Doctoral Summer School 2025

The National Library of Technology (NTK) is proud to announce the fourth Doctoral Summer School for Early Career Researchers. The event will take place on September 2–3, 2025 in Prague and is organized by NTK in collaboration with the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague (UCT Prague), the Czech Association of Doctoral Researchers (ČAD), and the Committee for Doctoral Studies under the Student Chamber of the Council of the Higher Education Institutions (SK RVŠ).

The Doctoral Summer School is supported by the National Centre for Information Support of Research, Development, and Innovation (NCIS R&D&I) project.

Aims

The aim of the Doctoral Summer School is to enhance the skills of early career researchers through the workshops. These skills and competences are essential for professional development of doctoral candidates and their career advancement. Workshops are designed and taught by experienced researchers.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop or tablet to be able to actively participate in the workshops.

Each participant will receive a certificate after the completion of the summer school.

Keynote speech

From Lab to Market: How to Turn University Science into Real Business

With Jan Urban, Ph.D., Head of the Technology Transfer and Fundraising Office at CTU Prague

Most researchers dream of impact but end up with publications nobody reads and prototypes nobody buys. At the Czech Technical University, we have decided to flip the script: problem-first, money-driven, with no fear of getting our hands dirty in business.

This talk is not about academic theory. It’s about deals, licensing, spin-offs, and the practical mindset shift every researcher needs to turn science into business. How do we identify real opportunities? Why do investors care less about your idea and more about your capacity to execute? How do you build something scalable – and avoid academic “hamster wheels”?

You will leave with a simple truth: commercialization is not down to magic, luck, or talent. It’s a craft. Learnable, repeatable, profitable. And yes – fun.

Your keynote speaker will be Jan Urban, Ph.D. (CTU). As Head of the Technology Transfer and Fundraising Office at CTU, he focuses on bridging the gap between academic research and commercial success. With a background as a startup founder, venture partner, and angel investor, Jan brings his sharp business acumen and real-world deal-making experience to help researchers turn ideas into revenue.

Workshops

AI for Researchers: Tools to Boost Research and Writing Productivity

With Michaela Liegertová, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for Development and Quality at the Faculty of Science at UJEP

This hands-on workshop will introduce doctoral candidates and early career researchers to practical applications of AI tools throughout the research workflow – from developing research questions to final publication. Participants will gain experience with large language models and specialized research tools designed to enhance academic productivity.

The session will provide an overview of the AI research ecosystem and explore how AI can support key aspects of academic work, including literature review, identifying research gaps, synthesizing findings, research design, experimental planning, and data interpretation. It will also demonstrate how AI can assist with writing, manuscript preparation, and scientific communication. Participants will learn how to create tailored AI assistants for domain-specific tasks and will engage with critical discussions around ethical considerations, responsible use, transparency, and reproducibility in academic contexts.

Your instructor will be Michaela Liegertová, Ph.D. (UJEP), an expert on “the use of generative AI” in research and education. With extensive experience working in academia, Michaela brings both a strategic perspective and practical know-how to help researchers and educators harness the potential of AI in their work.

Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with research processes.

To prepare: We recommend bringing laptops or tablets for hands-on practice.

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Writing for Publication: Strategies for Success in Scholarly Publishing

With Dr. Dana Driscoll, Professor of Writing and Founding Director of the Center for Scholarly Communication, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA and Alena Kašpárková, Ph.D., Head of the Writing Support Centre at VSB-TUO

This interactive, in-person workshop supports doctoral candidates and early career scholars in developing the skills, habits, and mindsets needed for successful academic publishing. Participants will engage in reflective and practical activities that demystify the publication process and build writing confidence.

The workshop focuses on three essential dimensions of writing for publication: the writing itself (craft, genre, and process), the audience and field (journals, editors, reviewers), and the writer (habits, barriers, and emotional resilience). Participants will explore evidence-based strategies to overcome common writing barriers such as procrastination, binge writing, and perfectionism. The workshop emphasizes sustainable writing habits, including regular scheduling, realistic goal setting, and cultivating generative dispositions like persistence and growth mindset. These strategies not only support article writing but are equally essential for navigating dissertation projects, which demand long-term commitment and focus.

In addition to addressing internal writing challenges, the session guides participants through the external demands of scholarly publishing: selecting appropriate journals, understanding audience expectations, structuring articles, and responding to reviewer feedback. Participants will also learn how to model successful articles, build strong literature reviews, and clearly signal their contributions to the field. Whether working on a manuscript or progressing through dissertation chapters, participants will leave with concrete tools for building a productive, sustainable, and meaningful writing practice.

Your instructors will be experts on academic writing: Dr. Dana Driscoll, Professor of Writing and Founding Director of the Center for Scholarly Communication, and Alena Kašpárková, Ph.D., Head of the Writing Support Centre at VSB-TUO.

To prepare: Please bring a laptop or tablet to the workshop. We also encourage participants to bring in their own publication ideas.

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Time Management for Academia: Tips and Tools for Productivity

With Jan Froněk, Ph.D., an independent academic coach and soft skills trainer

Do you struggle with procrastination? Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed?

We will explore the main reasons behind this, but more importantly, we’ll cover 3 effective ways to overcome procrastination in academia.

You’ll learn about 8 different time management techniques listed below and choose the ones most likely to work for you:

• The Eisenhower Matrix
• The Eat That Frog Approach
• The Pomodoro Technique
• Biological Prime Time
• The Pareto Principle
• The Big Stones Principle
• 10 Minutes a Day
• Time Blocking

As the saying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” That’s why we’ll also design a three-week experiment focused on your own publications. And if you're concerned about your inner saboteurs – don’t worry, we’ll factor them into the plan.

Your instructor will be Jan Froněk, Ph.D., an academic coach and soft skills trainer. With extensive experience in guiding students and staff from many universities worldwide, Jan equips academics and researchers with practical tools for productivity and well-being. He is also a founding member of the Czech section of the Climate Coaching Alliance, reflecting his commitment to sustainability.

Target Group

Early Career Researchers in the Czech Republic

• Doctoral candidates (enrolled in doctoral training programs)
• Postdoctoral researchers (up to 1 year since completing their Ph.D.)

The Doctoral Summer School will be conducted in English.

Participation Fee

Participation Fee: 1 000 CZK (please see the Registration page to get more details).

Organization Team

• Naděžda Firsová (NTK)
• Eliška Skládalová (NTK)
• Mili Viktorie Losmanová (UCT Prague)
• Jakub Šindelář (CUNI/ČAD/NTK)