Přehled
Taxonomy, phylogenetics, distribution, morphology of animals with special focus on individual groups invertebrates and vertebrates.
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:
- Cardiac regeneration in reptiles in phylogenesis and ontogenesis
- Color polymorphism in ship rats (Rattus rattus): behavior, ecology, and physiology
- Diversity and metabolic adaptations of endocommensal ciliates in the digestive tract of sea urchins (Echinoidea)
- Diversity of mitochondria and syntrophic symbioses in anaerobic ciliates of the class Litostomatea
- Early steps in insect evolution with modified postembryonic development in Eumetabola
- Effects of Affective Stimuli and Stress on Cognitive Processes and Behaviour
- Evolution and visual adaptation of the freshwater fishes in the Lake Titicaca
- Evolution of brain complexity and processing capacity in carnivores and artiodactyls
- Evolution of brain complexity and processing capacity in insectivores, bats and rodents
- Evolution of Melanism in Rodents
- Evolution, diversification pattern and process in mygalomorph spiders (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)
- Fish vision in the context of molecular evolution: deep-sea and other extremes
- From refugia to resilience: the adaptive legacy of post-glacial colonization
- Impact of infant’s odour on parental bonding and behaviour
- Mediterranean terrestrial gastropods as model organisms of island fragmentation due to Holocene ocean transgression
- Phylogeographic and systematic studies of molossid bats of the Old World
- Pollinators, pollen uptake and their influence on plant pollination through metabarcoding?
- Protists with an alternative nuclear genetic code and their evolution
- Reproductive division of labor in Xylocopinae bees
- Spatial Dynamics of Fusion Proteins Receptors in the Mammalian Oocyte Membrane: A Comparative and Evolutionary Perspective.
- The effect of body odor fluctuations across menstrual cycle in long-term couples
- The evolution of external genitalia structures and copulatory behaviour in Paleozoic insects
- The influence of pornography consumption on the formation of attitudes and behaviour in adolescents
Profile of the graduate
Graduates are experts in zoology. This encompasses a number of sub-disciplines ranging from protozoology, invertebrate zoology, entomology, vertebrate zoology and primatology and human studies. Methodologically, taxonomy, phylogenetics and evolutionary biology, population genetics and genomics, morphology and evo-devo, ethology and behavioural sciences, evolutionary psychology, ecology and conservation animal conservation. The competence of each graduate lies in some combination of methodological approaches and a focus on a particular group of animals. They have experience in project and grant application preparation and team management, presenting results, writing scientific papers, lecturing and international
scientific communication.
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) and no later than on 15. 12. 2025 for study programmes starting in the summer semester (April).
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 and before 30. 11. 2025 for study programmes starting in the summer 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 regular date of entrance exam for all doctoral programmes starting in the summer semester (April) is 4. – 5. 2. 2026, an alternative date is 11. – 12. 2. 2026.
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:
- Conditions of the admission procedure for doctoral study programmes at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, for study programmes starting in the winter semester (October)
or - Conditions of the admission procedure for doctoral study programmes at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, for study programmes starting in the summer semester (April).
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. Jakub Prokop, Ph.D.
jakub.prokop@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.
