Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics
Doctoral Degree Program
Field: | Physics |
Form: | full time / external |
Usual duration: | full time form 4 years, external form 5 years |
| Language of courses: | English |
Program director: | |
| Co-Guarantors: | prof. RNDr. Stanislav Tokár, DrSc. |
| Related study programs: | master's degree programs Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics |
Description of the Study Program
Graduate of the third level of university studies in nuclear and subnuclear physics
- masters an extensive mathematical apparatus and theoretical-physical methods for solving complex problems in the field of nuclear and subnuclear physics, as well as related fields,
- acquire deep theoretical and methodological knowledge of nuclear and subnuclear physics at the level of the current state of research in the world,
- learn the principles of independent and teamwork, scientific research, scientific formulation of problems, learn to present results,
- can creatively apply the acquired knowledge in practice, acquire the ability to develop its own scientific discipline, find application in various fields of science, research, industry and services in both the public and private sectors. In addition to the aforementioned theoretical knowledge, the graduate of the third level of university studies in nuclear and subnuclear physics acquires the following additional knowledge, abilities and skills:
- can work scientifically and bring solutions to complex process in the field of
- theoretical nuclear and subnuclear physics
- experimental nuclear and subnuclear physics
- applied nuclear and subnuclear physics
- modelling of nuclear and subnuclear problems and experimental equipment in selected areas of detector and solids physics
- can lead smaller teams of scientific, research and development workers, lead large projects and take responsibility for complex solutions to scientific and research problems,
- be able to follow the latest scientific and research trends in its own field and complement and update its knowledge in the form of lifelong learning,
- adopt the principles of managerial work, design of the experiment with a timetable, management and control of team personnel,
- be able to prepare projects and submit them to grant agencies; will be able to work scientifically and bring solutions to complex problems in the field of nuclear and subnuclear physics
- can apply the legal, social, ethical, economic and environmental aspects of his profession in his work.
What to Expect
The study programm takes into account the mission but also the objectives set by FMFI UK in the field of science and research and especially in the field of education (in the long term of FMFI UK). The study programme was created or innovated in the light of trends in the development of such programmes in Europe and the world. The study programme was created in accordance with the needs of practice, therefore one of the main aspects in the design of subjects was the aspect of the applicability of knowledge and competences in real practice.
In terms of objectives (in the long-term aim of FMFI UK), the program and its study plan were designed so that students can complete internships abroad during their studies, in which the faculty has rich experience and a wide network of partner universities that have related study programs for the submitted study programme. In accordance with the Dublin descriptors and at the same time in terms of the national qualifications framework, graduates of the SP will receive the 8th level of qualification (SKKR 8). This means that the graduate has a systematic, comprehensive and comprehensive set of knowledge in a specialized field, including knowledge and understanding of relations to other parts of the field, and has a deep knowledge of theories, sophisticated methods and procedures of science and research at a level corresponding to international criteria.
Profile subjects of the study programme are compulsory or compulsory optional subjects set so that the student acquires knowledge or skills that are essential for completing the study programme after their completion. Profile subjects form a theoretical and methodological basis in the relevant field of education. They are an essential part of the thematic areas of state examinations. Together with other educational activities offered to the student in the form of selective subjects, they will allow the student to access knowledge and skills, important for achieving the educational outcomes in the graduate profile and his personal and professional development. In order to achieve the goals of the study, the study program is divided into two parts:
- the study part consists of about 1/3 of the student's workload
- the scientific part of about 2/3 of the doctoral workload.
For the submitted dissertation and its defense, the doctoral student receives 30 credits. In full-time and part-time form of doctoral studies, the doctoral student must obtain at least 45 credits for his/her progression from the first to the second year of study and at least 52 credits per academic year for his/her progress from the second to the third year of study.
The study part of the program is composed of theoretical-methodological subjects and subjects leading to independent scientific work, the ability to formulate and solve scientific hypotheses, and improving the ability to present their results in domestic and international scientific forums. Nuclear and subnuclear physics includes a very wide range of specific theoretical areas, for this reason the study part has a common theoretical basis, special lectures and workshops according to the doctoral area orientation and interest.
In the first year of study, emphasis is placed on the additional knowledge of the basic subjects of two main focus – nuclear and subnuclear physics, which are complemented by selective subjects focused on the topic of a particular dissertation. At the same time, he / she is working on a dissertation topic at the level of research and processing of the current state of the given issue related to the topic of work. The common basis is based on scientific disciplines from master's studies and consists of a more advanced state from experimental methods of nuclear and subnuclear physics and theoretical nuclear and subnuclear physics, which are intended for each student in this doctoral study program and from which he is obliged to choose according to his/her focus. For each completed compulsory subject, the student receives 10 credits.
In the second year, the Doctoral student increases his professional and linguistic proficiency by studying foreign literature, adds knowledge in one of the compulsory optional and selective subjects related to the topic of dissertation and processes the methodology of the dissertation into a Written Paper for a dissertation exam. Her defence is held together with an examination from one of the following thematic areas according to the content of her doctoral thesis, accounting for individually studied literature and recommendations of the supervisor:
Theoretical nuclear physics of low energy
Theoretical physics of high energies
Experimental low-energy nuclear physics
Experimental High Energy Physics Cosmic radiation
Nuclear-physical methods and instruments
Radiation environmental physics and dosimetry
In the first two years of study, the doctoral student prepares for public speaking, communication on scientific topics and transfer of scientific knowledge by participating in the pedagogical process. In the third and fourth year, the doctoral activity is focused mainly on solving the topic of dissertation and presenting the achieved results of scientific research in written and oral form at international and domestic scientific forums. The ability to scientific work, selection of methodological procedures, verification of new methodologies is enhanced by participation in the supervisor's projects or acquired own research projects (e.g. grant of Comenius University), as well as foreign and domestic study stays in scientific and scientific and pedagogical institutions. The culmination of the doctoral student's scientific growth during his doctoral studies is the submission and public defense of the dissertation, which documents the acquired knowledge, the ability to formulate scientific goals and fulfill them in accordance with the latest scientific knowledge and trends in the field of study.
The scientific part of the study includes:
- Identification and solution of a specific current scientific problem according to the special subjects listed in the study part.
- Processing the achieved results into organically comprehensive scientific articles acceptable in leading professional journals. Detailed information on the arrangement of subjects into study blocks is given below in the study plan, as well as in the information sheets for individual subjects.
Graduates' Career Opportunities
Graduates of the study programme Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics are applicable:
- In academia, as independent scientists or assistants. Completing the program and obtaining a Ph.D. degree allows them to further career growth and obtain a SQDIIa qualification or associate professor.
- In the field of public administration, graduating and obtaining a PhD degree will also allow them to apply in managerial positions, e.g. as employees of the Ministry of Environment and Departmental Institutions, in the environmental departments of municipalities and spatial planning departments, as well as in the health sector.
- In the private sector in companies with an environmental focus (analysis of samples of environmental components, environmental impact assessment) as well as radiation focus (personal dosimetry, measurement of radioactivity in the environment), in which the PhD degree allows them to fill even managerial positions.
Specific examples from the last period:
- basic research (SAS, international research centres such as CERN, GSI, IAEA, world and domestic science centres),
- higher education institutions at home and abroad,
- development laboratories and departmental institutes (control of radioactivity in the environment, application of radionuclides in practice, metrology of ionizing radiation; e.g. SHMU),
- nuclear power plants (in particular internal and external dosimetry, e.g. EMO, EBO),
- specialized health workplaces (application of radionuclides and particle beams in diagnosis and therapy; e.g. OÚSA, BIONT a.s., NOÚ),
- public health authorities (guidance of health protection against the effects of ionizing radiation, monitoring compliance with radiation protection principles in ionizing radiation workplaces, monitoring of radioactivity in the environment),
- state administration (supervision of nuclear power plants, application of state policy principles in the field of protection against ionizing radiation; for example, UJD SR),
- private sector (environmental analyses, control of radioactivity in natural environments and residence areas, radionuclide dating, etc.).
- computing centers, banking (data processing, statistical analysis, computer networks), IT firms e.g. ESET, IBM, etc.
Graduates of the study programme Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics have good language skills (especially from English) and thanks to their education they have a possibility of employment worldwide.
Doctoral Scholarships
Full-time doctoral students who have permanent residency in the European Union are entitled to receive a scholarship for the entire standard duration of their studies. The scholarships are paid starting on the date of enrollment. The scholarship is determined in accordance with the tables included in the Law no. 553/2003 Z.z. as follows:
- prior to completion of the qualification exam: 1025,50 EUR (6th class, 1st level)
- after successful completion of the qualification exam: 1 194 EUR (7th class, 1st level)
Scholarships are not subject to taxes or other fees.
Doctoral studies are considered an equivalent to full time employment and in the majority of cases cannot be combined with another employment. Job holding applicants who intend to keep their job are advised to apply for the external (distance) form of doctoral studies. Doctoral students enrolled in the regular form are expected to participate in teaching activities such as conducting recitations or exam grading, in accordance with the needs of their corresponding departments.
Thesis Topics for Academic Year 2024/2025
- Measurement of the top-quark pair production differential cross section at the ATLAS experiment
(supervisor: doc. Mgr. Pavol Bartoš, PhD.) - Beta-decay studies in the vicinity of Z = 82
(supervisor: Mgr. Boris Andel, PhD.) - Time calibration of the KM3NeT neutrino telescope with laser beacon
(supervisor: Mgr. Rastislav Dvornický, PhD.) - Synthesis and decay study of isotopes in the transuranium region
(supervisor: doc. Mgr. Stanislav Antalic, PhD.) - Exploring neutrino oscillation with reactor antineutrino data in JUNO
(supervisor: prof. RNDr. Fedor Šimkovic, CSc.) - Oscillations of low-energy neutrinos
(supervisor: prof. RNDr. Fedor Šimkovic, CSc.) - Nuclear matrix elements for neutrino physics
(supervisor: prof. RNDr. Fedor Šimkovic, CSc.) - Probing masses of neutrinos with atomic nuclei
(supervisor: prof. RNDr. Fedor Šimkovic, CSc.) - Radon in components of the environment
(supervisor: doc. RNDr. Monika Müllerová, PhD.) - Free volume changes in polymer networks at high pressures investigated by positron annihilation
(supervisor: RNDr. Ondrej Šauša, CSc.) - Free-volume properties of cryoprotective mixtures for living cell preservation at low temperatures studied with positronium
(supervisor: RNDr. Ondrej Šauša, CSc.) - Nuclear Isomerism in odd-Au isotopes
(supervisor: Mgr. Martin Venhart, PhD.) - Spectroscopy and lifetime measurements of 179Au
(supervisor: Mgr. Andrej Herzáň, PhD.) - Nuclear structure study of neutron-deficient Bi-191,192 isotopes
(supervisor: Mgr. Andrej Herzáň, PhD.)