Page 4: News and articles | physics.muni.cz :: Web page of the Departments of Physics at Masaryk University in Brno

5 Mar

Scientific Stay of Dr. Matej Fekete at Empa

Dr. Matej Fekete has returned to our department after completing a scientific stay at Empa – Mechanics of Materials & Nanostructures in Switzerland, where he conducted advanced micromechanical testing to evaluate the fracture toughness of oxynitrides. His work strengthened our expertise in thin films and reinforced our collaboration with one of Europe’s leading materials research institutes.

4 Mar

Lenka Vítková Joins the PNB Research Group

The Plasma Nanotechnologies and Bioapplications Research Group at DPPT and CEPLANT welcomes its new colleague, Ing. Lenka Vítková, Ph.D. She will join the team in composite materials research and also bring her expertise in the field of natural polymers.

3 Mar

Dr. Jiří Vohánka Research Internship at Fraunhofer IOF in Jena

Dr. Jiří Vohánka from the Optics for Thin Films and Solid Surfaces research group spent February 2026 at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) in Jena. Working with the Functional Surfaces and Coatings team, he focused on light‑scattering phenomena and their use in advanced thin‑film characterization. The stay was supported by the COLOSSE consortium, strengthening international collaboration and bringing new expertise back to the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and CEPLANT.

3 Mar

Dr. Oleksandr Galmiz on Safer Medical Materials and Environmental Innovation

Dr. Oleksandr Galmiz, in collaboration with Comenius University in Bratislava, is exploring the potential of non-thermal plasma to enhance polymer materials for medical use and environmental applications. His research focuses on improving durability, safety, and resistance to bacterial contamination, building on expertise in plasma–liquid interactions and surface chemistry. Recognized with prestigious fellowships, his work contributes to innovative solutions ranging from medical technologies to air purification and pollutant degradation.

2 Mar

Erasmus+ Research Stay at Helmholtz‑Zentrum Hereon

PhD candidates Pedram Ghourchi Beigi and Leila Zahedi from DPPT and CEPLANT completed an Erasmus+ research stay at Helmholtz‑Zentrum Hereon. Under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Mikhail Zheludkevich and Dr. Tatsiana Shulha, they gained practical experience in Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and applied the technique to study protective properties of advanced coatings.

27 Feb

PhD student Jan Skácel awarded FRIA grant for research on plasma–spacecraft interactions

PhD student Jan Skácel has been awarded the prestigious FRIA funding grant (F.R.S.–FNRS) for his project focused on modelling plasma–spacecraft interactions in very low Earth orbit. His project will be carried out with collaboration between MUNI, Université Libre de Bruxelles, and the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, strengthening the growing international collaboration in the field of spacecraft charging in plasma environments.

26 Feb

MU Showcases Semiconductor Research Excellence in International Dialogue

During the visit of a high‑level diplomatic delegation from Costa Rica, Assoc. Prof. Pavel Souček represented Masaryk University’s semiconductor research strengths, a field developed by the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and the Department of Condensed Matter Physics. The meeting with Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco highlighted new opportunities for international academic cooperation.

25 Feb

Dr. Krzysztof Gręda Joined Collaborative Plasma Diagnostics

A visit from Dr. Krzysztof Gręda of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology launched an intensive joint effort to characterize a novel atomizer for detecting trace amounts of toxic elements. Early measurements performed with our researchers reveal promising performance of the pulsed‑discharge system and open new avenues for advanced plasma diagnostics.

24 Feb

PlasmaMix‑BioMat project moving forward

The recent visit of Dr. Jakub Kelar and Dr. Michal Pazderka to University of Ljubljana once again highlights the value of long‑term partnerships. This collaboration with Dr. Sebastian Dahle and his team represents far more than a single research task – it’s a strong example of how joint expertise in plasma technologies, materials research, and bio‑applications can spark new momentum for innovation.

23 Feb

Building Global Links: Pavel Souček at NCKU, Taiwan

Assoc. Prof. Pavel Souček represented the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and CEPLANT during MU Rector Martin Bareš’s official visit to National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan. With NCKU’s strong global reputation in semiconductor research, the meetings focused on opportunities for collaboration in plasma‑based semiconductor manufacturing. The visit marks an important step toward strengthening strategic partnerships and expanding international cooperation in advanced semiconductor technologies.

20 Feb

Alumni: Petr Střelec

The career path of our alumni Petr Strelec, now Site Lead and Sr. Director of R&D at Thermo Fisher Scientific Brno, shows how a strong foundation in physics can lead to global leadership and cutting‑edge technological innovation. During his recent visit to the Faculty of Science, he toured the laboratories of the Department of Plasma Physics and Technology and CEPLANT. He also reconnected with his former thesis supervisor, Prof. Ivan Ohlídal – a meaningful return to the roots of his scientific journey.

17 Feb

Michael Krbek se jako mentor a člen poroty zúčastnil soutěže AstroPI Hackathon

13 Feb

Research Exhibition Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Faculty of Science held a small research exhibition. The aim was to learn about the research being done by the women in our faculty.

13 Feb

Dr. Zdeněk Bonaventura on Research Stay at École Polytechnique

Dr. Zdeněk Bonaventura is currently undertaking a month‑long research stay at the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (École Polytechnique, Palaiseau), supported by the host institution. His visit continues a long‑standing collaboration with the group of Prof. Anne Bourdon (CNRS), focused on modelling runaway electron production in the vicinity of highly overvolted negative electrodes.

10 Feb

Opportunity to Shape European Space Science: Tereza Jeřábková Appointed to the European Space Agency’s Advisory Group

Astronomer Tereza Jeřábková was elected at the beginning of the year to the Astronomy Working Group (AWG) of the European Space Agency (ESA). This is a prestigious position that helps shape the direction of research at a global level. The first two-day AWG meeting of this year, attended by Tereza Jeřábková,..

9 Feb

CzecHopes 2026

The Physics departments and the CEPLANT Centre participated in the CzecHopes conference, aimed at high‑school students seeking inspiration and information about their options after graduation. For the participants, we prepared several scientific workshops, demonstrations of CEPLANT’s research focus, and we also presented the study of physics at the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University through an information booth.

29 Jan

Astrophysicists have discovered why fewer stars are forming in space than expected

The work of researchers from the Faculty of Science was published in the prestigious journal Nature. Astrophysicists studied how supermassive black holes influence the evolution of galaxies.

23 Jan

Interview with Leona Zuzáková

Leona Zuzáková, winner of the prestigious Academia Publishing House Award for her study of plant surface structures carried out on our CEPLANT SEM MIRA3 microscope, shares in a recent interview how she chose her research topic, the challenges of preparing microscopic samples, her collaboration with experts, and how she balanced scientific work with motherhood.

22 Jan

Ronny Jean-Marie-Désirée Joins the PDM Research Group

The Plasma Diagnostics and Modelling research group welcomes its newest team member, Dr. Ronny Jean-Marie-Désirée, who will expand our capabilities in ultrafast optical diagnostics. As part of his role, he will work with the streak camera system, supporting time‑resolved studies crucial for advancing plasma and material research.

20 Jan

Research Stay of Michal Pazderka in Toulouse

Michal Pazderka completed a two‑week research stay at Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, where he collaborated with the group of Prof. Nicolas Naudé on advancing new diagnostic methods in plasma physics. The stay was supported by the COLOSSE project, which enables the expansion of international cooperation and the transfer of expertise to our department.