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Women in IT - inspiring women in FI

We are taking a holistic approach to transforming the way FI works.
We strive for a fair working environment.
We promote diversity and gender equality.
We strive to motivate and inspire all "IT women". We share information about science and diversity.

The Faculty of Informatics (FI) strives to motivate and inspire all "IT women" - women in academic positions, women researchers, women students, women in leadership positions, and women in all non-academic and non-scientific positions. Meet the inspiring women at FI who work in all of our departments and the Computing Centre, as well as the women speakers at the Computing Colloquium.

Mgr. Dagmar Szitás, PhD
Psychologist

Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing

Although my studies and research so far have been primarily based in psychology, technology has been a natural part of it from the beginning. This led me to the Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing - Faculty of Computer Science, where I am working in a multidisciplinary team on the EMPOWER project. I am involved in the development of an AI-assisted application for cancer patients in collaboration with the Masaryk Cancer Institute that connects modern technology with real human needs. This work allows me to combine my interest in science, technology and psychology while contributing to the creation of meaningful solutions. The faculty provides me with a space for professional and personal development, building on existing skills and learning new knowledge. I perceive the environment at the faculty as a place that is open to ideas, supports professional discussion, responds to current challenges and creates conditions for the implementation of projects with real impact.

Assoc. Mgr. Helena Lukášová, ArtD.
Lecturer

Department of Visual Informatics

I have been working at the Faculty of Informatics for many years. As a graduate sculptor, I first took teaching at this institution as a temporary refuge before finding a place that would better suit my focus. After the departure of Assoc. Švalbach as head of the Graphic Design and Multimedia Studio, I was put in charge of it. It was an opportunity to shift the teaching content more towards digital technologies, to open more space for experiments, to introduce new subjects, for example, Generative Design Programming, Conceptual and Intermedia Design, Digital Design, others were significantly innovated. The annual plein air workshop held in the summer is a space for creativity and communication, to my great joy it is very popular. And so I am still here. In a collective of great colleagues. I enjoy working with students. It gives me a sense of purpose. At AGD+M, we try to encourage them to dare to experiment, to communicate, to present, to work in teams. The feedback from graduates who are settling into their careers is very positive, I am delighted with their successes. Another interesting experience has been my collaboration with the Anthropology Institute of the Faculty of Science on anthropological digital reconstructions of historical figures. I had the opportunity to apply my sculptural experience, to learn a lot about anthropology. My own work is strongly influenced by digital technology, which I first encountered in the United States, where CNC machines were able to realize in a very short time the works of famous artists on the required scale, often monumental. I realised that digital handwriting was another dimension to work with, one that did not need to hide behind craftsmanship, but rather to be explored. What do the materialized trajectories of movement look like? How can data recording brain activity be materialized? What appears on CT 3d print images? It is a kind of exploration of the new potential visuality that these imaging methods and the possibilities of realization in material offer. And so I am still at the faculty that gives me the background for my work, where I meet a nice team and enjoy the work of the students.

Mgr. Janka Marschalková
Research Associate, 1st year PhD student

Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing

I got into computer science thanks to Czechitas when I attended their summer school at the Faculty of Computer Science in 2019. It was there that I first realised that IT is an open and interesting field where women also have a place. This experience set me on the path to further studies and career. I joined the Faculty of Informatics, where I completed my Bachelor's and Master's degree and am now continuing my PhD studies within the Service Systems Laboratory (SeSlab). I am also currently involved in the CESMOD research project, which focuses on the development of the Smart Cities concept in the Czech Republic. The aim of the project is to enable municipalities and regions to make decisions based on real data in an efficient, repeatable and innovative way. What I enjoy most about computer science is connecting the technical and non-technical worlds and finding solutions that have a real innovative impact on society. After all, IT is not just about technology, it's about people, ideas and collaboration, which is why I find this field so fulfilling.

Mgr. Veronika Hanulíková
Research Associate, 1st year PhD student

Department of Computer Systems and Communications

During my undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Computer Science I gradually started to focus on the topic of security, which interested me so much that it became a major part of my professional and research direction. I followed this direction smoothly with my master thesis and then by collaborating on research projects in the CRoCS (Centre for Research on Cryptography and Security) laboratory, where we work on various aspects of cryptography and systems security. After completing my Master's degree, I decided to pursue a PhD, where my current research within the CRoCS lab focuses on security analysis of cryptographic implementations on hardware devices with limited computing power. The School of Computer Science allows me to do research that has real impact - from theoretical foundations to practical application. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to do what I am truly interested and passionate about, while being surrounded by people who inspire and support me. The fact that I can tackle new challenges every day, discuss ideas and at the same time see concrete results and applications of my work is the biggest motivation for me.

Mgr. Monika Čechová, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing

I received my bachelor's and master's degrees at the Faculty of Computer Science, worked as a postdoctoral fellow and now as an assistant professor. In the meantime, I spent almost ten years in the USA at Penn State and the University of California. What I value most about the faculty is the freedom - even as a student I was able to choose courses across MU, which I took full advantage of as a bioinformatician. Thanks to the support of a MASH grant, we are working on methods for reading and interpreting complex regions of DNA and their impact on human health. We involve students in research as part of their final theses in the SYBILA lab. We are well supported by cross-faculty collaboration, computational resources and the enthusiasm of students for solving real-world problems. As a woman in science, I sometimes encounter the notion that a young child and cutting-edge science are incompatible, and I would like to say that I certainly don't see it that way. Academic mobility also brings personal benefits: living in the US makes my son fully bilingual, which I consider a great advantage. Preschoolers and younger school-age children integrate easily into new environments, and in foreign countries kindergartens and schools are usually well prepared for the arrival of new children.

Mgr. Michaela Šaradín Lebedíková, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Faculty of Social Studies and FI, Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing

I am an assistant professor and postdoc researcher from the Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society ( IRTIS ). I am primarily interested in the impact of technology on well-being, specifically online sexuality and digital well-being. At the School of Informatics, I am currently working mainly on the DigiWELL: Excellence in Research on Digital Technologies and Wellbeing project, where we are looking at the everyday impacts of technology on adult wellbeing. In practice, this means that our participants install apps on their smartphones, through which we link so-called trace data on smartphone use with frequent questioning (up to several times a day). Using this unique data, we are able to map how technology use affects, for example, mood, stress, but also sleep. In addition, I am collaborating with colleagues in the Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing, with whom we are working on research on the application of machine learning to data from teenagers' conversations about various online and offline risks: understanding such data could help teens and their parents to more easily identify and respond to various risks.

Vinaya Rajan Tawde
Research Associate, 3rd year PhD student

Department of Visual Informatics

As a PhD student at FI, I have found a home for my passions-a space where design, psychology, and technology intertwine in human-computer interaction. FI has given me the freedom to explore and contribute in this interdisciplinary space. I have had the privilege of working alongside brilliant researchers, dedicated professionals, and visionary scientists-each encounter broadening my understanding of game user research, each collaboration deepening my appreciation for the power of innovation. I have stood on international stages through my work, shared my research at conferences, and brought ideas to life in exhibitions. I have delved into the world of mobile augmented reality, exploring how interactive markers can foster collaboration and social connection among children. And through it all, I have been embraced by a diverse, inspiring community that fuels my curiosity and strengthens my resolve. (27.3.2025) As an international student, I have felt supported in many aspects of my PhD journey. For this, I am deeply grateful. As I look ahead, I hope to inspire more passionate minds to embark on their own journeys-growing, learning, and shaping the future with FI. (27.3.2025)

Mgr. Dana Kozlová
ICT Specialist

Computer Technology Centre

I joined the Faculty of Informatics, more precisely the Information System team at MU, in 2008, when I was still a library student. I started as a user support and I always enjoyed my work, as it combines everything I like - communicating with people, solving problems, giving practical advice and information technology. Later I became the coordinator of the IS-technicians team and started to participate more in the development of the IS. I like that every day brings new challenges and the opportunity to learn something new. Developments in IT have taken a frantic pace, but this has created new opportunities to make our users' daily work and responsibilities easier and our vision of an "e-university" is becoming clearer. I really appreciate my colleagues and the fact that I get to meet intelligent and inspiring people at work. For many of us, working for the IS is a "matter of the heart" and we are doing our best to ensure that it continues to develop and continues to be (dare I say immodestly) the best learning system in the country.

Mgr. Lucia Hradecká
Brno Ph.D. talent 2022 winner, 4th year PhD student and researcher

Department of Visual Informatics

I have been involved in research activities at FI since the beginning of my Master's studies. This gave me an idea of what kind of research is done at FI and the desire to continue it after my Master's degree. My PhD studies at FI give me opportunities that I would hardly find in the private sector: flexibility and freedom in my research, support for research stays abroad and the possibility to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects with other groups. At FI I also have the opportunity to work in a team of curious people who like to push their horizons and in a supportive atmosphere. In addition, the faculty encourages the dissemination of research awareness among individual researchers or groups through lectures and discussions, which allows me to broaden my horizons beyond my research area. Overall, this allows me to arrange my work schedule in a way that suits me best: finding the right balance of research and learning, exploring in depth and expanding my general overview, and to some extent, who and what I will collaborate with. (13.3.2023)

Assoc. RNDr. Barbora Kozlíková, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Studies, Associate Professor

Department of Visual Informatics

I "grew up" at FI: I started my undergraduate studies here in 2001, and although I left for industry for a while after my PhD, I was happy to return and start my academic career here. I really appreciate the friendly working environment and the inspiration that comes from colleagues and students, which drives me forward. My position now means a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of fun and freedom in my research interests. Every day is different and full of new challenges. I am very grateful for the opportunity to start my own research group in visualization and for all the support I and my students receive. Recent research topics in our group include the exciting project "The SMC5/6 complex in nucleome organization", supported by the Ministry of Education, and more recently a project supported by the GA Czech Republic, which aims to design new visual interactive representations of chromatin fibers to help understand the complex arrangement of DNA strands in our cells. We hope that our proposed outputs will support biochemists in their research tasks. (11.2.2023)

Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Simone Kriglstein (photo)

Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Simone Kriglstein
Associate Professor

Department of Visual Informatics

My position at FI allows me to combine my two passions as a Human-Computer Interaction researcher: Design and Games. I really appreciate at FI the opportunity and freedom to contribute to different projects in the field of Human-Computer Interaction and Games User Research. In particular, I enjoy working with students, PhD students, young researchers and colleagues on exciting research questions and topics which allows me to pursue my research in the area of Games User Research at FI. I would especially like to emphasize the helpful and collegial environment at FI, which supported me and my research from the very beginning. I'm also very passionate about mentorship to support students in their academic career journey. At FI there is, for example, the possibility to get a PhD scholarship, which is a great initiative for PhD students to get started and develop their own PhD projects. (11.2.2023)
Photo: Natalie Denk

More medallions of personalities

Promoting work-life balance and employee benefits

We support the harmonisation of work, personal and family life of FI employees. At FI, flexible working hours and occasional telecommuting (home office) are in place, part-time work is encouraged, individual schedules are supported, and employees can place their children in Elanek or Loučka playgroups. Obligations, advice and useful links on maternity, paternity and parental leave are available in interactive form on the MU Employee Portal or in the Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave Handbook (available only after logging in).

We also strive to improve the wellbeing of female and male FI employees. Every year MU organises many university-wide events and gatherings of employees, students and alumni (e.g. MUNI Day, MUNI HR Day, MUNI Run, Health Day - Movement, Nutrition and Regeneration for a Better Life, Sport for Children, Scientists' Night, Brno Libraries Day, Let's Clean MU), and a number of faculty activities are also held. Employees of FI can take advantage of a wide range of employee benefits , the offer of which is constantly expanding (e.g. free psychological counselling for employees, employee, accompanying and children's Multisport cards, vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis and influenza, kindergarten fees, DIP).

However, there is still room for improvement, you can send your suggestions to .

Articles

The future of medicine? Everyone could have their DNA in their mobile phone, says Czech scientist Monika Čechová

For almost a decade she worked in top scientific institutions in the United States. Bioinformatician Monika Čechová worked on the decipherment of the Y chromosome at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She could have continued her career there, but instead she decided to return to the Czech Republic a year ago. She continues to do science at her alma mater - the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University in Brno.

"I came back because I believe in the potential of Czech science and I know that there are very good opportunities for research here. And of course I wanted to be closer to my family," explains Čechová, who now heads her own research group at the Faculty of Informatics.

You can read the full interview published in FORBES.CZ HERE.

International Day of Women and Divas in Science 2026

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 11 February 2026

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science falls on 11 February. It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2015 and first celebrated on 11 February 2016. Gender equality is part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and contributes to economic development and innovation.

The holiday is meant to commemorate the crucial role of women in the scientific world and to encourage their involvement in research activities. But it also highlights the barriers that still prevent some women scientists from entering science or reaching their full potential.

Closing the gender gap in science requires overcoming stereotypes, promoting role models who will inspire girls, encouraging the advancement of women through targeted programmes and creating an inclusive environment through policies and measures that promote inclusion, diversity and equality.

Invitation to the event Holding Power Responsibly: Leadership, Integrity, and Safety in Higher Education

The event entitled Holding Power Responsibly: Leadership, Integrity, and Safety in Higher Education will take place under the auspices of the British Ambassador, Mr Matt Field, on Friday 13 February 2026 from 10:00 to 13:00 at the British Embassy, Thunovská 14, Prague 1, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The event is intended for university and research organisation leaders, ombudsmen, HR and others responsible for addressing gender equality and gender-based violence. It aims to translate research findings on professional boundaries into concrete actions and responsibilities of institutional leadership, share understanding of what constitutes good institutional practice (including setting rules for relationships in situations of power inequality), and discuss the implementation of codes of ethics and rules of professional boundaries in the Czech academic environment.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Anna Bull (University of York; The 1752 Group), a leading expert on issues of professional boundaries, power and institutional accountability in academia.

For more information and to register for the event, please click HERE.

Barbora Kozlíková was awarded MUNI Scientist

The MUNI Scientist award is intended to motivate scientists and scholars while spreading the good name of Masaryk University. It is awarded, for example, for publishing in prestigious journals or publishing houses and for outstanding research results. The announcement of the MUNI Scientist winners and recipients takes place during the annual conference of the Grant Agency of MU (GAMU), where selected completed projects and especially support schemes that the University uses to motivate top students and researchers are presented.

One of the awardees is Assoc. RNDr. Barbora Kozlíková, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research and Doctoral Studies of the Faculty of Informatics, Department of Visual Informatics. She received the award for articles published in the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics.

More information can be found in the article.

Barbora Bühnová will receive the in memoriam award of the South Moravian Region

The South Moravian Region has announced the names of the winners of the South Moravian Region Prize for 2025. Among the twelve laureates is a name firmly linked to FI MU - the award in memoriam for contribution in the field of science will go to Barbora Bühnová, former Vice-Dean for External Relations and Cooperation with Partners, who left us forever at the end of 2024.

Barbora Bühnová made a significant contribution to the development of digital education and the promotion of women in technical fields. As co-founder of Czechitas, she helped open the way to the world of information technology for thousands of girls and women. Her work has contributed not only to strengthening digital literacy in the South Moravian Region, but also to changing the perception of the role of women in IT and technology throughout the Czech Republic. She has created partnerships between universities, companies and schools and inspired generations of young people to dare to study and work in the fields of the future. Her legacy lives on, and even after her passing, she continues to inspire the whole of society.

More information can be found in the article South Moravian Region to award 12 exceptional personalities.

Ester Milostná.

Ester Milostná is educated at two faculties - she is a student of the follow-up Master's programme Teaching Informatics for Secondary Schools at FI and the follow-up Master's programme Information Studies and Librarianship at the Faculty of Arts of MU. She also teaches, programs, organizes sports and pushes accessibility where it makes sense. She is the recipient of the Werener von Siemens Award for overcoming barriers to learning. In 2021, she founded the Rolling Lions Brno, the first electric wheelchair floorball team in Brno. For her, achievements are not mere entries on a CV, but a way to open doors for others. In an interview, she describes her everyday troubles and joys with exaggeration, inspiring the next generation of learners who are looking for a future without barriers.

Her interview with Marta Vrlova from the FI MU Department of External Relations and Cooperation with Partners can be found on the FI website.

Elizabeth Maria Karpukhina Busswood - one of the faces of this year's candidate campaign of the Faculty of Informatics of MU

Get to know one of the faces of this year's Faculty of Informatics candidate campaign, Elizabeth Maria Karpukhina Busswood. She has successfully completed her Bachelor's degree in Programming and Application Development and is now pursuing her postgraduate studies in Software Engineering. She says of her journey that she found at FI exactly what she expected from college - and so much more. New friends, cafes and the endless possibilities the college offers are among the main reasons she fell in love with Brno.

In her interview with Marta Vrlova from the FI MU Department of External Relations and Cooperation with Partners, you will find out what it is like to be part of the FI community, why she decided to study at FI, what she thinks characterises studying at FI and many other interesting facts and insights about FI.

The full article can be found on the FI website.

Cracking the code of life: with Prajna Hebbar on the future of genomics

Prajna Hebbar of the University of California, Santa Cruz works at the intersection of computer science and biology, developing tools to annotate and compare genomes across species. During her visit to the Faculty of Computer Science at MU (September 22 and 23, 2025), she visited FI MU where she gave a talk titled "Comparative Annotation Toolkit 2.0: Generating High-Quality Gene Annotations of Complete Primate and Human Pangenomes for the Study of Gene Evolution" and "Complete Genome Assembly of the Common Cosman"), she shared her latest advances in the development of the Comparative Annotation Toolkit 2.0 and discussed how complete genomes are changing our understanding of evolution and human disease.

She visited the Faculty of Computer Science at the invitation of Monika Čechová. She visited FI MU at the invitation of FI MU Assistant Professor Monika Čechová, whom she met when Prajna Hebbar was starting her PhD and Monika Čechová was a postdoc in Karen Miga's group at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has been her mentor and colleague ever since. Together they share an interest in pan-genomes and genome assembly, particularly the biology of "complex" genomic regions such as acrocentric chromosomes or the Y chromosome. Their collaboration continues to find new methods and datasets to help them better understand these challenging areas.

The full interview with Prajna Hebbar can be found HERE.

Helena Lukášová received the Rector's Award

Helena Lukášová receives the MU Rector's Award for Outstanding Educator

Assoc. Mgr. Helena Lukášová, ArtD., received the MU Rector's Award in the category for outstanding teachers.

Doc. Lukášová works at the Department of Visual Informatics, Faculty of Informatics, MU, where she heads the Graphic Design and Multimedia Studio. In her courses, she guides students to creative work and to connect creativity with computer science. She teaches 3D modelling, drawing, participates in teaching generative design, leads the lecture series Fundamentals of Visual Communication and organises a plein air course (weekly block classes outside Brno). Graduates of her courses welcome the clarity of her teaching supplemented by audiovisual study materials and other self-study materials. "Great lessons - even in untalented students she found and encouraged creativity."

The category of awards for outstanding teachers is specific in that the results can be influenced by the graduates of the courses led by the teacher. This is the case of Associate Professor Lukášová, who has received a lot of support from students.

Another award winner is Assoc. Ing. Michal Brandejs, CSc., who received the MU Rector's Award for Long-term Outstanding Teaching Activity, which is a new category within the award.

CAREER RESTART Grant Scheme for 2026

CAREER RESTART or Supporting the integration of post-career scientists and researchers into research teams at MU - call for 2026.

From 2020, the MU Grant Agency will implement the CAREER RESTART grant scheme, which aims to create conditions for the inclusion of scientists and researchers after a career break, for example due to parental leave, into research teams at MU. The CAREER RESTART grants will facilitate and accelerate the return of young talented scientists to productive scientific careers and thus increase the percentage of their representation in independent/senior research positions. Detailed information can be found in the September Newsletter of the FI Research and Project Support Department and on the MU Grant Agency website.

Inspiring women in IT at FI conferences/lectures/events

Inspiring women working in the field of IT directly at FI or at other MU faculties, or working at other Czech or foreign universities or commercial companies, share their knowledge and experience with us at various conferences, IT colloquia, lectures or workshops. In this part of the autumn semester these events are:

10 September 2025 - Mgr. et Mgr. Veronika Kolaříková, Ph.D. from the Faculty of Education of MU, Assoc. Ing. Viktorie Klímová, Ph.D. from the Faculty of Economics and Administration of MU, Mgr. Barbora Nekardová from the Faculty of Arts of MU and Mgr. Jitka Daňková from the Faculty of Informatics MU - or contributions of women involved in IT within the Open Space Conference on e-learning IS MU, detailed information about the program and registration for the conference can be found in IS MU .

25. 11. 2025 - Bettina Könighofer, Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. BSc, Assistant Professor in Formal Methods and Machine Learning at the Technical University of Graz (Austria). Her research focuses on the areas of formal verification, model checking and monitoring - talk at the Informatics Colloquium.

Invitation to the 2nd lecture with Prajna Hebbar in Seminars@FI: Complete Genome Assemblies for the Common Marmoset

On September 23, 2025 at 4pm in the KYPO room, the second lecture in Seminars@FI will be held with Prajna Hebbar, a PhD student from the School of Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California Santa Cruz. The topic of this talk is "Complete Genome Assemblies for the Common Marmoset".

Prajna Hebbar's research focus is briefly described in the previous article.

The full text of the invitation can be found on the FI website.