Tomáš Zimmermann
Tell us about yourself:
At the Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, UCT Prague, I completed the bachelor’s programme Drug Biotechnology, continued with the master’s programme Chemistry of Natural Compounds and am now studying Organic Chemistry. I work in Prof. Pavel Drašar’s laboratory. In the second year of my PhD I spent over a year on an internship with Prof. Søren Christensen at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. I received the award for the best talk at the 24th Conference on Isoprenoids of the Phytochemical Society of Europe.
What do you enjoy most about being a scientist?
The opportunity to do creative, interesting work on socially important problems such as cancer treatment. You can also usually adjust your working hours to some extent according to your personal preferences and agreement.
What do you consider your greatest achievements so far?
Publishing papers, especially about the work I did in Denmark, as well as becoming more independent after my internship abroad and gaining more confidence in doing work on my own, my own way. We also tried to file a patent application based on the results of the work in Denmark, which unfortunately was rejected due to a lack of results (animal tests and the like) confirming our hypothesis. I also enjoy watching the development of the people I’ve taught in the lab – their progress and the at least partial independence they gain just a few months after being introduced to the very basics of lab work.
Why did you choose research over industry?
Research work fulfilled me, and I wasn’t sure whether I would get to do such interesting and meaningful work in industry – although it’s true that basic research is a long-distance run with uncertain results. I also wanted enough time for my other activities, such as playing with my band.
What would you say to those considering a PhD at UCT Prague?
It’s definitely a very good choice, provided you think carefully about the financial side as well as the job content and, possibly, the opportunities to go on an internship abroad. So it’s a good idea to think carefully about with whom you’ll be most satisfied in these respects over the next four years. The university also gives you the opportunity to supervise students in the lab and teach various courses, which can be valuable experience for your future career.