Brno Ph.D Talent will support the scientific career of eight doctoral students from BUT

The city of Brno has honored young scientists from Brno universities for the sixteenth time. At a ceremonial gathering on Wednesday, March 19, at Brno's New Town Hall, they received checks to support the further development of their research. Among the 25 awardees were also 8 PhD students from Brno University of Technology (BUT), whose scholarships will aid research projects in fields such as electron microscopy, theoretical informatics, and battery technology development.

"The scholarship gives me the freedom to fully dedicate myself to science without having to worry about finances or seeking additional jobs. Indirectly, receiving this grant is also a form of recognition for me, affirming that my research has potential and is worth continuing," said Tereza Havlíková from CEITEC BUT, one of the awardees.

Another recipient from this year's selection, Vít Šimara from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT, added: "I see the scholarship primarily as a sign of recognition for PhD students from JCMM and the city of Brno, and I truly appreciate it. The Brno Ph.D. Talent project is also a great opportunity to meet other students and learn about their topics across universities."

This year's Brno Ph.D. Talent program received 120 applications. Based on presentations, an expert committee selected 50 finalists, and after further narrowing, only the top 25 remained. In addition to eight research projects from BUT, the selection includes 17 projects from Masaryk University. The successful candidates comprise ten women and fifteen men from five countries, who will receive a total of CZK 9 million in scholarships from the city of Brno. Each awardee will receive CZK 360,000 spread over three years.

"Every year, I take great joy in watching the achievements of our students across all fields of study. Especially when they receive independent recognition in various competitions, I feel immense pride in their affiliation with our university. This is also the case now. I congratulate all who were awarded in the Brno Ph.D. Talent competition, as well as those who narrowly missed out this year. Unfortunately, the number of awards is limited, and selecting among undoubtedly top-tier projects is extremely challenging. My gratitude and congratulations go to all students who dedicated their efforts and submitted their outstanding work to this competition. I deeply appreciate the motivation and enthusiasm of our PhD students in applying their talent to research and achieving truly remarkable results and solutions," said BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček, adding:

"I would like to thank the leadership of the city of Brno for the attention they devote to nurturing young scientific talents in their city through this long-established competition. Brno is undoubtedly a major academic and research center in our country. This initiative fosters competitiveness in research and development, which is essential for advancing knowledge and the competitiveness of our society. Talent and the motivation to use it for scientific advancement are fundamental to progress in natural, technical, medical, and social sciences. The application of their findings is the most effective path to competitiveness and the prosperity of our nation."

CEITEC BUT: Plasmonics, Advanced Ceramics, and Electron Microscopy

Michael Foltýn focuses on the physics of plasmonics of non-noble metals, studying how electrons on metal surfaces behave when exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Research typically involves gold or silver nanoparticles, but these are expensive and mainly effective in the infrared and visible spectrum. Therefore, he is exploring cheaper materials suitable for plasmonic applications, including in the UV spectrum, which could, for instance, reduce costs for medical tests based on gold nanoparticles.

"I enjoy uncovering the inner workings of the world around us. It's an amazing feeling to see individual atoms in a sample and realize how everything in the universe fits together," shared Michael.

Tereza Havlíková works at CEITEC BUT in the Advanced Multifunctional Ceramics research group. She develops new types of transparent ceramic materials for advanced optical and photonic applications, such as lasers and detectors for imaging technologies. She focuses on high-entropy materials, where combining multiple elements within a single crystal structure results in superior properties and enhanced functionality. She aims to achieve high transparency and improved photoluminescent properties.

Tereza appreciates the diversity of scientific work: "I love that through science, I can learn new things every day, develop myself, and push the boundaries of knowledge," she said.

Heating electronic components in state-of-the-art electron microscopes can have both negative and positive effects on their functionality. This is the focus of Jiří Kabát from the Fabrication and Characterisation of Nanostructures research group. He studies the interactions between moving electrons and heated materials to either harness or mitigate the resulting thermal effects.

Jiří has always been fascinated by science, particularly its ability to explain everyday phenomena. "What excites me most is when theoretical equations on paper and computer simulations match experimental results and even help explain physical phenomena."

FIT BUT: Theoretical Informatics Tools for Safer Applications

Improving software through logic is the motto of Michal Hečko. Logic and its application in formal verification, which he specializes in, is an area of theoretical computer science with important practical implications. "When the cost of a computer error is high, we turn to formal verification to mathematically prove that the software behaves as expected. However, the foundations of formal verification logic and decision-making procedures are full of scalability issues, leading to a huge increase in computation time and inefficiency of the algorithms used for real-world applications. My project addresses these problems with the aim of paving the way for safe and robust software," Michal explains, adding: "I perceive life in safety and comfort as a privilege, and I believe that I should spend my time responsibly by utilizing my curiosity and desire for knowledge to help advance our society."

David Chocholatý focuses on developing methods for systematically discovering errors in web applications. Together with his colleagues, he uses tools from automata theory, which is also a part of theoretical computer science. "Our approach is the fastest in the world, giving us a unique opportunity to overcome current obstacles and uncover numerous vulnerabilities. Moreover, the project will also contribute to verification of control systems for the aviation industry and access rights management in cloud solutions," David describes his research, also sharing his motivation: "Curiosity and the desire to understand the world around us are what drive humanity forward, and I am glad to be part of this progress."

Both representatives of the Faculty of Information Technology at BUT work at the Department of Intelligent Systems.

FME BUT: Better Batteries and Smart Lubrication Systems

Jan Kramář is studying Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology and is exploring alternatives to Li-ion batteries. These include, for example, solid electrolyte batteries, which currently lack tools for comprehensive microstructural analysis. Jan Kramář's project therefore focuses on correlative electron and probe microscopy suitable not only for studying microstructure but also for analyzing degradation processes during battery charging and discharging.

Jan enjoys the practical application of science the most, where new discoveries meet real-world problems. "Such encounters often lead to elegant and practical solutions that can have a tangible impact on the world around us."

Vít Šimara works in the Tribology Department of the Institute of Machine and Industrial Design at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT. His research aims to contribute to the development of smart lubrication systems that will increase the lifespan and efficiency of mechanical devices. "A promising solution lies in ionic liquids. My goal is to find the most suitable one and clarify the effect of an external electric field on the formation of the lubrication film," Vít explains, for whom science is more than just a job. He appreciates how it connects people worldwide and finds fulfillment in its teaching aspects.

FEEC BUT: Technologies for Extending Battery Lifespan

The project led by Dominik Klement, a doctoral student of Theoretical Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication at BUT, focuses on developing technologies for improving battery state estimation and performance under various dynamically changing conditions. The research aims to enhance battery reliability, extend their lifespan, and provide practical benefits for energy storage systems in various industrial sectors.

Dominik is also behind the technology-driven startup project Volteek, which develops a modular battery management system and won a shared first place in last year’s BUT Student Entrepreneurship Award. Additionally, he is the co-founder and leader of the university team YSpace, which received exclusive expert and technological support from the European Space Agency (ESA). For Dominik, science represents progress, solutions to real-world problems, and an expansion of our understanding of the universe.

We sincerely congratulate all the awardees and wish them much success in their scientific careers!

The next edition of the scholarship program will launch in September 2025. All important information is provided on the website of the organizer – the South Moravian Centre for International Mobility (JCMM).