IAPG has launched its own support programme to help researchers return to science after a career break. The first four female researchers are now beginning their return-to-research projects.

The ReConnect project, funded by the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme (OP JAK, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic), has successfully completed its first internal grant call aimed at supporting researchers returning to scientific careers after a career break. Five project proposals were submitted in the first call and evaluated by a panel of external reviewers. Based on their recommendations, the Institute's management selected four projects for funding, all of which are now being launched.

From July, Eva Štefková Kašparová returns to the Laboratory of Non-Mendelian Evolution, where she will investigate the metapopulation dynamics of asexual lineages inhabiting fragmented habitats in disappearing polar and temperate regions.

Hana Sechovcová returns to the Laboratory of Anaerobic Microbiology to begin a two-year project investigating the effects of commonly prescribed antidepressants on the growth and metabolic activity of probiotic bacteria within the gut microbiome.

In September, Zuzana Hiadlovská will return to the Laboratory of Mammalian Evolutionary Genetics. Her project will focus on the genetic structure and evolution of multigene families involved in chemical communication and speciation processes in the house mouse.

Alexandra Rosenbaum Bartková also returns to the Laboratory of Developmental Biology. Her research will focus on developing and improving advanced assisted reproductive technologies and exploring their application in the study of inherited diseases. The project is expected to contribute to the development of new experimental disease models as well as further advances in reproductive technologies.

All four supported researchers are returning after maternity or parental leave. In addition to funding their research projects, ReConnect provides comprehensive support to help them successfully resume their scientific careers. This includes financial support for involving colleagues from their home laboratories, who will assist with both scientific and organisational aspects of the projects during the transition period. An important part of the programme is individual mentoring by experienced researchers, helping participants re-establish their scientific careers while balancing demanding research with childcare responsibilities. The projects also provide financial support for childcare and enable participants to attend specialised training courses focused on cutting-edge research methods and rapidly developing areas of science.

However, ReConnect is not limited to researchers who have already returned to work. The programme also offers online professional training for employees currently on career breaks. Participants can choose from prestigious EMBO courses covering research leadership, project management and research proposal development.

The first successful participant is Hanadi Abd Alrahman Ali Ananbeh from the Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses, who recently completed the EMBO Lab Leadership for Postdocs programme. We wish all four researchers every success as they return to science and look forward to the exciting scientific discoveries their projects will bring.

The first grant call demonstrated strong interest in the programme among IAPG employees. ReConnect will continue supporting talented researchers in returning to science and creating favourable conditions for the long-term development of their scientific careers.

The second ReConnect grant call is planned for autumn 2026.