Přehled
This program deals with the study of biological functions of animal and human organisms. Thanks to the wide range of possibilities modern experimental methods of molecular biology, chemistry, physics and some special physiological techniques, cellular, organ and organismal aspects.
Start of studies in the winter semester (October)
Opening of applications and publication of the dissertation topics: 15. 2. 2026
Application by: 30. 4. 2026
Detailed information about the study programme
Offer of dissertation topics:
- Biochemical Regulation of Human Milk Composition in Gestational Diabetes
- Biomaterial strategies for bridging spinal cord lesions and promoting nerve tissue regeneration
- Cell-Type Specific Role of the mTOR Signaling Pathway in Astrocytes and NG2 Glia during Central Nervous System Injury and Regeneration
- Deciphering Lipid Metabolism in Cancer: Integrative Approaches in Metabolomics, Fluxomics, and Metabolic Engineering
- Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the potential beneficial effects of GPCR signaling modulation in glioblastoma therapy
- From neurons to behavior: mechanisms of cognitive deficits in animal models of brain disorders
- Impact of gestational diabetes management strategies on breast milk composition and early neonatal metabolic health
- Impairment of learning and processing of complex associations in a model of psychosis – neurophysiological and behavioral study in rats with acute exposition to dizocilpine
- Mechanisms of neuropathic pain
- Mechanobiological determinants of mitotic spindle positioning
- Mini-plectin–based gene therapy for muscle and cardiac disease
- Molecular mechanisms of cellular senescence-associated cardiovascular and renal diseases in hypertensive rats.
- Muscle non‑shivering thermogenesis enhances metabolic flexibility and protects against obesity
- Novel approaches to study the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
- Polymeric nanoparticles as a model system for targeted drug delivery and imaging of nervous tissue
- Rare disease-associated variants in NMDAR genes: impact on synaptic transmission and plasticity.
- Redox mechanisms of insulin secretion
- Secretory function of epicardial adipose tissue and its role in development of atrial fibrillations
- Sexual differences in protective effects of gliflozins
- Study of the effect of opioids on astrocyte mitochondria in a model of oxygen/glucose deprivation.
- Studying the role of antioxidant dipeptides in stem cell metabolism
- The effect of cold on cardiac contractile function in rodents
- The effect of selectd galectins and their inhibitors on vascular wall remodeling in pulmonary hypertension.
- The impact of biologically relevant lighting on development, sensory integrity, and behavioural responses in laboratory rats: a comparison with conventional lighting conditions.
- The role of Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons in neuropathic pain.
- The role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α on the progression of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
- The role of inhibitory interneurons in the prefrontal cortex in the development of cognitive and affective deficits in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders
- The role of mTOR signaling in cardiometabolic diseases
- The role of neuroinflammation in mechanisms of pain.
- TRAK1 and TRAK2 adaptor proteins in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders
- Vasculature Studies in Pancreatic Islets
Profile of the graduate
Animal physiology graduate has advanced knowledge of animal and human biology, including a thorough knowledge of body structure and functions. He/she is familiar with integrative physiological functions of the whole organism and their regulations as well as with the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying complex physiological processes. He/she also has a good undestanding of related disciplines such as cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxikology and imunology. He/she is familiarized with physiological research methods and is capable of implementing them in biomedical sphere. His/her ability of abstract and creative thinking can be used in both basic or applied research at universities, in scientific institutes and biotechnological centres as well as in medical institutions and pharmaceutical industry.
Application submission
The application is submitted electronically through the Charles University study information system. The completed application must be submitted electronically in the study information system no later than on 30. 4. 2026 for study programmes starting in the winter semester (October).
The admission fee is 100 EUR and it is paid for each submitted application.
Required application appendice is the agreement of a supervisor in the format of the following form available here. We recommend reaching out to the supervisor as soon as possible (ideally before 31. 3. 2026 for study programmes starting in the winter semester), so the application could be send out in time in case the agreement is granted.
Entrance exam
The regular date of entrance exam for all doctoral programmes starting in the winter semester (October) is in June 2026 (to be specified), an alternative date is in June 2026 (to be specified).
The request for an alternative day is submitted and approved via the electronic information system.
The form of the entrance exam is an oral interview, which mainly concerns the issues of the planned dissertation and the candidate’s knowledge within the field of expertise of the given study programme.
Find more information in:
Important links
Applicants with specific needs
If you have a physical handicap, you can apply for a modification of the entrance exam. For more information read the Conditions of the admission procedure for doctoral study programmes.
Departments involved in this programme
Guarantor of the study programme
doc. RNDr. Jiří Novotný, DSc.
jiri.novotny@natur.cuni.cz
Do you have a question?
Complete information about the admission procedure can be found on the website for applicants. For questions, please contact the admissions contact persons.
