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Forty scientists and teams received the MUNI Scientist award
Since 2020, the Vice-Rector for Research at MU has been awarding a prize for outstanding achievements in science. This year, 39 scientists and research teams received the award. Among them are 15 of our scientists. We warmly congratulate all the winners.
The MUNI Scientist Award is intended to motivate scientists and promote the good name of Masaryk University. It is awarded, for example, for publications in prestigious magazines or publishing houses and for outstanding research results.
"I am very pleased to be able to recognize the work of our scientists for the sixth time. This year, we can once again see how diverse and exceptionally high-quality research is being conducted at Masaryk University—all faculties are represented among the award winners. I truly appreciate their work and dedication. What they do, their energy and ideas have an impact not only on our university, but also on the lives of people in society," said Vice-Rector Šárka Pospíšilová at the award ceremony on the evening of December 8. She added that it is very difficult to make the final selection of winners because there are always many excellent nominations.
The announcement of the MUNI Scientist winners takes place at the annual conference of the Masaryk University Grant Agency (GAMU), where selected completed projects and, above all, support schemes through which the university motivates top students and researchers are presented.
Head of Research Lukáš Palko emphasized that GAMU focuses on an individual approach and strives to cover all stages of a research career. For example, the Excellent Diploma Thesis call is intended for young scientists starting out, giving them the opportunity to experience what it is like to have a research grant. The Career Restart grant, aimed at supporting scientists who want to return to research after a long break, is also significant. The call for top experts – the MUNI Award in Science and Humanities – has also yielded interesting long-term results, such as the acquisition of other prestigious grants. Palko also presented the individual calls that GAMU will open for MU students and scientists in 2026.
MUNI Scientist Award 2025
doc. Mgr. David Bednář, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Head of Molecular Modeling and Bioinformatics, RECETOX, Loschmidt laboratories of Protein Engineering
Awarded for receiving the prestigious GA ČR JUNIOR STAR grant.
Mgr. Tomáš Fiala, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of Chemistry
Awarded for receiving prestigious grants from ERC Starting Grant, Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science, Experientia Foundation.
Mgr. Filip Hrbáček, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of Geography
Awarded for receiving the prestigious ERC CZ grant.
Ing. Ondřej Jurček, Ph.D. et Ph.D.
Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Science MU,Department of Natural Drugs, Department of Chemistry and NCBR
Awarded for an article published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
doc. RNDr. Zdeňka Lososová, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of Botany and Zoology
Awarded for a study published in Preslia and for popularizing flora in Brno.
Ing. RNDr. Martin Marek, Ph.D., MBA
Faculty of Science MU, Head of Structural Biology, RECETOX, Loschmidt Laboratories of Protein Engineering
Awarded for receiving the prestigious GA ČR EXPRO grant.
prof. RNDr. Mojmír Šob, DrSc.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of Chemistry
Awarded for an article published in the journal Progress in Materials Science.
prof. RNDr. Robert Vácha, PhD.
CEITEC MU and Faculty of Science MU, Robert Vácha's research group, NCBR and Department of Condensed Matter Physics
Awarded for receiving the prestigious ERC Proof of Concept grant.
Mgr. Jiří Holoubek, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of Experimental Biology, Section of Microbiology
prof. RNDr. Daniel Růžek, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of Experimental Biology, Section of Microbiology and Section of Animal Physiology and Immunology
Awarded for an article published in Nature Communications magazine.
Mgr. Peter Tóth, Ph.D.
Faculty of Arts MU, Department of Archaeology and Museology
Mgr. Jan Petřík, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of geological sciences
Mgr. Bc. Karel Slavíček, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science MU, Department of geological sciences
Mgr. Libor Petr, Ph.D.
Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts MU, Department of Botany and Zoology, Mire Ecology Group and Department of Archaeology and Museology
Awarded for an article published in Radiocarbon magazine.
Amel Yamoune, Ph.D., M.Sc.
doc. Jan Hejátko, Ph.D.
CEITEC MU a přírodovědecká fakulta, Head of the Research Group of Jan Hejátko and the National Center for Biomolecular Research.
Awarded for an article published in the journal Plant Communications.
Photo: Martin Indruch
