourself in pathologies and their causes in animals, including humans, and to orient independently in scientific research information. You will be able to critically evaluate the relevance of information resources and take an opinion on published research. You will be able to use modern laboratory equipment, apply the right methodological procedures from contemporary biomedical practice and creatively perform research and development activities in various areas of experimental biology. You will also learn about the management of research project teams. You will also communicate in English and present your results at a high level.

Methodologically, all specialisations share an emphasis on the use of molecular genetic methods, which are an essential standard for any cutting-edge, complex field.

Follow-up Master's degree in full-time form. The language of instruction is Czech.

Experimental Plant Biology

The aim of study in this programme is to deepen the knowledge in plant biology acquired in the bachelor's degree. It consist of lectures and exercises from plant cytology, anatomy and morphology. These disciplines deal with the internal structure and external formation of plants and explain the causes of their differences. This basis is followed by exercises and lectures on plant physiology, which studies such significant processes such as photosynthesis, breathing, mineral nutrition, plant water operation, growth, development and irritability. Together with ecophysiology and production biology, they form the basis of teaching special physiological disciplines.

In particular, emphasis is on practical knowledge and skills in experimental work. These acquired skills increase the attractiveness of graduates' employment, especially in research and control organisations, and private companies focused on plant research, e.a. in institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, departmental institutes of the Ministry of Agriculture and other facilities, such as environmental protection organisations.

Follow-up Master's degree in full-time form. The language of instruction is Czech.

Human Biology

The aim of the study program Human Biology is to create an experimental study course that will educate specialists able to apply methodology used in biology and chemistry, with a special focus on methods of genetics and molecular biology in the research of the human population, both recent and historical.

Specialists will be trained to work in a molecular biology lab, they will have extensive knowledge of human anatomy and classical biological anthropology on the level of both the recent and the historical population. At the same time, they would be able to combine the knowledge of the latest laboratory methods at the molecular level and the classical anthropological approach and would be able to capture the whole human being from the molecular level.

Follow-up Master's degree in full-time form. The language of instruction is Czech.

Microbiology

The graduate of the Microbiolgy programme in the theoretical and practical terms masters the field of humane and veterinary microbiology, including epidemiology. More detailed information is also lectured in the field of ecology of microorganisms, the importance of microorganisms for the environment and their use in biotechnologies and bioremediations. The range of information and experience gained gives sufficient warranty for considerable adaptability of the graduate in various areas of general and applied microbiology.

The Section of Microbiology has been focusing on the study of strictly anaerobic microorganisms in recent years, contributing to the uniqueness of its research laboratories within the universities in the Czech Republic. Students are led to independent and creative thinking, diligence, responsibility, respect for moral values, teamwork and solidarity. Students will learn how to systematically work with informations, how to design and perform experiments, interpret their own results correctly, critically draw conclusions, and present them to experts in this field, but also to the general public.

Graduates of this programme  find good use especially in laboratories in healthcare, food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, institutes of the Czech Academy of Science, in the laboratories of agricultural companies and environmental companies, or even at various levels of the Ministry of the Environment.

Follow-up Master's degree in full-time form. The language of instruction is Czech.

Molecular Biology and Genetics

The programme provides a comprehensive education in the field of molecular biology and genetics. It emphasizes the importance and possibilities of using molecular biological approaches for contemporary biology and medicine. In particular, students extend their knowledge of molecular biology of prokaryotes, eukaryotes, viruses, plant genetics, animal genetics and human genetics.

During the Master's degree, significant transferable experience as well as very specific theoretical and practical expertise are gained by students during the two-year master's thesis, which includes work with specialized information (searching, sorting, preparation of expert text) and extensive experimental activities, adoption of specific methodologies, evaluation, critical discussion and presentation of results. At regular seminars during their studies graduates acquire the skills of professional discussion and communication, presentation of their work and critical thinking.

Graduates of this programme would work primarily in basic and applied research focused on genome analysis, bioinformatics (including aspects of evolution), in the field of molecular medicine (cancer, hereditary disease, gene therapy, microorganism/plant/animal gene engineering), new biotechnologies, in pharmacogenomics and in analysis of the proteoms of individual groups of organisms, including humans. 

The graduates find good use especially at the institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, laboratories and departmental research institutes, especially in the fields of health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, pharmacy, environmental protection and commercial diagnostic and forensic laboratories. Graduates are thus able to independently conduct research and development activities in various fields of experimental biology, including conducting research project teams.

Follow-up Master's degree in full-time form. The language of instruction is Czech.

Animal Physiology, Immunology and Developmental Biology

The PhD program Animal Physiology, Immunology and Developmental Biology is focused on the study of current problems of modern biology. The research is conducted both on models of whole animal organisms and on the cellular level where techniques of molecular biology are employed. 

The aim of the Animal Physiology, Immunology and Developmental Biology PhD programme is to prepare the PhD students for independent scientific career and to equip them with the knowledge and skills required for work in a wide spectrum of institutions on the international level.

Graduates are prepared for a career in both research- and application-oriented institutions. The wide spectrum of themes resolved in co-operation with a number of training institutions outside the Faculty provides the graduates with the possibility of finding vacancies both in the top-ranking biomedical research and at the associated clinical institutions of human medicine.

The institution caters for research topics ranging from veterinary to biomedical applications and further to general issues of basic research. The problems represented include especially those of cell signalling, which are crucial for the understanding of the processes that control the embryonic development, differentiation of tissues and their regeneration, as well as processes of carcinogenesis or immunity regulations. The program integrates methodological approaches of molecular biology, molecular embryology and cell biology with morphological and behavioural approaches.

Students are motivated by the high professional quality of research in an open and friendly environment. The performance of individual students is appreciated both financially and, for example, through participation in prestigious international conferences.

You can find out more about the doctoral programme of Animal Physiology, Immunology and Developmental Biology on the website of Section of Animal Pysiology and Immunology.

See our PhD graduates

Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics

The aim of the program is to provide excellent scientific education in the field of molecular and cell biology and genetics. The graduates thus should be proficient to accomplish research of the nature of living phenomena on molecular, cellular, tissue and organismal levels. To achieve this aim, students are systematically guided to advance their theoretical knowledge in the field and master practical skills in modern methods of molecular and cellular biology, genetics and other related fields.

The main research topics include the 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 on plants is concentrated mainly on the study of genes of model plants and plants used in agriculture. In animals and humans, research is focused on the genetical structure of populations, molecular diagnosis of prenatal and postnatal pathogenic situations, genetics of tumours, the study of signalling processes connected with the regulation of proliferation, differentiation and programmed cell death in tumour cells and detection of genetical factors associated with certain polygenic diseases.

Students are free to perform independent research in well-equipped laboratories under the guidiance of experienced supervisors. Students are continuously confronted with progress in the field by discussions in regular laboratory meetings, institutional seminars or conferences. Successful conference presentations or published articles are awarded by a special stipend.

Microbiology

The programme’s goal is to develop students into top specialists in microbiology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Graduates should be ready to take on further scientific careers in academic institutions, but also for possible employment in health care or veterinary facilities, in food, chemical or pharmaceutical industry and in biotechnology companies with their own research facilities, and as specialist lecturers.

The program actively supports its graduates in pursuing their scientific careers even further by encouraging long-term stays in post-graduate positions abroad.

The individual laboratories of the Microbiology programme cover the following research areas in which doctoral students are also trained:

Taxonomy and diversity of microorganisms

• Antibiotic rezistance of prokaryotes
• Food-safety and fast proof of pathogens
• Emerging viral infections
• Polyphasic classification of prokaryotes
• Synthetic biology
• Methanogenic archaea

The link between programmes is shared technologies, joint workshops, specialized seminars and conferences. Students are motivated by the high professional quality of research in a competitive, yet collaboration-friendly environment. The performance of individual students is recognized not only financially, but also, for example, by participating in prestigious conferences.

Plant Anatomy and Physiology

The aim of the programme is to prepare top scientists in the fields of contemporary physiology and experimental biology of plants. Graduates of this study should be prepared primarily for further scientific careers in research and academic institutions, but also for potential applications in the commercial sector with a research or application potential in the field of plant science.

The programme aims on the detailed study of plants, their structure and their functions with regard to physiological processes and their regulation. Topics within this program are focused on different levels, ranging from the internal structure and function of plant cells and their organelles, tissues and organs to individuals and their populations. In terms of functional processes, the topics focus on the transformation of external sources of matter and energy in metabolic processes (especially photosynthesis and transpiration), the intake and management of nutrients, growth and development processes, stress and ecological physiology of plants, including interactions with mycorrhizal plants and the reaction of plants to an extreme or toxic environment.

The aim of the program and the topics studied is to elucidate the physiological mechanisms of plant behaviour as a whole and interdisciplinary analysis using the knowledge and procedures of related disciplines, especially biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology and genetics and 'omics disciplines including modern biotechnologies. The research results obtained during the DSP program are mainly used for causal analysis and quantification of physiological processes occurring in both natural and man-affected systems from cell level to ecosystem.