Academic Bodies

Mgr. Jan Říha, Ph.D., (* 1973) graduated in Teaching Training in Mathematics and Physics at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc. There he also completed his doctoral studies in General Physics and Mathematical Physics. Since 1999 he has worked at the Department of Theoretical Physics, UP Faculty of Science, since its abolition in 2006 he has been a member of the Department of Experimental Physics.

He deals with the optical activity of crystals, the application of the Wolfram Mathematica program in the natural sciences and the didactics of physics. As the main solver, he participated in the development of the faculty of several OP HRD, EC OP and OP RDE projects. As part of his pedagogical activities, he conducts mathematics seminars for physicists and mathematical software seminars, participates in teaching electromagnetic field theory, ray and wave optics, electricity and magnetism, the basics of modern physics and quantum molecule theory. He is the guarantor of the Student Scientific Competition – Dean's Award.

From 2019 to January 2026, he served as Vice Dean for Student Affairs.

As a former extraliga player in badminton and squash, he devotes his free time developing junior sports in these disciplines. He also enjoys going to the gym from time to time.

Doc. Mgr. Karel Lemr, Ph.D., is a graduate of the study programme Optics and Optoelectronics at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc. He defended his dissertation entitled "Experimental quantum information processing with photon pairs" in 2012. In the same year, he was awarded the Siemens Prize for it. He has been a member of the Joint Laboratory of Optics since his doctoral studies. From 2008 to 2014 he was also a researcher at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences and between 2004 and 2010 he was a physics teacher at the Slovanské gymnázium (Slavonic Grammar School) in Olomouc.

The main focus of his scientific activities is the field of experimental quantum optics and quantum information processing. Within this scientific discipline, he conducts the works of Bachelor, Master and Doctoral students and cooperates intensively with colleagues from abroad. His habilitation thesis, defended in 2016, is also devoted to quantum information processing. In recent years, he has been participating in the development of optical methods for cultural heritage research within the framework of interdisciplinary cooperation.

Karel Lemr participates not only in teaching university students, but also in popularizing physics towards the public. He participates in popularization projects organized by both the university and other educational entities.

• strategic management of internal and external communication of the faculty
• concept of a unified and consistent external presentation of the faculty
• media presentation of the faculty, media relations, and popularization of science and research
• cooperation of the faculty with the application sphere, schools, public administration institutions, graduates, and the public
• marketing, promotional, and recruitment activities of the faculty
• management of the Botanical Garden and the Fort Science

Prof. RNDr. Jan Hlaváč, Ph.D., (*1969), graduated in Analytical Chemistry from the Faculty of Science at Palacký University Olomouc. There he also received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1997. He was appointed associate professor in the same field in 2001 and professor in 2015 at the recommendation of Masaryk University.

His research focuses on the development of new synthetic methods for the preparation of organic compounds, the synthesis of compounds with antitumor activity, systems for targeted drug delivery and monitoring of their release. Recently, his research group has been working on the development of new fluorescent probes for detecting various biochemical processes and the presence of relevant biomolecules inside cells. He has published the results of his research as a co-author in more than 100 scientific articles, which have been cited more than 1000 times.

He gained experience in managing human resources and scientific projects through his long-term work as head of the Department of Organic Chemistry, as well as through his chairmanship of the Expert Group for Organic, Bioorganic, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the Czech Chemical Society, his membership in the GA ČR panel, the Experientia Foundation grant committee, etc.

As a principal investigator or co-investigator, he has participated in a number of research projects focused on organic and medicinal chemistry. His research work has involved students at all levels of study and a number of foreign researchers as part of their postdoctoral internships.

From 2022 to January 2026, he served as Vice-Dean for Science and Research at the Faculty of Science.

In his free time, he seeks new challenges in the field of marine animal care, construction, extension, renovation, and demolition of family homes and adjacent buildings, and the development of his physical and mental capacities for a peaceful survival in today's world.

• preparation and organization of FS UP Scholarly Board meetings
• professional and administrative management of proceedings to grant associate and full professorship
• support for the establishment, development, and sustainability of scientific teams at the faculty
• coordination of the development and renewal of equipment and infrastructure for scientific and creative activities at the faculty's workplaces
• creating conditions for the involvement of students of all levels of study in scientific and creative activities
• shaping strategic communication in the field of science and research

Prof. Mgr. Lucie Plíhalová, Ph.D., (*1978), is a professor of biological chemistry and works at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc. She completed her doctoral studies in chemistry at Palacký University Olomouc, was appointed associate professor in agricultural chemistry (MENDELU) in 2019, and was appointed professor of biological chemistry in 2025 after a professorship procedure at Mendel University in Brno.

Her scientific work focuses on organic and biological chemistry, molecular design of small heterocyclic molecules, and chemical biology with an emphasis on plant signaling molecules, particularly cytokinins. As part of interdisciplinary collaboration, she also participates in research on purine derivatives in cooperation with medical fields, for example in connection with their potential for protecting human skin. She is involved in international scientific collaboration with institutions in Europe and the US and systematically involves students of all levels in her research activities.

She is the author or co-author of professional publications that have been cited more than 1,100 times in the Web of Science database and has been awarded more than 30 patents. She gained experience in science and research management and scientific projects through her long-term work in leading academic and managerial positions, including as the head of the Department of Chemical Biology (since 2021) and, from 2022 to 2025, as Vice-Rector for Science and Research at Palacký University Olomouc.

In her free time, she tries to balance family life, spending time in nature both at home and abroad, baking, and taking care of her physical and mental health so that all aspects remain sustainable in the long term.

Doc. RNDr. Jitka Machalová, Ph.D., MBA, (*1974), graduated with a master's degree in Mathematics from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University in Brno. She completed her doctoral studies in Approximate and Numerical Methods at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc. In 2019, she was appointed associate professor on the basis of a habilitation procedure in Applied Mathematics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology.

She currently works at the Department of Mathematical Analysis and Applications of Mathematics at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, as the deputy head of the department for cooperation with industry and development. She is also the founder and head of the KMA Technology Platform, which focuses on the systematic linking of academic research with practical applications.

In her professional and research activities, she focuses primarily on numerical methods, optimization, variational methods, the finite element method, and data approximation, which are used in modeling and real problems analysis. From 2010 to 2018, she served as deputy head of the Department of Mathematical Analysis and Applications of Mathematics. From 2018 to 2024, she held the position of head of the department, managing the academic workplace, coordinating educational and research activities, and systematically developing cooperation with the application sphere. By completing her MBA in 2024, she expanded her professional and managerial competencies in the area of people management and team leadership, which she uses in her current organizational and development activities.

An important part of her professional activities involves working on application-oriented and contractual research projects carried out in cooperation with external partners. The KMA technology platform, which she leads, acts as a bridge between academia and practice and supports the use of mathematical modeling, data analysis, and optimization methods in solving real problems. At the same time, she has long supported the involvement of students at all levels of study in research and application activities, thereby contributing to their professional development and better practical application.

In her free time, she enjoys reading and active recreation with her family, especially cycling and skiing, which help her maintain a balance between her professional and personal life.

• management and control of Bachelor's and Master's study programmes from the admission process to graduation, including graduation ceremonies
• appointing committee members for Bachelor's and Master's final state examinations
• cooperation with study programme guarantors and department heads in ensuring the quality of teaching
• submitting proposals for the award of merit-based and social scholarships
• communicating with the student section of the academic community and addressing suggestions related to studies
• addressing disciplinary matters concerning students
• supervising the activities of the Department of Foreign Languages and the Department of Teacher Training

Doc. RNDr. Lucie Brulíková, Ph.D., (*1980) works at the Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc. She graduated with a master's degree in Organic Chemistry from the UP Faculty of Science. She completed her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, and in 2023 she was appointed associate professor in the field of organic chemistry at our university.

Her research focuses on organic, bioorganic, and medicinal chemistry, particularly the design and synthesis of new antituberculosis drugs and compounds with antimicrobial activity. Since 2018, she has led a research group at her home department.

She has completed research stays abroad at the University of Southern Denmark and the University of Notre Dame in the USA.
In addition to her research activities, she is intensively involved in teaching – she participates in teaching organic and bioorganic chemistry, has supervised dozens of bachelor's and master's theses and several doctoral students, and is the guarantor of the Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology program. She also serves as the department's representative for teaching activities.

Apart from the above, she is intensively involved in popularization events such as Open Day, Researchers' Night, high school excursions, University Student Week, and the Badatel program. She also regularly lectures at high schools to popularize science and research and make chemistry more attractive to students and potential UP applicants.

In her free time, she enjoys active relaxation. Her hobbies include walking in nature and with her dog, reading books, cycling, and above all spending time with her family and son, who reliably reminds her that even outside the academic environment, it is desirable to maintain perspective, energy, and a sense of balance.

• management, coordination and control of the agenda related to doctoral studies
• responsibility for the legislative framework and accreditation processes of doctoral study programmes
• communication with subject-area boards and individual workplaces in the area of ​​implementation of doctoral studies

Prof. RNDr. Petr Bednář, Ph.D., (*1974), graduated from the Faculty of Science at Palacký University Olomouc, majoring in Analytical Chemistry. He was appointed associate professor in 2006 and professor in 2025.

Since 1997, he has been working at the Department of Analytical Chemistry, UP Faculty of Science. He is engaged in basic and applied research in the field of separation methods, mass spectrometry, and related techniques. He focuses on the analysis of natural substances, drugs, and metabolites, as well as the use of instrumental chemical analysis in archaeology and monument preservation. He is the author or co-author of over 100 publications registered in WoS, which have been cited more than 1,700 times; his h-index is 23. He is an investigator and member of the research team for a number of GA ČR, SF EU, NPO, and OP TAK projects. Prof. Bednář supervises and teaches courses in Applied Analytical Chemistry, Applied Liquid Chromatography, and Practical Analytical Chemistry, and leads seminars in basic and applied analytical chemistry.

Since 2020, he has been the head of the Department of Analytical Chemistry. He is active in the national and international chemical community, e.g., as the organizer of the regular international conference Advances in Chromatography and Electrophoresis & Chiranal, a member of the Czech Chemical Society, and vice-chairman of its Expert Group for Chromatography and Electrophoresis. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of the journal Separatio Science Plus (Wiley).

Petr Bednář is married and has two children. In addition to chemistry, his hobbies include recreational sports (running, hiking, dancing) and music (playing the guitar and mandolin).

• coordination of international mobility of students and academic staff
• development of internationalization of studies and faculty workplaces
• promotion of the faculty abroad and guarantee of English information outputs

Doc. Mgr. Jiří Pánek, Ph.D., (*1985), studied geography-geoinformatics (Bc.) and geoinformatics (Mgr.) at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc. He also completed a doctoral program there, specializing in International Development Studies. In 2021, he was appointed associate professor in the field of Regional and Social Development at the Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague.

Since 2011, he has been working at the Department of Development and Environmental Studies, UP Faculty of Science. He has completed more than 20 short-term and several long-term study and research stays abroad, e.g.: National Institute of Rural Development India (2013), University of South Africa (2011, 2012, 2017), Ruth Crawford Mitchell Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh (2017), and Fulbright-Masaryk Research Fellowship at North Carolina State University (2021-22). He has long collaborated externally with the Czech Development Agency and the National Network of Healthy Cities of the Czech Republic.
His research focuses on participatory approaches to the collection and analysis of spatial data. He is the co-author of the PocitoveMapy.cz platform and the guarantor of the BSP Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (ESUR).

He prefers to spend his free time with his family, whether traveling, relaxing at the cottage, or mushroom hunting.

Ing. Lenka Káňová (*1971) graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Technical University of Ostrava. She became the Secretary of the Faculty of Science on April 1, 2018.

Throughout her professional career she has been specializing in management, economics, accounting and administration. She started her career at ČSOB Bank, where her agenda covered medium-sized clients and loan management. She gained teaching experience while teaching economic subjects at secondary schools.

She worked as the Head of the Economic department and as a Financial manager of research and development projects supported by the European Union's operational programmes at the University of Ostrava for twelve years. In 2010 she became the Secretary of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and took charge of management and internal administration of the faculty, budgeting and controlling the budget, distribution of funds and monitoring of their drawing, administration of buildings and other assets including their acquisition, methodical management of all faculty departments regarding personnel and economic aspects.

Lenka Káňová has two children. In her spare time she likes to play sports, especially skiing, hiking and cycling.