Petra Jánská
Tell us about yourself:
I come from Potvorov, a small village in the Plzeň Region. I completed the bachelor’s programme Micro and Nano Technologies in Chemical Engineering (2011–2014). Under the Erasmus+ programme I spent a year studying at KU Leuven in Belgium (2014–2015) and then completed the master’s programme Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering (2014–2017) at UCT Prague. I am currently studying and working in the doctoral programme Chemical and Process Engineering.
What do you enjoy most about being a scientist?
During my studies I took part in several internships abroad. The first was in Brazil, at the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara campus (2016), where I worked on the development and quality control of sunscreens. For my next internship I secured a place at McGill University in Canada (2019). There I tested an enzyme–substrate system and its antibacterial effects.
What do you consider your greatest achievements so far?
During my studies I received the Crytur Prize for the best master’s thesis (2017) and an award from the sponsor Medicem Technology s.r.o. at the Student Scientific Conference (2013).
Why did you choose research over industry?
Working in research has broadened my horizons, helped me break into the world of science and find the direction I want to take in the future. Thanks to the experience I’ve gained, I’ve become more self-confident. I’m surrounded by people who understand their work and devote a lot of time to it. The reward for maximum effort, however, is a result that matters not only to them but to society as a whole. The desire to explore and invent new things unites members of the academic community and moves forward not only them but humanity as such. I’m proud to be part of a project focused on creating an antibacterial agent that is the product of a reaction between an enzyme and a substrate. Using special techniques, we store the enzyme and the substrate separately. In response to a chosen stimulus, they are released, react with each other and form the active agent, which then acts where it is needed.
What would you say to those considering a PhD at UCT Prague?
After successfully completing my master’s, I chose research over industry because I was inspired by the environment in which I worked on my master’s thesis. I liked working with colleagues, the opportunity to travel and get to know research environments in other countries, and the exchange of information and experience. An important impulse for applying to doctoral studies was a recommendation from Professor Štěpánek, under whose supervision I very much enjoy working. If you’re considering enrolling in doctoral studies, I warmly recommend it. You’ll get a unique opportunity to work with exceptionally intelligent people in an environment that motivates you to keep improving and to work as well as you can to achieve your goal.