MIAMI (Oct. 1, 2019) - The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board are pleased to announce that Zuzana Zajickova, professor of chemistry and chair of Department of Physical Sciences at Barry University has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Czech Republic in chemistry. Zajickova will research at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Charles University as part of a project to study applications of monolithic columns in supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
“Monolithic columns ‘secured’ their position in separation science as media of choice for fast analysis, especially of large molecules such as proteins and peptides. To this date, applications of monolithic columns focus mainly on high-performance liquid chromatography. An interesting question, which we hope to answer through this Fulbright award, is whether combination of benefits of monolithic columns and of rapidly growing, modern supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry methodology can lead to resolving some of the troublesome separations in proteomics. It is exciting to contribute to this field and I am truly honored to receive the Fulbright award in support of this international effort,” Zajickova said.
At Barry, Zajickova — with her team of undergraduate research students — develops new in-house preparation of inorganic and organic monolithic capillary columns and studies their properties. Some of these columns can be prepared in minutes versus hours or days and have been applied for the separation of small as well as large molecules using high performance liquid chromatography. The findings of this research, supported by the National Science Foundation (CBET-1066113) and the Department of Energy, have been presented at numerous national and international scientific meetings and have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
“I am very proud of involving undergraduate students in research and of their accomplishments. Research jump-starts their scientific careers by providing the chance to discover, to be creative and to make impactful and meaningful contributions to the society. Receiving the Fulbright award and the continuous support of our collaborators further validates the importance of undergraduate research,” Zajickova said.
With her Fulbright award, Zajickova will continue her long-standing collaboration with Professor Frantisek Svec, the leader in a field of monolithic column technology. Svec, formerly Facility Director in the Molecular Foundry at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is now a leading scientist in the research team of Professor Petr Solich, the head of the Department of Analytical Chemistry at Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, and the guarantor of an extensive international project of excellence establishing Specialized Team for Advanced Research on Separation Science (STARSS) for the period 2017-2022.
“Through this collaboration, we hope to answer some of the pressing issues in separation science, specifically those related to proteomics. Joining the STARSS team will provide me with access to both state-of-the-art instrumentation and a team of leading experts in a collaborative, multidisciplinary, and multinational environment,” Zajickova said.
Barry University is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving and Minority Institution of higher education located in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area with a student body that is 60% female, 64% minority, and 46% of students are first-generation. The Department of Physical Sciences offers a B.S. degree in chemistry. It features a growing specialization in biochemistry. It also has a long tradition of cultivating productive partnerships with local, national, and international communities through involvement in teaching, service, and research. Participation of undergraduate students in these activities provides them with a truly transformative experience that serves them well in the pursuit of life-long learning and a search for solutions that promote the common good as well as a more humane and just society.
During her three-month Fulbright appointment, Zajickova plans to network with scientists in her field by visiting and presenting at multiple institutions in Czech and Slovak Republic, including her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science alma mater, Slovak Technical University.
“This Fulbright award will allow us to continue to strengthen our relationship with universities in Czech and Slovak Republic and to refine our plans for mutually beneficial partnerships, including student and faculty mentorships and exchanges. These established and newly formed collaborations will be essential in addressing environmental and health issues within our community. In addition, as a female scientist and educator, I am looking forward to learning about the ways women are attracted and encouraged to join and to advance within academic scientific disciplines outside the U.S.” Zajickova said.
K-12 science outreach through chemistry and physics demonstrations, hands-on activities and competitions is strongly embedded in the mission of the Department of Physical Sciences. This outreach aims to serve educational needs of the surrounding communities and to foster positive attitudes of children and youth towards science. To expand science outreach to international communities, Zajickova plans to conduct hands-on chemistry activities in elementary schools in Czech and Slovak Republic. These activities promote problem solving, are safe and age appropriate, and can be easily adapted by teachers.
“If we can spark passion and enthusiasm for science early in children’s education, it is more likely that their appreciation and curiosity for science will last throughout their lifetime,” Zajickova said.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.
Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given more than 390,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
Fulbright scholars address critical global challenges in all disciplines, while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 84 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.
For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by telephone 202-632-6452 or e-mail ECA-Press@state.gov.
Dr. Zuzana Zajickova can be reached by phone 305-899-3238, or email zzajickova@barry.edu.