Theoretical and Evolutionary Biology

Profile of the graduate

While studying the PhD program of Theoretical and Evolutionary Biology, graduates will gain, in addition to basic biological knowledge, an insight into the broader links between biological processes and their evolution at many levels of the biological hierarchy. Emphasis is placed on modeling and interpretation of biological phenomena, statistical-mathematical or methodological-philosophical, based on the philosophy of biology, epistemology, history of biology, and other relevant areas. The graduate is led to independent work and evaluation of selected issues, and especially to independent publishing according to current international standards. As part of his active performance, presentation of the results and their discussion at the subject seminars, he/she is motivated to be able to acquaint the audience with a very complex topic of his/her own work in an erudite but comprehensible way so that it is also accessible to colleagues from other fields of science. Last but not least, the graduate is guided to be able to bring new definitions, to take a critical stance in polemics, and to discover independently unproblematic aspects of theoretical-biological and evolutionary issues. The graduate is able to follow the development of his own field of specialization, capture new ways of exploration and consequently also respond effectively to new trends. According to the focus of their doctoral thesis, graduates are able to apply their knowledge as members of biological teams, as well as to flexibly respond to transdisciplinary challenges. This applies in particular to the mathematical modeling of biological systems, the statistical processing of data sets and the evaluation of results in the field of evolutionary biology, behavioral and cognitive sciences, evolutionary psychology, evolutionary morphology, eco-morphology, morphometrics, developmental biology and other biological disciplines. The graduates are also of use in teams of social sciences and humanities (philosophy of science or philosophy of biology, evolutionary psychology, pedagogy), where there is often no critical reflection on the latest knowledge driving the dynamics of modern biology and other diverse areas of science. The graduate is then capable of multidisciplinary synthesis and discussion, i.e. can apply both theoretical and applied as well as methodological and historical approaches. A graduate should be a routine expert capable of independent research activity, with a broad range of application in research teams of appropriate focus, or in other organizations where relevant qualifications are required.