Miroslav Hala
Tell us about yourself:
My name is Miroslav Hala and I’m currently in the 4th year of my PhD at the Department of Inorganic Technology at the Faculty of Chemical Technology. I work on hydrogen technologies, specifically PEM fuel cells. Besides that, I was a senator in the university-wide Academic Senate for four years, and I represent UCT Prague in the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions. I like travelling the world with my partner and friends, and at home I like cooking or watching YouTube.
What do you enjoy most about being a scientist?
I enjoy the diversity and complexity of a scientist’s work. Every problem is a bit different and requires a different solution. Unfortunately, most problems aren’t solved by the first approach you come up with, which can be very frustrating, but either way you learn lots of new things along the way. Because I’m involved in international projects, my work also includes communicating with people from outside the Czech environment. Besides opening doors to the world, it helps me fight the feeling that we in Czechia aren’t good enough, because I can see that in many areas we have the upper hand (salaries definitely aren’t one of them).
What do you consider your greatest achievements so far?
I’ve never measured my life by achievements. I’m glad that I’m a valuable part of the team, that I managed to combine the time-consuming role of Senate vice-chair with my PhD, that my students respect me, that I have great people around me and that I’m doing well. I prefer to let life carry me along in a controlled way and to be happy about everything that works out. If I were to compare myself with others by how many excellence awards, scholarships and titles they’ve won, I’d get nothing out of life but stress.
Why did you choose research over industry?
For a long time I said I would never do a PhD. Then I got a good offer from my supervisor, we have a good team in the group, and I saw a real chance of finishing my PhD on time. I also felt that I didn’t yet know enough to do the kind of work I’d like to do.
What would you say to those considering a PhD at UCT Prague?
Think of a PhD as a job. Choose carefully which team you’ll join. Find out what conditions you’ll get, how your research will be funded, how quickly colleagues before you have completed their PhDs and how much work you’ll have to do beyond your own duties. A dissertation is a much bigger undertaking than a master’s thesis; far more will be up to you, and you’ll constantly have to learn new things. But most important are the people you’ll work with – if you don’t get on with your colleagues and supervisor, you’ll be miserable for four years. But you’re in luck! Which path you choose is entirely up to you, and you don’t have to let anyone push you into any decision.
What motivates you most to continue your involvement in academic bodies such as the Academic Senate or the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions?
Our higher education system is quite rigid and afraid to try new things. Why change something that works, right? How well something works depends on your point of view – and students offer a different one. But without good arguments and negotiating skills, they can’t get that view across. In this respect I have a lot of experience that I try to pass on to my younger colleagues, but I also feel that I’m losing touch with students. That’s why I didn’t run for the Academic Senate again.