Prof. Dr. RNDr. Jiří Luňáček
After studying physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague, and a brief stint at the Secondary Technical School in Náchod, where I worked as a physics teacher, I joined the Department of Physics as an assistant on April 1, 1987, which was then part of the Faculty of Mining and Geology at VŠB.
In 1997, I habilitated at the then Faculty of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at VŠB, and in 2011, I was appointed professor in the field of Applied Physics at the Faculty of Nuclear and Physical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague.
I headed the Department of Physics (renamed the Institute of Physics between 1997 and 2015) from May 2004 to January 2026, i.e. for more than 21 years. During this long period, we were part of the HGF until 2015, then for two years, 2016-2017, we became the University-wide Department of Physics under the Rector's Office, until we finally settled at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 2018.
I believe that the journey of the Department of Physics is unprecedented in the history of our university. It was a great challenge and an unprecedented experience for me, as I was responsible for all the transformation steps.
At the head of the department, I went through various periods, both good and bad. We managed to overcome the bad ones because we stuck together and helped each other, while the good ones enabled our current development, prosperity, and competitiveness in today's challenging times.
On February 1, 2026, the new head of the Department of Physics, Prof. Životský, who has been my deputy for many years, will take over the reins. I am convinced that the department will be in good hands and has a bright future ahead of it.

Prof. Ing. Ondřej Životský, Ph.D.
Professor, academic staff member, since February 2026 Head of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (FEI), VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava (VŠB-TUO). His work focuses on linking physical principles with technical applications, and he has long been involved in teaching and research in the fields of material magnetism and theoretical magnetic models. At the university, he is involved in student supervision, national and international research and educational projects, and the development of the field within the faculty. Since 2023, he has been the guarantor of the bachelor's and master's degree program in Applied Physics. He is currently a member of the Scientific Council of VŠB-TUO, the Scientific Council of FEI VŠB-TUO, the Union of Czech Mathematicians and Physicists, and the Central Committee of the Physics Olympiad. His main motto is "hard work and diligence."