Newsletter for PhD students and Postdocs

Dear PhD students and Postdocs,

Welcome back to a new edition of the Early-Stage Researchers Newsletter after the Christmas break! This year, the newsletter will once again be here to support you throughout your studies, help you connect with others, and keep you informed about what’s happening in our academic community. A busy year full of challenges lies ahead, but also one filled with opportunities, achievements, and moments to be proud of. We wish you plenty of motivation, energy, and inspiration as you work toward your goals!

Wrapping Up Autumn Semester 2025: Important Reminders for the Semester Ahead

1) Apply here to be enrolled in the Spring semester by February 15, 2026.
2) Enrolment to courses in the Spring semester starts at 17:00 on February 1, 2026, and ends on February 15, 2026. Remember to add the number of credits for "XDxxx" courses if applicable - as recommended by your supervisor following the study plan for your programme.
3) You need to fill in feedback on Autumn semester 2025 and your plans for the Spring semester 2026. Do not forget to save it with "Save and notify a supervisor" button.
4) Check your grades for all Autumn 2025 courses you enroled in.

If you have any problems or questions, don't hesitate to contact your study assistant (contacts here). They will be happy to help you!

Become a Member of MUNI Mendel Doctorandus Family

With the new semester approaching, you now have the opportunity for you to become a MUNI Mendel Doctorandus student (MMD)  – the call to become part of the MMD programme is now open!
This prestigious programme welcomes doctoral students in their 1st to 3rd year of their studies into a thriving community of more than 60 talented young researchers.

By joining the MMD club, you will gain access to interdisciplinary lectures, soft skills training, international internships, and invaluable networking opportunities with scientific leaders. Furthermore, participants can pursue a European Doctorate, a credential that can significantly enhance their career prospects, especially in the international academic and research field.

Are you interested in joining the MMD programme? Please upload your application by February 10, 2026, using the form on the MMD website. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at noskova@sci.muni.cz. 

Supporting Mental Health in Doctoral Studies

PhD studies may not include a traditional exam period, but they often come with sustained pressure, high workload, deadlines, and mental fatigue. Taking care of your mental wellbeing is therefore not a luxury, but an essential part of long-term academic performance. To support students during demanding periods, the Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics (Faculty of Medicine, MU) offers an online webinar series focused on mental health, stress management, and psychological resilience. The sessions provide practical, evidence-based tools that can be easily integrated into everyday academic life. The webinar will include topics such as emotional regulation, relaxation techniques, mindfulness, physical self-care, and healthy lifestyle principles. Each session includes time for Q&A and discussion. More info here.

Programme:
Thoughts and Emotions Under Control (Jan 7, 2026)
Autogenic Training and Positive Interventions (Jan 14, 2026)
Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Guided Imagery (Jan 28, 2026)
Mindfulness: Body Scan (Feb 4, 2026)
Physiotherapy and Physical Self-Care (Feb 11, 2026)

All webinars take place via Zoom using the same link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88901869536

Whether you are facing deadlines, publication pressure, or need a moment to slow down, these sessions offer a valuable space to recharge and strengthen your resilience.

Registration For the FRESHERS: Skills for Research Careers Course is Now Open

We are pleased to announce that registration for the FRESHERS: Skills for Research Careers course for the spring term of 2026 is now open. This e-learning course, conducted in English, consists of 8 topics designed to equip young researchers with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful research career. The course aims to provide an overview of the challenges faced by researchers and enhance young researchers' skills and competencies, enabling them to better integrate into national and international research projects and structures. Take this opportunity to enhance your research skills and advance your career! For more information about the course check IS, or enrol directly!

Registration is managed through the MU Information System, while the course itself will be delivered via the Moodle (ELF) platform, which will open in March. After registration closes, you will receive an email with instructions on accessing Moodle and brief guidelines for using it.

Join Us For the Life Sciences Seminar!

We warmly invite you to the Bi0011 - Life Sciences Seminar, a series of expert-led lectures exploring exciting topics in the life sciences field. Each session gives you a unique insight into the latest research and the work of leading scientists in the field. The lecture schedule for the spring 2026 semester and other important information can be found here. To earn credit, attending at least five seminar lectures is necessary. Held in English

When: Thursdays 16:00
Where: University Campus Bohunice, B11, Room 132

Don’t miss this chance to broaden your scientific horizons and meet the top scientists in person!

A.6. Faculty Scholarship for PhD Students is Back!

Good news – the A.6. PhD Student Mobility Scholarship Programme will also continue in 2026. These grants are designed to support study stays and internships abroad, offering an excellent opportunity to boost your research and international profile while fulfilling your mandatory study abroad requirement.

- Available to full-time and combined doctoral students enrolled in their standard study duration (with a one-year extension = up to 10th semester). 
- NEW: also students in 11+ semesters can apply if they have not completed the stay abroad yet.
- Stay abroad must begin in 2026.
- Priority is given to longer stays (30+ days), but shorter stays (minimum 14 days) may be supported if they’re part of a mandatory stay (30+ days stay)
- The scholarship helps with travel and living expenses; travel contributions based on distance, and daily living allowances depending on the destination country.
- 6. scholarship can usually be combined with other sources.
- To apply, submit an application in the IS MU Document Office with a Learning Agreement or a Learning Agreement for Traineeships.
- No deadline – applications are accepted until the allocated budget is exhausted.

Don’t miss this chance to enhance your doctoral journey with valuable international experience—apply now before funds run out!

Before applying, please review the guidelines or contact us – we’re happy to help.
Contact person: Kristýna Bajgarová, bajgarova@sci.muni.cz

The Balzan Prize Edition 2026

As every year, the General Prize Committee awards four Balzan Prizes in four subject areas: two in literature, moral sciences, and the arts, and two in the physical, mathematical, natural sciences, and medicine.

The subject areas in which the awards are granted are rotated, and this special characteristic of the Balzan Prize ensures the promotion and recognition of new or emerging fields of study or research that other international awards may have overlooked. Each of the four Balzan Prizes is around 750, 000 CHF (approx. 18 million CZK). Prize winners must apportion half of the prize value to the financing of research projects carried out by young scholars or scientists. The Balzan Prizes are awarded to scientists and researchers who have excelled internationally in their field. Within the category of the physical, mathematical, and natural sciences, and medicine, the General Prize Committee announced that the two 2026 Balzan Prizes will be awarded in the following fields:

• Biodegradable Polymers from Renewable Sources
• Molecular Evolution: Decoding Patterns of Genomic Change

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is February 15, 2026. Nominations should be sent to Ms Michaela Švestková, svestkova@sci.muni.cz. The application deadline is March 15, 2026

International Conference on Technology, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Early-Stage Researchers are warmly invited to take part in the International Conference on Technology, Engineering, and Life Sciences (ICTELS 2026), which offers an interdisciplinary platform to present your research, receive international feedback, network with peers and experts, and gain publication opportunities in ISTES conference proceedings or journals (no publication fee). More information & registration here. 

When: May 15 - 18, 2026
Where: Paris, France / Online

Deadline for registration: April 16, 2026.

Call for Postdocs: Start Your Own Research Group With the Experientia Foundation!

Are you a young researcher with an original project in organic, bioorganic, or medicinal chemistry? The Experientia Foundation Start-up Grant is your chance to launch your own research group! This three-year grant, currently amounting to 9 million CZK, is open to researchers who:

- completed their PhD no more than 7 years ago
- have undertaken at least one year of an international research stay
- and have an innovative project in the specified fields.

What’s new this year? The foundation’s support has increased by 200,000 CZK per year, providing 2.2 million CZK annually for your group, plus 800,000 CZK per year from your host institution. More info and application details: Experientia Start-up Grants

Deadline for applications: March 15, 2026

Take the leap and build your own research team — your project, your vision, your group!