On Monday, 1 June 2026, 93 new professors received their appointment decrees from President Petr Pavel at Karolinum. Two representatives of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague obtained the highest academic title: František Hnilička from the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, and Lukáš Zagata from the Faculty of Economics and Management.
„I am pleased that two more excellent experts strengthened our scientific community, and I believe they will serve as an inspiration to others,” says CZU Rector Michal Lošťák. „Achieving the highest academic title is a major career accomplishment; however, it does not end there. The new professors gain further motivation to continue their work in their fields. I sincerely congratulate them on this achievement.”
Newly Appointed Professors of CZU Prague
Prof. Ing. František Hnilička, Ph.D., serves as Head of the Department of Botany and Plant Physiology at the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources. He was appointed Professor in Agroecology at the proposal of the Scientific Board of the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague. His professional interests include the physiology of yield formation in crops, photosynthesis, water relations, the transport of assimilates using combustion calorimetry, and plant stress. His h-index is 16. The total number of citations excluding self-citations is 956.
Prof. Mgr. Ing. Lukáš Zagata, Ph.D., works at the Department of Humanities at the Faculty of Economics and Management. He was appointed professor in the field of Regional and Social Development on the proposal of the Scientific Board of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. His main professional interest lies in the social aspects of agriculture in modern society. He focuses in particular on changes in agriculture, farmers’ approaches to different farming methods, and consumers and their relationship to sustainable food consumption. His h-index is 10. The total number of citations according to Web of Science is 664.
The highest academic rank, professor, was awarded to new personalities who have fulfilled all the required professional and qualification criteria. The appointment represents recognition of their long-term work, professional contributions, and significant roles in the development of their respective fields and the higher education environment. The newly appointed professors thus join the ranks of leading figures in academia, advancing education, science, and research.
Photo: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
