Jan and a research placement at the IOCB

Another childhood dream we made come true was a placement for the young biochemist Honza Blaha. His first journey led to the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, among leading Czech scientists. But that was only the beginning.

With his project on the dangerous yeasts of the genus Candida, Honza is collecting awards in the Czech Republic and the United States alike. He won the national round of the Expo Science AMAVET competition and came third at the international I-SWEEEP 2016 competition in Houston, Texas.

"As part of my Dream I completed a three-week placement at the IOCB, where I joined a research project. But I stayed involved even after that official placement ended, and I am still a member of that project today. This opportunity opened a great many doors for me, and without it I would be nowhere near where I am. During my time at the Institute I took part in many competitions and conferences at home and abroad, and ultimately Neuron opened the door to where I am now — University College London, where I am currently studying biochemistry."