PhD in Biochemistry (3 years, 180 ECTS)

Name and the Goals of the Study Programme

Name of the Study Program: Doctoral Academic Studies in Biochemistry (3 years, 180 ECTS).

Professional Title, Academic, or Scientific Title

After completing the three-year studies, during which student is required to earn 180 ECTS points, the student obtains the academic degree: PhD in Biochemistry.

Admission Conditions

Admission requirements for the study program are completed master academic studies in Biochemistry or the equivalent academic studies, with previously earned at least 300 ECTS during bachelor and master academic studies altogether, and position in the rank list within the approved enrollment quota.

The Structure of the Study Programme

The structure of the Doctoral Academic Studies in Biochemistry, lasting for three years, includes six elective courses, seminar paper, projects within the frame of the corresponding subjects and work on the PhD thesis.

The Time Allotted for the Realization of Particular Study Forms

Doctoral Academic Studies in Biochemistry last for three years or six semesters.

Credit Values of Particular Courses

The total number of ECTS points is 180, of which 90 ECTS credits are to be earned by elective courses and another 90 ECTS credits by the Scientific Research Work and the work on the PhD thesis.

Summary of each course is given in the Curriculum of the study program. Studies are carried out through teaching of the courses given in the list of the study program arranged into semesters.

Diploma Work

The Doctoral Academic Studies in Biochemistry are carried out through lectures, work on seminar papers, permanent consultation with the teachers and associates, and experimental work on a PhD thesis. The experimental work on PhD thesis is carried out in the appropriately equipped laboratories within the research groups working on projects supervised by an experienced mentor.

Prerequisites for the Registration for Particular Courses or Group of Courses

During the three-year studies (6 semesters), the student is required to earn 180 ECTS credits. Two semesters comprise one academic year.

Transferring from Another Study Programme

Transfer conditions from other study programs, within the similar scientific disciplines, are defined on the basis of current study programs at the Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad.

Teaching is carried out by interactive methods and includes: lectures, supervisor-guided work, independent student’s work, seminar works, project and PhD work.

The purpose of the Doctoral Academic Studies in Biochemistry is to provide the scientific biochemical education. PhD students should acquire the ability to use fundamental chemical theories and scientific experimental skills for the explanation of different biological phenomena. Depending on the need, PhD students will be engaged in the realization of practical laboratory work on undergraduate and graduate studies, which will enable them to acquire teaching experience. During the PhD studies, students will have the possibility to participate at the national and international conferences, where they will gain experience in scientific presentation and communication. At the end of the studies, students should improve their theoretical knowledge and master the modern experimental methods used in biochemical research to such an extent that they can present them to the professional audience and eventually published their results in peer-reviewed national and international scientific journals. The students are expected to gain the highest level of skill to understand and present scientific information, as well as the ability to critically evaluate biochemical experiments in order to increase their development and transfer of their original ideas into practice. After completing the Doctoral Academic Studies in Biochemistry, the students will become highly-competent to work as researchers in development and research laboratories in the field of biochemistry, biomedicine, biotechnology and pharmaceutical and food science, both in the large state institutions as well as in smaller private organizations.

The aim of the Doctoral Academic Studies in Biochemistry is to provide students with the highest level of knowledge and critical thinking related to biochemical disciplines. Through theoretical and practical knowledge upgrade, associated with mastering of the modern instrumental methods used in biochemistry, future recipients of the PhD in biochemistry would gain broadened and deepened knowledge not only in the biochemical discipline but also in related disciplines associated with the subject of their doctoral thesis, and therefore will be able to work in the most modern research, development and control laboratories of the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries. The aim of these this study program is to enable students to apply the gained knowledge for further improvement, application and development of the new research methods in biochemical practice. In addition, it is expected that students acquire the ability to track and select the relevant scientific literature and to evaluate its scientific value. By completing these studies, students need to acquire the highest level of competence to understand and present scientific information, as well as ability to critically evaluate biochemical experiments in this discipline, along with further development and transfer of their original ideas into practice. It involves the application of fundamental principles of biochemistry in order to meet the current and future social needs. Taking into account the multidisciplinary of biochemistry, future recipients of the PhD in biochemistry will be able to work in a wide range of different institutions and laboratories, in accordance with their sub-specialization. The results obtained during work on PhD thesis should have such a value that they can be published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals.

A recipient of the PhD in biochemistry is competent to derive conclusions, disseminate scientific information, exchange ideas, solve problems and propose clear and concise solutions. He/she is competent to supervise a multi-disciplinary teams, companies and agencies. Also, he/she is qualified to implement and improve the theoretical and practical knowledge of biochemistry in the domain of chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries, in the agricultural production, as well as in biomedical, veterinary and biotechnology laboratories. He/she possesses professional and ethical responsibility, capacity for effective communication, ability to apply modern methodology and equipment and take part in the improvement of the existing and developing of the new biochemical methods for analysis and synthesis.

By completing these studies, students obtain the following subject-specific competencies:

• ability to connect knowledge from biology, chemistry, biochemistry and other related disciplines;
• ability to integrate knowledge and thorough knowledge and understanding of the scientific issues in specific areas of biochemistry;
• skill of collection, evaluation and self-interpretation of relevant information from technical and scientific literature and the need for permanent improvement in specific areas of biochemistry;
• ability for scientific analysis and synthesis, as well as independent critical examination and evaluation of the new and complex phenomena and questions;
• knowledge of scientific methodology in the specific area of research;
• ability to design independent experiments, processing of relevant data using information and communication technologies, and interpretation of experimental data;
• ability to think critically, independently and creatively with scientific precision to identify and formulate a hypothesis, and implement own original research whose importance will be sufficient for publishing in prestigious scientific journals;
• ability to present their work through written, oral and visual presentations, including an original research proposals;
• ability for effective scientific and professional communication, i.e. exchange of ideas, problems and solutions in specific areas of biochemistry and related disciplines;
• ability for teamwork in multidisciplinary teams;
• ability to contribute to the development of knowledge through own research;
• ability to solve specific complex problems using appropriate scientific methods in research laboratories of the specialized research institutes, as well as in the development and control laboratories of pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries;
• awareness of ethical issues in biochemical research and career.