Study Evolutionary Biology in Europe

This PhD program offers research-oriented training across a wide range of areas in modern biology, including theoretical and evolutionary biology, ethology, ecology and conservation biology, molecular neurobiology, physiology, human biology, immunology, experimental plant science, cell biology, microbiology, molecular genetics, structural biochemistry, and taxonomy. Coursework covers both theoretical background and laboratory or field skills, and the program emphasizes practical research experience, with most credits earned through supervised research under personal mentoring from faculty researchers. Students take part in collaborative research through networks within the institute and with international partner institutions, preparing them for careers in either basic research or industry. The program is strongly research-oriented: students begin their own research well before the end of the first year, report on their progress annually, and are expected to publish at least two papers in peer-reviewed, internationally recognized journals in their field. The institute maintains international collaborations with research institutes and universities both in and outside Hungary, including regular visits from foreign researchers.

The program is organized into nine research tracks. Ecology and Evolution offers advanced training in ecology and evolutionary biology alongside related disciplines such as conservation biology, systematics, and theoretical biology, supported by cooperation with research institutions working on plant ecology, community ecology, the origin and early evolution of life, major evolutionary transitions, and the origins of cooperation and language. Applicants should have prior experience and at least MSc-level knowledge in these areas, and an openness to the supraindividual organization of living systems or an interest in theoretical biology and its methodology, such as computer modeling, is valuable; formulating and testing statistical hypotheses and building and analyzing models form an integral part of the training.

Ethology provides training across the behavioral sciences with a focus on ethology, complemented by experimental psychology, cognitive science, and applied animal behavior, and suits applicants seeking broad experience in the field. Students with a background in genetics or neuroscience may work on projects involving functional neuroimaging or behavior genetics, and current research centers on dog-human interaction, aging in dogs, comparative cognition, the neuroethology of communication in dogs and humans, and ethorobotics. The track introduces a wide range of behavioral research methods, including the design and application of ethograms, the presentation of research findings, and the study of behavior in dogs, cats, minipigs, and robots.

Immunology provides state-of-the-art training and mentoring toward academic or industrial research careers in immunology and related fields, for applicants motivated toward basic, applied, or clinical immunology research who already have foundational knowledge and laboratory skills. Students carry out research projects using current methods across experimental models ranging from primary cells and long-term cultured cell lines to various animal models, learning to plan experiments and critically evaluate and present data. Training covers methods such as cytofluorimetry, confocal microscopy, various immunolabeling approaches, ELISA and ELISpot, and other molecular biology techniques, with research progress monitored through semi-annual reporting.

Experimental Plant Biology covers a thematically and methodologically diverse set of research topics suited to applicants with a background in plant biology, physiology, plant-microbe interaction, mycology, or environmental microbiology. Research topics are often pursued in cooperation with national and international partners, and collaboration across the research groups and institutes involved supports professional development and interdisciplinary exposure to complex topics.

Genetics offers comprehensive training across classical and molecular genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, human and medical genetics, DNA polymorphism, epigenetics, developmental genetics, and microbial genetics. It suits candidates working with in vivo model systems such as bacteria, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, zebrafish, and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as those learning in vitro and in situ methods using mammalian, particularly human, cell cultures. The track is mainly practically oriented, though theoretical projects in areas such as bioinformatics and evolutionary genetics are also possible, and graduates are well positioned for postdoctoral research at international laboratories, including in applied and medical genetics.

Molecular Cell and Neurobiology focuses on discoveries in molecular cell biology and neurobiology using experimental models ranging from long-term cultured human cell lines and primary cells, including neurons and stem cells, to animal models such as Drosophila, mouse, and rat, and human samples. It suits applicants aiming for a research and development career who want to address open questions in molecular cell biology, and covers methods including confocal and electron microscopy, various immunolabeling approaches, and molecular biology techniques such as western blotting, recombinant DNA manipulation, genetic analysis, and mutagenesis and transgenesis, alongside training in experimental design, critical data evaluation, and manuscript preparation.

Neuroscience and Human Biology gives students the opportunity to work on research projects in well-equipped laboratories using state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo techniques, with coursework spanning molecular and cellular neuroscience through to behavior and anthropology. It suits applicants committed to research in neurophysiology, behavioral and systems neuroscience, or human biology who already have foundational knowledge and laboratory skills from their master's studies, and prepares students to plan and carry out research using current methods, critically evaluate data, and communicate findings in English for an international academic or industry career.

Structural Biochemistry provides state-of-the-art training and mentoring toward academic or industrial research careers in the broad area of molecular biology, suited to applicants with a background in biology, chemistry, medicine, or engineering. It develops the skills needed for creative, productive research design and execution along with independent thinking and career planning, covering structural and molecular biology, protein science, enzymology, molecular biophysics, bioinformatics, drug design, and statistical analysis, with progress monitored through annual reporting and committee feedback.

Zootaxonomy, Animal Ecology, Hydrobiology offers training in classical and molecular taxonomy, ecological processes across various time and spatial scales with a focus on behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology, and the organization and functioning of aquatic communities in rivers and lakes. It suits applicants with an MSc in biology or a degree in veterinary medicine, medicine, or dentistry whose curriculum included ecology, evolutionary biology, animal systematics, and hydrobiology as major subjects, and combines practical experience in current research methodology with seminars and coursework on theoretical issues relevant to the field.

Graduates are prepared for biology careers worldwide: many go on to postdoctoral positions internationally, a large share obtain tenure or tenure-track positions at universities or research institutes, and others pursue research careers in non-academic settings, including large international research institutions tied to high-tech development or the economic and financial sectors. Typical roles include biologist, biochemist, geneticist, neurobiologist, and ecologist.

Applicants must hold a master's degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field; the specific degree fields accepted may be further narrowed by the individual research track to ensure alignment with its curriculum and expectations. Applicants still completing their master's studies should be on track to qualify for the degree by the end of the academic year in which they apply.

An internationally accredited English language examination at a minimum of B2 CEFR level is required, such as a TOEFL iBT score of at least 72 or an IELTS score of at least 5.5; alternatively, applicants may submit an official certificate from their previous institution confirming that their prior degree was completed entirely in English.

Required documents include an application form, the master's degree certificate, a transcript of records, a CV, a research plan, a statement from a supervisor, and a language certificate. Optional documents include a bachelor's degree certificate, a motivation letter, two letters of recommendation, a passport copy and photo, a medical certificate, and a reference work.