Analytical Chemistry

The institution defines the learning objectives of the study programme such as student’s abilities at the time of completion of the programme and the main learning outcomes.

The graduate of the doctoral study programme Analytical Chemistry has knowledge of scientific methods of research and development in analytical chemistry with a focus on specific areas (trace and ultratrace analysis, analysis of complex multicomponent samples and analysis of chiral substances), application-oriented areas (environmental and pharmaceutical analysis and analysis of clinical and biological samples) and methodically oriented areas (identification and detection methods, separation methods, chemometric methods and sample pretreatment methods). He knows the principles of good laboratory practice, principles of occupational health and safety, occupational hygiene and fire protection, procedures for handling toxic and hazardous substances, principles of work in the analytical laboratory and legislation related to analytical chemistry.

The graduate is able to perform general work operations in a chemical laboratory. He is able to independently and creatively work in the science and publish the results of his own work, teach specialized chemical courses at universities and independently plan and lead a research team. He can propose effective methods and procedures for sampling and relevant physicochemical tests, apply analytical methods, identify the causes of unexpected results of routine analyses and apply and verify the results of research and development tasks and scientific and technical knowledge. He has basic knowledge of computer chemistry and commercial software for chemical analysis, as well as information and communication technologies. He works in accordance with professional, legal and ethical principles in science and the principles of green analytical chemistry.

The institution indicates the professions for which the graduate is prepared at the time of completion and the potential of the study programme from the point of view of graduate’s employability.

The graduate of the doctoral study programme Analytical Chemistry can creatively and independently conduct scientific research and development of chemical analysis methods. His main profession is: Analytical Chemist (SK ISCO-08 code: 2113003). Analytical chemist can work in the following areas: C Manufacturing – C20 Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products; and M Professional, scientific and technical activities – M71 Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis, M72 Scientific research and development (SK NACE Rev. 2). The graduate is also ready to perform other related professions: manager of research, development and technical development in production (SK ISCO-08 code: 1223002), manager of a research institution (SK ISCO-08 code: 1223001), chemical specialist in research or research and development worker in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry (SK ISCO-08 code: 2145002), manager in chemical production (SK ISCO-08 code: 1321008), research and development specialist in food production (SK ISCO-08 code: 2141001), specialist in the field of development of science, research and innovation (SK ISCO-08 code: 2422016) and assistant professor at university (SK ISCO-08 code: 2310003).

The graduate is able to lead projects and professional groups in public and private laboratories for quality control and product control of production processes, for example in research institutes, metrological and accreditation institutions, state health institutes, customs control laboratories, water, sewage and river basin laboratories, forensic laboratories, clinical and diagnostic laboratories, environmental, operational and corporate laboratories.

Graduates of the Analytical Chemistry study programme are able to apply the acquired knowledge and practical skills independently or as team members, continuously develop their professional growth, maintain contact with the development of analytical chemistry and related scientific disciplines at home and abroad and communicate with the general professional public.

Most of the graduates work in the fields related to the focus of analytical chemistry, e.g., in quality control laboratories of pharmaceutical products, food and water and, in general, in the environmental quality control laboratories at the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior.

Some of the graduates have found employment in the companies trading analytical instruments, equipment and chemicals, but also in educational institutions, where they work as experts in the field of analytical chemistry in the frame of national and international projects. Graduates work as managers in the quality control laboratories and production processes control laboratories (state health institutes, customs control laboratories, water and sewage laboratories, forensic laboratories, clinical laboratories and operational laboratories). They are also able to perform independent routine laboratory work at these workplaces, where they actively use the knowledge, experience and skills gained during the study, for example in the field of separation, identification, spectral and optical methods and electrochemical methods of chemical analysis.

As managers they are able to critically evaluate the information obtained and work assignments and are able to apply a suitable analytical approach to solving assigned analytical problems. Graduates also find employment at the universities with a scientific and pedagogical focus and at scientific institutes of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

For individual study plans, the institution states the requirements for completing the individual parts of the study programme and the student’s progress within the study programme in the given structure:
- Number of credits for compulsory courses: 29
- Number of credits for compulsory optional courses: minimum 5
- Number of credits for optional courses and scientific part: minimum 161
- Number of credits for the dissertation exam: 15
- Number of credits for the defence of the dissertation thesis: 30