Pharmacognosy

During the doctoral studies in this study programme, the student acquires knowledge in the field of pharmacognosy, focusing on the isolation, identification and evaluation of biologically active compounds of natural origin. In the course of studies, the student learns to formulate a scientific problem independently, to formulate a scientific hypothesis, to prepare and carry out a scientific experiment. The main objective of these activities is theoretical as well as practical mastery of methods used in pharmacognostic study of biologically active compounds of natural origin. The student's abilities upon completion of the study programme will be based on the following framework topics: Search for new natural sources of biologically active compounds, isolation of biologically active natural compounds, analytical evaluation of natural sources, search for chemotaxonomic relationships, study of plant biosynthetic processes, determination of the structure of isolated natural compounds, study of physicochemical properties of isolated natural compounds, optimization of extraction of natural sources in the isolation of content compounds, standardization of prepared extracts, evaluation of biological activities of biologically active natural compounds in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, study of interactions between isolates of natural origin in the evaluation of their biological activities, study of interactions between isolates of natural origin and (semi)synthetic drugs in the evaluation of their biological activities, interpretation of bioassay results by molecular docking methods, evaluation of the toxicological effect of natural isolates on model organisms in relation to their impact on the human organism and the environment. In order to achieve the results of research during the study, students are required to acquire not only theoretical knowledge, but also skills in modern experimental methods used by pharmacognosy.
Graduates of the Pharmacognosy, 3rd cycle of the degree programme will be proficient in the principles and methodology of scientific work and will be able to carry out professional and scientific activities in the field of pharmacy, pharmacognosy and pharmaceutical research. The theoretical knowledge and practical skills they will acquire through their studies will also enable them to pursue a career as a scientist in related pharmaceutical disciplines, such as galenic pharmacy and pharmacology. Graduates have the ability to work independently as scientists and to provide their own solutions in these fields.
The requirement for graduation is the knowledge and development of new methods of research and development of natural pharmaceuticals focused on their discovery, isolation, analysis and biological evaluation. A successful PhD graduate must demonstrate that he/she has not only theoretical knowledge in the field, but also practical skills in pharmaceutical research and is able to work independently in a scientific manner. At the same time, he/she must be able to present his/her own research results to the professional public at conferences and scientific events and by publishing articles in professional journals.

Prospects of graduates
Doctoral studies focus on a narrower specialization and deepening the theoretical and scientific knowledge of professional training in the field of pharmacognosy. Graduates of the study programme find employment at all universities where pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical biology, analysis and evaluation of biologically active compounds are taught, either as a university lecturer or as a scientific researcher. Thanks to the exposure to a wide range of knowledge and practical laboratory skills, the graduate finds employment in the workplaces of the Ministry of Health (State institute for drug control, and so on.) and in research laboratories of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. A graduate may also find an employment as researchers, developmental, and professional workers in the private sector's pharmaceutical industry which are associated in Asociácia inovatívneho farmaceutického priemyslu or in Asociácia pre generické a biosimilárne lieky GENAS, Národné poľnohospodárske a potravinárske centrum – Výskumný ústav rastlinnej výroby, VILORA, FYTOPHARMA, a. s., CALENDULA, a. s.

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