HR Award
The Nuclear Physics Institute is applying for the HR Excellence in Research Award
The Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences is progressing towards achieving the prestigious HR Excellence in Research Award, granted by the European Commission.
What is the HR Excellence in Research Award?
The HR Excellence in Research Award (HR Award) is a European Commission Award intended for research organisations that systematically align their human resources policies and procedures with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers. It is a long-term process based on regular evaluation, the identification of areas for improvement and the gradual implementation of specific measures.
The NPI is systematically working towards obtaining the HR Award, which sends a clear signal to both the Czech and international scientific and non-scientific communities and confirms the NPI’s standing as an attractive, trustworthy and responsible employer that provides high-quality and stable conditions for cutting-edge research and the professional development of its staff.
The process of obtaining and retaining the HR Award
The graphic below provides an overview of the individual stages of the process of obtaining and maintaining the HR Award:
The following table outlines the key milestones in the NPI’s ongoing process of achieving and maintaining the HR Excellence in Research Award:
| Milestone (Phase) | Description | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Endorsement and Commitment (Initial Phase) |
Declaration of the NPI´s commitment to implementing the HR Excellence in Research principles, approved by the European Commission | 03/2026 |
| Internal analysis (Initial Phase) |
Conducting an internal assessment of NPI’s HR policies and practices against the HR Excellence in Research principles, including an employee questionnaire | 1Q + 2Q 2026 |
| Preparation of HR Award documentation (Initial Phase) |
Preparation of a GAP Analysis, Action Plan and OTM-R policy | 2Q + 3Q 2026 |
| Submission for evaluation (Initial Phase) |
Submission of the HR Award documentation to the European Commission for evaluation | August 2026 |
| Evaluation of the application and decision on the award of the HR Award (Initial Phase) |
Assessment of the submitted HRS4R documentation by the European Commission and subsequent decision on the HR Excellence in Research Award | in progress |
HR Award application as part of the STAR project
The HR Award is closely linked to the STAR project– Strategic Development of the Environment and Capacities for Excellent Research and Development at the NPI – funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. The STAR project was launched at the NPI on September 1, 2025, and the preparation and implementation of the HR Award are among its key activities.
The preparation process also included a Feasibility Study for the STAR project, which helped to identify key areas for further institutional development and to align human resources measures with the NPI’s long-term strategic needs.
HR Award team
A wide range of NPI staff are involved in the preparation and implementation of HRS4R.
The Steering Committee provides strategic oversight of the process and acts as a link between the Institute’s management and representatives of researchers at different career stages, as well as technical and administrative staff.
The Working Group is involved in preparing background documents, analysing the current situation and developing specific measures.
An important part of the process is the involvement of the wider NPI community through questionnaires, consultations, workshops and discussions. Feedback and suggestions from employees contributed to the GAP analysis and the development of the HRS4R Action Plan.
| Name | Position | Steering Committee | Working Group | Department / Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ondřej Svoboda | Director (R4) | ✓ | ✓ | Director’s Office |
| Anna Macková | Deputy Director (R4) | ✓ | ✓ | Director’s Office |
| Jan Kameník | Scientific Secretary (R4) | ✓ | ✓ | Director’s Office |
| Hana Bachárová | HR Specialist / Project Manager, HR Excellence in Research | ✓ | Personnel and Payroll Unit | |
| Klára Němcová | Personalist | ✓ | Personnel and Payroll Unit | |
| Markéta Sommerová | Internal Documentation Administrator | ✓ | Director’s Office | |
| Marek Fikrle | Institutional Resilience Coordinator (R3) | ✓ | Director’s Office | |
| David Šebek | Head of PR | ✓ | PR Unit | |
| Petr Škrabal | Head of IT | ✓ | IT Unit | |
| František Pírek | Head of TEA | ✓ | Technical and Economic Administration | |
| Lukáš Votík | STAR Project Manager | ✓ | Structural Funds Project Unit | |
| Luděk Šváb | Cybersecurity Manager | ✓ | Director’s Office | |
| Jana Bielčíková | Researcher (R4) | ✓ | Department of Heavy Ion Physics | |
| Jan Ráliš | Researcher (R4) | ✓ | Department of Radiopharmaceuticals | |
| Ondřej Kundrát | Researcher (R4) | ✓ | Department of Radiation Dosimetry | |
| Romana Mikšová | Researcher (R3) | ✓ | Department of Neutron and Ion Methods | |
| Kateřina Ondrák Fialová | Researcher (R2) | ✓ | Department of Radiopharmaceuticals | |
| Dušan Poklop | Early-stage Researcher (R1) | ✓ | Department of Accelerators | |
| Václav Zach | Senior Technician | ✓ | Department of Accelerators | |
| Lucie Říhová Smolová | Head of Public Procurement, TEA Deputy | ✓ | Technical and Economic Administration | |
| Markéta Kleinová | Technician | ✓ | Department of Radiopharmaceuticals |
Key HR Award documents
- GAP Analysis – an assessment of NPI’s current level of alignment with the 20 principles of the European Charter for Researchers. The analysis is divided into four pillars:
- Ethics, Integrity, Gender and Open Science
- Researchers´Assessment, Recruitment and Progression
- Working Conditions and Practices
- Research Careers and Talent Development
- OTM-R Checklist – a checklist to assess the transparency and openness of recruitment and selection processes in NPI.
- Action Plan – specific measures, responsibilities, deadlines and indicators for the further development of the NPI’s human resources policy.
Contact
Hana Bachárová
HR Specialist / Project Manager, HR Excellence in Research
Tel: +420 266 173 248; +420 724 302 316
Email: bacharova.hana@ujf.cas.cz
