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Food and Natural Products
Doctoral Programme,
Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology
The aim of the study programme is to educate top experts with the potential to manage and implement scientific and research activities both in academic sector and in management positions within industrial research or in government/control bodies. The study programme is aimed at broadening knowledge in a number of complementary disciplines: (i) evaluation of the bioactivity of chemical compounds and their mixtures (health and toxic effects) as a basis for assessing their effects on human health and living organisms, (ii) understanding of the mechanism of physico-chemical reactions and processes in food, dietary supplements or natural products under different processing and storage conditions; (iii) expertise with the application potential of instrumental platforms in the field of target analysis and, in particular, non-target screening for the characterisation of different types of samples and (iv) the application of advanced chemometric strategies and bioinformatics in the processing and interpretation of experimental data, especially in metabolomics. CareersThe graduate of the programme will acquire comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the field of food chemistry and natural products, including knowledge of the reactions taking place in technological processing. Due to deep theoretical and practical knowledge, a doctoral graduate can apply modern analytical techniques to a comprehensive assessment of the quality and chemical safety of food and natural products, to detect food fraud and /or prove their authenticity. An important professional competence opening the way for interdisciplinary cooperation is the application of innovative analytical strategies such as metabolomics, which can be applied, among other things, in the field of biomonitoring or bioprospection. Programme Details
Ph.D. topics for study year 2026/27Comprehensive analytical strategies for assessing plastic additives derived from microplastic pollution
AnnotationAlthough polymer materials have significantly improved daily life through several different applications, their overwhelming use poses risks to the environment. Under environmental conditions, polymers tend to fragment into small particles, the so-called micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). Beyond the physical hazard induced by MNPs, polymers incorporate a myriad of chemical substances that are not chemically bound to the polymer matrix. These compounds, known as plastic additives (PAs), are added during manufacturing to tailor functional properties. PA degradation products also occur during polymer weathering highlighting another group of relevant analytes. This dissertation will focus on the development and implementation of analytical strategies based on chromatographic separation and spectrometric detection. Both targeted and screening approaches with high-resolution mass spectrometry will be employed, including the creation of a database of potentially present PAs and their degradation products. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of PAs in polymer materials of both conventional and biodegradable origin, as well as in environmental and food matrices. A key aspect will be the sample preparation optimization to ensure accurate and sensitive detection of a wide spectrum of PAs. |
Updated: 25.3.2022 16:21, Author: Jan Kříž