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31 Oct 2025, 6:19
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Newsletter for PhD students and Postdocs
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Dear PhD students and Postdocs,
November invites you to pause for a moment and look back at how far you’ve come. Every challenge faced and every success achieved — no matter how small — has shaped your growth. Let’s continue to nurture a community of support and collaboration that helps each of us move forward, both in science and beyond.
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Save the Date:
Mendel Days 2025 - Lecture series. November 5 – 6, 2025. Mendel museum, Mendlovo námestí 1, Brno
Hlava plná otazníků: O výzkumu mozku - Lecture series. November 11 and December 2, 2025. Brno Observatory and Planetarium, Kraví hora 2, Brno. Held in Czech.
Using Stem Cell Models To Help Understand Dementia - Life Sciences Seminar with Charlie Arber. November 20, 2025. (16:00) UCB, B11/132
Grants Week - Research funding event. November 25 - 27, 2025. (Komenského nám. 2, Roger Scruton Hall)
Christmas Conference 2025: Global Science in the Local Context - The traditional pre-Christmas meeting of Czech scientists working abroad. December 22, 2025 (13:00). Charles University, Celetná 20, Prague or Online. Held in English.
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Luděk Bláha Has Been Elected Dean of the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University for the Next Four Years
We have a new Dean! The Faculty’s Academic Senate has decided that, from the beginning of February next year, when the second term of the current Dean, Tomáš Kašparovský, ends, Luděk Bláha, the current Vice-Dean for Doctoral Studies of the Faculty of Science, MU, will take over for the next four years. The Senate’s choice must first be confirmed by the Rector, who will then appoint the new Dean.
Text: Iva Labudová / Photo: Irina Matusevich
The Academic Senate made their choice from three candidates who ran for the position of Dean: Luděk Bláha, Vice-Dean for Doctoral Studies at the MU Faculty of Science; Michal Bulant, Vice-Rector for Education and Quality at MU; and Karel Kubíček, Associate Professor at the Institute of Physics and Condensed Matter at the MU Faculty of Science. Luděk Bláha was elected by a majority of votes in the second round of a secret ballot, receiving 18 out of 26 votes from the senators present.
"A huge thank you to everyone. I will put all my energy into making sure that, together with the team we assemble, we fulfill all the promises that were made and, in four years, are much further ahead than we are now," said Luděk Bláha immediately after his election.
After his appointment by the Rector, Luděk Bláha should take over the leadership of the faculty on February 1, 2026.
 Read whole article here.
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Amendment to the Higher Education Act Changed the Guaranteed Income of Doctoral Students
On September 1, 2025, an amendment to the Higher Education Act came into force, introducing a guaranteed doctoral study income for full-time students.
So far, 112 students have received their doctoral scholarships for September 2025, amounting to approximately CZK 1.8 million. Doctoral scholarships are paid retroactively, i.e. for the period already elapsed, which means that doctoral scholarships for September were mostly paid in two installments in October in order to satisfy as many applicants as possible. Further applications are being processed on an ongoing basis, and we expect to pay doctoral scholarships to an even greater number of students in November.
The change in legislation reflects efforts to improve the quality of doctoral education, make it more attractive to young researchers, and strengthen the role of doctoral students in the academic environment.
The next payment date for doctoral scholarships is set for November 10, 2025.
More information can be found here.
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Harness the Power of AI in Your Academic Work
We cordially invite you to a practical training course on artificial intelligence (AI), suitable for all early-career researchers and also for their supervisors. Explore key ways to use AI in an academic setting through the following topics:
 Principles of AI Understand how AI “thinks” and what its capabilities and limitations are
November 13, 2025, 10:00 - 12:00, (Kotlářská 2)
AI-assisted scientific literature search The workshop is a practical meeting presenting specialised AI tools for scientific research.
November 20, 2025, (9:00 - 11:00 UCB or 13:00 - 15:00 Kotlářská 2)
AI as an editorial assistant Learn to efficiently optimise scientific texts, from articles to presentations
November 27, 2025 (9:00 - 11:00 UCB or 13:00 - 15:00 Kotlářská 2)
The training is designed for academics, researchers, and PhD students who want to enhance the quality of their texts and work efficiency. It combines theory with practical tools to improve work quality, save time, and collaborate effectively with AI. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of AI principles, practical skills for optimising academic texts, and methods to streamline their workflow.
The training is currently offered in Czech, with an English version planned if there is sufficient interest. More info + registration (CZ).
Capacity is limited – secure your spot and take your academic work to the next level!
When: November 13, 20, 27, 2025
Where: Kotlářská 2, room IC2 / UCB B17/432 / Online
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Opportunities for Research in Switzerland
Are you considering a research stay abroad? The Swiss Government offers Excellence Scholarships 2026/2027 for early-career international researchers:
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – for PhD holders (PhD completed between 1 January 2023 and 31 July 2026)
Research Fellowship – for PhD students or early-career researchers (Master’s degree completed by 31 July 2026)
Both scholarships support 12 months of full-time research at a Swiss university or research institute starting 1 September 2026. Priority is given to applicants who haven’t previously studied or conducted research in Switzerland.
Monthly allowance: CHF 3,500 (postdocs) / CHF 1,920 (PhD students). More info.
 The application deadline: November 17, 2025
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The Barrande Fellowship Programme – Open Call!
The French Institute in Prague and the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, with the support of the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research, are announcing the launch of the Barrande Fellowship Programme 2025, the exchange mobility programme for PhD students between the Czech Republic and France.
The programme also offers scholarships to support "cotutelles" and short-term research stays. Students must be registered either at a Czech University (for mobilities to France) or a French University (for mobilities to the Czech Republic). The scholarship does not require knowledge of the French language. More info on Web.
The deadline for application: January 26, 2026
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Now you can go through the full presentation from the event, packed with all the essential information for your smooth PhD journey — from key contacts and study guidelines to career development tips and opportunities.
Think of it as your PhD Survival Kit — everything you need to start off right and make the most of your time at MUNI.
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New PhD Centre - Online
Whether you’re a PhD student or a postdoc, you can now find guidance grounded in both legislation and current practice on the new Doctoral Studies Centre website.
The site offers practical PhD resources, tips for personal and professional growth, news updates, and a calendar of upcoming events. Please note that most of the website is currently in Czech, but you’ll find some pages in English as well. (Full English version coming soon)
https://phd.muni.cz/
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PhD HUB is Back!
After the summer break, our PhD community is ready to reconnect! Join us for monthly meetups. Reconnect, bring your PhD friends, and let’s make HUB the place where ideas (and PhDs) spark again.
Our first session will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 16:00 (Room S137 (Trýba), Komenského nám., Brno). From now on, we meet every third Wednesday afternoon.
 Let’s kick off by shaping the HUB together:
Pick topics and activities for the year
Plan how we share info about sessions
Explore ways everyone can get involved
Got ideas already? Drop them in the group chat!
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Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators
Join the Young Scientist Competition in Molecular Biology, which recognises outstanding contributions to biomedical research based on molecular biology methods, including new analytical concepts. If you already have a PhD degree and are under 35, please prepare an essay about your research and any other supporting documents you can submit to the contest. (application form)
The winner will receive the opportunity to publish their research in The Nature and a cash prize of €20,000! More info about the competition here.
Deadline for applications: January 15, 2026.
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L'Oréal-UNESCO Supports Women in Science!
Take part in the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science competition, which for 19 years has been supporting young female scientists and helping them advance their careers in research. Three winners will share CZK 600,000 to further develop their work. The award also includes media training and the chance to present their research to the professional community. Eligible candidates are women under 40 with a doctoral degree.
Interested women scientists can apply for this year's competition until January 7, 2026, using the platform at www.prozenyvevede.cz, where you can also find detailed conditions of the competition.
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NTK Brings Free Soft-skills Webinars
A new semester brings new opportunities – sharpen the skills you need for your studies and research!
The National Library of Technology (NTK) invites students, PhD candidates, and Early-career researchers to join free webinars. In English (with additional Czech sessions), webinars will help you navigate scholarly resources, cite properly, write your first article, manage research data, and address academic integrity.
November 5, (10:00) – My First Scientific Article
November 12, (10:00) – AI Essentials for Academia
November 19, (10:00) – Searching and Evaluating on Web of Science & Scopus
December 8, (10:00) – Workshop: How to publish your data – Zenodo and other repositories
Simply register for the webinars of your choice – NTK membership is not required.
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Discover How AI Can Simplify Your Daily Tasks!
Register for our free online webinar "Automatizace denních úkolů pomocí AI (Copilot)", and learn how Microsoft Copilot can help you automate routine tasks in our new training session! The webinar will be held in Czech.
Training highlights:
Generative AI-driven automation
Case study: automating the registration process for any event
Summary and Q&A
When: November 5, 2025, (9:00 - 11:00)
Where: Online
More info / registration here!
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Conferences and Workshops
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Your PhD, Your Future: Explore Career at MUNI PhD Career Days
Thinking beyond your PhD studies? Discover the paths your doctorate can open at
PhD Career Days! Join a week of talks, workshops, and networking to explore your future career direction in:
Academia & research
Postdoc positions abroad
Industry, NGOs & public service
Entrepreneurship & science-driven innovation
Why to join?
Turn your doctoral skills into real-world opportunities
Learn what employers and institutions value most
Meet experts and expand your professional network
Get practical tips for planning your next career move
When: November 11 – 14, 2025
Where: Komenského nám. 2, Brno (Room S137, 300, 343)
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The EDUC CoP Webinar
Let's take the invitation from the EDUC Community of Practice, scheduled for December 10, 2025, as an online webinar titled "Artificial Intelligence in Academic Workflows: Tools, Applications, Ethics, and Risks," led by our Czech EDUC ambassador, Dr Bozděch.
The webinar will introduce various AI tools applicable in academic settings, with opportunities to explore them through practical demonstrations. It will also address important topics related to AI ethics and safety. The session will be conducted in English and is designed for beginners who are new to the use of AI.
You can register until November 30, 2025. (Please note that the capacity is limited to 30 participants)
When: December 10, 2025
Where: Online
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KRECon 2025 – Excellence in Research: Challenges and Opportunities
What makes an environment where science can truly thrive? Can the Czech research system create conditions for world-class research, and what can we learn from abroad? KRECon 2025 will address these questions under the theme “Excellence in Research: Challenges and Opportunities.” The first day (in English) will bring international insights; the second (in Czech) will focus on how institutions and funders support top research. Since 2010, KRECon has served as an open forum for sharing ideas and shaping the future of Czech science. Participation is free and open to all.
More information and registration here
The first day of KRECon is held in English, the second day in Czech. The KRECon 2025 conference is free of charge!
WHEN: November 13 - 14, 2025
WHERE: National Library of Technology, Prague
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International Conference on Technology, Engineering, and Life Sciences (ICTELS) 2026
You are invited to join the International Conference on Technology, Engineering, and Life Sciences (ICTELS), held on May 15–18, 2026, in Paris, France. The conference, organised in affiliation with the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (ISTES), offers both in-person and virtual participation.
 Virtual option available
Virtual presenters will receive: Certificate of presentation, inclusion in the official conference programme + abstract, and proceedings books.
Take this opportunity to present your research, connect internationally, and be part of an interdisciplinary scientific community. More info.
Paper submission deadline: November 16, 2025. (March 16, 2026 - Late registration)
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Sites we recommend to follow:
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Distributed by:
Office for Doctoral Studies, Quality, Academic Affairs and Internationalization (noskova@sci.muni.cz)
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