Scientists at the Institute in years 2009 and 2010. The list is updated each two years for Activity Report.
Marek Abramowicz (Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Visiting Scientist of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Professor of Astrophysics and chair at Göteborg University and Chalmers University of Technology. His interests include a wide variety of issues in astrophysics and general relativity, from accretion discs theory, active galactic nuclei and neutron stars, to black holes, nature of inertial forces and quantum effects in strong gravity.
Pavel Ambrož (*1941, pambroz@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics, emeritus)
Research fields: Large-scale and global properties of solar magnetic and velocity fields, structure of kinetic energy distribution, solar differential rotation and meridional circulation. Dynamic properties of the solar convection zone and of the solar atmosphere. Structure of the solar corona, models of the coronal magnetic field and their temporal variations. Stationary and dynamic models of the solar corona and coronal radiation related to the observed brightness distribution. 1958-1963 study of physics, graduated from the Natural Sciences Faculty of J. E. Purkyně University, Brno. Since 1964 in the Astronomical Institute. 1972 PhD in astrophysics.1981 graduated in astronomy and astrophysics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 1977-1990 Deputy Head and Head of the Solar Department. Since 1985 external lecturer on Solar Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague.
Eva Arazimová (*1984, arazimova@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics, PhD student)
Research fields: Local sample of white dwarfs, their atmospheric properties and distribution within our Galaxy. In 2008 graduated in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2008 PhD student at Charles University, PhD thesis “White dwarfs in the Solar Neighbourhood”. Supervisor: A. Kawka
Anna Aret (*1964, aret@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Modelling of physical processes in stellar atmospheres. 1989 graduated from Physics department of Moscow State University. 1993 MSc in astrophysics from University of Tartu. 2009 PhD in astrophysics. Since October 2010 at the Astronomical Institute.
Miroslav Bárta (*1973, barta@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Numerical MHD with applications to the physics of solar flares and prominences (solar-flare reconnection, current-sheet dynamics, energy cascades in magnetic reconnection, MHS equilibria in prominences), Computational Astrophysics (2D/3D MHD simulations, multi-scale/AMR numerical modelling of space-plasma processes), Solar radiophysics (plasma waves, wave dynamics, plasma micro-instabilities, radio emission theory, interpretation of radio bursts), High-Performance Computing (computer clusters, MPI, CUDA, parallel algorithms and their application to MHD numerical modelling). 1996 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 2003 PhD in Astrophysics at Charles University, 2008-2011 postdoc at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany.
Kateřina Bartošková (*1985, bartoskova@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD student)
Research fields: N-body simulations of galaxy mergers, shell galaxies, Local Group galaxies 2007. Bachelor degree obtained in Applied Physics (Spec.: Astrophysics), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno; 2010 Master degree (Theoretical physics and astrophysics), Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno; since 2010 PhD studies at Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno and works part-time at the Astronomical Institute.
Arkadiusz Berlicki (*1971, berlicki@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research field: Solar atmosphere and active events: Flares, prominences, Ellerman bombs, chromospheric structures; NLTE modelling of the solar atmosphere in flares, prominences and other chromospheric structures. Solar spectroscopy: instrumentation and observations. 1995 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry of the University of Wrocław (Poland) , 2002 PhD in Astrophysics at University of Wrocław, 2009 habilitation (DrSc) in Astrophysics. 2003-2005 postdoctoral position in the Observatoire de Paris (France), 2006 short postdoctoral position at Utrecht University (The Netherlands). Lecturer at the University of Wrocław. Visiting scientist at Observatoire de Paris (France). Since 2010 Co-I in the ESA Solar Orbiter/METIS consortium. Responsible person for the solar robotic optical telescope SORT. Member of International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Aleš Bezděk (*1970, bezdek@asu.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research Fields: Celestial mechanics, orbital dynamics of low earth artificial satellites, modelling of Earth gravity field, kinematic orbits, orbital resonances, atmospheric drag, models of thermospheric density, use of satellite microaccelerometric data. 1997 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University in Prague. 2004 PhD in Astronomy, Charles University in Prague.
Thomas G. Bisbas (*1982, tb@star.ucl.ac.uk, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: radiation-hydrodynamics simulations, radiative transfer, self-gravity, smoothed-particle-hydrodynamics codes; interstellar medium, triggered star formation, HII regions; super star cluster formation, thermal instability; astrochemistry. 2004 graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. 2009 PhD in Astrophysics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, U.K. 2009-2010 postdoc stay at the Academy of Sciences Czech Republic. 2010-present postdoc at the University College London, London, U.K. Member of the Hellenic Astronomical Society (Hel.As.Et).
Jiří Borovička (*1964, borovic@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Physics of meteor flight in the atmosphere, meteor spectroscopy, chemical composition, structure and origin of meteoroids, radiation of meteor trains, reduction methods for determination of meteor trajectories and light curves. 1987 graduated in Astronomy from Charles University, Prague. Since 1988 at the Astronomical Institute, 1993 PhD in Astronomy. 2000–2004 Head of the Interplanetary Matter Department, since 2004 Deputy Director of the Astronomical Institute, since 2007 chairman of the Council of the Astronomical Institute. 1998–2001 chairman of the Czech Astronomical Society. 1997 Junior Award from the Learned Society of the Czech Republic, 2002 Otto Wichterle Premium from the Academy of Sciences.
Václav Bumba (*1925, bumba@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics, emeritus)
Research Fields: Solar magnetic and velocity fields global, as well as local, dynamics of their changes in relation to various solar global and local activity phenomena and their geoactivity. Author or co-author of more than 380 scientific papers, co-author of the Atlas of Solar Magnetic Fields, Carnegie Institute of Washington, Publ. No 626, Washington 1967. Prizes of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (1953, 1967), Czechoslovak State Prize (1961). Medals of various scientific institutions home and abroad. 1949 graduated from Charles University, Prague, 1950 RNDr. degree from Charles University. 1955–1958 PhD study at Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, 1960 PhD from State Univ. Moscow, 1964 Mt. Wilson and Palomar Observatories (UNESCO and Carnegie Institute Scholarships), Pasadena, 1967 DrSc. degree from State Univ. Moscow, 1975 Corresponding member ČSAV. Since 1948 at the Astronomical Institute (State Observatory), 1970–1987 Deputy Chief and head of the Solar Department, 1968–1975 Deputy Director, 1975–1990 Director of the Institute. Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Scientific board of the Czechoslovak Acad. od Sci. for astronomy, geophysics, geodesy and meteorology (1976 - 1990), Scientific secretary (1972 - 1980) and Vice-president (1980 - 1983) of the Czechoslovak Commission Interkosmos, delegate of the Czechoslovak Republic to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (1972 - 1979), Chairman of the Czechoslovak National Committee for Astronomy (1976 - 1990). Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (since 1981) and Foreign Member of the Russian Acad. of Sci (since 1988). Vice-president and President of Commission 10 of the IAU (1974 - 1982) and many years its representative in FAGS, MONSEE and IUWDS. Since the foundation in 1967, Member and since 1998 Honorary Member of the Editorial Board of Solar Physics.
Michal Bursa (*1977, bursa@astro.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Relativistic astrophysics of compact sources, especially effects of strong-gravity lensing near compact objects, short-term variability of accreting black holes. 2006 PhD from Charles University in Prague.
Milan Burša (*1929, bursa@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, emeritus)
Research fields: Figures of the Earth, Moon and Planets, Earth‘s rotation, tidal evolution of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, dynamics of tidal development of satellite systems of selected planets (Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune). Author of 438 scientific papers and 15 books including “Gravity Field and Dynamics of the Earth” (co-author K. Pěč), 1993, Springer-Verlag. 996 references in foreign scientific publications. 1948–1951 study of Geodesy, Czech Technical University in Prague. 1951–1955 study of Astronomy and Geodesy, Moscow Geodetic Institute. 1959 PhD in Geodesy. 1973 DSc. in Astronomy. Since 1974 at the Astronomical Institute, until 1990 as Head of the Department of Dynamics of the Solar System, since 1987 Professor at the Czech Technical University Prague, 1983–1987 vice-president of the IAG, 1983–1987 president of the Special Study Group 5.99 “Tidal Friction and the Earth‘s Rotation” of the IAG. 1987–1991 president of the Special Study Group 5.100 “Parameters of Common Relevance of Astronomy, Geodesy and Geodynamics“ of the IAG. 1991–1995 president of commission SC-3 IAG Fundamental astrogeodetic constants. Since 2003 member of the IAG/IAU inter-union WG on reference systems and rotational elements of the planets and the satellites.
Zdeněk Ceplecha (*1929, +4.12.2009, Interplanetary Matter, emeritus)
Research fields: Minor bodies of the solar system, meteors, meteoroid interaction of interplanetary bodies with the Earth‘s atmosphere. 1952 graduated from Charles University, Prague, 1956 PhD in Astronomy, 1967 DSc in Astrophysics, since 1951 working at the Astronomical Institute. 1977–1993 Head of the Interplanetary Matter Department, 1968–1971 Research Associate to the Smithsonian Institution USA, founder of the European Fireball Network. In 1994 became one of the 35 Founding Members of the newly established Learned Society of the Czech Republic. Published 177 papers on meteors, fireballs, comets and on atmospheric interaction and classification of meteoroids, succeeded in taking double-station rotating-shutter photographs of a meteorite fall in 1959 (Příbram multiple fall), the first scientific photographs of such an event ever made. Awards: 1984 ‘G.P. Merrill Award’ from the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 1970 ‘Laureate of the State Award’, asteroid No. 2198 named ‘CEPLECHA’, 1989 ‘The Gold Medal for Physical Sciences’ from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, 2004 ‘F.Nušl Award’, 2006 Praemium Bohemiae Award, 2009 Honor Medal of the Czech Academy of Sciences "De scientia et humanitate optime meritis", 2009 from the President of the Czech Republic State Medal of Merit II for research of meteors and meteoroids.
David Čapek (*1977, capek@sunkl.asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Non-gravitational effects on small solar system bodies (Yarkovsky and YORP effect), thermal stress and rotation of meteoroids. 2000 graduated from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 2007 graduated from Faculty of Science of Charles University, Prague (specialization Geology). 2007 PhD in Astronomy. Since 2008 at the Astronomical Institute.
Jan Čechura (*1985, cechura@astro.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Radiation hydrodynamics of the circumstellar matter in the vicinity of binaries and X-ray binaries in particular. 2008 graduated from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague (Bc. General Physics). 2010 graduated from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague (Mgr. Astronomy and Astrophysics). Since 2010 Ph.D. studies in Theoretical physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics. Since 2010 at the Astronomical Institute.
James Dale (*1977, jim@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Star formation, stellar feedback, numerical modelling of HII regions and stellar winds, gravitational instabilities and fragmenting shells, triggered star formation, stellar collisions and mergers. 1999: BA in Natural Sciences, Cambridge University, 2000: MSc in Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge University, 2004: PhD in Astrophysics, Cambridge University. 2004--2007: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Leicester. 2007--2008 Wenner Gren postdoctoral researcher and lecturer in stellar evolution, Lund University. 2008--present: Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Astronomical Institute in Prague.
Bartosz P. Dąbrowski (*1974, bdabrow@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: solar radio emission in particular short lived events, like the millisecond radio spikes, hard X-ray emission, plasma physics, processes of the magnetic energy release in observed solar events, investigating the mechanisms of the solar radio emission generation, processes connected with particles propagation in the solar atmosphere, reconnection of magnetic field, solar observations with ALMA, ALMA project, data analysis using CASA (Common Astronomy Software Application) package. 1993 – 1998 studies at the Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń at the Physics and Astronomy Department, Poland; September 1998 M.Sc., Astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland; 1998 – 2005 Ph.D. studies, Astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland; March 2007, defended Ph.D. thesis “Short lived events of solar radio activity”, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland; November 2007 – September 2008, postdoctoral position at the Institute of Astronomy Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich); October 2008 –September 2009, postdoctoral position at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels.
Michal Dovčiak (*1973, dovciak@astro.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research field: Astrophysical processes around black holes, X-ray spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei and microquasars, development of general relativistic models for XSPEC. Graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University in Prague (theoretical physics) in 1998. 1998-2004 PhD studies at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague (astrophysics). Since 2003 at the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
Elena Dzifčáková (*1956, elena@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Plasma physics, spectroscopic diagnostics, physics of the solar corona, ionization and excitation equilibrium in the solar corona for the non-thermal electron distributions, diagnostics of the non-thermal distributions in corona and transition region, solar flares, analysis of the magnetic topology of solar flares, computation of magnetic field in solar corona from photospheric measurements, coronal emission modeling. 1975-1980 study of physics, graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Comenius University, Bratislava. 1990 PhD in Astrophysics, 2003 Associate Professor in physics at Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Bratislava. 1980-1983 Physical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Science, 1983-1990 Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Science, 1990-1993 Assistant Professor, Faculty of engineering, Slovak Technical University Košice, 1993 - 2007 Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Comenius University, 2007-2009 external lecturer at the Comenius University. Since 2007 at the Astronomical Institute Ondřejov. Member of the International Astronomical Union.
Ivana Ebrová (*1982, ivana@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Reasearch fields: Minor mergers of galaxies, simulations of creation of shell galaxies, dynamical friction. 2007 graduated from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2007 at the Astronomical Institute.
Soňa Ehlerová (*1972, sona@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Interstellar medium, HI shells and supershells (automatic detection algorithm, statistical studies of shells in the Milky Way, numerical simulations), star formation. 1995 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 1995 and 1999 scientific stays in Kiel (Germany), 1997 observations with the Effelsberg radiotelescope (Germany). 2000 PhD in Astrophysics. Since 2001 an external lecturer at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague (Exercises in the Galactic Astronomy). Member of the International Astronomical Union.
Jan Elner (*1982, janelner@centrum.cz, Stellar Physics, PhD sudent)
Research fields: Multiple stars spectra decomposition and data analysis, applications of Fourier disentangling. 2006 graduated in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2006 PhD student at Charles University. Supervisor: P. Koubský.
František Fárník (*1946, ffarnik@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: X-ray emission of solar flares – instrumental aspects of X-ray detection, analysis of observational data from broad-band detectors and telescopes. In 1970 graduated from the J.E. Purkyně University in Brno (Physics), since graduation a staff member of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. 1978 PhD in Astrophysics. Principal investigator of several X-ray instruments onboard Prognoz, Phobos and Coronas spacecrafts. Since 1990 cooperating with scientists from the Space Research Laboratory in Utrecht, Netherlands, the Space Environment Center in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences in Tokyo, Japan and many others. Principal investigator of the hard X-ray spectrometer launched on March 12, 2000, as a part of the US MTI project. In recent years organizing and supporting participation of the Astronomical Institute in the Science Program of ESA, especially in the Solar Orbiter project.
Adrián Galád (*1970, adriangalad@yahoo.com, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Physical properties of asteroids in the inner part of the Solar System, photometry of asteroids. Graduated in Astronomy from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia, in 1993. Scientific researcher at Astronomical Observatory in Modra, Slovakia, since 1994, PhD in Astronomy in 2001, at the Astronomical Institute since 2004 (part time), member of the IAU since 2006.
Christian Gruber (*1968, gruber@asu.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Spherical harmonic expansion via fast Fourier transformation. Gravity field determination from satellite observations. Dynamical satellite geodesy & orbit determination. Satellite resonances and latitude lumped coefficients analysis. 1996 graduation from the University of applied Sciences, Faculty of Surveying and Cartography, Munich. 2003 Dipl.-Ing. from the Faculty of Physical Geodesy of the Technical University, Berlin. In Mai 2007 defense of his doctoral thesis at the Technical University, Berlin. Since May 2009 postdoctoral position at the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) in Munich.
Stanislav Gunár (*1981, gunar@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar prominences: multi-dimensional non-LTE radiative transfer, modeling of synthetical spectra. 2004 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University, Bratislava. In December 2007 defended a doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University, Prague. Since January 2008 postdoctoral position at Astronomical Institute. Since 2010 local instrument manager for the Czech contribution to the ASPIICS coronagraph onboard PROBA-3 mission of ESA.
Rudolf Gális (*1973, rudolf.galis@upjs.sk, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Interacting binaries, cataclysmic and symbiotic variable stars as well as the near contact binaries with focus on mass transfer, generation and physical mechanisms of active regions and activity of these systems in optical and X-rays. 1996: graduated (M.Sc.) from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Comenius University, Bratislava. 1996 - 1999: PhD study at Astronomical Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences in Tatranská Lomnica. 2001: graduated (Ph.D.) from Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava. Since 1999 assistant professor at Faculty of Sciences, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice.
Petr Hadrava (*1951, had@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Theory of stellar atmospheres, classical and relativistic radiative transfer, radiation hydrodynamics; binary stars, circumstellar mass, solution of radial-velocity and light-curves (FOTEL code), disentangling of spectra of multiple stars (KOREL code), spectroscopic and photometric observations of stars; relativistic astrophysics, dynamics and appearance of accretion discs; history of medieval and renaissance astronomy. 1974 graduated in Theoretical Physics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 1980 PhD in Astrophysics, 2001 DrSc in Astrophysics, 2004 Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics at Charles University. 1975–2004 at the Stellar Department of the Astronomical Institute, then at the Department of Galaxies and Planetary Systems. External lecturer and member of the Supervisory Board for PhD studies at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University Prague. 1997–2001 part-time Professor at Trondheim University (NTNU). Member of International Astronomical Union and chair of National Committee for Astronomy.
Petr Heinzel (*1950, pheinzel@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar atmosphere: Flares, prominences, coronal loops, chromospheric structure. Non-LTE radiative transfer: numerical methods for multi-level problems, partial frequency redistribution, accelerated lambda iteration techniques, 2D-transfer. Model atmospheres: structure and dynamics of the chromosphere and flares, the physics of isolated plasma structures (loops, prominences, chromospheric network). Radiation-hydrodynamics: time-dependent non-LTE problems, energy balance, heating mechanisms. Spectral diagnostics: analysis of UV, optical and radio spectra, semi-empirical models. 1974 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University in Prague, 1982 PhD in astrophysics, 1993 DSc in astrophysics, 2005 Associate Professor at Charles University, Director of the Institute since 2004, external lecturer on stellar atmospheres at Charles University, Wroclaw University and Komenský University, member of the Supervisory Boards for PhD students. Supervisor of PhD students at Charles University. Involvement in ESA space projects, namely SOHO, Solar Orbiter and Proba 3. Visiting professor at Université de Paris, Observatoire de Meudon, Wroclaw University and MPA Garching.
Petr Hellinger (*1970, petr.hellinger@ig.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Nonlinear phenomena in space plasmas, collisionless shocks, kinetic instabilities; numerical simulations and theoretical modelling. 1993 graduated in Theoretical physics from Charles University, Prague. 1996 PhD in Space plasma physics at Université de Paris (Orsay), Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, France. Scientific researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, AS CR, since 1995. Since 2008 member of the Solar Physics Department (part time).
Tomáš Henych (*1984, ftom@physics.muni.cz, Interplanetary Matter, PhD student)
Research fields: Asteroid collisions, impact processes, rotational dynamics, binary asteroid dynamics and tides, asteroid photometry and astrometry. In 2008 graduated in Astrophysics from the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno. Since 2008 PhD student at Masaryk University. Supervisor: Petr Pravec.
David Herčík (*1983, dh@ig.cas.cz, Solar Physics, PhD student)
Research fields: Data analysis from numerical simulations and in situ observations of space plasma, H/W development for space instrumentation - magnetometers. 2007 graduated in Applied Physics from Czech Technical University, Prague. Since 2004 at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, AS CR. Since 2010 member of the Solar Physics Department (PhD student). Involved in projects DSLP-Proba2, Solar Orbiter, JGO.
Jiří Horák (*1978, horak@astro.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Relativistic astrophysics of compact sources, oscillations of relativistic fluid tori, variability and polarization of X-rays from compact objects. 2005 PhD from Charles University in Prague. Since 2006 at the Astronomical Institute.
René Hudec (*1951, rhudec@asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: High energy astrophysics with emphasis on multi-spectral analyses and eruptive processes in cosmic plasma. Gamma ray bursts (GRB), galactic and extragalactic X-ray and gamma-ray sources (AGNs, QSOs, blazars). Searches for counterparts at optical wavelength. Analyses of evolution and emission mechanisms. Designer of space and ground-based experiments in these areas. Development and design of X-ray optics and X-ray telescopes for space as well as laboratory applications. 1970 graduated from the Technical Faculty of General Engineering, 1975 graduated from Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, 1978 RNDr. degree from Charles University, Prague, 1981 PhD Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Prague, 2007 habilitation (Assoc. Prof.) at Czech Technical University in Prague. Since 1975 at the Astronomical Institute. Since 1989 Head of Working Group on Interdisciplinary Astrophysics, later Head of the Group of High Energy Astrophysics. Principal Investigator of satellite and ground-based projects (e.g., X-ray telescope TEREK-FOBOS). Since 1992 Principal Investigator of the European Central Initiative Cooperation Project Investigation of GRB. Since 1996 Co-I and consortium member of the experiment OMC onboard the INTEGRAL ESA, and Co-I and consortium member of the INTEGRAL Science and Data Center ISDC. Since 1996 PI of the Czech participation in the INTEGRAL satellite program, ESA. Since 2005 member of the CU7 Coordination Unit, ESA Gaia. Since 2009 member of the Telescope Working Group of the project ESA IXO (now Athena). Since 2010 Co-I and consortium member, ESA LOFT. Author and co-author of 602 scientific papers and communications (177 in refereed journals).
Pavel Jáchym (*1978, jachym@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Dynamics and evolution of galaxies in galaxy clusters and groups, numerical simulations (N-body tree/SPH algorithms) of environmental effects in galaxy clusters (ram pressure stripping, galaxy harassment, tidal interactions), millimeter observations of environmentally affected galaxies. 2001: MSc in Astronomy and Astrophysics at Charles University in Prague, 2006: PhD in Astrophysics at Charles University and University Paris 6. 2003-2004: Marie Curie fellowship for graduate students at Paris Observatory, 2009: short term attachment at IRAM Grenoble, 2009-2010: Fulbright-Masaryk Scholarship at Yale University.
Karel Jiřička (*1944, jiricka@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar radio flares, instrumentation for radio astronomy (low-noise receivers, data acquisition systems, etc), analysis, processing, and archiving of radioastronomical data. 1967 graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague. 1973 PhD in Radio Science. Since 1975 at the Astronomical Institute. Member of the CRAF (Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies) of the ESF (European Science Foundation), member of the URSI (International Union of Radio Science) Commission J (Radio Astronomy).
Bruno Jungwiert (*1970, bruno@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Dynamics and evolution of galaxies, N-body simulations, spectroscopy. 1993 Master degree in Physics (Charles University, Prague); 1995 DEA (Diplome d´Etudes Approfondies) in Astrophysics and Space Techniques (Meudon Observatory); 1998 PhD in Astrophysics at Université Paris VII and Charles University. Since 1998 researcher at the Astronomical Institute ASCR. Prize of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic for young researchers (1999). Long-term stays abroad: Meudon Observatory, Paris Observatory, Centre de Recherche Astronomique de Lyon (post-doc, Marie Curie Research Training Network “Euro3D-Promoting 3D Spectroscopy in Europe”), University of California (Los Angeles, Riverside). PI and co-I of observational projects with large and medium size telescopes (VLT, Keck, HST, WHT, Calar Alto 3.5m, Lick Observatory 3m). Lecturer and supervisor of undergraduate and graduate students at the Charles University in Prague and Masaryk University in Brno. Member of the Council of AI ASCR since 2007.
Jan Jurčák (*1978, jurcak@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Magnetic fine structure and velocity fields in sunspots, analyses of high spatial resolution spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry. 2002 graduated from the Charles University, Prague, Master's Degree in astrophysics. Since 2002 at the Astronomical Institute, Solar Department. 2006 PhD in astrophysics, Charles University, Prague. 2004 four-month stay at Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) as an EARA fellow. 2006 - 2008 post-doc position at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), Mitaka as a JSPS fellow.
Vladimír Karas (*1960, vladimir.karas@cuni.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Relativistic astrophysics; radiation processes in strong gravity and their applications to active galactic nuclei and Galactic black holes. 1998 Associate Professor, 2001 DrSc in Astrophysics. Since 2004 a research scientist at the Astronomical Institute, Head of the Group of Relativistic Astrophysics, Deputy for Foreign Relations of the Institute and Head of the Prague Section of the Institute. Supervisor of undergraduate and graduate students. Member of professional organizations: International Astronomical Union, Royal Astronomical Society, International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation. Author of research and educational articles. Translator of popular science books.
Marian Karlický (*1949, karlicky@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar flare physics: evolution of superthermal particles in flare loops, evaporation, reconnection of magnetic field, hard X-ray emission, polarization of optical chromospheric lines. Solar radioastronomy: radio bursts in metric, decimetric and microwave frequency ranges. Plasma astrophysics: Langmuir waves in current-carrying plasma, tearing and coalescence processes in flare current sheet, solutions of Zakharov equations, electron, proton and neutral beams, return current. Numerical modeling: particle (parallel version), hybrid and MHD codes. 1973 graduated from J. E. Purkyně University in Brno, 1976 RNDr degree from Charles University, Prague, 1981 PhD in Solar Plasma Physics, 1992 DSc in Astrophysics, 2008 Associate Professor. Several stays abroad – Meudon Observatory, Trieste Observatory, Potsdam Observatory, Glasgow University, Birmingham University, Colorado University, Nanjing University, Beijing Astronomical Observatory, INPE Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, Nobeyama Observatory, Japan, JAXA/ISAS Japan, New Jersey Istitute of Technology, USA. 1990–1996 Head of the Solar Department, 1996–2004 Deputy Director of the Astronomical Institute, since 2004 Head of Working Group Physics of solar flares and prominences. Since 2002-2009 Member of the Scientific Council of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Member of Editorial Board of Solar Physics journal since 2005. Since January 2010 head of the Czech ESO-ALMA ARC node.
Jana Kašparová (*1976, kasparov@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar flares: non-LTE radiative transfer, analysis of optical and hard X-ray spectra. 1999 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 2004 PhD in Theoretical Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics at Charles University, Prague.
Adela Kawka (*1977, kawka@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Evolution, atmospheric properties of white dwarfs, and their distribution within our Galaxy, close binary systems: their evolution, orbital parameters and atmospheric properties of the components stars. Spectroscopic and photometric observations in the optical and ultraviolet of white dwarfs and close binaries. Obtained a PhD in 2004 at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. Since 2004 at the Astronomical Institute.
Jaroslav Klokočník (*1948, jklokocn@asu.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Satellite dynamics, orbit determination from observations, gravity field of the Earth, orbital resonances, navigation for applied satellites, satellite (crossover) altimetry, tests of accuracy of gravity field models, gradiometry, GOCE; archeoastronomy of Mesoamerica and South America. In 1971 graduated in Space Geodesy from the Czech Technical University, Prague. 1979 PhD in Astronomy. 1996 DSc in Astronomy. 2000 Associate Professor of Geodesy, senior lecturer of geodesy, CTU Prague., 2010 Prof. of Geod., CTU Prague. Researcher at the Astronomical Institute. Several stays in Germany, USA, and other countries. Member of several special study groups of IAG/IUGG, member of EGU, AGU, IAU, COSPAR, etc; principal investigator of ESA PECS grant on GOCE gradiometry. About 160 research papers, with at least 165 references in foreign periodicals.
Miroslav Klvaňa (*1943, mklvana@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Magnetic and velocity fields in solar active regions and quiet photosphere (observations, interpretation, and modelling), instrumentation, data processing. 1966 graduated in Physics from Technical University of Leningrad. Since 1968 at the Astronomical Institute, Solar Department. 1978 PhD in Astrophysics. 1969–1972 development of the Ondřejov first scanning photoelectric magnetograph, 1972 first photoelectric measurements of solar magnetic and velocity fields in Czechoslovakia, 1972-1983 systematical magnetographic measurements and their physical interpretation, 1985–1990 development of the Ondřejov second generation scanning photoelectric magnetograph SOLMAG, 1990-2001 coordinator and head of group of magnetographic measurements by SOLMAG. 1997-1998 reconstruction of control system of the solar telescope at Hvar Observatory (Jugoslavia), team member for construction of large solar telescopes at Canary Islands (1,5m GREGOR, 4m Europen Solar Telescope EST). 2003-2006 reconstruction of spectroheliograph in Coimbra, Portugal, 2004-2009 development of Solar Spectra Analyser SOLSPAN at Ondřejov Observatory. Cooperation with Groups of magnetographic measurements (Potsdam-SRN, Irkutsk-Russia, Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Ukraine). Author and co-author more than 200 publications and holder of 3 patents.
Ondřej Kopáček (*1981, kopacek@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD sudent)
Research fields: Dynamics of charged particles in the vicinity of magnetized compact objects, deterministic chaos in relativistic systems, magnetospheres of accreting black hole systems. Since 2007 PhD student at Charles University. Supervisor: V. Karas.Topic of the Thesis: Transition from regular to chaotic motion in black hole magnetospheres.
Daniela Korčáková (*1975, kor@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Modeling of stellar atmospheres, radiative transfer, stellar winds, observation and analysis of spectra of B[e] stars. 1993-1998 study physics with a specialisation to the astronomy at the faculty of science of the Masaryk University in Brno, diploma thesis "Spectroscopy of the cool star beta UMi", supervisor V. Štefl, 1998-2003 postgraduate study at the faculty of science of the Masaryk University, PhD thesis "NLTE models of the moving stellar atmospheres", supervisor J. Kubát, 1998 part-time research assistant at the Astronomical Institute of the AS CR in Ondřejov, 2002 full-time research assistant at the Institute in Ondřejov. Since 2006 member of the IAU. 2009 full-time scientific
position at the Institute. 2009 Otto Wichterle Premium from the Academy of Sciences.
Pavel Koten (*1972, koten@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Photometry, light curves and physical structure of faint video meteors, models of meteoroids, double station observations of meteors, trajectory computation, image processing of video meteors, automation of the observation and data proccesing, meteor streams identification. 1996 MSC, graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University in Prague. Since 1996 at the Astronomical Institute. 2001 PhD in Astronomy from Charles University. Popularization of astronomy. Member of the International Astronomical Union.
Pavel Kotrč (* 1948, pkotrc@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar atmosphere, flares, surges, prominences, coronal loops, spectral observation and analysis, diagnostics of solar activity phenomena, solar corona, eclipses of the Sun, instrumentation. PI, Co-PI or Co-I on several solar physics projects. In 1972 graduated from Faculty of Sciences, J. E. Purkyně University (now Masaryk University) in Brno (Mathematics and Physics). Since then working as a staff member at the Solar Department of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic at Ondřejov. 1980 PhD in Astrophysics (Solar Physics). Responsible person for the solar optical telescope and spectrograph HSFA2. In recent years studied prominences and effects of accelerated particles in solar flare spectra. Longer missions abroad: ISZF Irkutsk, Russia, Hvar Observatory, Croatia, Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Ukraine, National Solar Observatory Sacramento Peak, USA, Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France. Member of solar eclipse expeditions to east Siberia (1981 and 1997), Romania & Hungary (1999), Angola (2001 and 2002) and Turkey (2006). Since 1992 external lecturer on spectroscopy at Charles University at Prague. In 2000 external lecturer on solar physics at Masaryk University in Brno, supervisor of 9 Master diploma theses. Member of the International Astronomical Union and a Representative of the Czech Republic in JOSO. Member of Editorial Board of the Central European Astrophysical Bulletin. Author and co-author of about 150 papers.
Pavel Koubský (*1943, koubsky@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics, emeritus)
Research fields: Early-type stars, close binaries, Be stars, astronomical techniques. In 1965 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 1966 at Stellar Department of the Astronomical Institute. 1977 PhD in Astrophysics. 1981-1989 Head of the Working Group 2m Telescope, 1990-2000 and 2004-2008 Head of the Stellar Department. Since 1990-2006 member of the Council of Sciences of the Astronomical Institute. In 1972 promoting systematic photoelectric observations at the joint Czech-Yugoslav Observatory, Hvar (now Croatia). Responsible for three upgrades of the 2m telescope (1982-87, 1996-98, and 2007). Observational stays at Observatoire de Haute Provence, France, KPNO USA, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory Victoria and David Dunlap Observatory, Canada. In recent years continued spectroscopic, photometric and interferometric study of Be stars and rapid variability in early type stars. Since 2007 member of the CU7 Coordination Unit, ESA Gaia.
Jiří Kovář (*1977, Jiri.Kovar@fpf.slu.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research field: Relativistic astrophysics, physics of neutron stars, especially processes of accretion in compact binary systems, effects of charge separation in magnetized plasma. Role of cosmological constant in modern cosmology. 2009-2010 member of Center of Theoretical Astrophysics.
Michaela Kraus (*1972, kraus@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Winds and circumstellar disks of hot stars; Be and B[e] stars; ionization structure calculations in non-spherically symmetric and rotationally distorted winds; modeling forbidden emission lines from non-spherically symmetric winds and disks, and the spectral energy distribution of flat, flared and outflowing dusty disks; evolution of massive stars; studies of the evolutionary connections between evolved phases like the classical OB-type supergiants, B[e] supergiants, Luminous Blue Variables, Red Supergiants, and Yellow Hypergiants. 1997 graduated in Physics from the faculty of physics and astronomy of the Rheinische-Friedrich Wilhelms University in Bonn, Germany, 2000 PhD in Astrophysics at the Rheinische-Friedrich Wilhelms University in Bonn, Germany. Until 2001 post-doc at the Max-Planck Institute of Radioastronomy in Bonn, Germany, from 2001 to 2005 post-doc at the Astronomical Institute, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, from 2005 to 2009 post-doc at the Astronomical Institute, since 2010 scientific staff member at the Astronomical Institute.
Miroslav Křížek (*1981, krizek@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD student)
Research fields: structure, dynamics and evolution of galaxies, N-body simulations.
2007 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2007 PhD student at Charles University. Supervisor: B. Jungwiert.
Jiří Kubát (*1962, kubat@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Radiative transfer, theory of stellar atmospheres, calculation of model stellar atmospheres, line profiles, NLTE physics, dynamics of stellar winds. 1985 graduated in theoretical physics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 1985-1989 at the Astronomical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. 1989-1992 worked as a programmer and teacher in a secondary school. Since 1992 at the Astronomical Institute. 1994 PhD in Astrophysics. Author of the computer code for calculating non-LTE model stellar atmospheres in planar and spherical geometry. Since 1997 member of the IAU, Commision 36 (Theory of stellar atmospheres). Teaches a semestral course „Physics of stellar atmospheres“ at the Masaryk University Brno. 1996-2000 deputy director of the Astronomical Institute. 1996-2000 and 2004-2008 deputy head of the stellar department, 2000-2004 and since 2008 head of the stellar department. Since 2008 head of the working group Physics of hot stars. Since 2007 member of the Council of the Astronomical Institute.
Andrew McLeod (*1985, andrew.mcleod@astro.cf.ac.uk, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Star formation in the local universe. Triggered star formation from cloud-cloud collisions and pressure-driven implosion. Turbulence in the interstellar medium. Thermodynamics and chemistry in the interstellar medium. Computational hydrodynamics including smoothed particle hydrodynamics. Computational methods and OpenMP and MPI parallelization. 2003 graduated from the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Cardiff University, UK. April-November 2010 Early-Stage Researcher (Marie Curie CONSTELLATION network) at the Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Due to complete Ph.D. at Cardiff University in 2011.
Hana Mészárosová (*1959, hana@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar flares, radio radiation, data analysis, statistical methods. Main interest in the impulsively generated magnetoacoustic waves in the solar coronal loops (radio and X-rays data). 1987 graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague (technical cybernetics), since 1990 at the Astronomical Institute in Ondřejov. 2004 PhD in Astrophysics at Charles University, Prague. 2006 year-long stay in INPE, São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Martin Netolický (*1981, netol@physics.muni.cz, Stellar Physics, PhD student)
Research fields: Interferometry in visual and near-IR bands, hot stars, stellar envelopes, spectroscopy. In 2004 graduated from the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University, Brno. Since 2004 till 2009 postgraduate study at the Faculty of Science of the Masaryk University, supervisor P. Koubský
Peter Németh (*1981, nemeth@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research field: Spectral modeling of hot stars from X-rays to optical wavelengths. Abundance analysis for subdwarfs, white dwarfs and classical novae with Tlusty. 2004 MSc., University of Szeged, Hungary. 2010 PhD., Florida Institute of Technology, USA.
Dieter Nickeler (*1968, nickeler@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Stationary ideal and non-ideal MHD flows of large scale stellar winds (astrospheres/heliosphere) and solar flows, solutions of nonlinear MHD equations, theory of magnetic reconnection and magnetic topology. 1998 graduated from faculty of physics and astronomy of the Ruhr-University, Bochum, 2005 PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Utrecht. Since 2006 member of the IAU. From October 2005 to December 2006 scientific guest, 2007 Post-Doc position at the Astronomical Institute Ondrejov. From 2008 until 2010 GAAV postdoctoral fellowship.
Pavel Novák (*1965, pavel.novak@vugtk.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: The figure and gravitational field of the Earth, satellite positioning, adjustment calculus and statistics. Author of 75 peer-reviewed publications (33 at WoS); 175 references at WoS; H-index 7; professor of geodesy, Czech Technical University in Prague (2007); Elected-Fellow of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG, 2007); vice-president of the Inter-Commission Committee on Theory of the IAG (since 2007); member of several IAG study groups; member of the International Editorial Board of the Journal of Geodesy (since 2003); Scientific Secretary of the Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography and Cartography (since 2009); Vice-Dean for Research of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia Pilsen (since 2010); chairman of the Czech National Committee for FIG (since 2009).
Ivana Orlitová (Stoklasová) (*1978, ivana@sirrah.troja.mff.cuni.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Narrow-line regions of active galaxies, kinematics and excitation of gas. 2004-2006 eighteen-month stay at Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon, fellowship of French government. PhD at Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics in 2009. In 2010, two-month training at millimeter interferometry, IRAM (Grenoble, France). At present, a post-doc at Astronomical Institute ASCR, Prague.
Jan Palouš (*1949, palous@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Evolution of galaxies, two-component systems, interstellar matter and stars, star formation, stellar winds and mass recycling, feedback, chemical evolution, shells, supershells and filaments, gravitational instability, triggered star formation, the initial mass function, galaxies in groups and clusters, tides, merger events, harassment, gas stripping, formation of super-star clusters, intracluster medium. 1972: graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 1977: PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 1993: DSc in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 1994: Assistant Professor, 2001: Professor of Astronomy at Charles University, Prague. 1993–1996: member of the Council of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. 1996–2004: Director of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Since 2005: President of the Council for International Affairs and member of the Council of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Since 2009: member of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic. Member of International Astronomical Union (IAU), 1997–2003: member of the organizing committee of IAU Commission 33. 2004 - 2009 chairman of the Czech National Committee for Astronomy, chairperson of the National Organizing Committee of the General Assembly of IAU 2006 in Prague.
Since 2009 vice-president of the IAU. Member of the European Astronomical Society (EAS), 1992–1996 its secretary, since 2008 its vice-president. Corresponding member of the Royal Socienty of Edinburgh, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Supervisor of undergraduate and graduate students in astronomy and astrophysics. Author and co-author of research articles in professional journals, public presentations in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV.
Roman Pavelka (*1988, ChaoticRoman@seznam.cz, Solar Physics, MSc student)
Research fields: Fluxgate magnetometry, data acquisition and processing.
Since 2010 at the Astronomical Institute. Development of Dual Segmented Langmuir
Probe data quick-look web interface (2010).
Petr Pecina (*1950, ppecina@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary matter)
Research fields: Radar observations of meteors and their analysis, solving problems of physical theory of meteors and its application to observations, study of mutual interrelations between radar and TV meteors, determination of heliocentric orbital elements of radar meteoroids, study of selected meteor showers (Geminids, Perseids, Leonids). 1973 graduated in Astronomy from Charles University, Prague. Since 1973 working at the Astronomical Institute. 1981 PhD in Astronomy.
Tomáš Pecháček (*1981, pechacek_t@seznam.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Relativistic astrophysics of compact sources, various effects of strong gravitational field acting on radiation field near compact objects, stochastical models of X-ray variability. Obtained a PhD in 2008 at Charles University, supervisor V. Karas. Since 2008 a postdoc at the Astronomical Institute.
Luboš Perek (*1919, perek@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, emeritus)
Research Fields: Distribution of mass in the galaxy, high-velocity stars, planetary nebulae, definition of outer space, geostationary orbit, space debris, management of outer space. 1946 graduated from Masaryk University, Brno, 1956 PhD in Astronomy at Charles University, Prague, 1961 DSc in Astronomy. 1965 Corresponding Member of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. 1952–1956 Associate Professor, Masaryk University. 1964 Visiting Professor, Northwestern University. 1967–1970 General Secretary of the IAU. 1968–1975 Director of the Astronomical Institute of Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. 1975–1980 Chief, Outer Space Affairs Division, United Nations, New York. Medals: University of Liège 1969, ADION 1972, T. Hagecius de Hajek 1980, Nagy Ernö 1981, Zagreb Univ. 1982, City of Paris 1982, Collège de France 1986, Prix Janssen de la Societé Astronomique de France 1992, Medal of the Czech Learned Society 2009. Asteroid 2900 named Lubos Perek, Dr. H. C. Masaryk University 1999. 44 papers on stellar dynamics and planetary nebulae, Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae (jointly with L. Kohoutek) Academia Praha 1967. 100 papers and articles on the geostationary orbit, definition of outer space, space debris, protection of space environment, and space traffic. President of IAU Commission 33 in 1973-1976, Vice-President of the International Council of Scientific Unions 1968-1970, Associate Member of the Royal Astronomical Society since 1970, Member of the Deutshe Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina since 1975, Member of the International Institute of Space Law since 1977, member of its Board of Directors 1996-2006, Member of the International Academy of Astronautics since 1977, President of the International Astronautical Federation 1980-1982, member of its International Program Committee 1990-1992, Advisor to its President 2002-2006, Honorary Member of the Academie Nationale de l'Air et de l'Espace, Toulouse, since 1994, Delegate of the Czech Republic to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Scientific and Technical Subcomittee 1992-2003.
Radek Peřestý (*1962, peresty@asu.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Microgravity environment, accelerometry, non-gravitational forces, artificial satellite dynamics. 1985 graduated in Physics from the J. E. Purkyne University in Brno, since 1985 at the Astronomical Institute. From 1990 lead MACEK accelerometer design and development. Principal Investigator of several space experiments onboard e.g. RESOURCE satellite (Russia) the Spacehab-04 microgravity laboratory (Space Shuttle STS-79) and 6-th Czech satellite MIMOSA. Recently involved in development, manufacture and testing of three accelerometers for SWARM project (ESA).
Cyril Polášek (*1943, polasek@asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: High-energy astrophysics, data reductions, optics, testing and development of innovative X-ray and optical CCD telescopes of apertures: 50 cm (1mirror with field corrector). In plans: 63cm (2mirror aplanatic), 64cm and 45 cm Richter/Slevogt's (high speed and wide field). History of astronomy and astrophysics, light pollution. 1967 graduated in Numerical Mathematics from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Palacký University in Olomouc. 1997 PhD in Astronomy. Since 1970 at the Astronomical Institute. (up to 1989 Computing Center, until 1996 in Near-Earth Physics Department, since 1996 HEA Group in the Interplanetary Matter Department, since 2004 High Energy Astrophysics Group).
Jan Polster (*1982, polster@physics.muni.cz, Stellar Physics, PhD student)
Research fields: Common features of B[e] and Be stars spectra, time variations in spectra. 2006 graduated in Astrophysics from the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University in Brno, since 2006 PhD student at Masaryk University, Supervisor: D. Korčáková
Petr Pravec (*1967, ppravec@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Physical properties of asteroids, photometry and astrometry of asteroids and comets, discoveries, recoveries and follow-up of both new and old poorly observed asteroids; application of CCD technology in astronomy. 1990 graduated from Masaryk University, Brno. Since 1990 in the Interplanetary Matter Department of the Astronomical Institute. 1996 PhD from Charles University, Prague. Author and co-author of papers devoted to studies of near-Earth asteroids, asteroid photometry and astrometry, use of CCD in astronomy. Discoverer of a few hundred asteroids. Currently concentrating on studies of binary asteroids. Awarded the Premium of Otto Wichterle from Academy of Sciences for his work on asteroids in 2004.
Tomáš Prosecký (*1980, prosecky@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics, PhD sudent)
Research fields: Spectroscopy of solar flares. 2005 graduated in Astrophysics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2005 PhD student at Charles University. Supervisor: P. Heinzel.
Cyril Ron (*1957, ron@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Astrometry, PZT observations and their analysis, Earth orientation parameters (EOP) from optical astrometry and combination of the EOP series derived from different techniques, geophysical excitations of the Earth rotation. 1981 graduated in Geodesy and Cartography from the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University, Prague. Since 1983 at the Astronomical Institute. 1986 three-month mission to the Zentralinstitut für Physik der Erde in Potsdam, Germany. 1992 PhD in Astronomy. 1997-1998 mission to the Lohrmann Observatory, Technical University Dresden, Germany. Member of the Center for the Earth's Dynamics Research (CEDR) and of the IERS Combination Research Center. Since 2000-2006 member of organizing committee of IAU Commission 19 (Rotation of the Earth). Member of a team awarded the prize of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 2000. Chairman of local organizing committee of 26th General Assembly of IAU held in Prague 2006. Regular lectures on Space Geodesy at the West Bohemian University in Pilsen since 2005.
Adam Růžička (*1978, adam@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Galactic dynamics, N-body simulations, evolutionary algorithms, clusters of galaxies. 2001 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University, Prague. 2004-2005 Fulbright scholarship at the Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, USA. PhD degree received in 2006. Since 2001 a PhD and postdoctoral (since 2006) researcher at the department of Galaxies and Planetary Systems of the Astronomical Institute. 2008-2011 a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Vienna, Austria, project "Evolution of the Magellanic Clouds".
Josef Sebera (*1983, josef.sebera@fsv.cvut.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD sudent)
Research fields: Earth's gravity field determination by terrestrial and space techniques (satellite altimetry/gradiometry) - graduated in Geodesy from the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University, Prague. Since 2008 PhD student. Superviser: Jan Kostelecký.
Ladislav Sehnal (*1931, lsehnal@asu.cas.cz, Dynamics of Satellite Motion, emeritus)
Research fields: Celestial mechanics, orbital and rotational dynamics of artificial satellites, non-gravitational perturbing forces (atmosphere, radiative effects). Theory of satellite motion in the atmosphere, models of the atmosphere and of the terrestrial albedo distribution. Theory of space accelerometric measurements. 1954 graduated in Astronomy from Charles University, Prague. 1959 PhD in Astronomy. 1984 DSc in Astronomy. Since 1954 at the Astronomical Institute, 1990–1996 Director of the Astronomical Institute. 1965–1971 with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Mass., USA, 1988, 1989 with the DGFI Munich, Germany. About 118 research papers published.
Lukáš Shrbený (*1981, shrbeny@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Physics of bright photographic meteors, measuring of all-sky images. Also participates in the international project of fireball network in Australia. 2005 graduated from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University in Prague. Since 2005 at the Astronomical Institute. 2009 PhD in Astronomy, Charles University in Prague. 2009 - 2010 employee of Imperial College London.
Peter Scheirich (*1979, petr.scheirich@centrum.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Modeling of binary and tumbling asteroids from photometric data. In 2003 graduated from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. In 2008 obtained PhD in Theoretical Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Charles University (supervisor: Petr Pravec). Since 2008 at PostDoc position at the Interplanetary Matter Department of the Astronomical Institute of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
Pavol Schwartz (*1974, schwartz@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Non-LTE study of the solar filaments and prominences, EUV spectroscopy of small-scale chromospheric structures, reduction of the data from SoHO/CDS and SoHO/SUMER spectrographs and from instruments of Hinode satelite. In 1998 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. In 2004 obtained PhD in Astrophysics at the Comenius University. Since 2004 working as a staff member of the Solar Department of the Astronomical Institute of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. In 2005 at IAS Orsay, France participated in planning of the observations of the filaments and prominences using SoHO/CDS and SoHO/SUMER spectrographs during the 15th MEDOC observing campaign. In 2010, one month-long stay in Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France as an ad-joint scientist.
Vojtěch Sidorin (*1982, vojtech.sidorin@gmail.com, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD sudent)
Research fields: Interstellar matter, star formation, shells, supershells and filaments, gravitational instability, triggered star formation, the initial mass function. 2008: graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague, diploma thesis: “IR, optical and X-ray counterparts of HI shells in the Milky Way”, supervisor: Jan Palouš. Since 2008: PhD student at Charles University, Prague, PhD thesis: “Shell-like structures in the ISM: observation versus simulations”, supervisor: Jan Palouš, advisor: Jim Dale.
Jan Skála (*1983, jskala@physics.ujep.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Modelling magnetic field reconnection in the solar flares. 2008 graduated from Faculty of Science of J. E. Purkyne University, Usti nad Labem. Since 2008 PhD studing (Computer modeling) of J. E. Purkyne University.
Michal Sobotka (*1954, msobotka@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Sunspots, fine structure and velocity fields in solar photosphere, high spatial resolution photometry and spectroscopy, image processing, time-series analysis, instrumentation. 1978 graduated from the Charles University, Prague, Master's Degree in astrophysics. 1981–1985 external PhD student at the Leningrad State University and Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. 1985 PhD in astrophysics, Leningrad State University. 2007 DSc in astrophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. 1990–1992 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC). 1993 three-month European Community Grant at IAC. 1999 Visiting Professor at the Karl-Franzens University, Graz. 1999–2000 one-year sabbatical stay at IAC. 2003 and 2005 Researcher at Observatoire Midi Pyrénées, Tarbes. Since 1979 at the Astronomical Institute, Solar Department, since 1995 Head of the Working Group “Structure and Dynamics of Solar Atmosphere”, since 2004 Deputy Head of the Solar Department. 2002-2008 vice-president of JOSO. Since 2006 national representative in the European Association for Solar Telescopes (EAST). Participation in the projects of the 1.5-m solar telescope GREGOR and of the 4-m European Solar Telescope EST. Cooperation with institutions in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, France, and Austria. Author and co-author of more than 140 astronomical publications.
Vjačeslav Sochora (sochora@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD student)
Research fields: Relativistic astrophysics; radiation processes in strong gravity and their applications to active galactic nuclei and Galactic black holes. 2009: graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2009 PhD student at Charles University, Prague, supervisor: V. Karas.
Jan Soldán (*1957, jsoldan@asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Design and development of instruments and software for ground-based experiments, namely two robotic telescopes: BART (Ondřejov, Czech Republic) and BOOTES (Al Arenosilo, Spain) for follow-up observations of optical counterparts of gamma ray bursts. Software development for driving CCD cameras and telescopes, image data acquisition and processing. Software development of Optical Monitoring Camera (OMC) and Jem-X experiments for INTEGRAL mission (C, C++, CERN's Root). 1982 graduated from the Technical University in Brno, since 1983 at Astronomical Institute. 1994 2-month mission to the University of California, Riverside. 1998 PhD from the Czech Technical University, Prague. Co-I of numerous space and ground-based grant projects such as the robotic telescope BART and experiment BOOTES. Since 1996 consortium member of the OMC experiment, INTEGRAL satellite project, ESA. Long-term stay in Switzerland 1998-2006, member of software development team of INTEGRAL satellite. Since 2007 in Stellar Physics Department – group of Physics of Hot Stars and since 2010 in High Energy Astrophysics Group.
Pavel Spurný (*1958, spurny@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Physics of meteor flight in the atmosphere, computations of meteor orbits and trajectories, prediction of meteorites impact positions, radiation of meteors at very high altitudes, reduction methods for determination of meteor trajectories, high resolution light curves of fireballs from AFO radiometers, double station television observations of meteors. Principal investigator of the project “Automation of the cameras for fireball observations in the Czech part of the European Fireball Network”. Participation in the design and development of the Autonomous Fireball Observatory for photographic detection of fireballs (AFO). Main coordinator of the European Fireball Network (EN) and head of the Czech part of the EN since 1993. Complete modernization of all fireball stations in the Czech Republic (2004-2009). Fundamental participation in the international project of the Desert Fireball Network in SW Australia. 1982 graduated from Charles University, Prague. Since 1982 at the Astronomical Institute. 1992 PhD in Astronomy, 2000–2004 Head of the Group of Meteor Physics, 1993–2000 and since 2004 Head of the Interplanetary Matter Department. 2003 Senior Scientist Award of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic, 2007 Laureate of the Kopal Lecture of the Czech Astronomical Society, 2006-2009 President of the IAU Commission 22 Meteors, Meteorites and Interplanetary Dust.
Ivana Sujová (*1984, caivana@gmail.com, Stellar Physics, PhD sudent)
Research fields: galactic and extragalactic X-ray and gamma-ray sources (AGNs, QSOs, blazars), with emphasis on multispectral analyses of blazars. 2007 graduated from Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, in Prague.
Jiří Svoboda (*1982, svoboda@astro.cas.cz., Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD student)
Research fields: Effects of strong gravitational field acting on radiation near compact objects, X-ray spectroscopy. PhD student at Charles University. Supervisor: V. Karas.
Klára Šejnová (*1984, klarka@physics.muni.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research field: Be stars, modelling of Be stars. 2010 graduated from Faculty of Science of Masaryk University (master degree), since 2010 studying for PhD at Faculty of Science of Masaryk University. Since 2010 at the Astronomical Institute.
Miloš Šidlichovský (*1947, sidli@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Dynamical astronomy, chaos, resonances, structure of the asteroid and Kuiper belts, stability of orbits, multiple exoplanetary systems. 1970 graduated with honors in Theoretical Physics from Charles University, Prague. Since 1970 at the Astronomical Institute, presently in Group of Planetary Systems. 1994–1996 Deputy Director for Foreign Contacts, 2000–2004 Head of the Department of Dynamical Astronomy.
Zdislav Šíma (*1947, sima@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Scientific interest first focused on binary stars, later more on problems of gravitational fields of planets in the solar system, namely the combination of satellite altimetric measurements and primary constants of the Earth and other planets. A member of Inter-Commision Committee on Planetary Geodesy (ICCPG) of IAG-IUGG. Devoted also to the history of astronomy and astronomical instruments. Responsible for astronomical aspects of the old astronomical clock of Prague. Reconstructed old sundials in Břevnov monastery, Prague, and the ones at Parliament building of the Czech Republic, Prague – Malá Strana. Contributed to several TV films about history of astronomy. A member of Scientific Instrument Society. Since 1999 a member of the Società Astronomica Italiana. 1970 graduated in Astronomy from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 1973–74 11-month study mission at the Astrophysical Observatory at Asiago of the University of Padua. Since 1975 at the Astronomical Institute. 1978 PhD in Astronomy. 1980 the price of Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences for works concerning the gravitational fields. 1994 two-month DAAD scholarship in IPG Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany.
Stanislava Šimberová (ssimbero@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Digital image processing in astronomy and astrophysics; pattern recognition - image fusion, contextual classification, feature selection, classifier performance, filtration. Image enhancement and restoration - multispectral image analysis and reconstruction, texture synthesis, geometric transformation, probabilistic relaxation, multichannel blind deconvolution. 1978 MSc graduate in honours Czech Technical University, Prague, Electronics. 1982 MSc Inst. of Engineering Studies, Prague, Pedagogics. 1990 PhD Czech Technical University, Prague, Cybernetics. Since 1989 researcher at the Astronomical Institute, Solar Department. Since 1998 chairman of the Czech Pattern Recognition Society (CPRS), since 2001 member of the scientific council of the Czech Society for Cybernetics and Informatics. 1996 ISPRS Vienna - Dolezal Award, 2007 Grant Agency CR President Award.
Vojtěch Šimon (*1968, simon@asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: High energy astrophysics. Astrophysical sources of high-energy radiation and their optical counterparts. Galactic X-ray sources: study of mass accreting compact objects – cataclysmic variables, supersoft X-ray sources, novae, X-ray binaries (mainly soft X-ray transients), analysis of their long-term activity and eruptive processes in X-ray and optical regions; accretion processes; relations of the character of the orbital modulation to
the current state of the long-term activity; investigation of the dependence of the observed characteristics of X-ray sources on their physical state and parameters. Extragalactic sources:
investigation of afterglows of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), study of their comprehensive properties, supernova - GRB connection, implications for the environment in the host galaxies of GRBs. CCD photometry, data analysis and evaluation. Participation in the international campaigns on high-energy astrophysical sources and their optical counterparts. 1992 graduated from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Palacky University, Olomouc. Since 1992 at the Astronomical Institute AS CR. 1998 PhD in Astronomy at Charles University. Member of the Czech Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union. Popularization of astronomy. 2001 Hlavka Award for Young Scientists of the Hlavka Foundation. 2003 Prize of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic for Young Researchers. Author or co-author of more than 120 papers in international scientific journals and in proceedings of
international conferences.
Petr Škoda (* 1964, skoda@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: CCD spectroscopy, data acquisition and reduction, telescope instrumentation, computational astrophysics, astronomical databases and archives and the Virtual Observatory . In 1987 graduated in Astrophysics from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 1987–1989 postgraduate student at the Astronomical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in Ondřejov. Since 1989 a regular staff member of the Stellar Department at the Astronomical Institute. 1996 PhD in Astrophysics (supervisor P. Hadrava). Occasional system administrator of Linux PCs; responsible for maintenance of main astronomical SW packages like IRAF, MIDAS, IDL. Involved in the complex refurbishment of the telescope and spectrograph control systems of Ondřejov observatory 2m telescope. Co-author of CCD detector control and data acquisition program and of the telescope auto-guiding system. Expert in reduction of CCD single-order and mainly echelle spectra. Author of some archives of spectra captured by Ondřejov 2m telescope detectors. Deeply involved in the project of Virtual Observatory. Collaborates with International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) on new standards and applications. Co-author of two important new standards and applications. Co-author of two important VO standards and of VO-compatible spectra server. Founding member of IVOA Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery in Databases.
Miroslav Šlechta (*1971, slechta@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Observational and computational astronomy, CCD data acquisition and reduction. History of natural sciences and astronomy. 1994 graduated from Charles Univ., Prague. 2001 PhD in Astrophysics at Charles Univ., Prague 1997-1998 employed at the Observatory and Planetarium of M.R.Stefanik, Prague. Since 1998 at the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., stellar department. Since 2008 head of the technical group in stellar dept.
Vojtěch Štefka (*1980, stefka@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, PhD sudent)
Research fields: Combination of Earth orientation parameters measured by modern space techniques and combined astrometric catalog (EOC-3, EOC-4) based on optical observations of latitude, universal time or altitude variations. 2005 - graduated in Geodesy from the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University, Prague. 2010 - PhD in Geodesy (supervisor J. Kostelecký).
Stanislav Štefl (*1955, sstefl@eso.org, Stellar Physics)
Research field: Active early-type stars, stellar oscillations, structure and density oscillations of circumstellar disks, interacting binaries, stellar magnetic fields; echelle spectroscopy, near-IR and visual interferometry, mm/sub-mm astronomy. Graduated in Astronomy from Charles University, Prague. 1986 PhD in Astronomy. 1991-1993 Research Associate at the European Southern Observatory, Garching bei Munchen. Since November 2004 on the long-term leave at the ESO La Silla Paranal Observatory, member of the Sciops VLTI group, supporting VLTI and UT2 observations, 2006-2008 AMBER second instrument scientist, since 2009 ATs instrument scientist. 1996-2006 member and 2000-2003 chairman of the Organizing Committee of the IAU Working Group "Active B Stars". Member of the IAU Commission 54 - "Optical and Infrared Interferometry"
Jiří Štěpán (*1980, stepan@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Non-LTE polarized radiative transfer, atomic processes, chromospheric magnetic fields, solar flares, software development. He graduated summa cum laude in 2004 from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University in Prague. 2008 Ph.D. in astrophysics from Observatoire de Paris-Meudon (France) and Charles University in Prague (advisors Petr Heinzel and Sylvie Sahal-Bréchot). Since 2008 postdoc position at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), La Laguna, within the project Solar Magnetism and High-Precision Spectropolarimetry.
Rostislav Štork (*1969, stork@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research fields: Research fields: TV observation of faint meteors. 1993 graduated in Physics from Charles University, Prague. Since 1994 at the Astronomical Institute, Interplanetary Matter Department. 1998 PhD in Astrophysics at Charles University. 2000–2007 webmaster www.asu.cas.cz
Jan Štrobl (*1977, strobl@asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics, PhD student)
Research fields: Cataclysmic variable stars – multispectral analysis, high-energy X-ray & gamma-ray sources data analysis, CCD sky monitors and related data analyses and interpretations. Member of the ESA INTEGRAL CVs working group, of the secondary INTEGRAL Science Data Centre team and of the BART robotic telescope team. 2002 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2002 PhD student at Charles University, supervisor: R. Hudec
Štěpán Štverák (*1980, stverak@ig.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Non-thermal properties of particle distributions in space plasmas, H/W development of plasma diagnostic tools (Langmuir probes), numerical modelling and data analysis, simulations of collisionless plasmas. 2004 graduated in software engineering from the Czech Technical University, Prague. 2009 PhD in astrophysics at Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris VI. Since 2001 at Institute of Atmospheric Physics, since 2010 also post-doc at Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Collaborator on the ISL experiment of the ESA/CNES spacecraft Demeter, and on the DSLP experiment at ESA's Proba 2 spacecraft.
Ladislav Šubr (*1972, subr@nbox.troja.mff.cuni.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: Dynamics of dense stellar systems and Galactic nucleus. Graduated in 1995 at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague; got PhD in 2001 at the same institute. In 2006 post-doc at the Argelander Institut fuer Astronomie, University of Bonn; in 2007 Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the AIfA, Bonn.
Brankica Šurlan (*1974, surlan@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics, PhD sudent)
Research fields: Winds of hot stars, radiative transfer in inhomogeneous (clumped) medium. 2002 graduated in Astrophysics from the Mathematical Faculty of University in Belgrade. 2008 completed master study at the Mathematical Faculty of University in Belgrade. Since 2008 PhD student at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Supervisor: J. Kubát
Michal Švanda (*1980, michal@astronomie.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Inversion methods for local helioseismology, travel-time measurements, velocity and magnetic fields in solar photosphere, large-volume data processing. In 2004 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague, 2007 finished PhD in astrophysics at the same institute under a supervision of M. Sobotka. In years 2006-2008 collaboration with Solar Oscillation Investigation group, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA, (repeated mid-term stays), 2006 also Observatoire Midi Pyrénées, France, and Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, Germany. Since 2009 on a postdoctoral stay at Max Planck Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, in the Max-Planck Research Group for Helio- and Asteroseismology.
Adam Tichý (*1985, adamtichy@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: stellar atmosphere modelling, especially radiation in stellar winds. Statistical thermodynamics used in stellar atmospheres. Education: 2007 BSc. at Masaryk University, Brno, specialization astrophysics, 2010 MSc. at Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Masaryk University, Brno. Since 2010 Stellar dep., Astronomical Institute and PhD student at Masaryk University.
Pavel Trávníček (*1965, trav@ig.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Kinetic simulations (hybrid/Vlasov codes) of collisionless plasmas, kinetic processes in the interaction between plasma flows and planets and moons, temperature anisotropy driven instabilities in the solar wind and Earth's magnetosheath, shocks in collisionless plasmas. 1990 graduated from Czech Technical University, Prague. Since 1994 at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, since 2006 also at Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. 1997 PhD in Mathematical Physics. 1998–2004 Deputy-head of Department of Space Physics at IAP, ASCR. 2005-2009 member of the Comission for information technologies ASCR. P.T. is a co-author of over 60 refereed papers, Co-Investigator on two experiments of ESA CLUSTER II (WHISPER and PEACE), Co-Investigator on the ISL experiment of the ESA/CNES spacecraft Demeter, Principal Investigator of the DSLP experiment at ESA's Proba 2 spacecraft, collaborator of two experiments on BepiColombo (MPPE and SERENA-PICAM), P.T. is also an Associate Scientist of the Atmosphere and Magnetosphere Group of NASA MESSENGER mission since 2007, lead Co-I of the Radio Plasma Waves (RPW) team of Solar Orbiter (Milan Maksimovic, LESIA, PI), and served/serves as Principal Investigator of five ESA PRODEX/PECS projects (related to CLUSTER II, Demeter, Proba 2 and BepiColombo missions) and two awards of NASA.
Marek Vandas (*1956, vandas@ig.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of interplanetary disturbances, acceleration of electrons by shock waves, magnetic clouds in the solar wind. 1980 graduated in Astronomy from Charles University, Prague. Since 1982 at the Astronomical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. 1988 PhD in Astronomy, 1997 DSc in Astronomy. 1992-2000 Head of the Near-Earth Space Physics Department. Since 2000 member of the Solar Physics Department and head of the working group “Heliosphere and Space Weather”.
2000-2003 President of the IAU Scientific Commission 49 “Interplanetary Plasma and Heliosphere”. IAU representative to COSPAR Scientific Committee D on Space Plasmas in the Solar System, including Planetary Magnetospheres (since 2000). Secretary of the National Committee of SCOSTEP (since 2008).
Michal Varady (*1965, varady@asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar flares, EUV and X-ray emission originating from flares, coronal loops. Numerical modelling: hydrodynamics of flare and coronal loops, transfer and dissipation of energy of high energy particle beams in solar atmosphere, hybrid codes – modelling of solar flares combined with radiative transfer. EUV and X-ray observations of solar flares: EUV and soft X-ray plasma diagnostics, high energy particle beams parameters from flare hard X-ray spectra. 1996 graduated in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2002 PhD in Theoretical Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics both from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Stays abroad: 1998 Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, USA, 2000 Max Planck Institute in Garching, Germany.
Stephen Vennes (*1961, vennes@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research interests: Stellar evolution, white dwarfs, evolved binaries; Computational astrophysics, radiative transfer and convective transport in stellar atmospheres, diffusion, stellar opacities; Data analysis, spectroscopic and photometric surveys and databases, stellar parameters. 1989 PhD in Physics, Université de Montréal. Since 2009 at the Astronomical Institute.
Vlastimil Vojáček (*1984, vojacek@asu.cas.cz, Interplanetary Matter)
Research field: Photometry, light curves, physical structure, trajectory computation and image processing of faint video meteors. Spectroscopy and physics of meteor flight in atmosphere. 2010 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. Since 2010 PhD student at Charles University. Supervisor J. Borovicka.
Jan Vondrák (*1940, vondrak@ig.cas.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems, emeritus)
Research fields: Numerical treatment of the Earth’s rotation parameters, theoretical studies of the orbital motion of the Moon and rotational dynamics of the Earth (tidal and rotational deformations, planetary effects in precession-nutation, atmospheric and oceanic excitations of Earth orientation, combination of Earth orientation parameters measured by astrometric and modern space techniques, astrometric catalogs (combination of Hipparcos results with ground-based observations), ephemeris astronomy. 1962 graduated in Geodesy and Geodetic Astronomy from the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University, Prague. 1973 PhD in Geodetic Astronomy. Since 1977 at the Astronomical Institute. 1983 three-month mission to the Bureau International de l’Heure in Paris. 1985 DSc in Astronomy. 1989 three-month mission to the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington D.C. (Dept. Of Time Service and Earth Orientation). 1991–1994 Head of the Dept. Of Dynamics of Solar System; 1991–1992 six-month mission to the CNRS URA1125, Observatoire de Paris. 1995-2000 Head of the Dept. of Dynamical Astronomy. 1998–2004 Chairman of the Czech National Committee for Astronomy of the IAU. 2000–2005 Deputy Director of the Astronomical Institute for Foreign Contacts. 2001–2004 Chairman of the Directing Board of the IERS. 2005-2010 Czech National Representative to ICSU (International Council for Science). 2006-2009 President of IAU Division I (Fundamental Astronomy). Since 2010 Chairman of the Czech Astronomical Society.
Viktor Votruba (*1977, votruba@sunstel.asu.cas.cz, Stellar Physics)
Research fields: Radiation hydrodynamics, theory of radiatively driven stellar winds from hot stars, multicomponent stellar wind, numerical simulations, various type of instabilities in stellar wind, nonlinear dynamics. 2000 graduated from the Faculty of Natural Science of Masaryk University, Brno. Author of the computer code for computing Lyapunov's exponent and reconstruction of the phase portrait in chaotic systems and code for simulation of multicomponent stellar wind. 2006 PhD in Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at Masaryk University.
Richard Wünsch (*1977, richard@wunsch.cz, Galaxies and Planetary Systems)
Research fields: radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, self-gravity, grid-based codes; interstellar matter, star formation, expanding shells and supershells; planet formation, protoplanetary discs, layered discs; super star clusters, thermal instability. 2000 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University, Prague. 2003 PhD in Theoretical Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics at Charles University. 2004 - 2005 postdoc stay at Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Warsaw, Poland. 2007 - 2008 postdoc stay at Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. Prize of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic for young researchers (2010). Member of International Astronomical Union.
Alena Zemanová (Kulinová) (*1973, kulinova@sunkl.asu.cas.cz, Solar Physics)
Research fields: Solar flares, spectroscopic diagnostics - soft X-ray spectra, diagnostics of the non-thermal distributions in the corona and the transition region, data processing (satellite and groundbased), participating on the developemnent of Solar Optical Robotic Telescope. In 1997 graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. 2005 PhD in Astrophysics at Comenius University, Bratislava. 1997 – 1999 observer at Slovak Central Observatory, since 2002 teacher and assistant reseacher at FMPhI Comenius University, Bratislava and since 2008 researcher at the Astronomical Institute of the AV CR in Ondřejov.
Address:
Astronomický ústav AV ČR Ondřejov
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251 65 Ondřejov
Czech Republic
Tel. +420 323649201
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