Tell us something about yourself:
I am a born Pilsener, fan of sport, food, and books in almost any form. But most importantly, I love chemistry and our school, where I have finished my Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 2024. Currently, I work here at the Laboratory of biomimetic engineering. Last autumn, I spent two months at the Bioengineering department of McGill University in Montreal.
What do you like most about working as a scientist?
There are so many things that I love about my work but variability is what sums it up the best. There is the science, which in itself makes every day a surprise, teaching, working in a team, writing... The list goes on and you can never be bored.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement(s) so far?
I am very proud of receiving the IGRA grant in 2021 and winning a poster prize at the CHISA 2019 conference. Being a student representative in the faculty and university senate was a big achievement as well.
Why do you prefer science to the commercial sphere?
I hadn't been on the academic track during most of my undergraduate studies. But when I was working on my master thesis I realised that I want to continue with this work, that I want to see it pushed further than what a master thesis could offer. Later on and especially during my first two years of Ph.D. I discovered all the great things about this work and there was no turning back :)
What would you say to those who are thinking about doing a PhD at UCT Prague?
It is a great opportunity not only to do a lot of science but also to get much better in communication skills, work management, English and so many other areas. If you are thinking about it - even just a little bit or if you have any doubts, don't be afraid to talk to your supervisor, Ph.D. students in your lab or any other Ph.D. student you can find.
How do you envision your long-term career and how does the postdoc position fit into it?
My first goal is to spend some time working abroad, which has always been a big dream of mine. I would like to come back to Prague and combine my enthusiasm for science and teaching, hopefully at UCT Prague.