The ceremony of handing over the appointment letters to the new associate professors took place in the refectory of the Augustinian Abbey on Mendel Square. A total of 13 associate professors were habilitated at five MU faculties. Congratulations to Associate Professor Markéta Holá, who successfully completed her habilitation in Analytical Chemistry, and to Jan Škoda, who completed his habilitation in Molecular Biology and Genetics.
MU Rector Martin Bareš handed the appointment letters to the new associate professors. During his opening remarks, he shared his delight at the induction of the newly appointed associate professors from five faculties at Masaryk University. He praised their hard work and dedication, which led to them achieving this important academic milestone. He emphasised the variety of subjects taught at Masaryk University and emphasised the importance of education and human touch in academic work. He also noted the important role that loved ones play in providing support during this challenging process, and thanked everyone who had been involved in the new associate professors’ journey, even if they often stay in the background. He stressed that, while the university invests in state-of-the-art infrastructure, its true value and success lie in its people: its teachers, researchers and students.
Karla Brücknerová then spoke on behalf of the new associate professors. She expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped them reach this important milestone in their academic career. She stressed that habilitation is not the result of an individual’s efforts alone, but rather the outcome of numerous meetings, conversations and inspiring collaborations. She thanked the scholars and thinkers of the past who had inspired them to enter the field; their colleagues, for their collaboration and constructive criticism; and everyone who keeps the university’s complex ecosystem running. “We want to give special thanks to our families and friends. To those who gave us the space, peace and time to work, often behind closed doors and for longer than we had promised. While our work is deeply meaningful to us, what is far more important is that you are out there waiting for us,” she said. She promised that all new associate professors would continue to create a supportive and inspiring environment for future generations, thus best fulfilling the meaning of their gratitude.
The newly appointed associate professors of Faculty of Science:
Associate Professor Markéta Holá
Habilitated in the field of Analytical Chemistry. Her research focuses on studying the fundamental processes of laser ablation and its applications in chemical analysis.
Associate Professor Markéta Holá’s habilitation thesis is focused on the challenging issue of laser interaction with geological and metallic materials, as analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. She described and experimentally verified various methods of studying laser ablation, identifying the key parameters that influence this process. Markéta Holá is an analytical chemistry expert who specialises in the sophisticated use of the highly specific instrumental technique of laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in basic and applied research.
Associate Professor Markéta Holá works at the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Geological Sciences of the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University.
Associate Professor Jan Škoda
Habilitated in the field of Molecular Biology and Genetics. His specialism is the biology of childhood tumours, particularly their stemness and the potential for new targeted therapies.
Associate Professor Jan Škoda’s habilitation thesis focuses on innovative approaches to combatting resistance to standard treatments for childhood solid tumours. The first part of the thesis focuses on the molecular determinants of cancer stem cells and their role in developing treatment resistance in solid tumours, particularly in paediatric sarcomas. In the second part of the thesis, he explores the current methods of overcoming neuroblastoma resistance, such as targeting mitochondria or exploiting tumour vulnerabilities in developmental pathways. Škoda has made a significant contribution to the research of aggressive childhood tumours and the development of innovative treatment strategies.
Associate Professor Jan Škoda is the head of research groups at the Section of Genetics and Molecular Biology at the MU Faculty of Science and at the International Clinical Research Center at St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno.
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