Here are the people involved in the project from ČZU.
ČZU
The Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague focuses on natural sciences, agriculture, forestry, and environmental fields. It has strong international ties and has been engaged in long-term research in sustainable management of natural resources.
prof. RNDr. Dana Komínková, Ph.D
Dana Komínková graduated from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Charles University, and since 2000 she has worked at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, first in the Laboratory of Ecological Risks of Urban Drainage and then at the Department of Health and Environmental Engineering, where she habilitated in the field of Water Management and Water Structures in 2007. In 2012 she was appointed professor in this field. Since 2013 she has been working at the Czech University of Life Sciences, where she continues to focus on water protection and water management issues. She teaches subjects related to drinking and wastewater treatment, water protection, hydrochemistry and ecology of urban watersheds. Recently, her scientific activities have focused on nature-based solutions and their use for wastewater treatment, assessment of the ecological status of watercourses with an emphasis on urban streams, the quality of springs, and the use of phytoremediation in the event of a nuclear accident. She has extensive international experience from Australia, the USA, Italy, Switzerland and other European countries.
prof. RNDr. Dana Komínková, Ph.D
Literature:
Gelsomino Monteverde, Francesco Bianco, Patrizia Papetti, Dana Komínková, Giovanni Esposito, Marco Race, (2024). Moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) alleviates the negative effect of methylisothiazolinone on the nitrification-denitrification process. Journal of Water Process Engineering, Volume 64, 105640,
Gelsomino Monteverde, Francesco Bianco, Patrizia Papetti, Dana Komínková, Danilo Spasiano, Giulia Paolella, Marica Muscetta, Sunita Varjani, Ning Han, Giovanni Esposito, Marco Race, (2024). Reuse of polymeric waste for the treatment of marine water polluted by diesel. Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 356,120529,
Fatma Öykü Çömez, Adam Sochacki, Jaroslav Vacula, Jiří Bárta, Ljuba Zídková, Martin Lexa, Dana Komínková (2024). Biochar as a superior material for enhancing the performance and microbial diversity in biofilters treating greywater. Journal of Water Process Engineering,Volume 59,105066,
Dana Komínková, Jaroslav Vacula, Věra Záhorová, Petr Rulík, Jan Škrkal, Emilie Pecharová, Zdeněk Borecký, Klára Šestáková, Dita Stádníková, Petr Finkous, Miroslav Finkous, Věra Hofmanová Kautská, Věra Doskočilová, Helena Pilátová (2023).Aggregated transfer factors of fresh Cs and Sr pollution to various vegetables from six common European soils – mesocosm experiment. Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 345, 118900,
Bijay Gurung, Marco Race, Massimiliano Fabbricino, Dana Komínková, Giovanni Libralato, Antonietta Siciliano, Marco Guida (2018). Assessment of metal pollution in the Lambro Creek (Italy). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 148, Pages 754-762,
Ing. Martin Vojík, Ph.D.
Graduated from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU). He currently focuses on the ecology, mapping, and management of invasive alien plant species. His expertise also includes public outreach in the field of biological invasions, science communication, and integrating invasive species mapping with modern data collection methods (such as Unmanned Aerial Systems). He works as a lecturer at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences (CZU) and as a botanist at the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic.
Ing. Martin Vojík, Ph.D.
Literature:
Kutlvašr, J., Baroš, A., Truhlárská, P., Bímová, K. B., Vojíková, M., Vojík, M., … & Pergl, J. (2025). Ornamental perennials in flowerbeds shaded by tree canopy: Succession over five years since the establishment. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 66, 125847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2025.125847
Kadlecová, M., Vojík, M., Vacula, J., & Berchová Bímová, K. (2024). Grab to fill the gap: key factors influencing Reynoutria japonica germination and seedling establishment in the secondary distribution range. Plant Ecology, 225(8), 863-873. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-024-01438-1
Vojík, Martin, Kadlecová, M., Kutlvašr, J., Pergl, J., & Berchová Bímová, K. (2022). Two shades of grey: effect of temperature on seed germination of the escaping ornamental species Lychnis coronaria and Stachys byzantina. Plant Ecology, 223(9), 1121-1135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-022-01265-2
Bc. Andrea Lněničková, DiS.
Project coordinator
Andrea is a new member of the project team and is enthusiastically engaging in all activities related to the project’s administrative support. She is primarily responsible for managing orders, organizing administrative tasks, and coordinating student challenges. She approaches her work with responsibility, resilience, optimism, and a collaborative spirit. Andrea enjoys learning new things and developing her skills in a dynamic environment that offers diverse tasks. She holds a degree in Applied Ecology and is currently continuing her studies in Nature Conservation. She gained valuable experience and a strong attention to detail during her extensive work in a laboratory, which she now applies in her project-related responsibilities.
Bc. Andrea Lněničková, DiS.
Ing. Michaela Kopřivová Stejskalová, Ph.D
inancial and project manager
Michaela has been a key member of the project team at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague since 2012. With rich experience in both financial management and project administration, she’s handled everything from national grant schemes to cross-border collaborations and projects funded by the Norwegian Funds – including OWAD, OWADis, Springs connect, and the currently running REDEMA or DiGraSo.
What drives her most are new challenges, meaningful cooperation, and the satisfaction of seeing projects smoothly completed from an administrative point of view. Mchaela is known for her reliability, precision, and positive mindset – qualities that make her an essential part of any project team.
She continuously sharpens her skills through training and seminars and brings to the table experience with programs such as GAČR, TAČR, NAZV, and various Interreg initiatives.
Ing. Michaela Kopřivová Stejskalová, Ph.D
Bc. Vojtěch Macháček
I am a hydrobiologist and a PhD student in Applied and Landscape Ecology at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. I have been working at the T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute for nine years. For five years, I was intensively involved in the analysis of macroinvertebrate samples as part of biological water quality assessments. Currently, I focus on freshwater pearl mussel conservation, invasive crayfish management, and aquatic habitat restoration.
My PhD research explores the ecological stoichiometry of food particles consumed by juvenile pearl mussels – I’m trying to find out what actually nourishes these sensitive and endangered bivalves in the wild.
I published the paper “Frozen detritus: a novel nutritious food for juvenile mussels in captive breeding” (Macháček et al., 2025), showing that frozen detritus can serve as a valuable food source for juvenile pearl mussels in captivity.
Literature:
Macháček, V., Simon, O.P. & Horáčková, J. Frozen detritus: a novel nutritious food for juvenile mussels in captive breeding. Aquacult Int 33, 198 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-025-01873-5
Bc. Vojtěch Macháček
Kateřina Berchová Bímová
Biological Invasions Group
Kateřina is the informal head of the Biological Invasions Group at the Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague. Her work focuses on invasive species, plant ecology and vegetation dynamics, biodiversity conservation, and the impact of human activities on natural and semi-natural ecosystems. She is involved in designing and evaluating management for ecosystem protection.
At the faculty, she teaches courses in botany, biological invasions, and data analysis at various study levels and serves as the coordinator of the Landscape Management study programme. She has led or contributed to a number of projects, including the Geoportal of Biological Invasions, Springs Connect, Grow Safely – Don’t Support Invasive Species, and Invasive Species Management in Practice.
Within the team, she is responsible for assessing ecosystem integrity, mapping invasive species, and analysing the collected data. She enjoys working across disciplines and borders, finding creative solutions, and taking on challenges that shake up the status quo. She brings energy, perspective, and a drive to explore new paths—even where others have already given up.
Kateřina Berchová Bímová
Mgr. Michal Bílý, Ph D.
I graduated in Special Biology and Ecology at the Faculty of Science of Charles University in Prague and then completed my PhD in Ecology at the ČZU Prague. Since the beginning of my studies, I have been professionally focused on hydrobiology.
So far, I have been employed in the Hydrobotanical Department of the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences in Třeboň, in the T.G.M. Water Research Institute in Prague and now at the ČZU Prague. I deal with algae ecology, biology of large bivalves and invertebrate communities of running waters and springs. I teach several subjects related to water.
In addition, I work with high school youth as part of the Biology Olympiad.
Pithart, D., Pichlová, R., Bílý, M., Hrbáček, J., Novotná, K., & Pechar, L. (2007).
Spatial and temporal diversity of small shallow waters in river Lužnice floodplain.
Hydrobiologia, 584(1), 265-275.
Bílý, M., Simon, O., Barák, V., & Jahelková, V. (2021). Occurrence depth of juvenile
freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera) in a river bed tested by
experimental mesh tubes. Hydrobiologia, 848(12), 3127-3139
Kubíková, L., Simon, O. P., Tichá, K., Douda, K., Maciak, M., & Bílý, M. (2012). The
influence of mesoscale habitat conditions on the macroinvertebrate composition of
springs in a geologically homogeneous area. Freshwater Science, 31(2), 668-679.
