Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jana Sobotová, Ph.D.
Materials Engineer, Institute of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, CTU in Prague
A graduate of Mechanical Engineering Technology at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, CTU, she initially worked at the State Research Institute for Materials. Since 2000, she has been based at the Institute of Materials Engineering at CTU. Her main specialization is heat treatment of metallic materials and 3D printing of metals.
What is your area of expertise at CTU, and what do you enjoy most about your work?
Some of these research challenges include, for example, cryogenic processing of tool steels produced by powder metallurgy or heat treatment of metal alloys prepared using 3D printing. These are some of the topics I work on.
Some of these research challenges include, for example, cryogenic processing of tool steels produced by powder metallurgy or heat treatment of metal alloys prepared using 3D printing. These are some of the topics I work on.
What do I enjoy most about my job? That’s not an easy question to answer. I love uncovering known facts and finding connections between them. I enjoy analyzing data, considering the results of various tests, and determining whether they align with theoretical predictions or previous research. If no answers can be found in available literature, I take great satisfaction in every partial discovery and look forward to the next step toward a complete answer.
What led you to science?
In my first year at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the subject "Materials Science" was taught by Ing. Petr Zuna (now a professor), and his lectures were outstanding. So, when he asked if any of us were interested in becoming a “student research assistant,” I didn’t hesitate for a second. From my second year onwards, I worked in laboratories on various research and diagnostic projects. I quickly realized that systematic laboratory work fascinated me.
How do you balance your personal and professional life?
Looking back, I can say that I have almost always managed to find time for both family and work, even when my children were small. Of course, there were times when I had no choice but to return to work in the evenings at home. However, if you know how to organize your work effectively, balancing personal and professional life is usually not a problem.
Would you recommend a scientific career to high school girls? If so, why?
To pursue a career in science, you need not only theoretical knowledge but also patience, precision, a systematic approach, and a strong desire to discover results. If you possess even a little of these qualities, don’t be afraid to pursue science, it will be enjoyable for you. And there is nothing better in life than doing what you truly love.