Michal Otyepka as the new Head of the IT4Innovations Modelling for Nanotechnologies Lab

Until now, Michal Otyepka's scientific career has been primarily tied to Palacký University in Olomouc, where he earned his Ph.D. degree in 2004. Three years later and in 2012, he was awarded the degree of an associate professor and a professor of Palacký University in Olomouc in the field of physical chemistry, respectively. From 2008 to 2020, he was in the position of the Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and since 2019 he has been in the position of the Deputy Director of the Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials (RCPTM). His research is focused on the structure and properties of nanomaterials and biomacromolecules, and among others, he was behind the discovery of fluorographene and was involved in the development of the first non-metallic magnet. He served repeatedly for short periods in Italy, Germany, and France. He won the Neuron Impulse grant of the Neuron Foundation Fund in 2014, the European Research Council (ERC) grant in 2015, and the ERC Proof of Concept grant in 2020 as the first Czech scientist ever.

What led you to participate in the selection process for the position of the Head of the Modelling for Nanotechnologies Lab at?

I have been following the development and achievements of IT4Innovations for a long time. In Ostrava, a top supercomputing centre has been built and established on the European HPC scene. I also like the vision and progressive direction of VSB-Technical University of Ostrava by the current Rector, Prof. Václav Snášel. The announcement of the selection procedure caught me at a stage in my life when I needed a new challenge, so I decided to apply for the position of the Head of the Modelling for Nanotechnologies Lab.

What plans are you coming up with to IT4Innovations? How do you plan to involve the existing teams?

There are quality teams within the laboratory who have achieved interesting results. I see some possibilities for improvement in greater coherence of research and involvement in international projects. Involvement in the Refresh project offers enormous potential. In the past, a close collaboration between modelling and experimentation has worked for me. Therefore, I would like to expand the scientific-research activity in the field of nanomaterial modelling and tie it in with the scientific and research activities planned under the Refresh project. I would like to create a team dedicated to material design for energy harvesting and storage and for catalysis.

With every leadership position, there are more administrative jobs to do at the expense of science. Do you personally still have time to actively pursue science?

In my opinion, it is not only with every position but with every year that there is more bureaucracy and paperwork. But bureaucracy must not destroy us, and every single one of us has his/her own system of petty resistance. However, I consider the main task of the research senior staff is to set research directions, and this cannot be done without active knowledge of the scientific "map." Unfortunately, I really do not have much space for active performance of simulations anymore, so the focus of my work is on the design of scientific studies and projects and then in the preparation and publication of scientific results achieved.

In 2019, you succeeded as the first Czech scientist ever in the ERC Proof of Concept call. Can you please bring us some details about this call and your winning project?

This is a call designated for ERC grant beneficiaries to help transfer scientific achievements into practice. As part of my ERC project, I have been developing fluorographene chemistry, which enables us to prepare a wide variety of graphene derivatives. We have also prepared a new derivative of graphene, which is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors. As part of the PoC project, we have been involved in synthesis scaling for quantities sufficient to produce supercapacitors. We are now talking to foreign partners and we want to move on to real parts.

Will you also be able to benefit from your experience of obtaining the ERC grant at IT4Innovations?

I am confident enough to do so. I offer my know-how and believe that it will be highly beneficial for IT4Innovations and VSB-TUO as a whole in the future if ERC grant beneficiaries perform their research here.

IT4Innovations has constantly been developing collaboration with industry - how do you see the possibility of engaging the Modelling for Nanotechnologies Lab towards the commercial sector?

Collaboration with industry is one of the pillars of scientific activities, particularly in the field of applied research. I have years of experience in working with industry and I am very open to it. I aim to map out the lab's potential in this area and then actively seek out opportunities to cooperate with industry.

What is your highest objective in the field of science?

I would like to achieve real application of some of the materials we have managed to develop. I would like to hold a tangible result of my work one day. At IT4Innovations, I aim to create a well-established laboratory dedicated to modelling nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.

Can you tell us at the very end what is driving you outside of work? How do you relax?

I am immensely happy when I create something that pleases others. I enjoy cooking for my family and friends, go for a walk or a hike together, bike, and go on a trip, for example.