Study at the Department

Ph.D. study programs

Physical Chemistry

(See the details on the official university web pages.)

Characteristics of the field

The Graduate Study is organized by the Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry in cooperation with a number of Institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (The Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Processes, etc.) and covers almost all fields of Physical Chemistry (including Biophysical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry of Polymers) and some disciplines of Chemical Physics. Due to the interdisciplinary character of the Department, there exist possibilities of combined graduate studies with biochemical, or macromolecular orientation, despite the fact that the Faculty of Science offers separate Graduate Studies both in Biochemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry.
According to the up-to-date trends in Physical Chemistry, the following fields in the Graduate Program have been developed, e.g.: (a) dynamics and kinetics of physical and chemical processes (the conformation and relaxation dynamics of molecules, clusters and macromolecules - studied both experimentally a by computer simulations, etc.), (b) statistical thermodynamics of low-molar-mass liquids and macromolecular assemblies (theoretical studies of the equilibrium phase behavior in combination with Monte Carlo simulations), (c) the up-to-date electromigration separation methods aimed to lifesciences (high-performance capillary electrophoretic techniques for separation of biologically important molecules like DNA and proteins, etc.), and (d) biophysical chemistry (the structure-function relationships of biological molecules and supramolecular structures). The graduate study in Chemical Physics is most focused on either (a) quantum chemistry (the accurate ab initio calculations of characteristics of small molecules, and the semiempirical calculations of properties of molecular assemblies and calculations of weak intermolecular interactions), or (b) spectroscopy (theoretical studies of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering and its application in the study of biologically active molecules, the time-resolved fluorometry studies of fast processes at the molecular level, etc.).
A great variety of other topics is available for students working partially at the Faculty and partially in various Institutes of the Academy of Sciences. The Graduate Program has been developed in cooperation with experts from the Academy of Sciences and the Prague Institute of Chemical Technology. To secure a successful professional career for the graduates, the offer of individual research topics reflects the recent trends in the free positions advertized by research institutions and chemical companies in the Czech Republic and in the European Community countries.

Specialized Lectures and Tutorials Offered

Quantum Chemistry
Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy
Molecular Spectroscopy
NMR Spectroscopy
Photochemistry
Chemical Thermodynamics
Statistical Thermodynamics
Statistical Thermodynamics of Liquids
Computer Simulations in Many-Particle Physics
Electromigration Separation Processes
Chemistry and Physics of Interfaces
Adsorption and Catalysis
Physical Chemistry of Polymers
Biophysical Chemistry
Photochemistry and Living Systems
Physical Chemistry of Colloids and Biopolymers
Numerical Methods in Physical Chemistry
Principles of the Computer Programming

Lectures from the graduate and undergraduate study programs of the Faculty of Science, other Faculties of the Charles University (Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Medical Faculty, etc.) and other Prague Universities (the Prague Institute of Chemical Technology, the Prague Technical University) may be chosen after the supervisor´s consultations with the Graduate Study Board.

Research Topics and Experimental Techniques Available at the Department

Quantum mechanics ab initio calculations.
The Structure and Dynamics of Polymer Systems and Polymer Colloids.
Electrophoretic Separation of DNA.
Electromigration Separation of Ions from Nuclear Vaste.
Capillary Electrochromatography in Polymer Solutions
Electrophoresis and Chromatography of Chiral Molecules.
Statistic Thermodynamic Studies of Liquids and Vapor Systems.
The Study of the Oxidative Stress by Experimental Techniques of Biophysical Chemistry.
Studies of Semiconducting Polymer Materials.
Steady-State and Sub-Nanosecond Time-Resolved Fluorometry.
The Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.
Monte Carlo Computer Simulations.

Subject-area Board

The subject-area board is available in Czech (Oborová rada). The Chairman is highlighted.

List of department Ph.D. programs

Physical Chemistry

A Ph.D. graduate in Physical Chemistry has basic knowledge covering all fields of chemistry, plus advanced knowledge of physical chemistry, computational chemistry, or both, as well as usually having good interdisciplinary knowledge oriented toward the fields of biology, physics, or nanoscience, according to his/her thesis. The graduate is able to present his/her results at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. Experience in teaching undergraduate students, the formulation of grant proposals. The graduate is highly qualified for creative work at any academic, research or technological laboratory dealing with the development, testing and application of new and traditional chemical and physical methods as well as with new materials.

Macromolecular Chemistry

A PhD. graduate has acquired advanced theoretical knowledge, practical skills and experience in the field of Macromolecular Chemistry. The graduate is able to formulate, plan and perform scientific tasks and critically evaluate and present their results. He/she has practical experience in organizing and funding research and teaching students. The graduate manages very well the modern methods of preparation of polymer materials, methods of their characterization and study and has interdisciplinary knowledge in advanced applications of polymer materials and can creatively use this knowledge and experience. The graduate is qualified for work in academic, scientific and scientific-educational institutions as well as research and development centres of companies engaged in the development and production of technologically advanced materials.

Modelling of Chemical Properties on Nano- and Biostructures

This Ph.D. program is an interdisciplinary study combining physical chemistry, biochemistry, and material science with the modern tools of molecular modelling. Graduates are able to solve problems in the structural and dynamical aspects of complex systems using state-of-the-art tools of computational chemistry; they are also capable of writing reports and papers in scientific journals. Graduates have presented their results at international conferences, and have experience with the preparation of grant proposals. They will be useful in various areas of science, including: materials engineering, pharmaceutical research, molecular biology, biotechnology and/or catalysis. Graduates will find positions in applied research both in the private sector and in academia.

MSc study programs

Physical chemistry

The graduate of the Physical Chemistry study program is equipped with theoretical knowledge and experimental skills covering all chemical fields and deep knowledge in the field of physical chemistry. He also has deeper knowledge in the field of physics, mathematics and computing. Because the methods of physical chemistry are an integral part of all chemical and related fields, graduates are offered a wide range of opportunities to work in scientific and working teams of universities, research and development institutes and production entities with chemical, biochemical, physical, biophysical, material, pharmacological and medical focus.

When enrolling in this study program, the applicant chooses one of three specializations: "Biophysical chemistry", "Physical chemistry" or "Modeling of chemical properties of nano- and biostructures".

Specialization "Biophysical Chemistry". This specialization is aimed at educating specialists in an interdisciplinary field on the border of physical chemistry and biochemistry. Graduates will be able to solve problems concerning structural and functional characterization of biological systems using physico-chemical methods.
Specialization "Physical Chemistry". This specialization is aimed at educating specialists with theoretical and practical knowledge of modern instrumental methods of physical chemistry, especially spectroscopic, scattering and microscopic methods. Graduates will acquire the ability to independently solve problems related to structural characterization of substances.
Specialization “Modeling of chemical properties of nanostructures and biostructures”. This specialization is aimed at educating specialists trained in methods of computational chemistry such as quantum-chemical calculations or Monte Carlo methods and molecular dynamics. Graduates will acquire the ability to independently solve problems related to structural and dynamic aspects of nano- and biostructures and their chemical and physical properties.

Macromolecular chemistry

A graduate of the Macromolecular Chemistry field of study is equipped with theoretical knowledge and experimental skills covering all chemical fields and deep knowledge in the field of macromolecular chemistry, physical chemistry and material science. He/she also has deeper knowledge in physics, biophysical chemistry, mathematics and computing. Interdisciplinary education gives graduates a wide range of opportunities in academic teams of universities and work teams of research and development institutes and production entities with a focus on the development, research and application of polymers not only in new materials, but also in electronics, pharmacology, biomedicine and ecology.