Hi, my name is Veronika. I’m a doctoral student focusing on experimental particle physics, and I’m also a member of the STAR collaboration at BNL. At the same time, I’m a mum to a three-year-old son, so I’m balancing family life with scientific research. In my free time, I enjoy singing, sports, playing board games, reading, and travelling.
- Why did you enrol at Jaderka?
I first became interested in nuclear physics as early as secondary school when we covered the topic of atomic nuclei. I first came to Prague for a summer Czech language course, which included visits to various universities. That’s how I learned about Jaderka. I was worried that I wouldn’t be accepted and that the studies would be too demanding for me—not just because of the difficulty of the subjects, but also due to the language barrier. However, my passion for experimental physics won out, so I decided to give it a go, and it worked. I was also intrigued by the opportunity to work in prestigious laboratories such as CERN in Switzerland or BNL in the USA, even as a Bachelor’s student.
- What are you working on right now?
I’m currently in my fourth year of doctoral studies. I am studying electrons originating from the semi-leptonic decays of heavy hadrons in gold-gold collisions at an energy of 54.4 GeV. Essentially, I perform data analysis and programming. The results of my analysis provide information about the energy losses of charm quarks in quark-gluon plasma.
- Would you recommend Jaderka? And who do you think it is not for?
I would recommend Jaderka to anyone who has a genuine interest in and passion for science. This faculty is challenging, but it provides a broad and deep foundation in the natural sciences—especially physics and mathematics—and develops your analytical and technical skills. It teaches you how to work under pressure, to be adaptable in different environments, and how to effectively analyse and absorb huge amounts of information in a limited time. I think these skills are incredibly useful nowadays, as the volume of information keeps growing and the world changes faster and faster. In my opinion, the skills you gain can be used not only in a scientific career but also in everyday life and in work outside of academia.
- What do you think is the biggest myth about Jaderka?
I think the biggest myth about technical universities, including Jaderka, is the belief that women don’t have a place in STEM fields. On the contrary, women are very welcome at Jaderka. We even hold special events, such as masterclasses and lectures for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. These events allow girls to try out various experiments, meet female scientists, hear their stories, and gain the confidence that they can succeed too. I also feel that Jaderka tries to support mums so they aren't afraid to return to science and don't feel they have to choose between a career and a family. It’s possible to extend or interrupt your studies, and we recently opened a children's room. Furthermore, there is the Martina Roeselová Grant, which is intended for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers caring for preschool-aged children. This grant supports scientists who are actively dedicated to work in the natural sciences at universities or research institutions in the Czech Republic. I was awarded this grant this year, and it is a huge help for our family.