Bioorganic Chemistry

1. General Information
2. Entrance Examination
3. Framework Study Plan
4. Human Resources
5. Research Groups

1. General Information

Study Program Characteristics

Postgraduate study in Bioorganic Chemistry serves for the education of chemical experts with 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 programme 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 with in 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 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 programmes, which are primarily focused on the study and development of drugs, ie. a more limited subgroup of biologically active compounds.       

Information on Graduate Employment

Graduate in Bioorganic Chemistry has mastered the principles of the chemical disciplines, and has a broad knowledge of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, focused on organic molecules which are essential for life and functioning of living organisms, are produced by these organisms or are capable of influencing biological processes inside them. He/she has basic understanding of the nature of the bioassays used to test the properties of organic compounds. He/she is capable of using chemical literature (primary and secondary sources), including search in computer databases, independent data collecting and their critical assessment. He/she is expert at chemical laboratory techniques (methodology of synthesis, detection, isolation and purification of compounds) and at instrumental methods for structure elucidation (IR, MS, NMR). The graduate is proficient at designing and evaluating the structures of compounds with potential influence on living organisms, and assessing the influence of structural changes on their biological and physical properties. He/she is able to plan the syntheses of such compounds, to critically evaluate existing/designed syntheses and to elucidate the structure of the compounds by instrumental analytical methods. He/she is capable of evaluating the latest findings in the field, putting his/her own results in their context and adapting to the latest trends in the field. He/she can independently publish his/her results in scientific journals, prepare presentations and participate in national and international conferences with English as the language of communication. The graduate is capable of communicating with experts in the related biomedical and medical disciplines.

He/she can be employed in academia, and in state and company laboratories dealing with organic compounds/products with defined, mainly biological, properties, ie. primarily in chemical and pharmaceutical industry.        

2. Entrance Examination

Framework Content of the Entrance Examination

Oral exam from the knowledge of chemistry and reactions of organic compounds.
English language exam for English language knowledge assessment (C1 at least).

Conditions of Admission

1. Admission to Doctoral studies is conditioned by successful completion of a Master's study programme.
2. Successful passed the entrance exam.

Additional Conditions for Bonus Points (e.g. Practice)

• Successfully completed (degree) university studies in pharmacy, science or chemical field (rated 2 points).
• Diploma thesis similar with respect to organic, bioorganic or pharmaceutical chemistry (rated 3 points).
• Indication of the supposed training center and the approval of a specific supervisor with the management of the planned doctoral project (rated max. 5 points).

Criteria for the Evaluation Exams

1. Professional knowledge level – reviewed on answers to questions stated in General content of entrance exam (max. up to 10 points).
2. Submitted doctoral project – evaluation of project complexity, modern methodological approaches to solution, and the continuity of the project on topics already discussed by the Subject Area Board (max. up to 10 points).

The minimum admission limit is 20 points.

The Dean decides to accept the applicant(s) who have fulfilled the conditions of the admission procedure and, according to the number of points achieved, ranked in the order corresponding to the predetermined number of accepted applicants for the particular program.

Dates

• deadlines and detailed information about the admission procedure
• currently announced dissertation themes

3. Framework Study Plan

Study obligations

The selection of compulsory subjects depends on the undergraduate programme completed. The graduates of a Master Programme in Pharmacy will register for the subjects Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Physical Methods of Organic Chemistry and Organic Synthesis. Furthermore, English language skills will be examined. The study is completed upon successful defence of the Dissertation Thesis and passing the State Doctoral Examination in the programme Bioorganic Chemistry.

The graduates of chemistry-biased master programmes completed at Natural Sciences/Chemical Technology Faculties will register for the subjects Selected Topics in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Physical Methods of Organic Chemistry and Organic Synthesis. Furthermore, the English language skills will be examined. The study is completed upon successful defence of the Dissertation Thesis and passing the State Doctoral Examination in the programme Bioorganic Chemistry.

Student may register for optional subjects according to his/her individual area of specialization.

Publication activity requirements

The topic of student’s experimental work is generally associated with his/her supervisor’s field of research and funding. An optimal study plan is composed as follows:

• 1^st Year: Literature search on the selected topic, commencement of experimental work (ideally in several potential directions), selection of the key direction of further research.
• 2^nd Year: Continuation of experimental work, completion of exams, conference attendance, courses and short-term fellowships elsewhere.
• 3^rd Year: Continuation of experimental work, preparation of publication(s), active conference attendances, State Doctoral Examination.
• 4^th Year: Completion of experimental work, publication(s), preparation and defence of the Dissertation Thesis.

Further requirements: A minimum of two publications in impacted journals with the participation of the student is required. He/she has to be the first author of at least one of them. Alternatively, one first author publication is satisfactory, supposed that the journal´s IF is higher than 5 and/or the journal falls within the first decile.

Requirements for completing internships

The Doctoral Study Plan presumes a fellowship at a foreign university for a minimal overall length of three months.

This requirement may also be satisfied by the participation in a foreign research project or by attendance at an important international conference in the field.

Other study obligations

A part of the Doctoral Study Plan is the presentation of the student´s scientific results at domestic and international conferences. In addition, the student can participate in undergraduate laboratory classes teaching.

Dissertation themes

• Examples of successfully defended dissertations
  • Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel Natural Product Derivatives
  • NMR Spectroscopy in Structure Elucidation of Isolated Alkaloids
  • Department of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry
  • Synthesis and evaluation of transdermal drug permeation enhancers
  • Study of barrier lipids in the skin and skin models
• Themes of defended dissertations - Thesis repository
• List of current doctoral dissertation themes

State Doctoral Examination

The State Doctoral Examination is focused on the evaluation of the student´s knowledge in the field of Organic chemistry (basic overview), Bioorganic chemistry (deep knowledge), and the skills and knowledge acquired in the specialized field of the Dissertation Thesis. The State Examination involves three, relatively independent parts, focused on:

• Organic Chemistry
• Bioorganic Chemistry
• Dissertation Thesis topic

4. Human Resources

Subject Area Board

Subject Area Board Chair and study program guarantor

• prof. RNDr. Milan Pour, Ph.D.

Members of Subject Area Board

• prof. PharmDr. Martin Doležal, Ph.D.
• prof. RNDr. Jan Hlaváč, Ph.D.
• prof. PharmDr. Alexandr Hrabálek, CSc.
• doc. PharmDr. Mgr. Martin Krátký, Ph.D.
• doc. PharmDr. Jiří Kuneš, CSc.
• prof. Dr., RNDr. Oldřich Lapčík
• prof. PharmDr. Kamil Musílek, Ph.D.
• doc. PharmDr. Jaroslav Roh, Ph.D.
• prof. Ing. Miloš Sedlák, DrSc.
• prof. PharmDr. Kateřina Vávrová, Ph.D.

Other members of the State Doctoral Examination and Dissertation Defense Committees other than the members of the Subject Are Board

• doc. Dipl.-Math. Erik Jurjen Duintjer Tebbens, Ph.D.
• Dr. rer. nat. Mgr. Ing. Tomáš Hodík
• PharmDr. Karel Palát, CSc.
• PharmDr. Marcel Špulák, Ph.D.
• prof. RNDr. Jarmila Vinšová, CSc.

5. Research Groups

Research groups lead by supervisors of doctoral study program Bioorganic Chemistry

Syntheses of potential drugs and study of relationships between their chemical structure, biological activity and toxicity

Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Group
Group leader: doc. PharmDr. Jaroslav Roh, Ph.D.

Development of new potential drugs with antimicrobial activity | Development of new antituberculosis drugs | Synthesis of dexrazoxane analogues and iron chelators

Skin Barrier Research Group
Group leader: prof. PharmDr. Kateřina Vávrová, Ph.D.

Synthetic Organic Chemistry and NMR Spectroscopy
Group leader: prof. RNDr. Milan Pour, Ph.D.

In silico models, statistics and other mathematical procedures for the pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences

Research Group of Mathematical Pharmacy
Group leader: doc. Dipl.-Math. Erik Jurjen Duintjer Tebbens, Ph.D.