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Dear PhD students and Postdocs,
The new academic year 2026/2027 brings several positive developments for our doctoral community. Among them is an increase in the guaranteed doctoral study income, reflecting the growing recognition of the importance of doctoral researchers and their contribution to science and academia.
We are also looking forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming MUNI SCI PhD Day, where new and continuing doctoral candidates will have the opportunity to learn more about the support, opportunities, and community available at our faculty.
We wish you a successful and inspiring academic year and look forward to seeing you soon!
 PS: As always, this newsletter brings a selection of funding opportunities, training courses, events, mobility programmes, and well-being resources to support you throughout the year!
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Save the Date:
Brno PhD Talent 2026 - Competition for first-year doctoral students! Registration open: September 3 - 23, 2026. Read attentively and don´t hesitate to sign up!
Workshop for Applicants of Brno PhD Talent - September 3, 2026 (9:00). JCMM, Česká 11, Brno
M9MDA Missing Data Analysis - September 16 - 18, 2026. The three-day course of the statistical analysis of incomplete data. More info in IS
MUNI SCI PhD Day 2026 - An event packed with useful information for (new) PhD students. September 22, 2026, (13:00 - 15:00). UCB / D29, Room RCX1
Dean's Barbecue - Informal event for students with BBQ, music and the dean! September 22, 2026, (16:30). UCB, between pavillions C05 - C10
Core Facility Day Life Sciences 2026: How can we support your research? - Informative event. October 7, 2026, (8:30 - 16:30). MUNI CEITEC
National Round of Falling Walls Lab Event - The Czech final of the international competition. September 15, 2026, (17:00). National Library of Technology in Prague
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MUNI SCI PhD Day 2026 is Coming Up - Save the Date and Be Sure to Come!
Join us for an informative and inspiring afternoon focused on PhD life at our faculty and beyond. You'll get a clear picture of what PhD studies at our faculty involve — from your rights and responsibilities to the practical aspects of funding, grants, internships, and international opportunities. We’ll also introduce various support services, competitions, and other useful resources available to help you throughout your doctoral journey.
We’ll start the afternoon with a series of short, practical presentations that will guide you through the essentials of PhD studies. After that, there will be time to relax and connect during a friendly coffee time — a great chance to chat, ask questions, and meet fellow students and faculty members.
The event is especially helpful for:
New PhD students and Master's students considering doctoral studies - But everyone is welcome!
Don’t miss out – register now!
We look forward to seeing you there.
When: September 22, 2026 (13:00 - 15:00)
Where: UCB, D29/252 (RCX1)
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Scholarship Applications🎓
The application period for doctoral scholarships in the 2026/2027 academic year begins on September 2, 2026. Along with the new academic year comes an increase in the minimum guaranteed doctoral study income to CZK 26,880 per month. Save the date and get your application materials ready in advance.
The application link.
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Do You Know Where to Seek Support in a Difficult Situation?
Doctoral studies can sometimes bring challenging situations in which asking for help is not easy – especially when the issue involves workplace relationships, the behaviour of supervisors, inappropriate conduct, or sexual harassment.
For PhD students who are also employees of Masaryk University, a new page has been created on the Employee Portal providing an overview of available support options. It can help you identify the most appropriate contact person or service for your specific situation.
If you do not have employee access to the Portal, you can seek support with matters related to your doctoral studies from, for example, the PhD Ombudsperson for Study Affairs or the faculty’s contact persons for gender-related issues and victims of sexual harassment.
You do not need to know exactly how to define the problem. What matters is knowing where to start and that support is available. More info.
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The Martina Roeselová Memorial Fellowship for Early Stage Researchers
The Martina Roeselová Memorial Fellowship helps young scientists in the field of natural sciences balance competitive scientific work with care for preschool-age children. The financial support of CZK 150,000 for one calendar year is provided to PhD students and postdoctoral fellows at the beginning of their career in a difficult life situation, who are the primary caregiver of a preschool child, and at the same time conduct competitive research in the field of natural sciences at universities or research institutes in the Czech Republic. More info.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026
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Planning a Stay Abroad? Important Information for PhD Employees
PhD students who have an employment contract by Masaryk University must consult their planned stay abroad with the responsible person at the department where they are employed at least 40 days before departure. *
Please make sure to complete this step early enough when planning your mobility. List of contact persons is available here.
*If the opportunity to undertake a stay abroad arises less than 40 days before the planned departure, please contact the responsible person as soon as possible and before making any arrangements.
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New Supervisor’s Code Introduced at MUNI SCI
The new Supervisor’s Code defines the standards of supervision and mentorship at MUNI SCI, promoting a professional, transparent, respectful, and supportive environment for successful doctoral studies.
Learn more
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Development Opportunities
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How To Up-grade Your PhD? Join MMD!
Would you like to take your PhD studies to the next level?
Consider applying for the MUNI Mendel Doctorandus programme!
The programme is designed for outstanding students who want to push the set standards even higher during their doctoral studies at MUNI, through interdisciplinary lectures, a mentoring programme, and other developmental activities preparing them for their future career. Students are offered the possibility of an extended three-month internship abroad, thus opening a path to the European Doctorate or MMD International Certificate.
Find more information about the MUNI Mendel Doctorandus programme on our website.
The admission process for MUNI Mendel Doctorandus programme is now open!
Deadline for submitting applications: September 25, 2026.
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Life Sciences Seminar Series
Register for the Life Sciences Seminar Series: Join fellow PhD and MSc students for inspiring interdisciplinary lectures by leading scientists. Topics span modern biophysics, computational modelling, imaging, biochemistry, molecular biology, and related life science disciplines. Participants can earn credits upon attending at least five lectures. Check the programme for the Autumn semester.
Registration in IS under code Bi0011!
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One-week Course in Science Communication for PhD Students
Can you explain your research to a non-expert in three minutes? Give a media interview with confidence? Respond to misinformation? Or create your own communication strategy?
In September 2026, we are launching an intensive Science Communication course for PhD students who want to take their research beyond the lab — to the public, the media, and policymakers.
This course is designed for PhD students who want to:
- learn how to explain complex topics clearly and accurately
- handle media interviews without stress,
- use social media effectively and professionally,
- create video and podcast content in a studio environment,
- engage in public and policy debates (science advocacy),
- develop a realistic personal communication strategy.
The course will take place on September 7 - 11, 2026, with a final workshop on September 30, 2026.
More info
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The Competition Every First-year PhD Should Know About!
Brno PhD Talent supports 25 outstanding first-year PhD students with a scholarship of CZK 360,000 for three years. Eligible applicants must be full-time doctoral students at a partner university. After evaluation by external reviewers, the best candidates advance to a final presentation before an expert panel. More info.
Application deadline: September 23, 2026.
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The Werner von Siemens Prize
Are you finishing your dissertation? Don't keep it only to yourselves and apply for the Werner von Siemens Prize to win CZK 70,000!
The aim of the competition is to reward the authors of the best student and scientific papers, as well as university teachers working in the field of natural sciences who contribute to the development of Czech higher education, science and research. Announced categories. An award of CZK 10,000 also awaits a nominator of a successful candidate! More info.
Application deadline: November 30, 2026
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Planning Your Next Research Move? MSCA Calls!
The European Commission has unveiled the new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Work Programme 2026 – 2027, making more than €1.25 billion available to support doctoral training, postdoctoral fellowships, international mobility, and research collaboration across Europe and beyond. The programme continues to invest in researchers at all career stages while promoting excellent working conditions and long-term career development.
 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026:
Deadline: September 9, 2026
Budget: €399 million
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026:
Deadline: November 24, 2026
Budget: €593 million
Choose Europe for Science:
Deadline: April 6, 2027
Budget: €51.25 million
Interested in funding your next research step? Keep an eye on the upcoming calls and start planning your application early.
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Postdoc in Spain? Why not!
AuSpire has opened its final call for applications for five postdoctoral positions in Spain in areas such as bioinformatics, biology, neurobiology, immunometabolism, genomics, engineering, and water research. The programme offers a 3-year postdoctoral position, international secondments, specialised training, industry collaboration, and access to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Alumni Association. Expected start of secondment: January 2027. More info.
Application deadline: September 7, 2026
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IDCAC 2026: Call for Abstracts
Join the Third International Doctoral Conference on Advances in Chemistry (IDCAC 2026) on November 6 - 7, 2026 in Prague or online. Organised by PhD candidates for PhD candidates, the conference offers an opportunity to present your research, connect with fellow early-career researchers, and explore the latest advances in chemistry and related disciplines, including AI and data analysis. Participation is free of charge, with awards for the best presentations and discounted accommodation available. For details, visit the conference website or contact idcacprague@vscht.cz.
When: November 6 - 7, 2026
Where: Technicka 5, Prague / Online
Registration and abstract submission are open until October 9, 2026 (or until capacity is reached).
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On the topic of... Wellbeing
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A Midweek Boost for Your Wellbeing
Need a break from deadlines, experiments, exams, or everyday stress? Wellbeing Wednesday Brno offers free monthly gatherings focused on wellbeing, resilience, and meaningful connections. Open to local and international students, these English-language sessions provide a welcoming space to pause, reflect, and recharge.
When: September 9, 2026, (17:00 - 18:00)
Where: Multicultural Center Brusinka, Konečného nám. 2a
More info
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Would you like to share your recent publication with the ESR community? Send us a link to your article by email and include your supervisor in copy.
We’ll be happy to highlight your research in our newsletter!
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Sites we recommend to follow:
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