Interview with ČAD Vice-chair Eva Bílková

Next in our series of mini-interviews is with Eva Bílková, our Vice-chair and a PhD graduate from the Department of biology and ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava.

1. Why did you go for your PhD and what are you doing?

I knew I wanted to study biology ever since primary school. During my bachelor’s studies, I was lucky enough to join a group of enthusiastic master’s and PhD students working mostly on ecology and insects. That experience was a turning point — I got involved in real research, both in the field and in the lab, and got a taste of academic life. I realised that this is exactly the environment where I want to stay: doing science, working with inspiring people, and studying what truly fascinates me.

My research focuses on odonatology — the study of dragonflies — particularly their role in nature conservation and their bioindication potential. Besides research, I’m passionate about popularising dragonflies and natural sciences in general, making scientific knowledge more accessible and engaging for the public.

2. What problems and challenges does doctoral study bring, what motivates you in your work?

The biggest challenge, in my view, lies in the very definition of a “PhD student”. Studying for a doctorate means being everything but a student. That brings along plenty of issues: insufficient funding, unstable contracts, administrative complications, and the constant pressure to publish and perform — all while being expected to be available 24/7. The ambiguous status of PhD candidates within both the social and university systems is another problem. It’s not uncommon to hear: “You need to decide whether you want to live a life, or do science.” Sometimes, it feels like PhD candidates are the factory workers of science.

Now, a few months after defending my thesis, I’m increasingly interested in the position and prospects of early-career researchers, especially postdocs. The situation for freshly graduated PhDs is not much better — and there’s still very little preparation for non-academic career paths, even though opportunities in research and academia are extremely limited. That’s one of the reasons I’m actively involved in the Czech Association of Doctoral Researchers and similar initiatives: we can see that change is happening, but only if we take part in it.

What keeps me motivated in my research itself is simple — love for my field. I’m genuinely passionate about dragonflies and ecology, and I enjoy looking at things from new angles. My dream is to continue working with these topics professionally and keep pushing the boundaries of what we know about nature and its conservation.

3. Why did you join ČAD? 

I’ve always been an active student — I served as a senator and chaired several student associations during my studies. Later, as a PhD candidate, I joined the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions and the Committee for Doctoral Studies, where I first came across ČAD. Over time, I began to notice their work more closely — their presence in the media, public discussions, and policy reforms — and I realised I wanted to contribute too.

By joining ČAD, I hoped to help improve the conditions of doctoral studies and, above all, to give a stronger voice to PhD students from smaller and regional universities, who are often less represented and less informed. I believe that meaningful change in academia must include everyone — not just the big institutions — and that’s what I’d like to help achieve.