Newsletter for PhD students and Postdocs

Erasmus+ Short-term PhD Mobilities

Erasmus+ Short-term PhD mobilities not only enhance academic growth but also foster international connections. With durations ranging from 5 to 30 days, this programme allows you to tailor your stay to your academic needs. Scholarships are available at a daily rate, with generous support of 79EUR for the initial 5-14 days and 56EUR for subsequent days. However, securing a spot is competitive, as only 20 places per year are allocated for Masaryk University.

Priority support will be given to students in their advanced years, ideally for stays longer than 14 days, allowing you to fulfill your study abroad placement obligation. A good cover letter is an essential part of the application—please do not hesitate to contact us for a consultation before applying.

Please note that Erasmus+ does not support research! Avoid including your own research or research activities in your cover letters and applications. Instead, focus on describing your activities in alternative terms, such as learning new methods of data collection/working on your academic skills etc. Remember, the goal is to emphasize the skills and experiences gained without explicitly using "research“ (such as collecting data; writing a paper…). Focus on the practical aspects, collaboration, and outcomes of your activities = what you will learn/gain from it.

To make the most of this opportunity, initiate contact with your preferred institution in advance. A cover letter is an essential part of the application—please do not hesitate to contact us for a consultation before applying.

The next call for applications: April 1, 2024 to May 31, 2024.
Do not hesitate to apply!

Contact person – Kristýna Bajgarová, bajgarova@sci.muni.cz.

MMD: PhD Thesis Defence in European Doctorate Mode

As a part of the MMD (MUNI Mendel Doctorandus) programme, the participants (PhD candidates) have had an opportunity to defend their dissertation thesis in European doctorate mode. Every successful graduate will received the valued European doctorate and the PhD diploma. But what are the requirements for this type of defence? Let's take a look at the example of Kamil Sobek, a PhD student of Geology at the Faculty of Science, MU.

Kamil became a member of the MMD at the very beginning of the programme and gradually fulfilled all the conditions of the programme. He was, therefore, eligible to apply for the European doctorate. The conditions for this mode are not very different from the usual PhD thesis defence procedure. The doctoral board provides the student with at least two opponents independent of MUNI and working at a research institution within Europe (outside CZ/SK). These opponents can also be members of the committee for the European doctorate mode PhD thesis defence, which needs to have a minimum of one member not affiliated with MUNI and working within Europe but outside CZ/SK. The dissertation thesis is written in English, and the defence is also held in English.

"A possible variation (form) of the defence is a so-called hybrid defence, where members (especially external/foreign members) can join online, e.g. via MS Teams. Thus, defending in the European doctorate does not bring any additional costs to the department for defending in the European doctorate mode." Concluding the possibility of online defence Kamil, who has successfully completed his studies at the Faculty of Science, DSP Geology and is going to work at the Research Centre in Řež as a research specialist. We wish him success in his future career!

*An expert from Slovakia is possible only in exceptional cases when finding another suitable foreign expert is hardly impossible.

Rudolf Lukeš Prize: Competition For Outstanding Chemists

The Czech Chemical Society, in cooperation with the Experientia Foundation, is launching a new call for the Rudolf Lukes Prize with a personal bonus of CZK 100,000. The competition is open until March 31, 2024, to scientists without age limitation, working at any of the Czech research institutes with a set of papers in the field of organic, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, which have been published in prestigious international journals in the last five years.

The application must include the following:

• Brief CV (1 page)
• Brief research report (max. 3 pages) summarizing the most important results of the last 5 years
• List of all publications in the last five years
• The five most significant publications from the last five years, where the nominee must be a corresponding author (pdf format of the articles).
  
  The application should be submitted in English as a PDF file sent electronically to the CSCH Secretariat (lukes.award@csvts.cz).

The Brno PhD Talent winner 2024: I Have Always Loved Exploring Nature

Text: F. Breindl, eng Petr Bokůvka
Foto: M. Indruch

Being a lifelong nature lover, it seems natural that Eliška Řehůřková ultimately found herself in the laboratories of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University. As a doctoral student she focuses on cell models which enable the testing of the effects of various substances on male reproduction. This research has now earned her the Brno PhD Talent scholarship.

“Our goal is to come up with a model originating in stem cells, which we refer to as induced pluripotent stem cells. Using small molecules referred to as signal molecules we attempt to reprogram the cells into Leydig cells which are responsible for the production of testosterone. Testosterone and other androgens have an irreplaceable role in processes related to male reproduction, as well as other processes. Chemicals present in the environment may disrupt the process of production of androgens. Once we have the newly programmed Leydig cells we will be able to test the effects of the environmental pollutants on male reproduction. Our cell model could very much replicate the actual processes in the human body, compared with other conventional methods, such as animal or rodent testing,” Řehůřková explains. She currently works at RECETOX where, for 40 years, scientists have studied environmental and health risks posed by chemicals around us.

“I have always loved nature. I was in a forest ranger club in junior high school, where they taught us to like and explore nature. This is where my love for nature comes from, which is why the Faculty of Science was a logical step. As was RECETOX and its activities in the area of the protection of the environment,” Řehůřková says, adding that she is happy about her choices. “RECETOX emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary work and familiarity with things happening around us. They do not want us just sitting in labs all the time. We are supposed to develop soft skills, such as external communication, project management and other tasks.”

The latter was a major asset for Eliška in the PhD Talent competition. “It is amazing that I have succeeded, considering the competition, because all projects were interesting,” she commented on the fact that her project was one of the 25 successful ones among 150 contestants. “The scholarship will allow me to focus entirely on my research and the improvement of the soft skills and interdisciplinary aspects. We enjoy the support from the university through the MUNI Mendelus Doctorandus programme, which helps me develop individual abilities as well as the research as such,” she explains.