Team news
BRT Mid-Year 2026 Newsletter Is Out
The BioResources and Technology (BRT) Division Mid-Year 2026 Newsletter, is out - bringing together the research, projects, achievements, and people that shaped the first half of the year.
The latest edition reflects another active period for BRT, marked by continued scientific progress, international collaboration, and the practical application of research. Readers can explore developments across the division’s core areas, including biogas, circular bioeconomy, sustainability, resource management, open science, and climate resilience.
Alongside these research highlights, the newsletter features key project milestones, team achievements, new colleagues, internship activities, and opportunities ahead, including MCYR 2026.
Together, these stories capture the people, partnerships, and shared ambitions continuing to drive BRT forward throughout 2026.
MCYR 2026 Blog Writing Competition “Your Research, Your Story”
Can you explain your research to someone outside your field? Can you turn scientific findings into a story that is engaging, relatable, and easy to understand?
At a scientific conference, research is communicated through structured scientific formats, abstracts, oral presentations, posters, data, and evidence. These formats are essential for sharing knowledge within the scientific community. But impactful science also needs another voice: one that can reach beyond experts and connect scientific discoveries with society.
At MCYR, we believe that young researchers should be able to communicate their science in both ways: with scientific rigour for academic audiences and with clarity and creativity for non-specialists and the wider public.
The MCYR 2026 Blog Writing Competition “Your Research, Your Story:” invites researchers presenting their work at the conference to take on this second communication challenge. Transform the same scientific contribution you are presenting at MCYR into an engaging blog story that people outside your field can understand, connect with, and remember.
BRT Researchers Appointed Guest Editors for Special Issue on Organic Waste Valorization
BRT Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík and BRT postdoctoral researcher Dr. Sandipan Banerjee have been appointed as Guest Editors of a new Special Issue in Environments.
The Special Issue, titled “Organic Waste to Energy and Nutrients: Sustainable Technologies and Systems for Circular Agriculture,” focuses on technologies and approaches that transform agricultural and biodegradable organic residues into renewable energy, recycled nutrients and other valuable resources.
Large quantities of crop residues, livestock manure, food waste and agro-industrial residues are generated through agricultural intensification and urbanization. When poorly managed, these waste streams can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication and soil degradation, while also representing an important resource for more circular and sustainable agricultural systems.
Visiting Internship Insights – Marina Salel
BRT offers internship opportunities for visiting students and early-career professionals who wish to expand their scientific networks, gain international and cultural experience, and contribute to a collaborative research environment. These internships support professional growth, encourage the exchange of ideas, and help build meaningful connections across disciplines and backgrounds.
Recently, we hosted Marina Salel, a student from the United States. Read her introductory blog HERE.
Enjoy reading about her experience with BRT!
This summer, I had the opportunity to join the BioResources and Technology Division (BRT) at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague for a research internship. Coming from a biology background, I was excited to explore a different area of research and learn more about applied work related to plants, agriculture, and new technologies.
My State Exam Experience - Van Hau Duong
The state exam is a key milestone in the PhD journey, testing both subject knowledge and the ability to synthesize and apply research concepts. In this blog series, BRT PhD students provide an inside look at the exam process — from preparation methods to the structure of the exam itself — offering insights into this essential academic requirement.
Read PhD student Van Hau Duong's first account below!
My research focuses on converting biogas digestate into biochar through pyrolysis, aiming to recover valuable nutrients and create a useful product from agricultural waste. This research is closely related to renewable resources, organic waste management, and sustainable waste treatment.
Visiting Internship Insights – Patrycja Rowińska
BRT offers internship opportunities for visiting students and early-career professionals who wish to expand their scientific networks, gain international and cultural experience, and contribute to a collaborative research environment. These internships support professional growth, encourage the exchange of ideas, and help build meaningful connections across disciplines and backgrounds.
Recently, we hosted Patrycja Rowińska, a student from Poland. Read her introductory blog HERE.
Enjoy reading about her experience with BRT!
My four weeks at BRT have been exactly what I needed at this point in my PhD. I mostly worked with Asst. Prof. Dr. Viktoriia Chubur on irrigation optimization for plant biotesting. The main research acivities involved testing three irrigation methods on mustard and maize plants in different soil types. It sounds simple, but there's a reason we have standards like ISO and OECD. Every detail matters when you need reproducible results. We had to determine water holding capacity, monitor soil moisture carefully, record germination rates – the kind of meticulous work that doesn't always feel glamorous but is essential.
Working in the lab with Dr. Chubur was straightforward and practical. She showed me how to set up the experiments properly, what data actually matters, and how to troubleshoot when things don't go as planned. That kind of hands-on experience is hard to get in a lecture, and I'm grateful for it.
