Field of Study – Zoology (N 014)
Deadlines for main admission procedures to doctoral studies:
| Doctoral Admission Procedure | Deadlines | |
| 1. | Submission of applications and admission documents for applicant who have obtained a master’s degree from a Lithuanian higher education institution | April 7, 2026 – June 19, 2026 (until 12:00 p.m.) |
| Submission of applications and admission documents for applicants who have obtained a master’s degree from a foreign higher education institution and who do not have a document confirming the recognition of their diploma in Lithuania | April 7, 2026 – May 18, 2026 (until 12:00 p.m.) | |
| 2. | Motivational interview with the admissions commission | July 2, 2026 (11:00 a.m.), at Conference hall, there will be an option to participate remotely |
| 3. | Information about the preliminary results | July 3, 2026 (from 2:00 p.m.) |
| 4. | Submission of appeals regarding preliminary admission results | Until July 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. |
| 5. | Information about the final results | July 9, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. |
| 6. | Conclusion of doctoral study agreements | July 13 – 17, 2026 (until 3:00 p.m.) |
Selection Criteria for Admission to Doctoral Studies in 2026
| Field of Science, code | Zoology, N014* | |
| Selection procedure | Motivational interview** | |
| Structure of the competition points and their coefficients | ||
| Weighted average of tDiploma Supplement grades (WA),
up to 10 points |
Motivational interview assessment (I), up to 10 points | Evaluation of scientific
experience and scientific works (SW)***, up to 3 points |
| 1 x (WA) | 1 x (I) | 1 x (SW) |
| Minimalus balas | 18 | |
* One of the two recommendations that must be submitted upon application must be written by a potential supervisor.
Selection criteria
**The interview will focus on the chosen dissertation topic. The interview will be evaluated based on the applicant’s research competence, motivation in selecting the dissertation topic, theoretical background, and initial methodological skills. The presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes (PowerPoint presentation).
***Applicants’ research experience is assessed based on their published research and participation in international research conferences. Points are awarded for:
- 0.25 points for participation at international research conferences with an oral or poster presentation (regardless of the number of conferences);
- 0.5 points for publishing research articles in peer-reviewed journals (regardless of the number of articles) without a citation index (IF);
- 1 point for each research article published in a peer-reviewed journal with an IF.
Parasitic diseases, especially those spread by vectors, are responsible for a large part of the world’s infectious diseases. With climate change, these diseases are spreading rapidly to northern regions. Knowledge of the biology and distribution of these pathogens is important for controlling the threats posed by them. The study will investigate bird blood and blood-sucking insects in order to identify definitive hosts and potential vectors. Mature females of Onchocercidae produce microfilariae which enter the host’s bloodstream and live in the blood or skin. Microfilariae are easily detected in the blood of birds by the buffy coat method. Nevertheless, the identification of parasite species using the morphological characters of microfilariae remains very difficult due to their morphological similarity, therefore the blood of infected birds needs to be further investigated not only by microscopy, but also by molecular genetic techniques. Adult nematodes will also be analyzed to develop genetic markers. Molecular methods would simplify the diagnosis and species identification of avian filiarioids at all stages of development, both in host blood and tissues.
Avian malaria parasites pose significant threats to wildlife. Co-infections, common in wildlife, necessitate a deeper understanding of the dynamics between locally transmitted and African Plasmodium parasites. The study hypothesizes that owing to better adaptation to local vectors, European Plasmodium parasites may play a crucial role in reshaping the parasite multiclonality or even blocking the transmission of African Plasmodium species during co-infections. By employing modern molecular tools, this anticipated investigation aims to provide fresh insights into the development of avian malaria parasites and their interaction in vectors. By conducting experiments in the natural parasite environment, the study aims to supplement theoretical knowledge about transmission, interactions, and potential spread of Plasmodium parasites in nature. Existing research primarily focuses on interactions within vertebrate hosts, leaving co infections in vectors poorly understood. Understanding these interactions is crucial for assessing threats to avian populations and may have implications for emerging human vector-borne diseases.