Secondary School Students

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High school students can participate in research at IPHYS through the Open Science project of the Czech Academy of Sciences by preparing a thesis for the High School Professional Activities competition (SOČ) or a school year-end project. If you are interested, please contact the head of the particular research laboratory at IPHYS whose topic interests you by e-mail, or Olga Zimmermannová, PhD., Deputy Director for Communication and Education.

Open Science

The Open Science project aims to support talented students interested in science and research. Through scientific internships for high school students, it enables students to gain valuable experience in scientific practice, motivating them to pursue higher studies in scientific fields and subsequently to choose a scientific career. Interns participate in the activities of leading research centers of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and internships give them insight into current scientific research.

You can also try your hand at science under the direct guidance of scientists at our institute. Every year, IPHYS offers talented high school students several topics to explore. Applications for internships are always accepted in November.

Secondary School Expert Activity (SOČ)

Secondary School Expert Activity (SOČ) is a prestigious, multidisciplinary competition for talented high school students. It is not only about knowledge, but equally important is the ability to write the thesis independently, which the finalists defend before a jury of experts. Students gain comprehensive experience in designing experiments, interpreting results and presenting data.

IPHYS annualy regularly awards the Prize of the Director of the Institute of Physiology of the CAS in the Healthcare category.

Achievements of students under the guidance of supervisors from IPHYS

Petr Ondrašík and Tomáš Kysela

Young interns Petr Ondrašík and Tomáš Kysela from Chodovická High School, who participated in the Open Science 2025 program, shone with their project "Insulin secretion is a key function of pancreatic beta cells." Under the guidance of Lydia Plecitá and Monika Křivonosková from the Laboratory of Pancreatic Islets Research of IPHYS, they investigated the principles of beta cell function and the importance of their role in glucose regulation. Their meticulous work and scientific enthusiasm earned them 3rd place at the final conference of all students in the category "Life Sciences and Chemical Sciences." The students' success is a great example of how young researchers can achieve exceptional results when given space and quality professional guidance.

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Michal Šubrta

In 2025, Michal Šubrta from Bohumil Hrabal High School in Nymburk took first place in the regional round of the Secondary School Professional Activity (SOČ) competition and subsequently eighth place in the national round in the field of biology. His work focused on the topic: "The influence of brightening methods on volume changes and deformations of human peripheral nerves" – and showed that even high school science can yield valuable insights. He worked on his project at IPHYS under the expert guidance of Barbora Radochová.

Tereza Przeczková

Tereza Przeczková from Mendel Gymnasium in Opava became the winner of the 18th year of the prestigious České hlavičky competition. The project is aimed at supporting young students of technical and natural sciences. Tereza won in the GENUS category – Prizes of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University with her work “Structural analysis of the binding site for the inhibitor phloretin in the human Na+/H+ antiporter NHA2”. The work was carried out within the Open Science project of the CAS at the Institute of Physiology of the CAS in the Laboratory of the Membrane Transport under the supervision of Olga Zimmermannová.