On the blog, you often read about Czech students and researchers moving abroad. Here, for a change, Denise-Liu’ Gracias Leone, discusses how the Czech academic system is perceived by those coming in from the outside, and also how it compares with the Belgian system, where her career journey took her to afterwards.
On the Czexpats in Science blog, you can usually read about international research visits and the experience of scientists. However, they collaborate with many other experts, including science communicators. In this blog post, you can read about what a group of such science communicators from SFÉRA Pardubice learnt on and brought back from their study visit.
Zuzana Osifová, a scientist and writer, has been a postdoctoral researcher at the Weizmann Institute in Israel for two years. She is supported by fellowships from the Experientia Foundation and the Canadian Azrieli Foundation. Her work focuses on developing new methods of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) that could help reveal the mysteries of protein folding and dynamics at physiological concentrations. But what is it like to do research and to live in a country where the sound of sirens does not mean the monthly “siren test”, but a real need to run for shelter?
Gor Vartazaryan, a graduate of law and political science at Charles University, is currently pursuing a one-year MPhil in Socio-Legal Research at Oxford. In his text, he offers insight into what a fully research-focused degree entails, how challenging it is to be admitted among a handful of successful candidates and to secure funding, and how everyday academic life functions at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. He also reflects openly on the experience of intensive mentoring, informal debates with leading scholars, and a shift in his own perspective on how academic work should be evaluated.
On Monday, 22 December 2025, the annual Czexpats Christmas Conference returned, turning the final days of the year into a celebration of scientific exchange, global collaboration and community spirit. The event filled the historic Modrá posluchárna at the Carolinum, Charles University in Prague with almost 250 people attending in person, while another 50 or so joined online. The conference brought together Czech scientists with international experience and international researchers based in Czechia, creating a truly global community.
In Czech science, we often look “towards the West” to find inspiration for good practice. In terms of the national grant funding agencies, chemist Soňa Krajčovičová (University of Cambridge), who has experienced the Czech application system from the point of view of someone looking to apply for funding and return to a Czech institution, argues that perhaps looking “towards the North” might suffice.
How do you combine top level sport with a laboratory based research career? And can you hop into a PhD straight from a US bachelor’s level course? You can read all about this in our blog written by Fabián Štoček, a PhD neuroscientist-cum-international level skier.
Are you a student or researcher with a dream of going abroad, but feel unsure about the first step? Come and get inspired, with practical advice from people who have been exactly where you are!
Our three-part online discussion Series ABROAD (“Série VEN!”), is designed for anyone considering a Master’s, PhD, or postdoc overseas. We’ve invited Czech scientists who are currently based around the world and are ready to share their stories and insights. You’ll not only get a clear idea of what to do, but also the confidence to make it happen. During these three online panel discussions, you can ask any questions you have.
For the second time in the past year, a project developed by researchers at Charles University’s Faculty of Law has received grant support from the European Research Council. The ERC Starting Grant, worth €1.5 million, goes to Jakub Drápal, who focuses on the issue of criminal sentencing across continental Europe.
On 25 April 2025 the first local meetup of Czech scientists living and working abroad took place in Denmark, organised in cooperation with the local embassy and the organisation Czexpats in Science. Researchers from across a wide range of disciplines had the opportunity to come together in Copenhagen. The organising team look back on the event.
