With deep sorrow, we announce that on 17 June 2025, our esteemed colleague and distinguished scientist, Associate Professor RNDr. Jaroslava Ovesná, CSc., passed away after a long illness. She had been with our institute since 1984, immediately after completing her studies in biochemistry at Charles University.
For decades, she was a cornerstone of the Crop Research Institute. Following her return from an internship in France, she re-established the Department of Molecular Biology and served as its long-term head. Thanks to the projects she successfully secured, her team grew significantly within a few years. She was instrumental in introducing modern molecular biology methods into practice. She devoted her professional life to research and education, not only in the field of molecular biology, but was also a prominent scientist in food quality and GMO research. She founded the National Reference Laboratory for GMO Identification and DNA Fingerprinting and served as its head. For nearly twenty years, she chaired the Scientific Committee on Genetically Modified Food and Feed, which brings together scientists active in this field. She also served as an expert advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture. She concluded her career as Head of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding. Her deep commitment to science and research was evident even during her tenure as Deputy Director for Core Activities.
Although she remained professionally loyal to one institution, she was an active member of numerous international organizations, committees, boards, and working groups (JRC, EUVRIN, FAO, and EFSA), where her meticulous attention to detail and ability to connect seemingly unrelated areas of research truly stood out. She published more than 160 scientific papers, which were frequently cited and highly regarded in the scientific community (H-index 27, over 2,200 citations). She led many key research projects focused on vegetable breeding, varietal authenticity of garlic and poppy, and the application of smart technologies in field crop cultivation.
She was a scientist of exceptional expertise and precision. She leaves behind not only an impressive body of scientific achievements but also a legacy of inspiration, perseverance, and dedication to colleagues and collaborators.
We remember her with deep respect and gratitude.
