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27 Feb 2026, 9:56
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Newsletter for PhD students and Postdocs
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Save the Date:
Masaryk Days - March 3 - 4, 2026. Social event. Venue according to the programme. Held in English.
Jak na změnu - March 11, 2026, (16:00 – 17:30). Workshop. Komenského nám. 2, room 300. Registration needed. Held in Czech.
Searching and Evaluating on Web of Science & Scopus - March 18, 2026, (10:00 - 11:00). Online. Registration needed. Held in English.
Research Breakfast - March 24, 2026, (8:00 - 9:00). Interview with Assoc. Prof. Petr Vaňhara. Registration needed. Held in English. UCB Library
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Bláha: I want to teach the faculty to support success
Text/Photo: Emma Marušáková
The Academic Senate of the Faculty of Science has elected ecotoxicologist and current Vice-Dean for Doctoral Studies Luděk Bláha as its candidate for Dean.
He took up the position, to which he was appointed by the Rector of Masaryk University, on February 1.
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The election of the new dean of the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University took place on October 20, 2025. Senators chose from three candidates who wanted to take over from Tomáš Kašparovský, whose second term was coming to an end. In a two-round election, Luděk Bláha ultimately won the necessary majority of votes.
You first ran for dean eight years ago against Tomáš Kašparovský. You eventually became part of the faculty's leadership. What do you bring to the role of dean from this period?
With a little exaggeration, I would say that I gained a little humility and understood that it will never be "Bláha's world." But seriously, I understood that the university is a really large institution that, while it does not function like a corporation, must adhere to many rules. I found that academic self-government does not speed up many processes, because things have to be thoroughly discussed, but at the same time it provides important feedback to senior staff and acts as a kind of brake and reminder that the university is not just about their personal ideas and decisions. To sum up, I have learned that it is better to resolve everything by consensus and that it is more beneficial to gradually convince people of what I consider important than to simply present specific solutions without a thorough explanation.
In the debates prior to your election, it was said that the faculty lacks a comprehensive strategy. How do you perceive this and what strategy do you want to set?
The Faculty of Science has a very diversified structure – we have departments that are larger than some entire faculties, and others that have only a few dozen employees. It is simply unrealistic to tell large departments what to do, and I respect the independence of our departments' management. Nevertheless, we all need to move in the same direction within the faculty. The faculty's strategy must be based on agreement on where we want to go in the long term. For me, this means above all ensuring that we have strong and respected leaders in the five core areas in which we teach and conduct research. I also want us to clearly and dispassionately acknowledge that some parts of the faculty are naturally more focused on teaching and others more on cutting-edge scientific performance, and to agree that each of these positions is key to the functioning of the faculty and is not superior to the other.
 Read whole article.
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Also Good To Know:
With the start of February, our faculty has entered a new chapter. Alongside the appointment of a new Dean, changes have also taken place in the faculty leadership responsible for doctoral studies and research. Doc. Jan Paleček has been appointed Vice-Dean for Doctoral Studies, while doc. Jiří Kohoutek now serves as Vice-Dean for Research. We wish both of them every success in their new roles in doctoral studies and research at our faculty.
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Announcement of the Office for Doctoral Studies, Quality, Academic Affairs and Internationalisation
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Notification Of Changes To Student's Employment For Those Receiving A Doctoral Scholarship Under The Amended Higher Education Act
In line with the amended Higher Education Act, any adjustments to your employment must be reported if you are receiving a doctoral scholarship.
This includes changes to:
- workload
- salary
- contract duration
- or any other related employment conditions
Any change to the terms under which the scholarship was granted must be communicated immediately via the external employment change notification form in the Document Office Information System.
More info.
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Nominate a Speaker for the Next MUNI Life Sciences Seminar!
Do you know someone who is a leader in the field? A respected scientist, or maybe even a pioneer in a particular discipline? If so, don't hesitate to nominate them for the Life Sciences Seminar. If the expert committee selects and invites your nominee, you will have the opportunity to meet a professional who inspires you, or you look up to personally. Become a guide for your host, and you will surely build a future collaboration or scientific friendship. Send your nominations to noskova@sci.muni.cz by March 31, 2026.
More information about the nominations and the Seminar Series.
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Science Slam Tour: Share Your Science, Inspire Others!
Are you a PhD student or postdoc who enjoys talking about science?
Join the Science Slam Tour and help inspire young people by bringing science to schools across the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
We’re currently looking for new team members, PhD students who want to develop their science communication skills and engage with the public. More info in Czech.
Interested? Contact us at scienceslam@muni.cz
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Internships For Early-stage Researchers
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Erasmus+ Stays in 2026 - The World Is Waiting For You!
If you plan to travel in the Spring or Autumn semester of 2026, consider applying for Erasmus+. As you may know, there are additional Erasmus+ options for which you can apply. But what are the differences? See it below!
 Erasmus+ traineeships (Erasmus+ SMP)
- minimum 60 days
- worldwide – also outside Europe!
- Maximum 12 months
- EU: 690-810EUR/month Outside Europe:700 EUR /month + travel allowance
- any institution (university, company, institute…)
- you need to contact the institution in advance
- possible combination with faculty A.6 scholarship
Deadlines: January, April, July, October 2026
Erasmus+ PhD short-term stays
- 5-30 days
- cholarships up to 2000 EUR/month
- internship = any institution in project countries (university, company, institute)
- contact the institution first
- possible 2nd round for Spring 2027 in September
Next round for stays in 2026/2027: May 2026
 Please note that Erasmus+ Study stays and Erasmus+ Traineeships DO NOT SUPPORT RESEARCH! Please do NOT include your own research (data collection, working on your own project, publication/manuscript etc.) in your cover letters and applications. Such applications can and probably will be rejected. You can, of course, use different words to describe your activities (e.g., learning new methods of data collection is acceptable; you can also be involved in a research project of the host institution – as long as you will benefit from it, e.g., you will learn something new/improve some skills, etc.).
Contact person – Kristýna Bajgarová, bajgarova@sci.muni.cz
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Explore PhD Scholarships in Taiwan, Apply Now!
The 2026 Taiwan Scholarship Programme is now open for applications, offering funding opportunities for Czech and international students who want to pursue PhD studies in Taiwan!
This scholarship scheme, supported by the Taiwanese government through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague, encourages outstanding students to study at Taiwanese universities, covering academic costs
and offering a monthly stipend during the doctoral degree period.
More info.
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 In addition, Czech applicants may also consider related funding options of the National Taipei University; The Visegrad–Taiwan Scholarships, which provide financial support for V4 PhD candidates and Early-career researchers to conduct research or study in Taiwan, including a monthly allowance and travel support. Find out more.
Don’t miss the chance to advance your research and international experience in one of Asia’s most dynamic academic landscapes!
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The L’Oréal‑UNESCO For Women in Science Czech Republic 2026 call for applications is now open!
If you are a female scientist with a PhD, under 40 years old, and currently running a scientific project in the Czech Republic, we invite you to apply! The programme welcomes applicants from a range of fields including Physical Sciences, Formal Sciences, Engineering & Technology, and Life & Environmental Sciences. This programme celebrates talented women scientists making a difference in research across life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and technology. Winners will receive a financial award of up to 600,000 CZK, along with visibility, recognition, and opportunities to connect with a network of inspiring peers. Take the next step in your scientific journey and apply via the For Women in Science platform.
The deadline for application: April 30, 2026
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CLARA Young Innovator Award 2026 – Call for PhD & Early-Stage Researchers
Are you working on an innovative digital solution addressing ageing, health, or quality of life? Take your research beyond academia and apply for the CLARA Young Innovator Award 2026. The award offers international visibility, expert mentoring, and a €2,000 prize to support the further development of your project. Applications are open to individuals and teams of up to four members under the age of 35. The application deadline is March 15, 2026. Apply now by sending your submission to clara@indrc.cz. More info about competition.
The deadline for application: March 15, 2026
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Brno´s Student Geological Conference
The traditional Conference of Geological Students will take place in Brno on May 28, 2026.
The conference is open to all Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students in geosciences from Czech and international universities who wish to present their research results, theses, or other scientific activities.
Please send your abstracts to studkonf@sci.muni.cz latest on March 31, 2026. Held in English. More info and flyer.
Participation is free of charge. An expert committee will review abstracts and presentations, and the best contributions will be awarded!
When: May 28, 2026
Where: Kotlářská 2, Building no. 3, room G1
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8th Annual PRIDE Conference — Shaping Research Careers for a Changing World
The PRIDE Network invites professionals supporting doctoral education, career development and researcher success to its 8th Annual Conference, “Careers – Twist & Shout,” hosted by the University of Helsinki on May 6-7, 2026.
This year’s conference explores how doctoral and postdoctoral careers are evolving — from academic pathways into the wider world of work — and how institutions can better highlight researchers’ skills to unlock diverse opportunities beyond academia. Join international peers to discuss strategic approaches, share insights, and strengthen support systems that empower researchers throughout their career journeys. A pre-conference PRIDE Training (4–5 May) offers hands-on tools and labour-market insights for professionals working with PhDs and postdocs, including CV/LinkedIn guidance and interview coaching.
Where: Helsinki, Finland — Main Building, City Centre Campus
When: May 6–7, 2026
Find out more and register via the PRIDE Network website.
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New Opportunity for Beginning Teachers at MU!
Are you just starting your teaching journey at Masaryk University or are you involved in teaching assistance as a doctoral student? Enhance your pedagogical skills with CERPEK’s comprehensive Development of Teaching Competencies for Beginning Teachers programme. This structured 40-hour training spans four semesters and blends e-learning, practical workshops and webinars, mentoring support, and reflective practice — all designed to help you build confidence and excellence in university teaching. Successful participants receive a micro-certificate recognizing their commitment and growth. Held in Czech. More info.
Registration is open to March 31, 2026 — don’t miss out!
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National Library of Technology for Early-stage Researchers: Courses, Workshops and Webinars -Online and Free!
The National Library of Technology offers courses, workshops, and webinars in Czech and also in English on advanced searching, citing, and communicating about your research. Please fill in the registration form for each webinar you wish to attend. They will send you instructions for connecting to the given webinar by email. Materials from previous webinars are freely available. Webinars are free of charge and open for everyone (i.e. NTK registration is not required).
More info and programme in English / in Czech.
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AI Is Moving Fast. Are You Keeping Up?
Generative AI is moving fast—and if you blink, you might miss the next big shift. Tools that were revolutionary last year are already standard today, while new possibilities are emerging every single week. Join the VědaVýzkum.cz interactive workshops and stay ahead of the AI curve:
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AI Workshop for Researchers with Michaela Liegertová
March 25, 2026
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AI Workshop for Research PR Professionals
May 12, 2026 | Prague
Explore the latest tools, trends, and practical applications of AI tailored specifically to the needs of researchers and research communication professionals. More info.
When: March 25 & May 12, 2026
Where: Ústav fyziky plazmatu AV ČR, U Slovanky 2525/1a, Praha
Price: CZK 3. 300,- excluding VAT
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Sites we recommend to follow:
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Distributed by:
Office for Doctoral Studies, Quality, Academic Affairs and Internationalization (noskova@sci.muni.cz)
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