Students who enter the competition gain invaluable experience in preparing their own scientific research project. They must formulate their ideas and present them in English within a relatively short time to capture the attention of the evaluation committee. “The awardees delivered outstanding presentations and had impressive projects, each with a unique focus. I believe their scientific careers are off to a great start, and success in a competition like this can serve as a stepping stone for their future opportunities,” said Pavlína Adam, Vice-Rector for Creative Activities. Four successful female doctoral students and one male doctoral student receive a supplementary talent scholarship of 10,000 CZK per month. They can use the funds for their further development, allowing them to fully dedicate themselves to research. 

“In my research, I focus on developing advanced lipid nanoparticles for cancer treatment. Currently, I am working on the design and development of enzymatic nanorobots—specialized nanoparticles that not only deliver cytostatics to tumors but also have various enzymes attached to their surface. These enzymes act as tiny motors that propel the nanorobots, allowing them to reach cancer cells faster than conventional nanoparticles,” explained Ester Maráková from the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Faculty of Agronomy.

Magdalena Malásková from the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Faculty of Agronomy at MENDELU is developing nanoparticles that could improve the treatment of organophosphate poisoning. “Organophosphates are toxic substances that can severely damage the nervous system by blocking the crucial enzyme acetylcholinesterase. The current treatment uses oximes, which restore this enzyme, but their main drawback is the difficulty in crossing the brain’s natural protective barrier. That’s why I am working on utilizing solid-core lipid nanoparticles that can encapsulate oximes and help them penetrate the brain more effectively. This approach could enhance treatment efficacy, prolong the drug’s effect, and reduce side effects,” the Ph.D. student explained.

Rostislav Berezjuk from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology focuses on the application of CT scanning in wood processing for log sorting and final lumber classification. His goal is to develop models based on CT scans and the acoustic properties of tree trunks, allowing for the prediction of mechanical properties even before processing begins. “A key benefit of the competition was the challenge of presenting the project effectively within the constraints of a limited page count and a short presentation time. I highly recommend applying—at the very least, participants receive valuable feedback from the expert panel,” said the Ph.D. student from the Institute of Wood Science and Timber Technology.

Nora Witkovská from the Institute of Morphology, Physiology, and Animal Genetics focuses on finding alternatives to combat antibiotic resistance. “My research centers on developing new antimicrobial agents that can help fight infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus. In veterinary medicine, this pathogen poses a serious issue, particularly in dairy cows, as it causes mastitis. By utilizing innovative nanomaterials, I aim to disrupt bacterial biofilms—physical barriers produced by bacteria that make infections harder to treat—and improve the effectiveness of treatments for these chronic infections,” explained the Ph.D. student from the Faculty of Agronomy.

Pavla Přinosilová from the Faculty of Horticulture focuses her research on the micropropagation of olive trees using the in vitro method. “In a sterile environment inside a laminar flow hood, I use a scalpel and tweezers to dissect the plant into individual parts, which are then transferred to a culture medium. Olive trees naturally grow very slowly, but micropropagation enables faster multiplication while maintaining genetic uniformity. However, the process is still challenging—olive growth in in vitro conditions depends on the phytohormone zeatin, which is very expensive. I am currently exploring whether specific nanoparticles could partially replace zeatin in the culture medium while maintaining optimal growth conditions,” she described.