The study programme has evolved continuously since 1991. It was first established as Engineering Optics, later developed into Physical Engineering, and in 2009 acquired its current form as Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology. From the very beginning, the programme was designed as a practically oriented field combining solid foundations in physics with an engineering mindset. “Our students are not just theorists. They understand physical principles, but at the same time have hands-on experience with real instruments and are able to think like engineers. Every student works with an electron microscope during their studies—there is simply no other way,” says Tomáš Šikola, Head of the Institute of Physical Engineering.

This approach has long been shaping professionals who find employment in one of today’s most technologically demanding fields. Electron microscopy is essential for the development of new materials, the semiconductor industry, medicine, and fundamental research—and Brno ranks among its global centres. Our graduates work in leading companies such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, TESCAN, and Delong Instruments, as well as at research institutions, universities, and technology start-ups in the Czech Republic and abroad.

The strong connection between education, research, and industry is further demonstrated by successful spin-off companies originating directly from the institute. One of the most prominent examples is NenoVision, founded by graduates of Physical Engineering. Its founder and Česká Hlava Award laureate Jan Neuman captured this experience succinctly: “Everything I do in my life originates here – from physical engineering.”

Our goal is to create an environment in which students acquire, already during their studies, the competencies needed for top-level research and highly specialised industry. Thanks to this philosophy, physical engineers from BUT have become a natural part of the Brno microscopy ecosystem—and actively contribute to its further development.

In the interview for FME BUT, Ondřej describes his work at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where he develops performance models of optical systems for upcoming space missions. He also shares insights into everyday life at ESA, the international working environment, and explains why studying optics and physics-based engineering disciplines provides a solid foundation for a career in space technologies.

František completed both his bachelor’s and follow-up master’s degree in Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology at our institute. During his studies, he actively participated in research in the CEITEC Nano laboratories. His master’s thesis focused on the advanced characterization of line defects in the wide-bandgap semiconductor GaN and was carried out within an international HORIZON Europe project. The work resulted in an extensive database of more than ten thousand thoroughly analysed defects, which attracted the interest of academic teams as well as industry partners in the field of semiconductors and electron microscopy.

He continued his research path by being accepted into the doctoral programme at the prestigious Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) in Vienna, where he now works on projects in quantum technologies. His journey from a student laboratory to an international research institute is a wonderful example of what can emerge from a combination of motivation, excellent supervision, and strong support both at our institute and at CEITEC BUT.

We warmly congratulate František and wish him many more scientific successes. We are proud that his research career started here with us — and that he continues to push the boundaries of the field while promoting the good name of our institute.

Jan Klíma, a graduate of the Physical Engineering an Nanotechnology study programme and now a PhD student at CEITEC BUT, was honoured for his excellent results in the field of magnetism and hybrid ferromagnet–superconductor systems. During his studies at our institute, he actively participated in research on spin waves and demonstrated outstanding talent for both experimental work and theoretical understanding of complex physical phenomena. His results led to a first-author publication in the prestigious journal Applied Physics Letters and several contributions to other international journals. More information can be found in the faculty webiste.

Ondřej Wojewoda, who graduated from our institute in 2020 and later completed his doctoral studies at CEITEC BUT, received the award in the category of doctoral study programmes. His work pushed Brillouin light scattering to the world’s forefront, as he experimentally detected spin waves as short as 40 nm—surpassing the previous limit of around 260 nm. This breakthrough result was supported by precise analytical modelling and presented at leading international conferences. He is now continuing his research as a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, where he focuses on magneto-optical phenomena.

The success of both graduates is a great honour for our institute and a confirmation of the high quality of education at our institute, which prepares students to excel in the international scientific community. We sincerely congratulate Jan and Ondřej and wish them many further scientific achievements!

These activities take place within the framework of the European project CHIPS of Europe – a large-scale initiative connecting universities, research institutions, and industrial partners across Europe, from Germany, France, and Denmark to Austria, Norway, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. The project aims to modernize technical education, develop professional competencies, introduce new forms of micro-credentials, and strengthen cooperation between academia, industry, and schools at all levels.
An important part of the project is also bringing science closer to children and teachers to inspire greater interest in studying technical and natural sciences.

Since the beginning of the project, the team at the Institute of Physical Engineering has regularly organized popularization events attended by more than 500 high-school students from across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Among the most prominent activities were physics shows focused on semiconductors, hands-on workshops in physics and electron microscopy, and thematic excursions to the CEITEC VUT laboratories.
Special attention has also been devoted to supporting diversity in science – the togetHER in tech event welcomed dozens of female students interested in technology and natural sciences, while a teacher workshop introduced new approaches to presenting semiconductor topics in an engaging way.

Thanks to the CHIPS of Europe project, the institute continues to systematically strengthen cooperation with high schools, inspire teachers, and cultivate interest in physics, electronics, and technical disciplines among a new generation of students.

Friday, September 26, was dedicated to the European Researchers’ Night with the theme Wealth.

On Thursday, June 12, the Institute of Physical Engineering successfully wrapped up this year’s final state exams. As is tradition, students of the follow-up Master’s programmes defended their theses first. On Monday and Tuesday, nineteen students from the Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology programme demonstrated their knowledge and skills. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they were joined by eight students from the Precision Mechanics and Optics programme, whose theses stood out this year for their exceptional quality.

The official announcement of the results took place in the courtyard of the fakulty „U Pegase“, with members of the examination board in attendance, including the institute’s director, Prof. Šikola, who shared a few words with the graduates.. On behalf of the students, Ing. František Jeřábek gave a short speech.

On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, students in the Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology Bachelor’s programme followed with their thesis defences and state exams. They were joined by two Bachelor’s students from the Basics of Mechanical Engineering programme, who chose their final thesis topics under the supervision of our institute. Results were officially announced on Thursday afternoon.

With less than 24 hours of rest, our new graduates then hosted the traditional FinalFire celebration at the TS Sokol venue. Together with PhD students, teachers, alumni, and friends of the institute, they celebrated not only the end of their exams, but also the (nearly) completed academic year.

Once again, congratulations to all! We look forward to seeing you again, whether you continue on to Master’s or doctoral studies, or begin your journey into industry and research, in the Czech Republic or abroad.

This year, most questions centered on practical training, so we highlighted the importance of laboratory exercises and semestral projects. Our students at the IPE booth were happy to answer inquiries regarding the intensity of the studies, various specializations, and specific research activities. Discussions also touched on partnerships with industry and opportunities for study abroad, which students can engage in their master’s studies. We appreciated the lively discussion, which showed that applicants are most attracted by a personal approach and plenty of chances to apply their knowledge in practice. Visitors also had the opportunity to see the cleanroom laboratory of surfaces and thin films, the laboratory of advanced microscopy and spectroscopic techniques, and the laser spectroscopy laboratory.

If you didn’t manage to attend the Open Days, you can still arrange an individual visit. We look forward to seeing many of this year’s visitors again in September — together, we’ll enjoy exploring physics!

The GAČR Junior Star grant is designed to support outstanding early-career scientists within eight years of earning their doctoral degree, providing up to 25 million CZK over five years to foster scientific independence. Since the grant’s inception four years ago, only four researchers at Brno University of Technology have received this honor, including this year’s recipient, Filip Ligmajer. Filip is also the second successful applicant from the Institute of Physical Engineering at IPE FME BUT, following the previous success of Andrea Konečná.

Filip Ligmajer’s current research focuses on metasurfaces and thin optics, with particular emphasis on metasurfaces featuring tunable optical responses, utilizing materials such as VO₂ and Sb₂S₃. With the GAČR Junior Star grant for his project titled Phase-change materials for photonic neural networks and neuromorphic computing, Filip now has an opportunity to deepen his exploration of this field.

This grant will enable Filip and his collaborators to expand their study of tunable nanostructures and their integration into advanced optical systems. This research could find applications in areas such as optical communications, sensing, and neuromorphic computing, marking a step toward developing technologies inspired by the human brain. We congratulate Filip on this achievement and wish him all the best as he embarks on this ambitious project!