Adéla Hladká and Samuel Braunfeld received the prestigious Otto Wichterle Award

On Wednesday, June 24, the Czech Academy of Sciences recognized the outstanding achievements of young researchers. Among this year’s 23 recipients of the prestigious Otto Wichterle Award for promising scientists under the age of 35 are two representatives from our institute: mathematical statistician Adéla Hladká and theoretical computer scientist Samuel Braunfeld.

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Adéla Hladká

Uncovering Hidden Patterns in Testing

In her research, Adéla Hladká focuses on developing new statistical models and algorithms. Her work is crucial for improving the fairness and accuracy of test items. She creates models that can detect a wide variety of biases in tests and more accurately capture specific behaviors of test-takers—such as situations where they are merely guessing, losing focus during the test, or, conversely trying to answer strategically.

Samuel Braunfeld

New Approaches in Theoretical Computer Science

In his research, Samuel Walker Braunfeld uniquely bridges the worlds of mathematical logic, combinatorics, and theoretical computer science. He focuses on discovering deeper structures and patterns in complex mathematical systems. He concentrates on developing new approaches that find broad application in theoretical computer science and graph theory. His research is excellent example of how innovative mathematical methods push the boundaries of basic research.

About the Otto Wichterle Award

Named after the world-renowned Czech chemist and inventor of contact lenses, this award has been presented by the Czech Academy of Sciences since 2002. The purpose of the award is to support and motivate exceptionally talented young researchers, who are 35 years of age or younger. It includes a financial award paid out over three years, and to date, more than 560 talented scientists have received it; following this year’s success, our institute can now count thirteen recipients of this prestigious award.

You can read the full report and details from the awards ceremony in the original article on the Czech Academy of Sciences website.

Photos: Josef Landergott, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS