Reconciling studies at Masaryk University’s (MU) Faculty of Science with top-level training requires good planning and continuous preparation. Anežka Hlaváčová is in her second year of studying Experimental and Molecular Biology and represents the Czech Republic in ski orienteering, also known as Ski-O. She won a bronze in the Junior World Championships in Estonia, and at the beginning of February she won two silvers and a bronze in the World Cup under 23 women’s category in Austria. She finished 11th overall in the World Championships, and 4th in the U23 World Championships.

Although many people imagined Aneta Vrzalová as a medical student, she preferred to study Environment and Health at the MU Faculty of Science. In her undergraduate studies, she has already been actively involved in the FireExpo research project - investigating how the firefighter profession negatively affects their physical health. She enjoys being part of the "real" science that impacts people's lives.

As a postdoctoral researcher at the Moffitt Cancer Center, NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center based in Tampa, Florida, Stanislav Drápela is investigating the processes by which cancer cells “fall asleep” and “reawaken”. In this interview, he explains how the focus of his early studies – the ability to design research programmes – has helped him early in his career as a scientist.

Darja Klementová, who comes from an artistic family, studies clarinet. However, she has also been interested in nature and the human body since she was a child, so finally decided to devote herself fully to molecular biology, choosing to study at the laboratories of MU Faculty of Science. For her work, which deals with the role of kinases from the CK1 family in the Wnt/β-catenin cell signalling pathway, and the potential application of these findings in the treatment of leukaemia, she won the national ‘České hlavičky’ (Little Czech Mind) award.

After finishing her master's degree in Brazil, Marina Grossi was looking for a Ph.D. opportunity abroad. Luckily, she found a Ph.D. offer at RECETOX, and she applied for it. She has been studying at RECETOX for three years.

Ludovic, a Ph.D. student in Environment and Health, is not afraid of any challenge, and scientific research is one big adventure. He comes from a tiny French town called Saint-Avold, and he liked the RECETOX research topics so much that he decided to move to the South Moravian metropolis. His research work focuses on pesticides and the ways pesticides pollute our air. For his research, Ludovic received a prestige Brno Ph.D. talent award.

Natálie Šelleová is a second-year bachelor's student in Environment and Health. Although she does not want to work in a lab in the future, human health and environmental issues are her top-of-mind priorities. After her studies, she desires to be a person explaining complex scientific issues to the public and politicians and contributes to legislation changes.

"The prototype device we tested in Antarctica can measure stress. It could be used by pilots, astronauts, medics, but also by patients. It could help them to heal faster," says anthropologist Lucie Ráčková in an interview with Martin Veselovský for DVTV. (Available in Czech only.)

Ph.D. student Lucie Ráčková, working at the Environmental Physiology research group, RECETOX, studies the relationship between isolation and acute and chronic stress. As a polar expedition member to the J.G. Mendel Station on James Ross Island, Antarctica, she investigated how polar explorers perceive separation from their daily lives and whether they feel stressed.

Monika is a third-year bachelor’s student in the Environment and Health study program. In the interview, Monika explains why she chose science and what she has enjoyed the most as a student at RECETOX. As the primary coordinator of IBIS, an interactive biology seminar, she popularizes science among high school students.

Tomáš Kotačka graduated from the Secondary Industrial School of Chemistry in Pardubice and subsequently joined the Faculty of Science, where he chose the Biochemistry study program. In addition to his studies, he is an active member of the Generation Mendel team, which last autumn celebrated great success with their synthetic biology project in the international iGEM competition. Tomáš is 22 years old and his hobbies include longboarding, snowboarding, bouldering, exercise and cooking.

Sabina Fronková graduated from the Brno-Bystrc Grammar School and then applied to us for a Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics. Having successfully completed her degree, she is now continuing her studies with a follow-up Master's degree in Biotechnology. She is also a member of the Generation Mendel team, which celebrated great success last autumn with its synthetic biology project in the iGEM international competition. Sabina is 22 years old and loves music (especially playing the flute and piano), nature trips and craft work.

Klára Odehnalová came to us after graduating from the grammar school in Brno-Řečkovice and she is currently undertaking her Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics. She is a member of the Generation Mendel student association, which celebrated great success last autumn with its synthetic biology project in the iGEM international competition. Klára is 22 years old and her hobbies include terrariums, scouts and theatre.

Lucka Pifková comes from Kroměříž and studies Molecular Biology and Genetics at our faculty. She is also a member of the Generation Mendel team, which last autumn celebrated great success with its synthetic biology project in the international iGEM competition. Lucka is 22 years old and in her free time she enjoys singing and playing the piano.

David Zimčík comes from Uherské Hradiště. After graduating from the local grammar school, his steps were directed to our faculty, and specifically to the field of Biochemistry. He is currently studying a follow-up Master's degree with a specialisation in Genomics and Proteomics. In addition, he is a member of the Generation Mendel student association, who celebrated great success last autumn in the iGEM international competition with their synthetic biology project. David is 23 years old and in his free time he likes to read, especially the fantasy genre and his favourite author J.R.R. Tolkien. He enjoys popularising science, making friends and travelling.

Jana Česalová has been studying medical genetics and molecular diagnostics with us for three years, and before that she attended the Brno-Bystrc Grammar School. She is a member of the Generation Mendel team, with which she celebrated great success last year in the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, or iGEM. Jana is 23 years old and, in addition to natural sciences, she enjoys art and dance.

Bára Hrnčířová graduated from the Matyáš Lerch Grammar School in Brno and is now studying Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University. She successfully completed her Bachelor’s degree last year and is now studying for her Master's degree. She is a founding member and President of the Generation Mendel Student Association, which achieved great success last autumn when its synthetic biology project was selected by the jury as one of the top five projects in the Environment category of the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition and went on to win a gold medal! Bára is 23 years old and likes foreign languages, literature, photography, nature and animals.