Marcin Wągiel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Czech Language at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. His office is located in building D, room D.413 at Arna Nováka 1, with contact details including phone 549 49 8884 and email marcin.wagiel@phil.muni.cz. His research centers on theoretical and descriptive linguistics with emphasis on Czech language semantics and syntax. Key interests include degree/number constructions, part-whole structures, classifier systems, and temporal-modal interactions in natural language. He employs formal linguistic frameworks to analyze comparative and typological phenomena across languages, particularly within Slavic linguistics. Wągiel actively supervises doctoral research, currently guiding a thesis on temporal-modal semantics. He has secured significant research funding including Czech Science Foundation projects like Classification of classifiers (GA24-10073S, 2024-2026) and Part-whole structures across languages (GA20-16107S, 2020-2023). Additionally, he contributes to Masaryk University's student research programs supporting work in general linguistics, Indo-European studies, narratology, and Baltic studies.
Radim Lacina, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Professor at Masaryk University's Faculty of Arts with dual appointments in the Department of Czech Language and Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages. His academic trajectory includes research positions at Osnabrück University and University of Potsdam prior to his current role. His educational foundation comprises a 2025 Ph.D. in Cognitive Science (magna cum laude) from Osnabrück University, where his dissertation examined scalar implicatures and focus processing. This followed a 2020 M.Sc. in Psychology of Language (With Distinction) from the University of Edinburgh and a 2019 B.A. in Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics (First Class) from the University of Oxford. Lacina's research investigates real-time language comprehension mechanisms, specializing in how contextual information integrates during utterance processing. His experimental pragmatics work centers on Czech language phenomena including scalar diversity, focus alternatives, negation effects, and agreement attraction illusions through behavioral methodologies. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a cohesive research program examining morphosyntactic processing in Czech, particularly agreement phenomena and scalar implicatures. His methodological approach combines probe recognition, lexical decision, and speeded acceptability paradigms to bridge theoretical linguistics with cognitive science, with significant contributions to understanding cross-linguistic variation in language processing. Current research activities include participation in the "Lexikon a gramatika češtiny V" project (2025) as MU Researcher and prior involvement in the LangInLife project. His international collaborations span the Scales in Language Processing and Acquisition project at Osnabrück University and University of Potsdam, plus a 2024 visiting academic position at Oxford's Faculty of Linguistics. He maintains active teaching responsibilities including Psycholinguistics, Pragmatics, and the Roman Jakobson Linguistic Seminar across multiple academic terms, with office hours available in-person (D.413) or online by appointment.
Ing. Petr Schwarz, Ph.D. , is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Graphics and Multimedia, Faculty of Information Technology, Brno University of Technology. He specializes in speech recognition and biometric systems, with a focus on robustness in real-world conditions. Current roles: Assistant Professor, Researcher, Project Lead Key affiliations: Brno University of Technology (FIT), EU Horizon Europe, Czech Defense Research Program His research spans speech recognition , language identification , and multimodal datasets for security applications. Recent work includes AI-driven emergency call systems and tools to combat voice deepfakes. Notable projects include: Multilingual and Cross-cultural Dialogue Systems (EU Horizon Europe, 2024-2026) Voice Deepfake Detection (Czech Sectech Program, 2024-2026) His publications analyze Gaussian mixture models, i-vector migration, and phonetic search techniques. Trends emphasize robust algorithms for security-critical domains . Scientific accolades include the Silver Medal from BUT Rector (2006) and Brno FIT Bronze Medal (2022). He has contributed to open-source tools like Kaldi and developed systems for NIST evaluations.
Assoc. Prof. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University in Brno. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Masaryk University and has served as the Head of Department (2014–2019) and currently as Vice-Dean for External and Internal Relations (2019–present). His research focuses on environmental ethics, sustainability education, resilience theory, and Czech environmental movements. Education: Ph.D. in Philosophy, Masaryk University, 2002 Mgr. in Philosophy and Aesthetics, Masaryk University, 1997 State Language Exam in Spanish, 2008 Research Interests: Binka explores ethical dimensions of environmental challenges, resilience in socio-ecological systems, and transformative education for sustainability. His work bridges philosophy, sociology, and policy analysis, emphasizing practical applications in urban planning and climate action. Key Projects: Leading Horizon Europe-funded research on climate change education resilience (2024–2027) Erasmus+ projects strengthening sustainability teacher networks (2023–2026) TAČR grant analyzing urban parks' socio-ecological value (2018–2021) Awards: Recipient of the prestigious Josef Vavroušek Prize (2003) for his doctoral work on Czech environmental movements. Teaching and Mentorship: Teaches courses on environmental ethics, ecological economics, and resilience theory. Supervises doctoral research on climate adaptation, just transition, and community economies. Known for innovative pedagogical approaches in ethics education and sustainability curriculum design. Labs/Teams: Co-leads the Sustainability Education Research Group and collaborates with international partners on resilience frameworks. Active in the MU Environmental Studies program development.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Václav Štěpánek, Ph.D. serves as Head of the Department of Slavic Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. His office is located in building A/A.311 at Arna Nováka 1, 602 00 Brno, with correspondence address at Arna Nováka 1/1, 602 00 Brno. He can be reached by phone at 549 49 7332 and via email at 17453@mail.muni.cz and vstepanek@mail.muni.cz. His academic expertise spans multiple interconnected fields: Slavic Studies with emphasis on South Slavic languages and literature Balkan studies and history Czech-Serbian historical relations throughout different periods History of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia World War I history with focus on Czech volunteers in Balkan conflicts Czech minorities in the Balkan region Štěpánek's extensive research output demonstrates consistent focus on Czech-Serbian historical connections, particularly examining Czech participation in Balkan conflicts, cultural exchanges between Slavic nations, and the historical development of Slavic studies as an academic discipline. His work often bridges historical, literary, and cultural perspectives, providing comprehensive analyses of Slavic interconnections across Central and Southeastern Europe. His academic contributions include numerous publications, conference organization, and editorial work, particularly in the area of Balkan studies symposia in Brno. He has served on important academic bodies including the Industry Council for Areal-philological studies, History, and Literary philology of Slavic literature, as well as the Program Board for South Slavic and Balkan Studies (bachelor's degree) and Slavic Studies (master's degree) programs. Prof. Štěpánek has supervised students and participated in various research projects, demonstrating significant engagement with both Czech and Serbian academic communities through collaborations and international conferences. His work reflects deep commitment to fostering academic cooperation between Central European and Balkan scholarly traditions.
Mgr. Pavel Pilch, Ph.D. serves as Assistant Professor at the Department of Slavic Studies within the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. His academic profile combines teaching expertise in South Slavic languages with specialized research in Yugoslavian comics and contemporary Balkan literatures, supported by certification as a court interpreter for Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian languages since 2019. Dr. Pilch completed his academic formation at Masaryk University with a Ph.D. in Theory and History of Slavic Literatures (2021), preceded by Mgr. (2013) and Bc. (2011) degrees in Croatian Language and Literature, and a Bc. in Czech Language and Literature (2010). His graduate theses examined linguistic taboos and translation challenges across Slavic languages, establishing foundations for his current scholarly trajectory. His research centers on Yugoslavian comics history and contemporary Serbian literary production, with significant contributions to translation studies and Balkan cultural analysis. Methodologically, Pilch integrates textual criticism with sociolinguistic frameworks, particularly examining swearing as cross-cultural communication barriers. His fieldwork includes academic residencies at Dubrovnik's Centre for Advanced Academic Studies (2014, 2016) and Belgrade University (2015), focusing on language policy and literary traditions within South Slavic contexts. Analysis of Pilch's 2023-2025 publications reveals expanding interdisciplinary engagement, from core comics studies (e.g., Kája Saudek's narrative techniques) to emerging digital humanities applications (AI in language pedagogy) and urban cultural studies (Brno pub transformations). His work consistently addresses intercultural communication challenges across Slavic linguistic spaces, with increasing attention to visual narrative forms and contemporary cultural phenomena. Dr. Pilch received recognition in 2014 through an Honorable Mention in the Jiří Levý Competition for his Croatian literary translation. Jiří Levý Competition - Honorable Mention (2014) As a supervisor, he currently guides master's theses including research on cybertext variables in Czech-Russian language comparison. His grant portfolio demonstrates sustained institutional support through Masaryk University's Specific Research program since 2021, with principal investigator roles in projects examining Slavic cultural border zones (2023-2025), historical epochs in Slavic cultures (2022), and professional writing for Slavic scholars (2022). Slavic Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the Border of Three Civilizations (MUNI/A/1632/2024) Identity, equivalence and otherness in Slavic languages (MUNI/A/1479/2023) Ideology in Slavic Literatures and Cultures (MUNI/A/1349/2022) Historical Epochs in Slavic Cultures (MUNI/A/1335/2022) Pilch actively contributes to scholarly communities through the Brno-based Porta Balkanica association and co-organization of the annual Croatianist Meetings in Brno, fostering regional networks in South Slavic studies while maintaining collaborative ties with Dubrovnik's academic institutions and Belgrade University's summer programs.
Mojmír Dočekal serves as Associate Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Baltic Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. His academic profile spans theoretical and applied linguistics with emphasis on structural analysis of Slavic languages, particularly Czech grammatical systems. His research interests include: Formal approaches to grammatical number and verbal aspect in Slavic languages Negation and negative polarity expressions in Czech Interdisciplinary connections between linguistics and cultural studies Development of experimental linguistics curricula Baltic language studies within Indo-European frameworks Dr. Dočekal actively participates in research projects supporting graduate students in general linguistics, Indo-European studies, narratology, and Baltic studies. His recent work includes creation of interactive e-learning materials for experimental linguistics courses (2022-2023) and contributions to the Czech Science Foundation project on grammatical number in Slavic languages (2017-2019). Academic service includes membership on: Industry Council for Linguistics and General Linguistics Program Board for General Linguistics bachelor's and master's programs Program Board for Interpreting of Czech Sign Language His institutional work occurs within the Institute of Linguistics and Baltic Studies, where he supervises student research projects and contributes to curriculum development across multiple linguistic disciplines.
Jan Trna serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of German, Nordic and Dutch Studies within the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. His academic profile demonstrates a strong commitment to both research and teaching in German studies, with particular expertise in contemporary German-language literature and German as a Foreign Language (DaF) pedagogy. Dr. Trna's research program centers on Swiss author Lukas Bärfuss, whose dramatic and essayistic works he has analyzed through multiple lenses including societal criticism, treatment of taboo subjects, and the relationship between civilization and religion. His scholarship bridges literary analysis with practical language teaching applications, as evidenced by his exploration of Reiner Kunze's works for DaF instruction. Recent publications demonstrate his growing interest in intercultural dimensions of language teaching, particularly how Czech cultural memory sites can be incorporated into German language curricula. Analysis of Dr. Trna's publication trends (2021-2024) reveals an evolving research trajectory from literary criticism toward applied language teaching methodologies. His work increasingly connects theoretical literary scholarship with classroom practice, focusing on how contemporary literary works can enhance language acquisition. The consistent international collaboration evident in his publications—particularly with Johannes Köck and Vera Janikova—demonstrates his engagement with broader academic networks beyond the Czech context. As a member of the Program Board for Translation of Modern European Languages (Master's degree), Dr. Trna contributes to academic leadership within his department. His supervisory role confirms active mentorship of graduate students, though specific student names aren't publicly documented. His extensive publication record across multiple formats—academic articles, conference presentations, book reviews, and teaching materials—indicates a well-rounded academic profile that successfully integrates research, teaching, and service responsibilities at Masaryk University.
Dr. Gabriela Málková serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Life Sciences at Charles University's Faculty of Humanities, specializing in child language and literacy development research with practical applications for educational psychology. Education Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (2001-2007), Faculty of Education, Charles University, Prague M.A. in Psychology and Special Pedagogy (1996-2001), Faculty of Education, Charles University, Prague Research Focus Her work investigates literacy acquisition mechanisms in early childhood, emphasizing phonological-orthographic interplay and cross-linguistic assessment methodologies . She develops practical intervention tools for literacy disorders through international collaborations, targeting real-world applications in psychological counseling and educational practice. Professional Network European Literacy Network member Society for the Scientific Study of Reading member Scientific committee member for SILE International Symposium Active collaborator with Czech National Institute for Education (NUV) Research lead for ATC Prague's Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment program International partnerships with Bangor University (UK), Paneurópska vysoká škola (Slovakia), Université Paris-Est Créteil (France), and University of Galway (Ireland) Academic Contributions Dr. Málková teaches Developmental Psychology, Language and Literacy Acquisition, Social Psychology, and Research Methodology courses while supervising bachelor's, master's, and PhD theses on literacy development. Her research directly informs national assessment tools through the Czech National Institute for Education.
Tomáš Bureš is a Professor at the Department of Distributed and Dependable Systems , Faculty of Mathematics and Physics , Charles University . His work focuses on adaptive software architectures for smart cyber-physical systems (CPS) and IoT, leveraging machine learning (neural networks) for self-adaptation, edge-cloud systems, and model-driven development. Research Groups: Leader of the SmartArch research group. Projects: Involved in ExtremeXP , ESTABLISH , AFarCloud , FitOptiVis , Trust 4.0 , ASCENS , RELATE ITN , Q-ImPrESS . Publications span topics like performance regression testing, ML workflow optimization, confidentiality analysis under uncertainty, and edge-cloud continuum modeling. Key subfields include self-adaptive architectures, adaptation rules, component ensembles, and statistical methods in software engineering. His work bridges theoretical models (e.g., DEECo, SOFA) with practical tools (e.g., ExpEngine, Robin) for CPS and cloud applications. Co-Authors include P. Hnětynka, M. Abdullah, R. Heinrich, and others. Publications appear in venues like IEEE Transactions on Autonomic Computing , ACM/SPEC ICPE , and ECSA Workshops .
Petr Jancar is a Professor at the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc. He has previously held academic positions at VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava and the University of Ostrava. His research is centered in theoretical computer science, with deep contributions to automata theory, Petri nets, system verification, and computational complexity. Education RNDr, Theoretical Cybernetics and Mathematical Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague (1982) CSc. (PhD equivalent), Dissertation: "Questions of Decidability of Dynamic Properties of Petri Nets", Charles University (1989) Appointed Associate Professor in Informatics, Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University (1996) Appointed Professor in Informatics, VŠB-TU Ostrava (2008) His primary research interests include theoretical computer science , focusing on language and automata theory, computability and complexity, algorithm theory, and mathematical logic. A significant portion of his work addresses system verification , particularly using Petri nets and infinite-state systems. He investigates fundamental questions of bisimilarity, equivalence checking, decidability, and complexity in models like pushdown and one-counter automata. Jancar's recent publications (2020–2025) show a strong trend in advancing the theory of Petri nets, especially structural liveness, reachability, and home-space problems, often establishing high complexity bounds (e.g., Ackermann-complete). His work combines deep theoretical insight with formal rigor, frequently published in top venues like LICS, CONCUR, and LogMethCS. He has long-standing collaborations with researchers such as Jérôme Leroux, Zdeněk Sawa, and Antonín Kučera. Scientific Service and Recognition Member, Editorial Board, Information and Computation (since 2015) Member, Scientific Councils at Masaryk University, VŠB-TU Ostrava, Palacký University, and Brno University of Technology Chairman, GAČR Panel P202 Informatics (2015–2017) Member, Program Committees of major international conferences He has been a co-investigator and researcher on multiple GAČR projects, including those on algorithms for infinite-state systems, computational complexity of verification, and modeling of parallel systems. He has also participated in the Center for Applied Cybernetics. He has held research stays supported by grants in Germany, France, Sweden, and the UK. Laboratories and Research Groups His work is closely associated with formal methods and verification research groups at Palacký University and former affiliations. He has contributed to collaborative projects involving MPI verification and infinite-state system analysis.
Jiří Kotas serves as Assistant Professor at Masaryk University's Faculty of Sports Studies within the Department of Sports Performance and Diagnostics. His institutional affiliation centers on sports science research and pedagogy at the Brno campus (Kamenice 753/5, 625 00). Research interests span esports phenomena , digital health applications , and AI integration in sports performance . His work examines ethical dimensions of gaming in youth development while pioneering artificial intelligence tools for athletic diagnostics and academic practice. Current research initiatives include the 1st M(U)INI eSports Conference (2025) and Student Section - 14th International Conference on Kinanthropology (2025) , both funded through Masaryk University's COMMUNITY and student research programs. These projects investigate esports education frameworks and active ageing through sports diagnostics. Teaching portfolio encompasses Business in Sports , Sports Marketing , and Managerial Minimum in Sports across undergraduate programs. His pedagogical approach integrates digital balance concepts with contemporary sports management challenges. Laboratory work occurs within the Department of Sports Performance and Diagnostics infrastructure, focusing on gait analysis systems and esports performance metrics. Future research trajectories indicate expansion into AI-driven youth education models and cross-generational sports technology applications.
Aleš Bičan serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Baltic Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno. He holds membership in the following academic bodies: Industry Council for General Linguistics Program Board for General Linguistics (bachelor's study) Program Board for General Linguistics (master's follow-up study) Program Board for Interpreting Czech Sign Language (bachelor's study) Program Board for Vietnamese Studies (bachelor's study) His research spans general linguistics, Baltic studies, Indo-European studies, narratology, and sign language (particularly semantics and lexicology of sign languages), with additional focus on phonetics and phonology. He has pioneered e-learning resources for sign language courses and phonetics instruction. Dr. Bičan actively leads research projects supporting student work in linguistics and Baltic studies, including the 2025 "Creation of e-learning support for courses LgBA03 General Phonetics and Phonology" and 2023 "Creation of new interactive curricula for subjects TCZJ30 and LgV13 Semantics of sign languages." His current portfolio includes developing lexicology materials for sign languages and supporting doctoral research in narratology.
Prof. Jan Chovanec is a Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of English and American Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. He has maintained a robust teaching schedule across multiple faculties including Arts, Education, Economics and Administration, and Law since at least 2000. Academic Service and Administration Deputy Head of Department - Department of English and American Studies Member, Industry Council for English Linguistics Member, Program Board for English Language and Literature (Bachelor's and Master's degrees) Member, Scientific Council of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University Research Focus Prof. Chovanec's scholarly work centers on the intersection of language with social contexts, media, and legal frameworks. His teaching portfolio reveals deep engagement with both theoretical and applied aspects of linguistics. Linguistics and Sociolinguistics English Language in Media and Public Discourse Forensic Linguistics and Legal Language Analysis Multilingualism, Language Change and Language Policy Pragmatics and Language Ideology Stylistics and Terminology Teaching and Mentorship Prof. Chovanec has consistently supervised graduate students through Master's Thesis and Dissertation Seminars across multiple academic terms. His teaching philosophy appears to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application, particularly evident in courses like "Professional Publication" and "Professional Lecture."
Irene Cecchini is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno. Her correspondence address is Arna Nováka 1/1, 602 00 Brno, and she can be reached at 254322@mail.muni.cz. She holds regular consultation hours on Wednesdays from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM by email reservation and teaches across bachelor's and master's programs including Italian Literature I-IV, thesis seminars, and specialized courses like 'Verso la tesi: percorsi di approfondimento'. Her research centers on Italian modern and contemporary literature with deep engagement in ecocriticism, narrative theory, and spatial studies. She investigates ecobiography, flânerie as spatial diagnostics, and intersections between ecology and labor, while incorporating gender perspectives and non-human frameworks. Her work frequently examines territorial promotion through green literature and multiscalar approaches to environmental crises in literary narratives. Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals consistent thematic threads: literature's role in processing ecological trauma through materiality and memory, spatial narratives mapping human-environment relationships, and feminist reinterpretations of labor through non-human lenses. She bridges literary analysis with environmental humanities, examining how contemporary Italian authors address climate change, exile, and socio-ecological justice through innovative narrative forms. Scientific awards have not been documented in available institutional records. Dr. Cecchini serves as thesis supervisor for bachelor's and master's students in Italian literature. Her current research activities include: Romance Languages and Romance Literatures in Motion (MUNI/A/1519/2024): Researcher at Masaryk University (2025), focusing on movement dynamics in Romance language studies under the university's Specific Research program.
