We would like to inform you that PhD Retreat 2023 will take place on 6. - 8. 11. in Telč (https://www.uct.muni.cz/).

The format of the students´ presentations will be as follows:

• 1^st year of study: PhD project introduction, 5 mins
• 2^nd year of study: not presenting (will present in February 2024 on PhD Workshop)
• 3^rd year of study: PhD project update, 15 mins presentation + 10 mins discussion
• 4^th year of study: „chalk talk“ – 15 mins to introduce your project just with a blackboard and a pen, introduce the main idea, methodology and results
• 5^th+ year of study: „fun/love/hate talk“ – 10 mins, share your experience with PhD study; what has PhD study given to you? what obstacles have you overcome? what would have you done differently? what would be your message?

For PhD students:
Your attendance is obligatory. In case you are unable to attend, please send an email to bryja@sci.muni.cz and lus@sci.muni.cz in copy with an explanation.
For students of 3^rd and 4^th years of study: Please discuss witrh your supervisor and consider how you want to finish your PhD studies. See important section “Revision of graduation requirements” below. There will be a place for discussion on this topic at the PhD Retreat.

For PhD supervisors and members of the PhD committee:
We cordially invite you to join the PhD Retreat! It would be great if you could join the discussions and give students also your feedback.
If you plan to join, please let us know by 17. 9. so that we can count on you.

More detailed information will follow in September.

Photos from PhD Retreat 2022:

As a reaction to recent changes in publication practice and increased importance of multidisciplinary works and methodological specializations, the APIDB Doctoral Board agreed on revision of graduation requirements regarding the publication achievements of PhD students.

From the point of view of publication outputs, the dissertation will be placed in one of three categories:

• Standard: There are no changes compared to the current practice. The minimum requirement remains one published first-author work plus at least one other co-authored work in Q1 and Q2 journals. We would like to draw attention to the whole academic discussion regarding publishing in journals with a low level of peer review and join the opinion of the deans of the faculties of natural sciences (in the appendix /in Czech only/).
• Scientifically ambitious: We define a scientifically ambitious dissertation as a work that has the ambition to be published in top journals with demanding (and often lengthy) peer review. We define the "top journals" as journals with IF>10 or as journals in the first decile according to WoS. For successful completion, it is necessary that the student is the first author of such a publication and at the time of the PhD defense the publication has been posted online as a pre-print (preferentially at bioRxiv) and that the publication has been submitted to „top journal“ and, importantly, has been sent our for external peer review by the editor of the journal.
• Methodological: We define a methodological dissertation as a situation where a student has demonstrably and innovatively contributed to the development of methodological, analytical or informatics procedures that were key to the interpretation and publication of the results of interdisciplinary studies. This is not a routine measurement or analysis. The student must demonstrate an innovative and essential contribution. The requirement for completion is a minimum of three co-authored publications in Q1 and Q2 journals. In this case, author's contribution must be clearly defined, must be essential for the whole interdisciplinary studies, and must correspond to a four-year study.

The presentation of the category will be a mandatory part of the dissertation. Please, read the detailed information in the download button below.

The student announces her/his choice and justification of the category during the presentation at the PhD retreat (in the 3rd or 4th year) or during the State Doctoral Exam (SDE; whichever occurs first). The choice of the category must be approved by the members of the APIDB Board (present either at the PhD Retreat or SDE). In case that the present APIDB Board members do not agree in consensus, the decision is passed to the complete APIDB Board that decideds by voting. During the PhD Retreat, we can discuss all questions that can relate to the selection of your dissertation category.

From September 2023, the amount of PhD scholarship granted to full-time doctoral study programme students will be increased by 25 %, from CZK 12,000 to CZK 15,000 per month. The amount is sent at the beginning of each month by a bank transfer to the student's account, which he/she has entered into the IS MUNI system.

Brno Ph.D. Talent 2023

Competition for the 1^st year doctoral students of four selected Brno universities. 25 researchers who will convince the expert committee of the uniqueness of their hitherto results and the qualities of the proposed scientific project can receive scholarships. The competition is in English.

Registration will be open in September 4 - 24, 2023.

We highly encourage all the eligible students to apply! The participation in this competition is not only a chance to increase your income and get recognition but also a chance to carefully think about your project in its beginning. Do not hesitate to participate in this competition, PhD students from OFIŽ are often successful:
2022: Miriam Sandanusová
2021: Petra Kompaníková, Daniela Kristeková, Daniela Rubanová
2020: Tomáš Gybel´
2019: Barbora Kvokačková

Vice-Rector's Award for Excellence in Doctoral Studies

We would like to inform you about the "Vice-Rector's Award for Excellence in Doctoral Studies" whose aim is to increase the number of doctoral students who complete their studies in the standard period of study, possibly extended by one year, with excellent results elaborated in their dissertation. The award should motivate both students and their supervisors to successfully complete their studies in the standard time while at the same time with excellent scientific results. The award also includes a financial reward of CZK 25,000 for both the student and his supervisor.

The nominations for this award are usually collected in September and they include the nominations of students who successfully defended their PhD thesis in the past year. Electronic nominations from faculties are collected by 30. 7. 2023.

Have a look at your colleagues from OFIŽ that received this award in 2020/2021.

Scholarship of the Dept. of Experimental Biology

Students who successfully complete their PhD study by the 9th semester may receive a scholarship of the Dept. of Experimental Biology 25 ths. CZK as another motivating factor to complete the study in the standard period of study.  To be given the scholarship, you need to apply for this stipend at the Dept. of Experimental Biology.

Email address @sci.muni.cz

When you become an employee of Masaryk University, you can get @sci.muni.cz email address and e-mail client in Office365. Your email post from IS will be then automatically transferred there.

Uniform visual style MUNI

We would like to remind you the uniform visual style of MUNI and inform you about templates that you can use for your presentations or posters.
Templates of all faculties or departments are available at: https://sablony.muni.cz/

We would like to point out especially to these templates:

• logo of Department of Experimental Biology
• materials for Faculty of Science (presentation templates, letterheads, ...)

Do you have any interesting photo from your research? Send it to us, please!

If you have any interesting photo/video from your research, please let us know! We will be happy to share it on OFIŽ webpage or use it in our propagation materials.

Please, send the photos/videos to lus@sci.muni.cz.