An important priority of PPI is education and qualification of young researchers and specialists.

For many years a number of students have worked on and defended their Master’s statements at the Institute under the supervision of our scientists.

At present there are:

• 10 full-time PhD students;
• 3 PhD students on individual training.

The PhD training courses are in Plant Protection in the field of:

• Entomology - 2 persons;
• Prognosis – 2 persons;
• Quarantine – 1 person;
• Virology – 2 persons;
• Phytopathology – 2 persons;
• Herbology – 1 person;
• Biological control – 2 persons.

For the academic year of 2006/2007, 5 PhD student positions are available in:

• Herbology – 1;
• Virology – 1;
• Phytopathology – 2;
• Bacteriology (Quarantine Department) – 1.

The institute is implementing additional professional qualification of specialists from the Regional Plant Protection Services in the field of:

• Identification of pests;
• Organic agriculture;
• Integrated agriculture.

With the opening of a new Laboratory Diagnostic Complex in the Framework of PlantProCENTRE (learn more here), the working conditions have improved considerably and there are possibilities for implementation of modern methods in biology and plant protection.

Another important activity of PPI is the complementary qualification of young researchers from PPI by a number of training courses and specializations abroad. A number of specializations were held at leading European scientific centers, sponsored by Sixth framework program:

• Specialization at Agrotechnological Center, Tuln, Austria on “Analysis of mycotoxins”;
• Specialization at University of Konstanz, Germany on “Quantative identification of fungal biomass in plant samples”;
• Specialization at University of Pamplona, Spain on “Interactions between parasitoids and entomopathogens on some larvae of Noctuidae and Pyralidae”;
• Specialization at University of Keele, Staffordshire, England on “Biology of Western flower thrips”;
• Specialization at Federal Biological Research Centre, Braunschweig, Germany on “Molecular methods for identification of Dipterans”.
• Specialization at Federal Biological Research Centre, Braunschweig, Germany on “Molecular methods for analysis of microbial communities in soil”
• Specialization at Almeria University, Spain on “Analytical methods for detection of pesticide residues in plants and foods of plant origin”
• Specialization at University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands on “Use of predator mite species in biological control of whiteflies and thrips”
• Specialization at Agroscope Changins-Wadenswil Research, Changins, Switzerland on “Mating disruption in orchards and vines”
• Specialization at University of Hamburg, Germany on “Molecular methods for diagnostics of virus pathogens”
• Specialization at Food Research Institute, Bari, Italy on “Analytical methodology for investigation of economically important mycotoxins in cereals and food products”
• Specialization at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom on “Molecular methods for identification of cyst nematodes”

Other specializations and courses:

• Specialization on Marie Curie Training Site at Scottish Crop Research Institute on “Development and application of molecular methods for diagnostics of plant viruses”
• FAO/IAEA Interregional Training course on “The Use of the Sterile Insect and Related Techniques for the Integrated Areawide Management of Insect Pests”, held at University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida