Immunology

Characteristics of the study programme

Immunology is a dynamically evolving discipline integrating the knowledge of molecular and cell biology, physiology, histology and functional morphology (in the context of evolution and ontogenesis) relevant to the immune system, self-defense unit composed of functionally interacting molecules, cells, and tissues involved in immune responses. Immunology outputs show a major impact in a multitude of biomedical fields today. Topics such as transplantation, allergy, immune deficiency, autoimmunity, immunosuppression, immunotherapy, or anti-tumor immunity are typical areas of interest to immunologists. Immunology covers all levels of biological knowledge from molecules (cytokines, immunoglobulins, receptors, signaling molecules), cells (a wide array of immunocompetent cells), whole organisms (having transgenic animal models in use and interaction with immune system is being investigated) and communities (evolution of immune mechanisms, e.g. frequencies of different alleles regulating the immune response within a population). Clinical immunology is an important emancipated immunology specialization, for which human immune system is the object of studies and understanding of the mechanism of its action leads to the development of potential therapeutic applications.

Admission procedure requirements specific to the study programme

The conditions and course of the admission procedure for the part-time form of study are the same as the conditions for the full-time form. 

We recommend to contact your potential supervisor in advance and consult the suitable form of preparation for the interview. Each study programme has its own specifics, so the supervisor can help you to prepare for the specialized entrance examination (the interview).

Topics of dissertation thesis

The SAB listed these topics as well as the topics below. The candidate chooses the preliminary topic individually and contacts a potential supervisor with whom they consult the chosen topic and agree on its more precise specification. In case of any ambiguity, we recommend contacting the chairman of the SAB. If necessary, she may recommend a consultation on the topic with another specialist according to the focus of the intended project.

If the candidate does not know which topic/supervisor to choose, he/she will contact the chairman of the SAB, with whom he/she will consult on a suitable topic and a potential supervisor.

This choice is preliminary, the admissions board may, after consultation with the candidate, nominate another supervisor.

Dissertation topics offered

Supervisors of the study programme

Each supervisor must be approved by the SAB. The criteria for admitting new supervisors are determined by the SAB. If the proposed supervisor has not yet been approved by the SAB, this must be done no later than the enrollment of the applicant in the study (provided that the applicant is accepted). You can find a list of supervisors approved by the SAB here. After clicking, the supervisor's workplace and contact information will be displayed.

Study requirements

Aim of the Study

The goal of the PhD program is to provide advanced education in immunology. Students are expected to acquire broad knowledge in the field, develop the ability to independently address scientific problems, and gain competence in experimental design and implementation. They should be trained in scientific writing and achieve a level of qualification that makes them competitive candidates for research, academic, and technological positions at the international level.

Study Objective 1

Students are required to complete a minimum of three study obligations (courses) during the initial three years of their program. When preparing the proposal of their Individual Study Plan (ISP) for approval by the Board of Immunology through the Charles University Study Information System (SIS), students should include two elective courses of their choice and the compulsory course "Discussion on the Doctoral Dissertation Topic".

Elective courses can be selected from the list below. Alternatively, students may choose other relevant courses depending on their research project, with consultation with the supervisor and approval by the program guarantor. Courses may only be included if the student has not previously completed them in other study programs.

Lectures:

MPGS0054 Strategy of Grant Application

MPGS0137 Advances in Immunology

MB151P146 Molecular Immunology

MB151P140E Functional Immunology

MB151P132 Immunology of Infectious Diseases

MB151P108 Clinical Cases in Immunology

MB151P107E Protein dynamics in development and cancer

MB150P90E Innate Immunity

MB150P14E Immunology

MB170P84 Evolutionary and Ecological Immunology

MB140P91 Molecular and Immunologic Mechanisms of Viral Pathogenesis

MB160P75E Parasite Immunology

MB151P80E Cytometry

MB151P129 Methods in Genomics

MB140P86 Methods of Functional Genomics

MB100P10 Biological Engineering - ImageJ Intensive course

MB100P01 Seeing is believing I - Everyday Microscopy for Biologists + MB100P02 Seeing is believing II - Advanced Microscopy for Everyone

MB151C05E Fluorescent histology

Advances in Molecular Biology and Genetics (IMG ASCR)   (https://pokroky.img.cas.cz) Advances in Molecular Biology and Genetics (IMG ASCR)

Courses:                                                                                                                                             

•          MB140C75E Fluorescence spectroscopy in biology

•          Transmision electron microscopy in life sciences (Ústav molekulární genetiky AV ČR, v. v. i.) https://www.img.cas.cz/2015/02/21825-transmission-electron-microscopy-i… (according to the information for the current academic year)

Discussion on the Doctoral Dissertation Topic

Discussion on the Doctoral Dissertation Topic (replacing the former state doctoral examination) represents, along with the annual ISP evaluation, a major checkpoint of doctoral studies. To be eligible to take the Discussion, students must first complete two elective courses. Students are required to take the course Discussion on the Doctoral Dissertation Topic no later than in the third year of study. The recommended timing is during the second semester of the second year or the first semester of the third year. Please note that failure to complete the Discussion by the end of the third year will result in a lower evaluation in the annual ISP assessment.

The Discussion verifies whether the student understands their dissertation project and demonstrates knowledge of the related scientific field.

The student must submit to the Board a written summary of the project current scientific results (2 pages, font size 11, line spacing 1.5), signed by both the student and the supervisor, at least 7 working days before the Discussion. The summary must include the following:

1. Project objectives (including any changes)
2. Results obtained to date
3. List of publications (if applicable)
4. Planned goals and approaches for future work

Failure to submit the summary on time will result in non-admission to the Discussion.

The Discussion consists of a 15-minute oral presentation of the PhD project, prepared in PowerPoint, followed by a discussion of approximately 45 minutes. The committee evaluates primarily the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge in immunology, with an emphasis on topics related to the dissertation project. Attendance of the supervisor or their representative is mandatory.

In the event of significant objections to the course of the discussion, the Board reserves the right to request a retake of the subject within a defined timeframe.

This new format of the state doctoral examination (SDZk) is available for students who began their studies before the 2025/2026 academic year. It is a voluntary option. Students who wish to pursue this new format must discuss their decision with their supervisor before applying for the examination. They must also inform the program guarantor and program secretary by email (@email).

Study Objective 2

Internships and Visits to Collaborating Laboratories

Students are required to either complete research or academic work at a foreign institution, or alternatively, actively engage in another form of international collaboration. This may include participation in international research projects, resulting in joint publications, or active participation at international conferences (e.g., oral or poster presentations).

A foreign research stay of at least three months is strongly recommended, ideally focusing on advanced methodologies or innovative experimental approaches and models, to enhance both scientific expertise and international networking.

Study Objective 3

Presentation of Results

Students are required to participate in the annual PhD Students' Conference, which is organized by the Board. They are also expected to contribute actively to the organization of the event. Each student is required to present their project results at least once during their studies.

The conference is attended by members of the Field Board and supervisors, and serves as a platform to discuss project results, methodological approaches, and topics of common interest. Active participation in international conferences, according to the focus and opportunities of the supervisor's team, is strongly encouraged.

Dissertation Thesis

The student must be the first author of at least one peer-reviewed publication indexed in Web of Science (WoS) (ideally with an Impact Factor above the median in the field).

A dissertation may be defended on the basis of a publication with shared first authorship, provided that this has been pre-approved by the Field Board.

In exceptional and justified cases, the Field Board may approve the defense of the dissertation without an accepted first-author publication. The request for such an exception must be submitted to the Board guarantor and include:

1. A recommendation letter from the supervisor
2. The student’s CV
3. Annual evaluations from the SIS system
4. A manuscript submitted to bioRxiv

The guarantor will present the request to the Board for individual assessment.

Dissertation Thesis Format

The dissertation should provide a concise, objective, and coherent presentation of the student's scientific results. It should allow reviewers and the defense committee to assess whether the candidate has achieved the theoretical knowledge and methodological skills required for independent research in the field.

The thesis should identify the scientific problem, highlight open questions, and present the student's independent interpretation and conclusions.

The thesis must include the following:

a) Abstract – summarizing project aims and results for a general audience (max. 500 words)

b) Introduction – concise overview of current knowledge relevant to the project (approx. 20 pages)

c) Methods and Results – detailed descriptions of methods and experimental results obtained by the student that are not part of published manuscripts; published or submitted papers should be included as appendices

d) Summary of the author’s contribution to the included publications

e) Discussion – independent interpretation of results and their significance, reflecting current knowledge at the time of submission; should include both supporting and contradictory literature (minimum 10 pages)

f) Summary – main findings summarized in about one page

g) Appendices – list of abbreviations, references, data repositories or websites (if applicable), and a statement detailing the author’s role in the included publications and manuscripts

h) Publications and submitted manuscripts containing the student’s results

Sections (a)–(f) must be written solely by the student and must not duplicate text from publications or other sources. Formatting of text, figures, tables, and supplementary data should follow the standards of a relevant scientific journal (e.g., the one in which the student’s article was published).

The SAB does not require a summary of the dissertation. The dissertation is submitted electronically via the IS only – no need to provide printed copies.

Profile of a graduate of the study programme

Our graduate has an excellent knowledge of modern immunology, ranging from theoretical molecular and cellular bases, through practical methodological aspects of experimental immunology, to the basics of clinical immunology. In addition to specialized knowledge of immunology in the strict sense, they also acquire good theoretical knowledge and basic practical experimental skills in related fields of molecular and cell biology, biochemistry and microbiology. After defending the dissertation, students are familiar with specialized experimental methods, tools for critical evaluation of literature and with general principles of ethics and scientific work soft skills. Graduates are able to solve both theoretical and practical problems they encounter in their research activities. 

Information about graduate employment

Graduates are mainly employed in scientific and teaching positions at domestic and foreign universities and scientific institutes engaged in basic and applied microbiological research or related fields, as well as in similarly focused research and technology centres. In the non-academic sphere, it is applied in applied research at development workplaces and corporate laboratories, for example in the following areas: biotechnological and pharmaceutical production, clinical microbiology – molecular and biochemical diagnostics of infectious diseases, food microbiology, bioremediation, water management.