Mariana Hanková

Tell us about yourself:

At UCT Prague I studied Food Chemistry and Technology, during which, thanks to the Erasmus programme, I spent a year at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) in Austria, studying the master’s programme Safety in the Food Chain. After returning, with the extra time I had, I got involved in student life at UCT Prague. I became a buddy for incoming Erasmus students, was elected to the Academic Senate of the Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, represented UCT Prague in the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions and represented the Czech Republic in Eurodoc, an organisation bringing together PhD candidates and early-career researchers from across Europe. I also helped at various events for students, such as freshers’ orientation camps, Lesamáj, 4Students events and UCT Prague’s own events. After an internship in India organised by IAESTE, towards the end of my PhD – thanks to cooperation between the Student Chamber and the organisation Youth Speak Up! – I started working for the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation (first under one minister and later under her successor), where I currently work.

What do you enjoy most about your current position as Head of the Secretariat of the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation?

I enjoy seeing the immediate results of my work and having the opportunity to actively contribute to improving science, research and innovation policy in the Czech Republic. Being able to help improve conditions for Czech science and to watch these steps gradually being implemented makes a lot of sense to me. And it’s exciting to be at the centre of current issues that affect us all.

What do you consider your greatest achievements so far?

Certainly finishing my PhD under rather turbulent (work, personal and health) circumstances. Organising the (in the end hybrid) international Eurodoc conference in Prague in 2021 amid constantly changing COVID conditions. And now, after years of effort, seeing measures to improve conditions for PhD students finally being completed (a higher income, counting doctoral study towards pension and as years worked for salary calculation, an allowance for PhD students who are parents, the state doctoral examination consisting only of the defence, more flexible drawing of parental allowance), into which I put a considerable amount of energy. But honestly, I have to say that I consider it an achievement that I and everyone around me survived in good health and with good relationships intact :)

Why did you choose your current position over research?

At that moment, this offer made more sense to me. During my PhD, the topic of my dissertation changed due to circumstances into a less attractive one, and further funding was uncertain. At the same time, I was given a unique opportunity to see through the changes for PhD students that I had already been working on for four years, together with better pay, the chance to be part of a dynamic environment and a motivated team, and new opportunities for personal and professional development.

What would you say to those considering a PhD at UCT Prague?

Find out as much as you can about the PhD, as well as about the potential workplace, supervisor and financial conditions. A PhD at UCT Prague will give you a broad range of knowledge and skills if you really want to do it. If you don’t know what to do after university, you’ll probably find it harder in a PhD than in a job ;)

What led you to get involved in the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions?

I’d say it was chance. Because I had to spread out a year of my studies due to a lack of recognised courses from Erasmus, I had more time to look around for ways to get involved. After a meeting of the Board of Student Senates and Associations, the then representatives in the Student Chamber, Vláďa Vojtěch and Míra Dragoun, spotted me – their mandate was just ending, and they asked whether I’d be interested. A desire to be helpful, to develop, a certain sense of responsibility and good friends are, I think, what keep me moving forward in life.