<div>In 2025, two outstanding young female researchers, Drs. Filipa Oliveira and Stella Gonsales, both originally from outside the Czech Republic, received prestigious JUNIOR STAR grants from the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR). JUNIOR STAR enables early career researchers to establish their own independent research groups and significantly advance their scientific careers. Their projects reflect cutting-edge research in materials science and sustainable chemistry, highlighting the international reach and welcoming research environment at UCT Prague.Dr. Stella Gonsales is also a&nbsp;laureate of the Dagmar Procházková Fund, which supports promising scientific projects in sustainable and advanced organic chemistry. Another recipient of this grant is Dr.&nbsp;Anna Valunchene, whose research complements UCT Prague’s&nbsp;sustainability goals. This dual funding underlines Stella’s&nbsp;remarkable achievements and the wide scope of innovative research at UCT Prague.Both Filipa and Stella are actively looking for motivated students and researchers to join their teams, offering a&nbsp;unique opportunity to work at the forefront of science in a&nbsp;vibrant and supportive environment.</div><div><h3>Interview with Filipa Oliveira: Pioneering tubular MXenes for supercapacitor energy storage</h3><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_2_da6e538579.jpeg" alt="VŠCHT Prague: JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science: Filipa Oliveira" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_2_da6e538579.jpeg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1500" height="999"><h5>Congratulations on receiving the JUNIOR STAR grant. What does this achievement mean for you and how will it influence your next steps?</h5>Thank you. It’s&nbsp;a huge achievement to receive this prestigious grant. It gives me the opportunity to establish my own research group here at UCT Prague. The JUNIOR STAR program supports talented young scientists in building their teams and accessing resources. This means I&nbsp;now have the support to focus fully on my research about tubular MXenes and their application in supercapacitors.<h5>Why are tubular MXenes so innovative for energy storage?</h5>MXenes are a family of 2D materials with a layered, accordion-like structure and known for their excellent electrical conductivity. Our innovation is to produce them with a tubular morphology, combining the high conductivity and redox activity in superior ion-transport tubular architectures. Their open, hollow structure increases surface area, ion diffusion and charge transport. This could translate to faster, more efficient supercapacitors, critical for sustainable energy technologies.<h5>How did your scientific interest lead you to this field?</h5>Global challenges around green energy made me focus on materials that can improve energy storage. MXenes stood out because changes in the composition and structure can significantly change their properties. I&nbsp;was curious about how tuning different metallic elements in a&nbsp;tubular morphology can impact how MXenes perform and how to optimize them for practical applications.<h5>What challenges have you encountered?</h5>One major challenge is their stability: MXenes oxidize quickly which deteriorates performance. Another challenge is understanding how synthesis conditions of both MXenes and their precursors (MAX phases) must be adapted to create and preserve tubular morphologies since their synthesis mechanisms differ from conventional MXenes. Additionally, effectively communicating the project in the funding proposal to show to reviewers why I&nbsp;should obtain this funding was also a&nbsp;challenge, but thanks to mentorship and collaboration, I&nbsp;overcame these hurdles.<h5>What motivates you most about working at UCT Prague?</h5>The support from colleagues and the excellent technical infrastructure make it a&nbsp;great place to work. Also, being a&nbsp;former member of Professor Sofer’s&nbsp;leading group in 2D&nbsp;materials is inspiring and led me to this achievement.<h5>How do&nbsp;you see your professional development going in the future?</h5>The grant will help me build my own team, acquire equipment, and develop collaborations. My long-term vision is to contribute significantly to sustainable energy solutions and scientific progress both locally and internationally.<h5>You are looking for new team members. What kind of students or scientists do&nbsp;you need?</h5>We are currently welcoming enthusiastic master's&nbsp;students, PhD candidates, and postdocs who are passionate about materials science and eager to explore new frontiers in MXenes and energy storage. If you love curiosity-driven research and want to be part of a&nbsp;growing international team, we encourage you to join us.<h3>Interview with Stella Gonsales: Catalysis as a&nbsp;key to polymer recycling</h3><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_3_3d0ded6274.jpeg" alt="VŠCHT Prague: JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science: Stella Gonsales" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_3_3d0ded6274.jpeg 233w," sizes="100vw" width="1499" height="1000"><h5>Congratulations on your JUNIOR STAR grant and also being awarded the Dagmar Procházková Fund. What does receiving both mean to you and how will they shape your work?</h5>Thank you. Both grants are hugely important. The JUNIOR STAR grant allows me to expand my group and resources for research into catalytic recycling of polymers, while the Dagmar Procházková Fund supports complementary projects such as synthesizing new biodegradable polymers. Together, they help tackle the plastic waste problem from multiple scientific angles.<h5>Could you explain your research in layperson’s&nbsp;terms?</h5>Most plastics have strong carbon-carbon bonds. We insert more cleavable double bonds into polymers that can be broken down by catalytic reactions called olefin metathesis, making recycling on a&nbsp;molecular level more feasible.<h5>What makes the JUNIOR STAR grant particularly important for your research and career development?</h5>The JUNIOR STAR grant is a&nbsp;prestigious and highly competitive funding opportunity aimed at excellent early-career scientists within eight years of completing a&nbsp;Ph.D. It provides up to 25&nbsp;million CZK over five years, allowing recipients to establish independent research groups and pursue innovative scientific topics. This grant is crucial for building a&nbsp;solid foundation, acquiring necessary equipment, and recruiting talented team members, enabling the pursuit of ambitious projects that can significantly contribute to both the Czech scientific community and global challenges.<h5>What collaborations support your research?</h5>The collaboration between UCT Prague and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Czech Academy of Sciences primarily provides financial and technical support. The cooperation helps with funding, access to advanced equipment, and operational resources needed for running research projects.<h5>What advice would you give young scientists aiming to succeed?</h5>I&nbsp;encourage thinking outside the box and combining diverse knowledge you acquire during your career to address complex problems that are exciting and relevant to you.<h5>Your laboratory bears the name of Otto Wichterle and was ceremonially opened in the presence of Professor Kamil Wichterle. How does Wichterle’s&nbsp;legacy inspire you personally?</h5>Wichterle’<s>’</s>s&nbsp;innovative spirit motivates me to push creative boundaries and pursue novel solutions in sustainable chemistry.<h5>What are your visions for the future?</h5>I&nbsp;aim to build a&nbsp;research group that advances sustainable polymer recycling, contributing to environmental responsibility and the circular economy.<h5>You are recruiting people for your team. What skills do&nbsp;they need to have?</h5>We are looking for talented Ph.D. students and postdocs experienced in air-sensitive catalysis techniques. If you want to contribute to transformative research in sustainable chemistry and join a&nbsp;dynamic team, this is a&nbsp;great opportunity.</div>

JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science

News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 06, 2026

Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated. The researchers focused on a specific class of molecules known as alarmones, which are found in cells across a wide range of organisms and whose levels often increase under conditions of cellular stress. The results were published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Chemical Biology.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_bc2bfffa6c.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: Dr. Hana Cahová, head of the Chemical Biology of Nucleic Acids research group." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_bc2bfffa6c.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1335"><div>Molecules of ribonucleic acid can carry a variety of chemical modifications at one end, known as caps. In eukaryotic organisms, including human cells, the best-known cap plays an important role in RNA stability and in regulating its subsequent fate. In recent years, however, it has become clear that alternative, non-canonical RNA caps also exist, although their formation and the mechanisms by which they are attached to RNA remain only partially understood. These include alarmone caps, formed by dinucleoside polyphosphate molecules, that protect cellular RNA at moments when the cell is under threat.In their study, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cahova.group.uochb.cz/en">Dr. Hana Cahová</a> and colleagues examined bacterial RNA polymerase and investigated how this enzyme can initiate transcription using dinucleoside polyphosphates (NpNs) instead of the standard RNA building blocks. For the first time, the scientists described, at the atomic level, how RNA bearing an alarmone cap can be generated directly at the initiation of gene transcription. They also observed that NpNs bind through a different type of base pairing than is typically observed.The work was significantly shaped by Valentina Serianni from Hana Cahová’s team, who demonstrated the ability of dinucleoside polyphosphates to initiate gene transcription, and by Jana Škerlová, who focused on the structural analysis of RNA polymerase. Using cryogenic electron microscopy data, she showed how dinucleoside polyphosphate molecules bind within the active site of RNA polymerase – that is, the core of the enzyme where genetic information is transcribed. Together, their findings help to elucidate the processes that accompany the transcription of genetic information from DNA to RNA.Hana Cahová adds: “We’re describing something that truly occurs in cells and that we’re now able to observe directly at the level of individual molecules. This allows us to answer fundamental questions about cellular processes, such as how cells adapt to stress. RNA plays a central role in this, as it carries the cascade of information underlying any cellular response – for example, to threatening conditions caused by nutrient deprivation or temperature shock.”<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_2_0fe88ff9e9.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: Dr. Tomáš Kouba, head of the Cryogenic Electron Microscopy core facility." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_2_0fe88ff9e9.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1335"><div>Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was central to the project. This part of the work was led by Dr. Tomáš Kouba, one of the authors of the study. “Cryogenic electron microscopy allows us to freeze biological molecules in a state very close to their natural form and then determine their three-dimensional structure. This makes it possible to look directly into the active centers of enzymes and observe their function down to the atomic level,” he explains.Last year, IOCB Prague opened a new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cryoem.group.uochb.cz/en">cryo-EM center</a> that is unique within the Czech research environment. State-of-the-art cryogenic electron microscopes are housed in a specially designed building and enable the study of biological processes with exceptional structural precision.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_3_4d881e7a58.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: This work shows how NpnNs initiate bacterial transcription. Cryo-EM reveals how nucleobases pair with the template: one in canonical and one in reverse Watson–Crick mode, providing a structural basis for their function as non-canonical RNA caps." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_3_4d881e7a58.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1077"><blockquote><h4>The Original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-025-02134-5">Molecular insight into 5′ RNA capping with NpnNs by bacterial RNA polymerase</a></h4>Valentina M. Serianni, Jana Škerlová, Anna Knopp Dubánková, Anton Škríba, Hana Šváchová, Tereza Vučková, Anatolij Filimoněnko, Milan Fábry, Pavlína Řezáčová, Tomáš Kouba &amp; Hana Cahova&nbsp;Nat. Chem. Biol. 21 (2026)<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-025-02134-5">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-025-02134-5</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>RNA capped with dinucleoside polyphosphates has been discovered in bacteria and eukaryotes only recently. The likely mechanism of this specific capping involves direct incorporation of dinucleoside polyphosphates by RNA polymerase as noncanonical initiating nucleotides. However, how these compounds bind into the active site of RNA polymerase during transcription initiation is unknown. Here, we explored transcription initiation in vitro, using a series of DNA templates in combination with dinucleoside polyphosphates and model RNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus. We observed that the transcription start site can vary on the basis of the compatibility of the specific template and dinucleoside polyphosphate. Cryo-electron microscopy structures of transcription initiation complexes with dinucleoside polyphosphates revealed that both nucleobase moieties can pair with the DNA template. The first encoded nucleotide pairs in a canonical Watson–Crick manner, whereas the second nucleobase pairs noncanonically in a reverse Watson–Crick manner. Our work provides a structural explanation of how dinucleoside polyphosphates initiate RNA transcription.</div></div>

Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription

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The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague is a natural centre of first-rate study and research in the area of chemistry in Czechia and is one of the country's largest educational and research institutions focused on technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technologies, material and chemical engineering, food chemistry, and environmental studies.

UCT Prague

The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences

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Wasson Pressurized Liquid Auto-sampler (LS100B)

Wasson-ECE Liquid Auto-Sampler (LS100B) offers laboratory automation for pressurized liquid samples such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas liquids (NGL).

Wasson-ECE Liquid Auto-Sampler (LS100B) offers laboratory automation for pressurized liquid samples such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas liquids (NGL).
The LS100B uses inert gases to maintain pressure so that the sample remains in the liquid state at ambient temperature as it passes to the GC for analysis.
The LS100B accommodates up to nine sample cylinders with 1/4 inch tube, VCO, or quick connect fittings. These fittings hold the sample cylinders vertically, ensuring that samples are drawn from the bottom of the cylinder.
<h4>Pressurized Liquid Auto-sampler Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Purges automatically with carrier gas between each sample run
</li>
<li>Remote-starts the GC and the data recording software such as ChemStation™
</li>
<li>Adds a date/time stamp to all samples
</li>
<li>Holds up to nine 3.5 inch / 8.9 cm diameter sample cylinders
</li>
<li>Works with standard open or floating-piston sample cylinders
</li>
<li>Pauses automatically when it detects that the GC is not running or not ready
</li>
<li>Can interrupt the scheduled sample sequence to process a priority sample
</li>
</ul>

Wasson Dynamic Blender for GC (DB302)

The Dynamic Blender is a portable gas blending device that dilutes a sample or a certified standard with a matrix gas of choice.

Gas chromatography (GC) analyses often include trace level detection of components requiring samples or standards at low concentrations. Some analytes are expensive or difficult to purchase at low levels due to reactivity, adsorption, or high molecular weight. Analyses may also cover a wide concentration range, requiring multi-point calibration.
The Wasson-ECE Dynamic Blender (DB302) provides a simple solution to these calibration needs. The Dynamic Blender is a portable gas blending device that dilutes a sample or a certified standard with a matrix gas of choice. One certified standard with concentrations at the upper limit of the desired calibration curve can be diluted to a lower level (&gt;2 orders of magnitude lower) to create a full calibration curve.
An inert flow path and heated bridge eliminate adsorption and condensation problems when blending gas standards that include sulfur, nitrogen, and other reactive compounds.
An on-board flow controller allows the diluent gas flow to be controlled digitally and samples are fed directly to a gas chromatograph. The Dynamic Blender eliminates the need to purchase and store multiple gas cylinders and provides an easy, cost-effective solution for gas phase calibration needs.
<h4>Dynamic Blender Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Approximately 100 pre-programmed pure diluent gases and mixtures and twenty user configurable diluent mixture slots.
</li>
<li>Maximum Diluent Pressure of 100 psi (leak tested to this pressure)
</li>
<li>Maximum Temperature of 150°C (operation verified at this temp.)
</li>
<li>Mass Flow Controller Range of 10 – 500 cc/min
</li>
<li>7 μm in-line gas filters (treated) are also provided
</li>
<li>Specially passivated tubing for trace reactive compounds (sulfurs, oxygenates, etc.)
</li>
</ul>
*This treatment is not suitable for samples with pH &gt; 8.0, so please notify your sales representative if you have high pH samples.

Wasson Variable Pressure Sampler (VPS)

The Variable Pressure Sampler (VPS) works in two ways to ensure the precision and accuracy of gas results.

The Variable Pressure Sampler (VPS) works in two ways to ensure the precision and accuracy of gas results. The first method is pressure correction, used to create uniform pressure among all injected samples and the calibration blend. The second method is multi-point calibration, which can deliver a calibration blend to the GC at various pressures.
The VPS pressure correction system performs a multi-step process that ensures samples and calibration blends are at uniform pressures when they are injected.
First, when the calibration blend is run through the GC, the VPS measures and stores the pressure of the calibration blend at the time of injection. Then, as each sample is injected at the stored pressure, the VPS adjusts the pressure of the sample to match the pressure of the calibration blend.
The inject pressure of the sample is reported to Agilent Technologies OpenLAB ChemStation software so calculations and quality control operations can be performed.
Using the VPS, calibration samples can be run at various pressures from a single standard. This decreases overall lab costs while ensuring greater accuracy in results. The multi-point calibration function allows testing for signal linearity at different pressures. With this feature, the user can easily pinpoint the range of pressures which generates the most accurate and meaningful results from the calibration standard.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Wassson_Variable_Pressure_Sampler_VPS_linearity_77314725d6.jpg" alt="Wassson: Variable Pressure Sampler (VPS) - linearity"/>

Wasson LPG Vaporizer (1107)

The LPG Vaporizer uses an innovative, proprietary technique to vaporize liquid samples for injection in an existing GC system.

The LPG Vaporizer uses an innovative, proprietary technique to vaporize liquid samples for injection in an existing GC system. This convenient laboratory system offers flexibility and accuracy for both gas and liquid samples.
The LPG Vaporizer is more convenient than a typical liquid sample valve with more accurate results. All liquid samples are vaporized and run at a constant pressure, eliminating sample density changes that cause errors in liquid phase samples. This ensures sharp, easy-to-read peaks for all samples.
The LPG Vaporizer is built with specially passivated parts for analyzing trace reactive analytes such as sulfurs and oxygenates.
Wasson-ECE&#39;s unique, proprietary vaporization technique produces an even and accurate gas sample. Other vaporizers use tubing with a large volume, causing samples to fractionate when vaporized. This can lead to incomplete sample analysis. The LPG Vaporizer controls the injection volume so that all elements in the liquid sample are vaporized and sent to the GC simultaneously, producing a complete and accurate analysis of the sample.
<h4>LPG Vaporizer Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Inject liquid and gas samples with a single valve
</li>
<li>High sample throughput
</li>
<li>Purging technique reduces cross-contamination
</li>
<li>Ability to stop sample flow to the GC at any time
</li>
<li>Controlled injection volume
</li>
<li>4 ft. heated bridge from vaporizer to customer&#39;s GC sample valve to prevent sample re-condensing
</li>
</ul>

Wasson Gas Auto-sampler (AS202)

The Gas Auto-sampler (AS202) is a stand-alone device that delivers samples to the GC through a heated bridge, ensuring that samples are injected at the appropriate temperature.

The Gas Auto-sampler (AS202) is a stand-alone device that delivers samples to the GC through a heated bridge, ensuring that samples are injected at the appropriate temperature. The heated pathway is purged with carrier gas between each sample injection, and a vacuum pump ensures an extremely low level of matrix cross-contamination (typically less than 50 ppm).
Samples are loaded into the AS202 oven, which can hold up to twelve 500cc sample cylinders or nine 1L cylinders. The shelves are removable and adjustable and can also be tilted to prevent injection of any residual liquids which then changes the setup to allow for a maximum of eight 500cc or six 1L cylinders.
Samples (1000 psig / 6895 kPa max) are automatically regulated during the purging sequence so the GC injects all samples and calibration blends at atmospheric pressure. The AS202 can also be configured to automate injection of samples that are already at atmospheric pressure.
The table below compares the GC analysis results for 2 mL samples of n-pentane and n-hexane at 100 psig in propane. In the first trial, the sample is sent to the GC from the AS202 at ambient temperature; in the second trial the AS202 heats the samples to 130°C before injection.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Wasson_Wasson_autosampler_pro_plynne_vzorky_Srovnani_vysledku_GC_analyz_f7c0ad0991.jpg" alt="Wasson: Repeatability Comparisons - Heated vs. Unheated"/>

Products from category Gas samples - page 1

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Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription

JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science

News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 06, 2026