Teaching

Doctoral Study

Doctoral studies are conducted at the W. Szafer Institute of Botany of Polish Academy of Sciences (IB PAS) since 2000 as "Doctoral Study of Natural Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków". The Doctoral Study is run by IB PAS and the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of Polish Academy of Sciences (ISEA PAS). Additionally, the Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology Polish Academy of Sciences (IPP PAS) and the Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences (INC PAS) participate in the education of doctoral students. The Doctoral Study educates doctoral students in biological sciences within following research topics which result from the mission of the Institutes organizing doctoral studies:

  • biodiversity, taxonomy, ecology and evolution of plants, animals, fungi and other microorganisms, both present and fossil;
  • physiology, biochemistry, plant and animal genetics;
  • protection of the diversity of species, habitats, ecosystems and the processes that shape this diversity.

The principles of operation, the educational program as well as the rights and obligations of the doctoral student can be found in Regulations and other relevant documents. According to the amendment to the Act on Higher Education, recruitment for doctoral studies at the Doctoral Study is not conducted from 2019, and on December 31, 2024, this form of doctoral education will be closed (see also the Minister's letter of 6 November 2024). From 2019, doctoral students are educated only at the Doctoral School.

 

Doctoral Study Authorities

Head of the Doctoral Study

Dr Grażyna Szarek-Łukaszewska

Phone: +4812‑4241‑706

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deputy Head of the Doctoral Study

Dr Agnieszka Bednarska

Phone: +4812‑3703‑594

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Doctoral Study Council

The Council of the Doctoral Study of Natural Sciences PAS consists of the directors of the Institutes running the Doctoral Study, representatives of the Scientific Councils of these Institutes and representatives of doctoral students.

  • Dr Grażyna Szarek-Łukaszewska – head of the Doctoral Study
  • Professor Lucyna Śliwa – director of IB PAS
  • Professor Franciszek Janowiak – director of IPP PAS
  • Dr Elżbieta Wilk-Woźniak – director of INC PAS
  • Dr Beata Grzywacz – director of ISEA PAS
  • Dr Paweł Kapusta – representative of the Scientific Council, IB PAS
  • Professor Iwona Żur – representative of the Scientific Council, IPP PAS
  • Professor Henryk Okarma – representative of the Scientific Council, INC PAS
  • Dr Łukasz Kajtoch – representative of the Scientific Council, ISEA PAS
  • Joanna Kołodziejczyk – representative of doctoral students
  • Miron Gieniec – representative of doctoral students

Doctoral Students Affairs

Study Program

The doctoral studies focus on new achievements in biology and on the expansion of knowledge in statistics and philosophy of nature. The courses are led by specialists employed in Institutes organizing the Doctoral Study or in other scientific units.

The doctoral student conducts research and participates in courses included in the education program as both compulsory and optional courses. The study lasts four years, but in justified cases this time may be shortened to three or extended to six years.

Regular doctoral studies are conducted in Polish. Foreign doctoral students study on an individual basis.

Semester Reports

During the studies, after each semester, the doctoral student submits a report on his scientific activity and implementation of the study program. At the end of the academic year, the PhD student participates in the Scientific Reporting Session to presents the results and progress in research.

Insurances

Act of 27 August 2004 on health care services financed from public funds, art. 86 sec. 1 points 6 and 14 (Journal of Laws of 2019, item 1373) obliges research units educating doctoral students to register for health insurance and pay the doctoral students' contribution:

  • when the students concerned submit an appropriate declaration that they are not subject to obligatory health insurance on a different basis;
  • when the students concerned are or will be educated in Poland and are considered persons of Polish origin within the meaning of the repatriation regulations or have a valid Pole's Card and are not subject to health insurance otherwise.

According to Art. 66 sec. 2 of the above Act, research units providing education for doctoral students are exempt from the obligation to insure a doctoral student who has the status of a family member of the insured person, i.e. who is:

  • an own child, spouse's child, adopted child, grandson or a foreign child for whom care has been established, or a foreign child as part of a foster family or family orphanage until they turn 18, and if they continue their education at school, in an educational institution teachers, universities or research units conducting doctoral studies – until the age of 26, and if they have a certificate of severe disability or other conditions treated equally – no age limit;
  • a spouse;
  • ascendant staying with the insured in the same household.

More information (only in Polish) on the website of the Ministry of Science and Education.

Doctoral Students' Council

The Doctoral Students' Council represents PhD students of both the Doctoral Studies of Natural Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Doctoral School of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and defends their rights, spreads the idea of providing mutual assistance in scientific and legal matters, and integrates doctoral students by initiating activities for this purpose. The Doctoral Students' Council actively participates in the work of the National Representation of Doctoral Students and the Doctoral Students' Council of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Members

  • Joanna Kołodziejczyk (Chairman)
  • Miron Gieniec (Deputy Chairman)
  • Kinga Szczepanik (Secretary)
  • Julia Stachurska
  • Anna Marchewka

Student Affairs Office

Administrative Services

Katarzyna Kozielec-Murzyn

Phone: +4812‑4241‑832

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00–14:30; address: W. Szafer Institute of Botany PAS, Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków (Room 12).

Head of the Doctoral School

Dr Grażyna Szarek-Łukaszewska

Phone: +4812‑4241‑706

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hours for students: Monday, 10:00–12:00; address: W. Szafer Institute of Botany PAS, Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków.

Deputy Head of the Doctoral School

Dr Agnieszka Bednarska

Phone: +4812‑3703‑594

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hours for students: Tuesday, 10:00–12:00; address: Institute of Nature Conservation PAS, Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków.

Documents to Download

Forms

Forms of documents in English necessary during the studies are available at the Deputy Head of the Doctoral Study

Legal Acts