William S. Morton: The Best Part of Living in Brno? Probably the Tomatoes Through the Window

American postdoctoral researcher and ERA Postdoctoral Fellow William Morton came to CEITEC Masaryk University from the United Kingdom two years ago to join Robert Vácha’s research group. During his time in Brno, he focused on computational research of disordered proteins and experienced not only the Czech research environment, but also everyday life in the city. Now, as he prepares to return to the UK, he reflects on what CEITEC has given him, where he sees room for improvement, and why science depends not only on excellent results, but also on ordinary day-to-day conversations between researchers. 

When you were looking for your next research step, what made CEITEC stand out to you?

For me, the decision was primarily about people rather than place. I had already spent a month in Brno during my PhD, so I knew the environment and had a sense that I enjoyed both the institute and the city. But the key factor was the opportunity to work with Robert Vácha. I knew that his expertise aligned perfectly with where my research was heading, and I made a conscious decision not to apply elsewhere until I knew whether I could join his group. Once that opportunity came through, the decision was straightforward.

Before coming here, what were your expectations about Brno and CEITEC – and what turned out to be completely different, in a good way?

Honestly, I didn’t have strong expectations. I had seen Prague, but I knew Brno would be different, so I arrived with a fairly open mind. What surprised me most was how rich the city is despite its size. At first glance, Brno seems small, but it offers an incredible variety of communities, activities, and hidden places. Whatever your interests are, you can usually find people who share them and spaces that support them. That depth and accessibility of life here was something I didn’t expect at all.

How has your day-to-day life in Brno felt as an international researcher? If someone from abroad was hesitating about moving here, what would you tell them?

Day-to-day life can be quite intense, especially at the beginning. As an early-career researcher, you’re expected to quickly become independent, manage your own projects, build collaborations, and often mentor others at the same time. In my case, I arrived while still finishing my PhD, so I was navigating two major transitions at once, while also adapting to a new country.

That said, Brno is a place where this transition feels manageable. One of the reasons I’ve come to really enjoy living here is that despite its size, the city offers everything I need both professionally and personally. It’s easy to find communities, activities, and a good balance outside the lab.

If someone from abroad was hesitating about moving here, I’d say to expect a steep learning curve at first, but also a very rewarding experience once you settle in.

What has it been like working within your team here – how would you describe the collaboration and overall atmosphere?

Within Robert Vácha’s group, one of the biggest strengths is the breadth of expertise. There’s a really wide range of computational techniques in the group, and people are generally very willing to help each other and share knowledge. That creates an environment where you can learn a lot very quickly.

One thing I realised during my time here is how important it is to create spaces where researchers – not only group leaders, but also early-career people working directly on experiments and data – can openly discuss and challenge each other’s ideas. Those conversations are incredibly valuable. They help people improve their research, prepare for criticism, and feel more connected to the wider scientific community around them. And I don’t think this necessarily starts with big institutional goals or public-facing topics.

It mostly requires cooperation, communication, and leadership that creates opportunities for those interactions to happen regularly.

I heard you were receiving rather unique ‘packages’ from your neighbours – can you tell me a bit about that experience and what it says about life here?

Yes – this was one of my favourite parts of living here. I would occasionally get a knock on my window, and there would be jars of tomatoes, homemade syrup, pastries, or herbs from my neighbour.

More broadly, I found that people in the Czech Republic are incredibly kind, even without a shared language. I had many experiences – whether with neighbours or complete strangers – where people were welcoming and generous without expecting anything in return. That says a lot about the culture here.

Finding housing is often one of the first challenges when moving abroad – how was your experience in Brno?

I was fortunate to receive help with housing from CEITEC Welcome Officer, so my personal experience was relatively smooth. In fact, the apartment I originally stayed in is now being used by another postdoc arriving to Robert Vácha’s group, which says a lot about how important that kind of support network can be.

At the same time, I know from others that finding housing in Brno can be quite difficult, especially for non-EU researchers who need formal rental contracts for visa and administrative purposes. There are many informal rental options available, but they don’t always meet the official requirements, which makes the whole process more stressful and complicated.

I think departments like the CEITEC Welcome Office do a huge amount to help international researchers navigate this, but it also shows how important it is to make the system itself more accessible for highly qualified people coming from abroad.

Did you find it difficult to settle in without speaking Czech, or were you able to navigate most situations comfortably in English?

In general, it’s very manageable to live in Brno using English. You might encounter occasional misunderstandings, but if you approach situations with patience and flexibility, it works well.

I found that most interactions were positive, and people were generally willing to help – even when communication wasn’t perfect.

You’re now moving on to your next position – what are you taking with you from Brno into this next chapter?

I’m taking both professional experience and a broader perspective on research environments. The experience of working independently, managing multiple responsibilities, and navigating an international setting will be valuable wherever I go next.

If a young researcher was considering CEITEC, what would be your honest pitch to them?

My honest advice would be to focus on finding the right research group – and by that, I mean the whole environment around you. Not only the supervisor, but also the PhD students, technicians, and postdocs you’ll work with every day. Those relationships shape your experience much more than people sometimes expect.

I think if you find the right fit, you can absolutely succeed at CEITEC, have a really wonderful experience, and take advantage of everything the institute offers.

I would also encourage people to take the interview process seriously – not just as candidates trying to get a position, but also as an opportunity to evaluate whether the group feels right for them. If that fit is there, CEITEC offers strong support and a great environment to grow.