Forbes “Top Women in Czech Science 2025”
Assoc. Prof. Jitka Čejková, head of the Droplet Laboratory at the Department of Chemical Engineering, has been selected for the Forbes list of Top Women in Czech Science 2025.
This annual selection, prepared by Forbes in collaboration with L’Oréal, highlights inspiring and impactful female scientists across disciplines who are advancing cutting-edge research in the Czech Republic. The editors emphasize that the list is not a ranking of who is “best,” but a showcase of outstanding women shaping science and society. We are delighted that Jitka Čejková’s achievements, creativity, and leadership have been recognized among this exceptional group of scientists.
The October issue of Forbes magazine features all 25 selected scientists, and their interviews are also available online. According to the Head of the Department, “This is an extraordinary achievement — one that has never occurred in the history of our department. It’s something to be proud of!”
Today, Aktuálně.cz also featured Jitka in an article titled “From Laboratories to the Cockpit: Czech Women Who Crossed the Boundaries of Their Time”, which presents twelve remarkable Czech women from various fields — from science and aviation to law, medicine, and activism.
In the article, Jitka Čejková is described as a scientist and lecturer at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, whose research focuses on droplets capable of autonomous movement and chemical communication — a phenomenon known as chemotaxis. Her work bridges chemistry, physics, and biology, and opens new pathways toward chemical robotics, such as targeted substance delivery or micro-scale environmental exploration.
Beyond her research, Jitka is deeply committed to science communication. She was the editor-in-chief of the book Robot 100: One Hundred Minds, published to mark the centenary of Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R., and last year she released Krakatit 100 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Čapek’s novel Krakatit.
Her “liquid robots” — as she affectionately calls the self-moving chemical droplets — continue to inspire both the scientific community and the general public by demonstrating how simple systems can exhibit surprisingly complex, life-like behavior.
We are delighted that Jitka Čejková’s achievements, creativity, and leadership have been recognized among this exceptional group of scientists — and proud that her inspiring work continues to attract well-deserved public attention.
Photo: Michael Tomeš