Nutritional and Metabolic Sciences

In the light of the conclusions of recent research nutrition and metabolism are recently getting more and more attention from both public and scientific world. This study programme is a logical result of growing scientific interest in this area as well as a continuation of the pre-gradual programme of the faculty.
The aim of the doctoral programme Nutritional and Metabolic Sciences is to prepare professionals with deep knowledge of nutrition and metabolism. The students of this programme must acquire detailed knowledge of broad areas of clinical nutrition, dietetics, metabolism, physiological and patophysiological effects of nutrients as well as their properties.

Study obligations
During the first three years of studies the student completes at least three optional study subjects + English language course or he/she can hand in an international English language certificate.

The student can choose from the following optional subjects:

B90226 Basic genetic for medicine, genetic predispositions and gene-environment interactions for Ph.D. programs
B90227 Aplicated Dietology for GIT Diseases
B90228 Research out of the lab for Ph.D. programs
B90229 Clinical Osteology with an aspect on scientific nutrition
B90235 Statistics, Quantitative and Qualitative Research
B90236 Scientic principles of enteral and Parenteral Nutrition
B90237 Intensive metabolic care department
B90238 Using of plants in the Science and Toxicology
B90239 Overview of Clinical Dietology and Nutrition
B90240 Psychology, Psychiatry and Communication in Nutrition with an appeal to nutrition issues
B90241 Applied principles in gerontology and geriatrics
B90242 Interaction of Drugs and Food for Ph.D. Programs
B90243 Intervention of metabolic diseases in practice
B90244 Clinical seminar 1
B90245 Clinical seminar 2

Following the agreement with the Supervising Tutor, the student can select a course from other PhD. programmes at Charles University, if it relates to the studied topic.

The defence of the dissertation thesis is the culmination of the fulfillment of all study obligations. The student submits the bound dissertation thesis together with the research three months before the defence. During the defence the applicant shall present his/her topic in a 15 minutes long speech to the Field Board. Subsequently the Board will ask questions and then in a closed session the Board shall evaluate the course of the defence and announce to the student whether he/she has completed all the study obligations and succesfuly defended his/her thesis.

Requirements on creative activities
The applicant shall submit an annotation of the topic of his/her dissertation thesis, which will be realized during the studies. It is assumed that the planned project will be consulted with the Supervising Tutor or consultant. The project should be in line with the focus of the Field Board. The project should be realized at one of the following departments: 3rd Internal Clinic of the 1st Faculty of Medcine Charles University, other clinical or theoretical departments of the Charles University, departments related to the field, especially departments of the members of the Field Board or the partner of the study programme (Institute of Physiology CAS). During the doctoral studies the applicant shall work on his/her project.

Requirements on placements taken
Part of the study obligations is taking a placement (study stay or traineeship) at an institution abroad or – following the agreement with the Supervising Tutor – at an excellent home department. Traineeships at clinical departments are considered as optional subjects.

Other study obligations
The specific content of doctoral studies is determined for each applicant by the individualized curriculum (ISP).
• Active participation in one conference abroad and one Czech conference and/or an equivalent of active participation in two Czech conferences (with oral presentations) and one poster presentation in Czech conference.
• One original publication in internationally respected professional scientific journal with the total impact factor at least 0,5, the applicant should be shown as the first author.
• One publication in internationally respected professional scientific journal, where the applicant is co-author.
• Grant activities: Student participates in the resaerch grant activity of the department or partner department or he/she submits one grant application to the internal grant agency of the Charles University, grant agency of the Czech Republic, grant agency of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic or other (foreign) grant agency dedicated to research (if approved by the Supervising Tutor); student is the researcher.

Suggested topics of dissertation thesis
1. History of Nutrition
2. Genetic aspects of glucose metabolism
3. Emerging risk factors for atherosclerosis
4. New dietary interventions in selected GIT diseases
5. Possibilities of influencing the prevalence of osteoporosis in risk population
6. Nutrigenomics in clinical correlates
7. Nutrienetics in clinical correlates
8. Micro & Macronutrients in health and disease
9. Nutrient sensing mechanisms and pathways
10. Experimental research on obesity and associated disorders of metabolism
11. Preclinical animal models of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
12. Nutrigenomics and other -omics techniques in nutritional science
13. Nutrition, energy balance and thermogenic mechanisms
14. Perinatal programming of obesity by nutritional and other environmental factors

State doctoral examination
The prerequisites and the content of the state doctoral examination are set in the Code of Study and EXamination of Charles University.
The prerequisities are: completion of the courses, English language exam, at least one original publication and one active participation in scientific conference (poster presentation, oral presentation).
State doctoral examination consists of sole part which has the following topic areas: