Defended PhD thesis in the council of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in 2003:

Neeme Tõnisson “Mutation detection by primer extension on oligonucleotide microarrays”
Supervisor: Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: Dr Jörg Dietrich Hoheisel, PhD, Div.of Functional Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center, Germany

Viljar Jaks “p53 – a switch in cellular circuit”
Supervisor: Prof. Toivo Maimets, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: Prof. Horst-Werner Stuerzbecher, University of Luebeck, Germany

Jaana Männik “Characterization and genetic studies of four ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters”
Supervisors: Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu; Prof. Rando Allikmets, PhD, Columbia University, USA
Oponent: Prof. Thomas Meitinger, Technische Universität München, Germany

Ivar Ilves “Virus-cell interactions in the replication cycle of bovine papillomavirus type I”
Supervisor: Prof. Mart Ustav, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: Dr Francoise Thierry, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

Andres Männik “Design and characterization of a novel vector system based on the stable replicator of bovine papillomavirus type I”
Supervisor: Prof. Mart Ustav, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: Prof. Stefan Schwartz, Uppsala University, Sweden

Andres Salumets “Effects of embryological parameters on the success of fresh and frozen embryo transfers”
Defended in the University of Helsinki, Finland

Defended MSc thesis in the council of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in 2003:

Marju Gruno “Substrate inhibition of Trichoderma reesei cellulases in cellulose hydrolysis”
Supervisor: lecturer Priit Väljamäe, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: scientist Hillar Eichelmann, MSc, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

Toomas Silla “Studies of bovine papillomavirus type 1 segregation in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae”
Supervisors: Prof Mart Ustav, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu; scientist Aare Abroi, MSc, Estonian Biocentre
Oponent: Assoc. Prof Tiina Alamäe, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

Maris Kuningas “Fetal DNA in maternal plasma: clinical applications”
Supervisors: Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu; Dr Tiina Kahre, Tartu University Hospital
Oponent: scientist Andres Salumets, MSc, Estonian Biocentre

Valeria  Sizemskaja “Sequencing and functional identification of the panel of conditional lethal mutants of Semliki Forest virus”
Supervisor: extraordinary prof. Andres Merits, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: extraordinary prof. Lilian Järvekülg, PhD, Tallinn Technical University

Katrin Kepp ”Genetic comparison of Estonians and Russian speaking residents in Estonia”
Supervisors: Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD; senior scientist Maris Laan, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: scientist Kristiina Tambets, MSc, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

Aleksei Lulla “Functional characterization and substrate specificity of Semliki Forest virus non-structural protease”
Supervisor: extraordinary prof. Andres Merits, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: scientist Merike Meier, MSc, Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics

Pille Pärn “Maltase from a methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha”
Supervisor: assoc. prof. Tiina Alamäe, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu 
Oponent: Assoc. Prof. Andres Mäe, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

Aune Ahman “Oligonukleotiidse kiibi valideerimine ja võrdlus teiste TP53 geeni uurimisel kasutatavate meetoditega”
Supervisors: Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu; Neeme Tõnisson, PhD, Asper Biotech Ltd.
Oponent: senior scientist Sulev Kõks, PhD, Institute of Physiology, University of Tartu

Hugo Pettai ”Photosystem II antenna size regulation during state transitions – quantitative analysis”
Supervisor: Prof. Agu Laisk, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: Dr Arvi Freiberg, Institute of Physics, University of Tartu

Kaidi Möll “Construction of the multiepitopic antigen and analysis of the respective immune response”
Supervisor: Prof Mart Ustav, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: senior scientist Ene Metspalu, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

Signe Altmäe “WFS1 geeni polümorfismide võimalik seos meeleoluhäirete kujunemisega”
Supervisors: scientist Tiit Nikopensius, MSc, Estonian Biocentre; Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: senior scientist Sulev Kõks, PhD, Institute of Physiology, University of Tartu

Tiina Michelson “Optimisation of fermentation of the strain Bacillus coagulans SIM-7 for productivity of lactic acid”
Supervisor: senior scientist Allan Nurk, PhD, Technology Group, University of Tartu
Oponent: senior scientist Margus Pooga, PhD, Estonian Biocentre

Kristi Kallassalu “A novel gene in human chromosome region 5p13.2: structure, expression and comparative phylogenetic analysis”
Supervisors: Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu; scientist Toomas Haller, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Oponent: scientist Viljar Jaks, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

Elve Raukas “The development of molecular diagnostic methods for infectious diseases”
Supervisor: Prof Mart Ustav, PhD, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: lecturer Jüri Parik, MSc, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

Evelin Mihailov “Lymphocyclin, a novel mouse gene: structure and expression pattern”
Supervisors: Prof. Andres Metspalu, PhD; Anu Reigo, M.D., Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
Oponent: extraordinary scientist Kaja Reisner, MSc, Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Tartu

Tambet Tõnissoo ”Nucleotide exchange factor Ric-8 in the developing and adult mouse nervous system”
Supervisor: Prof. Alar Karis, PhD, Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Tartu
Oponent: Prof. Jüri Kärner, PhD, Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Tartu

Oponent: Leiu Heapost, PhD

Defended in the council of the Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology.