MU Rector Martin Bareš handed the appointment letters to the new associate professors. During his opening remarks, he shared his delight at the induction of the newly appointed associate professors from five faculties at Masaryk University. He praised their hard work and dedication, which led to them achieving this important academic milestone. He emphasised the variety of subjects taught at Masaryk University and emphasised the importance of education and human touch in academic work. He also noted the important role that loved ones play in providing support during this challenging process, and thanked everyone who had been involved in the new associate professors’ journey, even if they often stay in the background. He stressed that, while the university invests in state-of-the-art infrastructure, its true value and success lie in its people: its teachers, researchers and students.
Karla Brücknerová then spoke on behalf of the new associate professors. She expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped them reach this important milestone in their academic career. She stressed that habilitation is not the result of an individual’s efforts alone, but rather the outcome of numerous meetings, conversations and inspiring collaborations. She thanked the scholars and thinkers of the past who had inspired them to enter the field; their colleagues, for their collaboration and constructive criticism; and everyone who keeps the university’s complex ecosystem running. “We want to give special thanks to our families and friends. To those who gave us the space, peace and time to work, often behind closed doors and for longer than we had promised. While our work is deeply meaningful to us, what is far more important is that you are out there waiting for us,” she said. She promised that all new associate professors would continue to create a supportive and inspiring environment for future generations, thus best fulfilling the meaning of their gratitude.
The newly appointed associate professors:
Associate Professor Irena Andršová
Habilitated in the field of Internal Medicine. Her research focuses on risk stratification of sudden cardiac death.
Associate Professor Irena Andršová participated in the introduction of complex clinical and genetic diagnostics of hereditary arrhythmias and published the first systematic description of these diagnoses in Czechia. Her research has provided world-class data on the development of cardiac repolarisation changes during childhood and adolescence. The digitisation of ECG recordings and the new possibilities for processing them open up innovative ways of risk-stratifying individuals within a population. Andršová’s research focused on the analysis of these “hidden” ECG markers. The detection of QRS complex microfragmentation appears to be a promising method. The results of her research can be applied across clinical practice and open up possibilities for further research.
Associate Professor Irena Andršová works at the Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology of the MU Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Brno.
Associate Professor Martin Formánek
Habilitated in the field of Otorhinolaryngology. His areas of focus include laryngology, otology, thyroid surgery and oncological surgery.
In his habilitation thesis, Associate Professor Martin Formánek addresses the issues surrounding precancerous conditions and laryngeal cancer, and presents modern examination and treatment methods. His research focuses particularly on risk factors and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. He also discusses new diagnostic methods, comparing the reliability of different optical systems that use filtered light or image modification, among other things. Martin Formánek has shown that they have comparable results in practical use. He also evaluates the dynamics of voice quality following transoral resection of vocal cord carcinoma, depending on the extent of the resection. In his clinical practice and research, he prioritises multidisciplinary collaboration and the integration of different specialisations.
Associate Professor Martin Formánek is the Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the University Hospital Ostrava, and he also works at the Department of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology at the MU Faculty of Medicine and at the Centre for Health Research at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava.
Associate Professor Ladislav Kočan
Habilitated in the fields of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Medicine and Algology. His research focuses on the influence of oxidative stress on the development and progression of septic conditions, respiratory failure, and pain, where he studies the possibilities of its targeted therapeutic modulation in clinical practice.
Associate Professor Ladislav Kočan has long been involved in the nutritional support of critically ill patients, a s well as researching multistage ventilation in patients with lung damage, particularly those who have suffered severe viral pneumonia. His research has contributed to international recommendations regarding the clinical nutrition and treatment of chronic pain conditions, including post-laminectomy syndrome. He has published the results of preclinical and clinical studies which have subsequently been referenced in meta-analyses and systematic reviews.
Associate Professor Ladislav Kočan currently serves as Deputy Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the East Slovak Institute of Heart and Vascular Diseases in Košice, Slovakia.
Associate Professor Vladimír Kojecký
Habilitated in the field of Internal Medicine. He is an internist specialising in gastroenterology.
For his habilitation thesis, Associate Professor Vladimír Kojecký examined the role of vitamin D in patients with idiopathic intestinal inflammation. These chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are a significant medical concern. Vitamin D is considered one of the most promising therapeutic options as its deficiency is associated with a more severe course of the disease. Vladimír Kojecký’s work has addressed the important question of how much vitamin D is required to maintain adequate levels in the body and prevent vitamin deficiency in these patients. This work makes an original and unique contribution to solving this important practical issue.
Associate Professor Vladimír Kojecký is the head of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Bata Regional Hospital in Zlín, and he also works at the Second Department of Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Markéta Holá
Habilitated in the field of Analytical Chemistry. Her research focuses on studying the fundamental processes of laser ablation and its applications in chemical analysis.
Associate Professor Markéta Holá’s habilitation thesis is focused on the challenging issue of laser interaction with geological and metallic materials, as analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. She described and experimentally verified various methods of studying laser ablation, identifying the key parameters that influence this process. Markéta Holá is an analytical chemistry expert who specialises in the sophisticated use of the highly specific instrumental technique of laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in basic and applied research.
Associate Professor Markéta Holá works at the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Geological Sciences of the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Tomáš Kisela
Habilitated in the field of Mathematics – Mathematical Analysis. He is interested in applied theory of fractional differential equations.
Associate Professor Tomáš Kisela’s habilitation thesis is a comprehensive study of the qualitative properties of fractional delay differential equations, focusing in particular on stability, asymptotic behaviour and oscillatory properties. In light of the increasing significance of fractional calculus in applied mathematics, physics and engineering, this study presents significant theoretical findings that advance mathematical analysis and have the potential to inform control theory and the behaviour of complex dynamical systems. Tomáš Kisela presents practical tools for further research and applications in engineering and applied sciences.
Associate Professor Kisela works at the Department of Mathematical Analysis of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Brno University of Technology.
Associate Professor Jan Škoda
Habilitated in the field of Molecular Biology and Genetics. His specialism is the biology of childhood tumours, particularly their stemness and the potential for new targeted therapies.
Associate Professor Jan Škoda’s habilitation thesis focuses on innovative approaches to combatting resistance to standard treatments for childhood solid tumours. The first part of the thesis focuses on the molecular determinants of cancer stem cells and their role in developing treatment resistance in solid tumours, particularly in paediatric sarcomas. In the second part of the thesis, he explores the current methods of overcoming neuroblastoma resistance, such as targeting mitochondria or exploiting tumour vulnerabilities in developmental pathways. Škoda has made a significant contribution to the research of aggressive childhood tumours and the development of innovative treatment strategies.
Associate Professor Jan Škoda is the head of research groups at the Section of Genetics and Molecular Biology at the MU Faculty of Science and at the International Clinical Research Center at St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno.
Associate Professor Karla Brücknerová
Habilitated in the field of Andragogy. She focuses on adult learning and higher education.
In her habilitation thesis, Associate Professor Karla Brücknerová highlights the importance of peer learning for combined studies students as part of their university experience. Drawing on existing knowledge, she concludes that peer learning is related to academic success, satisfaction with one’s studies, and student engagement. She then summarises the ways in which peer learning can be promoted in higher education. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of extensive data, she identifies the contextual factors influencing peer learning among mixed-ability learners, defines three types of peer learning, and illustrates their relationship to learning success. Her work is appreciated by experts in the field for its interdisciplinary approach and the quality of its empirical research, which is methodologically rigorous, transparent and innovative.
Associate Professor Karla Brücknerová is the Deputy Head of the Department of Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Jakub Drábik
Habilitated in the field of History – Czech History. His research focuses on the comparative study of fascism, with a particular emphasis on Czech and British fascism.
In his habilitation thesis, Associate Professor Jakub Drábik outlines the key definitional elements of fascist ideology, including revolutionary drive, the myth of rebirth, and ultra-nationalist populism. He demonstrates the variability of fascism in its different national forms, thus confirming that, despite national specificities, fascism shares common characteristics. He also explores the evolution of fascism after 1945, examining how it adapted to the new era and became a permanent fixture in the political landscape. Jakub Drábik’s habilitation thesis is a prime example of a mature and thoughtful piece of work. It deals with well-founded historiographical topics and presents a number of interesting facts that have emerged from the author’s research.
Associate Professor Jakub Drábik works in the China Studies Seminar at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Aleš Chalupa
Habilitated in the field of Classical Philology. His research interests include Roman religion, ancient magic and divination practices, with a particular focus on the Roman cult of Mithras.
In his habilitation thesis, Associate Professor Aleš Chalupa presents an English translation of the first volume of a manuscript containing a comprehensive catalogue of sites where shrines and artefacts related to the Roman cult of Mithras, such as iconographic and epigraphic pieces, have been discovered during previous excavations. The manuscript also includes maps showing the geographical location of these sites. He has thus made an excellent addition to Maarten Jozef Vermaseren’s monumental work. Aleš Chalupa is an internationally recognised specialist in his field. He was one of the first scholars of religious studies to apply cognitive science theories to ancient religious traditions, thereby helping to establish a new field of research: cognitive historiography.
Associate Professor Aleš Chalupa works at the Department for the Study of Religions at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Bruno Rossi
Habilitated in the field of Informatics. His research focuses on the quality of software systems, software processes, empirical software engineering, and software reliability.
Associate Professor Bruno Rossi’s habilitation thesis focuses on Evidence-Based Software Engineering (EBSE) research, addressing the quality of software development processes and software systems. His research has been applied in the field of smart grids, covering everything from anomaly detection to collaborative simulation. Bruno Rossi uses empirical software engineering methods and automation to improve system quality during the design process, as well as to evaluate the reliability of software systems using software reliability growth models. Researchers in the field value the practical application of their work in collaboration with industry.
Associate Professor Bruno Rossi works at the Department of Computer Systems and Communications at the Faculty of Informatics of Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Miriam Matejova
Habilitated in the field of Political Science. Her research focuses on disaster-related policies and the interconnectedness of environmental threats within the framework of contemporary security studies.
Associate Professor Miriam Matejova’s habilitation thesis focuses on the impact of disasters on political activism and presents their political and social implications. These methodologies have been carefully developed using large data sets, offering state-of-the-art evaluations that can produce highly relevant findings. Miriam Matejova’s habilitation thesis makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge on environmental politics in security studies. The author demonstrates the high quality of her scholarly work in terms of its empirical, theoretical and methodological aspects. The original approach to (and conceptualisation of) environmental disasters and political activism have contributed to the global development of the field.
Associate Professor Miriam Matejova works at the Department of Political Science and the International Institute of Political Science at the Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Jiří Navrátil
Habilitated in the field of Sociology. His research focuses on social movements, political sociology, and the methodology of social sciences.
In his habilitation thesis, Associate Professor Jiří Navrátil examines the long-term development and structure of protests against economic conditions within Czech society from the fall of communism in 1989 to 2021. His work provides valuable new insights by offering a detailed description of the collective actors involved in economic protest, their interrelationships and the factors that influenced their development over the course of the country’s entire economic and political transformation. In his research, he draws on two main theoretical and conceptual sources: social movement theory and formal social network analysis. The analysis of protest coalitions in the field of economic protest and their relationship with the broader institutional environment is highly praised by colleagues in the field, as is the overall embedding of the empirical analysis in a robust theoretical framework.
Associate Professor Jiří Navrátil is the Head of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University and leads projects funded by the Czech Science Foundation and the Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius.