The awards were presented by Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies Šárka Pospíšilová to those who were selected based on the successful completion of their doctoral studies within the standard four-year period, extended by no more than one year, and for achieving high-quality research results included in their dissertations. The award, first given in 2021, aims to motivate doctoral students to complete their studies on time and to achieve outstanding research outcomes.
Recipients of the Masaryk University Vice-Rector’s Award for Excellent Results in Doctoral Studies:
Agáta Kružíková and her supervisor Václav Matyáš
Agáta Kružíková graduated from the Faculty of Informatics, where she studied Computer Science with a specialization in Foundations of Informatics.
Her research focused on improving the usability and security of user authentication in computer systems. The outcomes of her work expanded theoretical knowledge and, in practice, led to recommendations that have already influenced the behavior of IT professionals as well as solutions in mobile banking.
Natália Antalová and her supervisor Andrea Pokorná
Natália Antalová graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, where she studied Hygiene, Preventive Medicine, and Epidemiology.
Her dissertation focused on the risks associated with the use of personal protective equipment by healthcare workers and the impact on their health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main contribution of her work lies in emphasizing the need to protect the health of professional caregivers and in improving their overall well-being.
Petra Búřilová and her supervisor Andrea Pokorná
Petra Búřilová also graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, in the program Hygiene, Preventive Medicine, and Epidemiology.
Her dissertation dealt with evaluating the cost of care for patients with pressure ulcers and the epidemiological aspects of this type of tissue damage.
She is a co-author of the national methodology, recommendations for pressure ulcer management, as well as educational videos and leaflets used in clinical practice.
Ladislav Bartoš and her supervisor Robert Vácha
Ladislav Bartoš graduated from the Faculty of Science in the program Life Sciences.
During his doctoral studies, he focused on protein associations in phospholipid membranes. Using computational simulations, he was able to clarify the mechanism of lipid transport in mitochondria.
His findings can be applied in the development of new pharmaceuticals and in engineering proteins with novel properties.
Veronika Bosáková and her supervisor Jan Frič
Veronika Bosáková graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the program Biomedical Sciences, specializing in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Her research focused on the pathogenesis of idiopathic intestinal inflammations, particularly Crohn’s disease, and on the interaction between immune cells and the intestinal epithelium using a human model.
Her work provided new insights for future treatment approaches to these diseases.
Ondřej Vymazal and her supervisor Jan Frič
Ondřej Vymazal graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the program Biomedical Sciences, specializing in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
His research explored the regulation of neutrophil migration during fungal infections.
The results of his work brought fundamental insights and opened new possibilities for targeted immunomodulatory therapies, particularly beneficial for patients after transplantations.
Tomáš Brom and her supervisor Ctirad Hofr
Tomáš Brom graduated from the Faculty of Science in the program Genomics and Proteomics.
He combined research approaches from proteomics, biochemistry, and structural biology, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative and cancer diseases.
The results of his dissertation contributed to understanding the functions of key proteins and opened new opportunities for the development of targeted therapies.
Tadeáš Celý and her supervisor Andrew Lawrence Roberts
Tadeáš Celý graduated from the Faculty of Social Studies in the program Political Science.
In his dissertation, he applied experimental-psychological methods and introduced a new approach to studying political polarization based on ideological structures and cultural conflicts.
His findings offer alternative solutions for restoring tolerance and acceptance of public policies, as well as new strategies for depolarizing the public sphere.
Lucie Curylová and her supervisor Jan Škoda
Lucie Curylová graduated from the Faculty of Science in the program Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics.
Her research focused on the biology of sarcomas, which belong to the most frequent and severe oncological diagnoses in children.
The outcomes of her work have major significance for the development of precision therapies for pediatric patients and for increasing their chances of survival.
Alžbeta Devánová, her supervisor Michal Horsák and consultant Jan Sychra
Alžbeta Devánová graduated from the Faculty of Science in the program Ecological and Evolutionary Biology, specializing in Hydrobiology.
Her research explored the biodiversity of invertebrates in temporary field ponds.
Her dissertation brings important findings for the protection of wetland communities and highlights previously overlooked risks of seemingly beneficial environmental measures.
Veronika Farková and her supervisor Tomáš Kašparovský
Veronika Farková graduated from the Faculty of Science in the program Biochemistry.
In her dissertation, she developed new methods for precise analysis of fatty acids in diverse biological samples.
Her research provided new insights important for nutrition, healthcare, and the food industry, and made a significant contribution to the development and applications of advanced gas chromatography methods.
Martin Fico and his supervisor Hana Horká
Martin Fico graduated from the Faculty of Education in the School Pedagogy program. During his studies, he focused on the perceived prestige of the teaching profession and the belief in one’s own professional abilities among participants in lifelong learning programs. His work contributed to understanding the factors influencing entry into the teaching profession and provided new tools for educational policy and teacher professional development.
Helge Hecht and her supervisor Elliott James Price
Helge Hecht graduated from the Faculty of Science in the Environment and Health program, specializing in Mathematical Biology, Bioinformatics, and Modeling. In his dissertation, he developed new computational methods for analyzing data from untargeted high-resolution mass spectrometry. His research helps to better understand the relationships between environmental factors, such as pollution or lifestyle, and biochemical changes in the human body.
Matúš Horváth a jeho školitel Tomáš Výrost
Matúš Horváth graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Administration in the Finance program. His studies addressed shortcomings in modern portfolio theory, especially in risk measurement, and the use of spectral risk measures for optimizing cryptocurrency portfolios. His research provided a new framework for more effective risk management and enhancing investment resilience in highly volatile conditions.
Matúš Chvojka and his supervisors Vladimír Šindelář and Hennie Valkenier
Matúš Chvojka graduated from the Faculty of Science in the Chemistry program, specializing in Organic Chemistry. He focused on diseases caused by dysfunctional channels in cell membranes, such as cystic fibrosis. He developed a new type of transport compounds to replace nonfunctional proteins in patients, opening new possibilities for targeted therapies.
Jakub Jusko, his supervisor Peter Spáč and consultant Martin Weissmann
Jakub Jusko graduated from the Faculty of Social Studies in the Political Science program. His research focused on the impact of environmental factors, such as natural disasters, weather, or air pollution, on voting behavior in Central Europe. His work provided new insights into how these phenomena affect democratic participation and ways to strengthen electoral process resilience to ecological challenges..
Kristóf Kanalas a jeho školitel Jiří Rosický
Kristóf Kanalas graduated from the Faculty of Science in the Mathematics and Statistics program, specializing in Algebra, Number Theory, and Mathematical Logic. He developed infinitary positive model theory within category theory and extended it to an infinitary setting. His research led, among other things, to a generalization of Lurie’s theorem on regular functors and significantly contributed to the open question of whether k-pure morphisms in k-accessible categories are regular.
Lucia Kaplan Pastíriková and her supervisor Filip Hrbáček
Lucia Kaplan Pastíriková graduated from the Faculty of Science in the Physical Geography program. She studied long-term permafrost development and active layer thickness changes on James Ross Island in Antarctica. Her research provided a new methodological framework for more precise assessment of climate change impacts in polar regions.
Jakub Klodwig a his supervisor Radim Polčák
Jakub Klodwig graduated from the Faculty of Law in the Information and Communication Technology Law program. He studied privacy and personal data protection in digital environments. He was among the first to highlight deficiencies in cookie regulation and proposed concrete legislative and technical solutions for better user protection.
Lenka Křičková and her supervisor Zuzana Vikarská
Lenka Křičková graduated from the Faculty of Law in the Constitutional Law and Political Science program. She focused on judicial decision-making practices of European and national courts in cross-border cases involving rainbow families. Her interdisciplinary work contributes significantly to better protection of same-sex family rights and opens new possibilities for their application in judicial and practical contexts.
Nikol Kvardová, her supervisor Hana Macháčková and consultant Hayriye Gülec
Nikol Kvardová graduated from the Faculty of Social Studies in the Psychology program, specializing in Social Psychology. Her research focused on the impact of appearance-focused interactions on social media on adolescents’ body perception. The findings expand understanding of mechanisms affecting body image and provide valuable input for mental health prevention among adolescents.
Michaela Ladmanová, her supervisor Tomáš Řiháček and consultant Ladislav Timulak
Michaela Ladmanová graduated from the Faculty of Social Studies in the Clinical Psychology program. She studied psychotherapy outcomes from clients’ perspectives. Her work enhanced knowledge of the subjective perception of therapeutic change and contributed to the development of a personalized and more effective approach in psychotherapeutic care.
Lucie Lipková and her supervisor Michal Kumstát
Lucie Lipková graduated from the Faculty of Sports Studies in the Kinanthropology program. She studied critical speed as a predictor of performance in women’s football. Her findings expand knowledge of the relationship between physiological indicators and athletic performance and provide practical recommendations for effective training planning and load management.
Tereza Menšíková, her supervisor Jana Valtrová and consultant Tomáš Glomb
Tereza Menšíková graduated from the Faculty of Arts in the Religious Studies program. She studied how Dalits, members of the anti-caste movement in India, use digital media to expand their reach and mobilize for social change. Her dissertation clarified mechanisms of digital activism in marginalized groups and the role of religious identity in contemporary emancipation movements.
Polina Navrátilová and her supervisor Monika Pávková Goldbergová
Polina Navrátilová graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the Physiology, Pathological Physiology, Medical Chemistry, and Biochemistry program, specializing in Pathological Physiology. She studied the effects of metal nanoparticle and ion release from implants. Her work significantly advanced understanding of metal toxicity mechanisms and the development of safer materials for modern medicine.
Petr Nejedlý and his supervisor Milan Brázdil
Petr Nejedlý graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the Neuroscience program. He developed a method using AI-based analysis of imaging data to accurately localize epileptic foci. The automated target design for surgical intervention contributes to safer treatment planning for pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
Mikuláš Netík and his supervisors Martin Wihoda and Knut Görich
Mikuláš Netík graduated from the Faculty of Arts in the History program. His research analyzed Ansbert’s chronicle as a key source for understanding the Third Crusade. His work enriched knowledge of medieval historiography and memory culture, offering new perspectives on authorship and historical identity in Central Europe during that period.
Roman Přibyl a jeho školitelka Vilma Buršíková
Roman Přibyl graduated from the Faculty of Science in the Physics program, specializing in Plasma Physics. Using plasma technologies, he created durable thin layers with antibacterial and antiviral properties and explored methods to improve the efficiency and control of plasma processes in sterilization and material treatment. His results are applicable to developing modern materials in medicine, industry, and electronics.
Michaela Richtrová and her supervisor Petr Štourač
Michaela Richtrová graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Management program. She focused on improving anesthesia conditions for children undergoing cleft lip and palate surgery and developed a practical tool for protecting soft tissues during intubation. Her work significantly enhances patient safety and comfort for early childhood surgeries.
Jakub Sumbal, his supervisor Aleš Hampl and consultant Silvia Fre
Jakub Sumbal graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Biomedical Sciences, specializing in Cell and Tissue Morphology. In his dissertation, he studied interactions between epithelial cells and fibroblasts in the mammary gland. He discovered a previously unknown fibroblast population, described their role in tissue development, and contributed significantly to understanding tumor processes, especially in breast cancer.
Veronika Šandová and her supervisor Marek Mráz
Veronika Šandová graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the Oncology and Hematology program, specializing in Hematology. She studied how cells in the tumor microenvironment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia affect treatment efficacy. Her research offers new insights into why some treatment combinations fail and helps develop improved therapeutic approaches for leukemia patients.
Nela Šťastná and her supervisor Kristián Brat
Nela Šťastná graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in the Internal Medicine program, specializing in Internal Diseases. Her work focused on patients with cystic fibrosis and investigated the effects of a new treatment method using CFTR modulators. Her research significantly enhanced understanding of modern cystic fibrosis therapies and their clinical application.
Michal Štefánik and his supervisor Petr Sojka
Michal Štefánik graduated from the Faculty of Informatics in the Computer Science program, specializing in Fundamentals of Informatics. He studied errors in commonly used AI language models. He proposed concrete methods to improve model resilience to unexpected inputs, enhancing result reliability. His findings contribute to the development of safer and more robust AI systems.
David Švestka, his supervisor Pavel Bobáľ and consultant Jan Otevřel
David Švestka graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry program. He focused on developing new catalytic reactions enabling more efficient and environmentally friendly production of chemical substances, including pharmaceuticals. His research led to the discovery of a new catalyst with wide practical applications.
Christopher Williams and his supervisor Olga Dontcheva-Navrátilová
Christopher Williams graduated from the Faculty of Education in the Foreign Language Didactics program. His dissertation examined how Czech high school students write English argumentative essays and how their language proficiency is reflected in syntactic and lexical complexity. The results may help improve English teaching and written assessment.
Ondřej Woznica and his supervisor Matěj Myška
Ondřej Woznica graduated from the Faculty of Law in the Intellectual Property Law program. His research focused on online platform liability for user-generated content and the impact of the European Copyright Directive on the Digital Single Market. His work offers new perspectives on regulating the digital environment and contributes significantly to the professional debate on balancing the rights of authors, platforms, and users.