Newsletter for PhD students and Postdocs

Spark Online Webinar: Patenting and Trademarks

In the fields of Life Sciences, Pharma, and HealthTech, intellectual property (IP) protection is often the cornerstone of a company’s value—especially in the early stages. Securing and maintaining this value can be crucial to long-term success. This seminar will explore how to develop an IP roadmap that aligns with your business strategy, helping to shape your future IP decisions and strengthen your position with potential investors.

The seminar will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to Intellectual Property (IP): Understand the fundamentals of IP and its importance.
• Creating an IP Roadmap: Learn how to design a roadmap that aligns with your business objectives.
• Leveraging IP for Investment: Explore ways to use your IP to attract and engage
  investors.

When: May 7, 2025
Where: Online

More info + registration here

A Trio of Development Courses for PhD Students: Which Workshop Will you Choose?

We are pleased to invite you to a series of professional development workshops conducted in English. These interactive sessions will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your academic and personal skills.

Storytelling
WHEN: May 15, 2025
WHO: Bc. Václav Strnadel
Effective storytelling is a powerful tool for communication, whether in academic presentations, writing, or public speaking. This workshop will help you develop compelling narratives and improve your ability to engage different audiences. More info.

Conflict Solving
WHEN: June 2, 2025
WHO: Mgr. Eva Dvořáková
Conflicts are a natural part of any professional and personal environment. In this workshop, you will learn practical techniques for resolving conflicts constructively, improving communication, and fostering collaboration. More info.

Stress Management and Work-Life Balance for PhD Students
WHEN: September 17, 2025
WHO: doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D.
Balancing research, teaching, and personal life can be challenging. This workshop will provide evidence-based strategies for managing stress, maintaining motivation, and achieving a healthy work-life balance. More info.

📌 Registration opens on April 1, 2025 at 9:00 AM.

Take advantage of this opportunity to develop essential skills in an engaging and supportive environment.

The Česká Hlava Competition

The Česká hlava competition, a prestigious award for Czech scientists and talented university students, has opened its 2025 call for nominations!

The Doctorandus Prize for Natural Sciences recognizes outstanding achievements, innovative approaches, and professional or scientific contributions of doctoral students—particularly in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. The award includes a financial prize of CZK 50,000. Nominations should be submitted with the required documentation to pazlerova@ceskahlava.cz.

Typically, the nomination includes a detailed description of the candidate's research or discovery, the results achieved, and expert recommendations highlighting its significance and impact. Since nominations must be submitted on behalf of the Rector, please send all necessary materials to svestkova@sci.muni.cz by June 10, 2025. Approval from the Head of the Department and the Dean of the Faculty of Science is required. Full details and requirements are available on the competition website (in Czech).

This award is highly prestigious, as evidenced by its previous recipients. One of these is our graduate Martin Toul, who won the Doctorandus Prize in 2023. Read more about his achievement here.

Explore the Research Scholarship in Germany

The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) offers scholarship opportunities for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to study or conduct research in Germany.
The duration of stay varies depending on the applicant’s status: PhD students can apply for stays of 2 to 12 months, postdoctoral researchers for 2 to 6 months, and those pursuing a cotutelle or dual-supervision doctorate for 7 to 24 months, with the possibility of splitting the stay into multiple periods.
Applications must be submitted electronically via the DAAD portal. More info.

Application deadline: April 30, 2025.

The 9th International PhD Summer School in Lithuania

Erasmus+ short-term PhD mobilities – from September 2025

We are excited to announce that applications are open for the Erasmus+ Short-Term PhD Mobilities. This unique programme supports short-term training stays abroad (5-30 days), allowing you to expand your academic horizons and strengthen your professional network. It is an ideal option for those looking to spend up to one month abroad. Stay abroad has to be arranged in advance.

• Application deadline: May 31, 2025
• Who can apply: All current PhD students
• When can you go abroad: From September 2025
• How long can the stay abroad be: 5-30 days
• Mandatory attachments: Motivation letter and LA for Traineeship (it is already part of the application)

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your academic journey. For more information and application guidelines, see here.

Join Us at the 31st Annual ISDRS Conference!

We invite you for the 31st Annual Conference of International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS). the event will be hosted by Corvinus University of Budapest, from July 8–12, 2025. Three decades after its introduction, sustainable development remains a key topic—but how has its meaning evolved in today’s changing world? Under the theme "Sustainability and Beyond", we will explore its future relevance through visionary keynotes, interdisciplinary discussions, and fresh perspectives on global challenges. More info.

Be part of the conversation, join us in Budapest!

When: July 8 - 12, 2025
Where: Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary

Barbora Jankovičová: Reflections on GYSS2025

Text: Linda Nosková / Photo: Irina Matusevich

Barbora Jankovičová (Hrnčířová) is a gifted biologist specialising in microbial bioengineering at MUNI SCI, where she explores ways to convert waste plant biomass into valuable chemicals. A member of the MUNI Mendel Doctorandus (MMD) programme and a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee, she is among the most promising young scientists in her field. Recently, she attended the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS2025) in Singapore, where top early-career researchers met with Nobel laureates to exchange ideas. In this interview, she shares her key takeaways and how the summit shaped her scientific outlook.

Welcome, Barbora; you recently participated in Singapore's Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS2025). What motivated you to attend this event? Could you share your overall impressions of the event?

Thank you! Attending GYSS2025 was an incredible way to start the year. I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to engage with scientists from different disciplines and exchange ideas that could enrich my research. The summit, organised by Singapore's National Research Foundation, aimed to inspire young scientists by exposing them to research beyond their primary fields. It also provided opportunities to expand their professional networks and engage in discussions with leading experts. It was a unique opportunity, with 12 Nobel laureates and other distinguished awardees present.

That sounds fascinating! Was there a particular moment or discussion that stood out to you?

Absolutely! The summit was packed with inspiring discussions and memorable encounters. Let me highlight a few key takeaways that had a lasting impact on me. If I had to pick a few key experiences, these would be my top takeaways:

Broadening Scientific Horizons

1. Meeting inspiring young scientists from diverse fields. While my expertise is in biology, I also learned about the future of space exploration, quantum optics, and Cambodia's economy. It's not every day you get such a mix of knowledge! It was also great to share the experience with my colleagues from MUNI—Hana Svozilová from CEITEC MU and Marcos González López from the Faculty of Medicine.
   
   
2. Discussing my project with Professor Tim Hunt. He won the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering proteins that regulate the cell cycle. He appreciated our approach of using waste plant biomass as a substrate for microbial production of useful chemicals. When I mentioned that my sister had an exam on cell cycle regulation, he laughed and sympathised, saying he always hated learning the Krebs cycle and felt for students who must study his discoveries!

Challenges and Mentorship in Science

1. A thought-provoking discussion with Professors Joan Rose and Sue Black on women in science. One of the most impactful topics was overcoming challenges through mentorship. While I have never faced discrimination in academia, some women in the discussion had. Professors Rose and Black advised them to seek out female mentors in senior positions who could empathise and help resolve such issues. More importantly, they emphasised that we should all strive to help others break down barriers. This responsibility extends not just to women in science but to everyone and everywhere.
   
   
2. Insights from both established professors and young scientists on translating research into practice. One debate focused on ensuring that people in key decision-making positions consider scientific findings. Professor Black humorously suggested, "First, make sure scientists and experts hold those key positions!" Of course, that's easier said than done. Until we reach that ideal world, we, as scientists, must work on earning public trust through education, clear communication, and constructive dialogue with policymakers—because no one else will do it for us.

Scientific Culture and Policy in Singapore

1. Discovering Singapore's research environment and mindset. Their approach is highly strategic, focusing on fundamental and applied research within key priority areas. Project planning takes a long-term perspective, spanning 10-15 years, allowing for ambitious goals and the time needed to achieve them. Singapore's strong government support for R&D is crucial, as the country has no significant natural resources and relies on innovation to stay competitive. Perhaps their appreciation for science also stems from lived experiences—some locals still remember when their tap water wasn't drinkable, but thanks to scientific advancements, it is now. This respect for science and trust in evidence-based solutions is something that, unfortunately, seems to be fading in some parts of the world.

Those are incredible insights! Given everything you've learned, how do these experiences influence your future research and collaborations?

It absolutely was! The summit was not just about learning but also about exchanging ideas, fostering collaborations, and gaining a broader perspective on science and its role in society. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have been part of it. If I could give one piece of advice to anyone reading this – take every opportunity to apply for these kinds of events (or anything), and don't get discouraged if it doesn't work out the first time. I applied already for GYSS2024 and was not selected, but Prof. Luděk Bláha encouraged me to try again, and a few months later, I was in Singapore!