Prague / Mulhouse, April 10, 2026 – Professor Jana Kalbáčová Vejpravová from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, has been awarded the prestigious EPS Emmy Noether Distinction 2025 (mid-career) by the European Physical Society. The award recognises her pioneering experimental research on nanomaterials, her influential role in shaping international science through outstanding collaboration, and her long-standing commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women in physics.
Jana Kalbáčová Vejpravová studied chemistry at Charles University in Prague before transitioning to condensed matter physics and materials research. She obtained her PhD in 2007 with a thesis focused on impurities in rare earth metallic systems. She subsequently held postdoctoral positions at Hasselt University (Belgium) and the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba (Japan). Between 2011 and 2017, she served as Head of Department at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. She later returned to Charles University, where she is now a Full Professor, Chair of the Doctoral School “Physics of Nanostructures and Nanomaterials,” and a group leader at the Department of Condensed Matter Physics.
Her research focuses on the experimental physics of low-dimensional systems, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, other two-dimensional materials, and magnetic nanoparticles. A key aspect of her work is the use of advanced magnetometric and spectroscopic techniques. She has established a unique experimental infrastructure combining high magnetic fields with cryogenic magneto-optical spectroscopy, enabling her team to contribute to a deeper understanding of electron interactions and quantum phenomena in modern materials.
In addition to her scientific achievements, Professor Kalbáčová Vejpravová is a strong advocate for gender equality in science and actively participates in international initiatives promoting equal opportunities. She collaborates with leading women scientists, for example in Taiwan, and works systematically to increase the visibility of women in physics. Her contributions have also been recognised by her inclusion in the Forbes Top Female Researchers in Czechia (2023).
Throughout her career, she has led or co-led around twenty research projects, including a prestigious ERC grant, and has supervised more than thirty early-career researchers. She plays an active role in graduate education, serves on international evaluation panels and scientific boards, and is engaged in science communication and outreach. For her contribution to the promotion of Czech science, she has received the František Běhounek Award from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
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The EPS Emmy Noether Distinction for Women in Physics was established in February 2013 to enhance the recognition of outstanding women physicists with a strong connection to Europe through nationality or professional activity. The award considers personal achievements in areas such as research, education, outreach, and industry, as well as service to the scientific community and efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in physics.
