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1. Oct. 2026
Zuzana Hofmanová is joining CEITEC Masaryk University as the head of a new research group. Her research combines archaeology, genetics and bioinformatics to study relationships between people and populations in the past, as well as events that have left no trace in historical records. By bringing modern genetic and bioinformatics approaches to the study of human history, her research adds a new perspective to fundamental research at CEITEC MUNI and opens up opportunities for collaboration between the natural sciences and humanities. We asked her why she chose CEITEC MUNI to establish her own research group, what genetics can tell us about the past, and what kind of environment she hopes to create for her new team.
You have spent several years building an international research career, including time at the Max Planck Institute. What made you decide to establish your own research group at CEITEC MUNI?
CEITEC MUNI is one of the leading research institutions in the Czech Republic, and it is still growing. I was particularly attracted by its strong links with other institutions and its emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. These create excellent conditions for developing research in my field.
Another important factor was the opportunity to connect my research with the Department of Archaeology and Museology at Masaryk University, where I have worked before. This opens up new possibilities for collaboration between the natural sciences and humanities. I look forward to exploring new research questions and using approaches that would not be possible within a single discipline.
Your research combines archaeology, genetics and bioinformatics. What fascinates you most about bringing these disciplines together?
It allows us to look at the same question from different angles and place it in a broader context. This can also influence the direction of future research in different fields. And it is fun, too! Bringing together different perspectives can sometimes give us a completely new way of looking at questions we think we already understand, which often leads to new discoveries in science. I also value the fact that the results and insights gained through this approach can have a lasting impact.
I think it is becoming increasingly clear that strictly dividing knowledge into the humanities and natural sciences prevents us from seeing the bigger picture and understanding all its nuances. And if experts from different disciplines cannot communicate with one another, how can we expect the public to understand these connections?
Ancient DNA is sometimes described as a ‘time machine’ that allows us to look into the past. What can its analysis reveal that we would never learn from other sources?
We have no written records from many periods, such as prehistory, and archaeological finds are incomplete by their very nature. Even when historical records have survived, they do not give us the full picture. They usually tell us about only a particular part of the population – for example, people who were considered interesting or important enough to be mentioned by chroniclers.
Genetics allows us to study relationships between individuals and entire populations and uncover events that never made it into historical records. For example, we can discover traces of epidemics that were never documented and were previously completely unknown.
I am constantly surprised by how complex population processes were, even when traditional sources make them seem relatively straightforward. Genetic data often show that historical events involved much more complex movements of people and contacts between populations than we had imagined. And sometimes we discover something we knew absolutely nothing about – which then makes us wonder why there is no mention of it anywhere in the surviving records.
You are joining CEITEC MUNI as the head of a new research group. What kind of environment would you like to create for your team?
Above all, I want to create an environment where curiosity is always welcome and people enjoy their work. I once heard scientists compared to elite athletes – in many ways, we also compete with the best in the world. That is why I believe that, alongside scientific expertise, it is important to create an environment where people feel comfortable coming up with new ideas and exploring uncharted territory.
But that comparison has its limits. Within my own team, I would actually like to place less emphasis on competition. Science is fundamentally about collaboration, and it is through creativity and different perspectives that we can discover interesting connections in data and research findings. I am convinced that everyone excels at something. The key is to find out what that is and give them the space to develop their potential.
After spending several years abroad, you are beginning a new chapter of your scientific career in Brno. What does returning mean to you, both professionally and personally?
After years abroad, it is nice not to be ‘the outsider’ all the time and to feel that you truly belong. When we compare the Czech environment with other countries, I think we sometimes overlook its strengths. I find that people here tend to be more straightforward and pragmatic, but also creative when it comes to finding practical solutions. Perhaps that creativity sometimes comes from having more limited resources – which makes us all the more determined to find a way to make things work.
And of course, returning to Brno also means coming home. I grew up here, and my loved ones and I are coming back to our family and friends. Simply coming home.
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