I have known Ing. Nicole Talaš Černeková for seven years, beginning with her bachelor thesis and continuing with her master thesis, both of which she completed under my supervision. These early works were of high quality and received awards, demonstrating her aptitude for independent research already at that stage. Over the years, she developed into a capable and reliable researcher who formulates clear scientific objectives and pursues them with precision and methodological discipline.
During her PhD studies and during her time as a member of my research team, Nicole demonstrated a high degree of independence and responsibility for her work. She consistently maintained a high standard of laboratory practice, approached scientific problems with critical and structured thinking, and delivered well-interpreted and thoroughly documented results. She integrated well into the group environment, readily assisted colleagues, including junior researchers, and contributed to a collaborative and supportive research atmosphere.
Nicole has mastered a range of experimental techniques that are central to her dissertation. She has extensive experience in determining antibacterial activity, performing rheological measurements, and preparing polymer films using solution casting. She also successfully prepared porous PHA-based monoliths using thermally induced phase separation and introduced suitable methodological modifications to meet the requirements of her dissertation project. In all these activities, she worked accurately, reliably, and with a clear understanding.
Her ability to operate effectively in an international research environment was demonstrated during her research stay at the University of Groningen, where she integrated smoothly into a multinational team and managed her tasks independently while contributing meaningfully to joint research efforts.
I consider her dissertation a substantive and original contribution to to the field of biophysical chemistry and I confidently recommend it for defense.