The Department of Biology at FM MU has taken a crucial step towards international scientific excellence. On March 11 and 12, 2026, it welcomed the inaugural visit of its newly established International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB). This expert panel conducted an in-depth review of scientific work across all research groups of the department, thereby initiating a new phase of the department’s strategic development.
An Outside Perspective and International Context
All nine research groups of the department underwent evaluation, including two newly formed junior groups that are currently establishing themselves and will face full faculty evaluation in the future.
The process itself was not merely a formal check. The ISAB members prepared their evaluations based on detailed reports that reflected not only publication activity and grant success but also the overall strategic direction of the groups. The highlight of the visit were intense interviews with each of the group leaders, during which there was a discussion about future direction, needs, and obstacles in their work.
"Science needs a healthy mirror," says the head of the department
For the department's leadership, this process is perceived primarily as an opportunity for transformation. Regarding the importance of the visit, the Head of the Department of Biology, Prof. Ondřej Slabý, stated:
"We do not see the establishment of ISAB as merely a formal exercise or an administrative task, but as a key investment in our future. The goal is to obtain an objective, unbiased insight into our functioning. We need to hear constructive criticism and recommendations from top experts in the field in order to move from the position of a very solid workplace towards the international peak. It is not just about the resulting grading, but about setting up a long-term sustainable environment in which excellent science will flourish and where, thanks to an outside view, we will avoid operational blindness."
Synergy with the Faculty's Development Strategy
Similar activities fully fit into the broader strategy of the Faculty of Medicine of MU, which has long been promoting internationalization and increasing the quality of scientific outputs. The Vice-Dean for Research, PhD Studies, and Institutional Development of the Faculty of Medicine MU, Prof. Tomáš Kašpárek, adds to this: "The Department of Biology shows the way with its approach as to how one can systematically work on increasing research excellence. International evaluation, which we know, for example, from the university-wide level, is a necessity in our environment. The outputs that we receive from ISAB will not serve only for the needs of the department, but will reflect into the overall development of the scientific environment of our faculty. It is a clear signal that the quality of research and the support of our research groups, including the junior ones, are an absolute priority for us."
From Feedback to Concrete Steps
In their final evaluation reports, in addition to quantitative assessment and grading, the ISAB members provided individual groups with concrete recommendations for further development. Additionally, ISAB formulated valuable advice focused on the development of the department as a whole, which is essential for the department's strategic planning.
The Department of Biology and its research groups are now analysing the evaluation reports and individual recommendations, which they will subsequently implement into their internal strategies. "Our cooperation with ISAB does not end here. We remain in contact with the members of the board, and we will keep them informed about the progress in the implementation of their recommendations even before their next planned visit in five years. From today's perspective, the decision to invite such recognized experts to us proves to be one of the best steps we could have taken for the development of our science." As the head of the department confirms, "it is precisely this willingness to let ourselves be mirrored and to constantly improve that moves us among the top-tier workplaces."
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