On Monday, 8 December, the Grant Agency of Masaryk University (GAMU) announced the recipients of the Career Restart grant. This year, thirteen women who want to resume their research work after a long break were successful with their applications.
“Returning to science after a career break can be very difficult, which is why we support our colleagues to make the transition a little easier. The Career Restart Grant supports scientists in reintegrating into the research environment following parental leave, long-term illness, or caring responsibilities. Thanks to this grant, they can finance part-time work during or after parental leave, giving them the time they need to prepare grant applications and continue their research,” said Šárka Pospíšilová, Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies.
Since 2021, GAMU has awarded a total of 68 Career Restart grants, 67 of which went to female researchers.
Career Restart 2025
Mgr. Michaela Bednaříková, Ph.D.
Section of Genetics and Molecular Biology, MU Faculty of Science
Michaela is investigating how plant genomes respond to doubling, or polyploidy. On Cardamine cress, she is monitoring chromosome rearrangements, centromere changes and the reorganisation of repetitive DNA. She aims to use modern cytogenetics to uncover the rules that lead to a stable genome, which is important for understanding evolution and the breeding of resistant crops.
doc. Ing. Mgr. Lucie Coufalová, Ph.D. et Ph.D.
Department of Economics, MU Faculty of Economics and Administration
Lucie investigates how maternity and parental leave affect “social capital”, i.e. networks of contacts and trust, and how this translates into women’s return to the labour market and their participation in public life. She uses natural experiments and questionnaire studies with the aim to provide data to support better family and labour policies.
RNDr. Veronika Eclerová, Ph.D.
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MU Faculty of Science
Veronika develops mathematical indicators that describe what happens to synchronised oscillators, such as neurons or electronic components, when a system changes modes or transitions to chaotic behaviour. These invariants link complex bifurcation structures with measurable device performance and brain data analysis.
Mgr. Zuzana Gric, Ph.D.
Department of Finance, MU Faculty of Economics and Administration
Zuzana is investigating how market sentiment influences the behaviour of non-bank financial institutions, which currently account for a significant proportion of the global financial system. Her aim is to understand how and when risks in this sector spill over into banks, threatening their stability, and to establish a foundation for smarter regulation.
Mgr. Eliška Hrežová, Ph.D.
Environmental Ecology, MU Faculty of Science
Eliška’s research focuses on the impact of diet on health from pregnancy to old age, with a particular focus on cognition and cancer risk. She also explores how these effects differ based on a person’s genetic make-up. She combines epidemiology with genetic and “omics” data to inform personal and population-level recommendations, and to facilitate the implementation of research findings.
Arwa Kharobi, PhD
Department of Anthropology, MU Faculty of Science
Arwa studies ancient Bronze Age populations of the Near East based on their skeletal remains. In the laboratory, she is developing new biochemical methods to provide a clearer picture of those people’s diets, health and living conditions. Her fieldwork and international collaborations broaden our understanding of the region’s history.
Mgr. Marie Kudličková Pešková, Ph.D.
Milan Brázdil Research Group, CEITEC MU
Marie studies the ADAR1 and ADAR2 proteins, which influence RNA in the brain, ensuring the proper functioning of neurons and maintaining immune balance. Disrupting their activity can lead to severe epilepsy, inflammation or neurodegeneration. Her research will clarify the role of RNA editing in controlling brain development, and its implications for future treatment.
Mgr. Kateřina Mácová, Ph.D.
Hèlene Robert Boisivon Research Group, CEITEC MU
Kateřina studies the small HSP proteins BOB1 and BOB2, which are key to seed development in Arabidopsis. Her aim is to understand how they help plants to cope with heat, and how this process controls the production of viable seeds. These findings could lead to the breeding of more heat-resistant crops.
Mgr. Barbora Navrátilová, Ph.D.
Department of European Ethnology, MU Faculty of Arts
Through examining everyday life, migration and media representations, Barbora challenges simplistic images of Southeast Europe and demonstrates how people in the region construct and negotiate identity. Her findings can inform public debates, teaching methods and cultural policies, helping us to understand the diversity of Europe beyond stereotypes.
Mgr. Veronika Poláchová, Ph.D.
Nanobiotechnology, CEITEC MU
Veronika is developing rapid, portable tests (biosensors) based on electrochemical impedance that can reliably detect protein markers, bacteria such as Chlamydia trachomatis, and small molecules such as THC within minutes. Her aim is to bring the sensitivity of laboratory methods into the field and speed up diagnostics.
Mgr. Zuzana Pospěchová, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies, MU Faculty of Arts
Zuzana analyses how the prosody (rhythm and intonation) of Standard Chinese in mainland China and Taiwan is changing and how it differs between the two regions, as well as how it is affected by age and gender. Her study provides a valuable long-term comparison for linguistics and language teaching, with repeated data collection conducted in ten-year intervals across different regions.
Mgr. Veronika Šandová, Ph.D.
Marek Mráz Research Group, CEITEC MU
Veronika is investigating how targeted drugs for B-cell leukaemia affect the presence and function of the CD20 protein targeted by modern therapies (such as antibodies and CAR T cells). She also searches for alternative targets, such as the CXCR4 receptor, and tests combinations of these with BTK inhibitors to improve treatment effectiveness even in resistant cases.
Ing. Alžběta Šejnoha Minsterová, Ph.D.
Irena Rektorová’s Research Group, CEITEC MU
Using advanced MRI models, Alžběta monitors subtle changes in brain pathways in individuals who are at risk of diseases related to α-synuclein, such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. She combines imaging with clinical, psychological, EEG and blood indicators to enable more accurate classification and earlier intervention.