Eva Muchová

Eva works in theoretical chemistry at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and has been leading her own group since 2024. She also works as a university teacher, teaching mainly courses focused on quantum chemistry, spectroscopy and chemical kinetics.  

In Prague, she studied chemistry at the Faculty of Science of Charles University, and in her further studies she focused on theory and molecular modelling. During her master's and doctoral studies, she moved to IOCB at HIPC without changing her research group. She was grateful for the move to another workplace, because she believes that a long stay in one place does not bring anything good. She received her doctorate in 2007, defending it while being pregnant with her first child.  

Instead of a postdoc stay, she took two maternity leaves, and during a break she had a short engagement at Charles University. The path to science was then long and convoluted, through managerial work on projects and grants. Her postdoc stay at the University of Pisa was quite unusual, with her being around forty and taking her whole family with her. The stay was beneficial both scientifically and culturally and launched her career at UCT. 

Today, she focuses mainly on simulations of ultrafast processes induced by X-rays and cooperation with experimenters who measure mainly on large devices such as synchrotrons and lasers with free electrons. In private, she likes sports and theatre. 

As a mentor, she would like to share her experience, especially in the field of non-traditional career paths, and support mentees in their decisions. She herself will be happy for new ideas arising from interactions with mentees.