The development of modern biomaterials relies on collaboration among materials engineers, chemists, physicists, physicians, and many other specialists. It seems that interdisciplinarity is something Professor Částková particularly enjoys. “Every discipline has its own terminology and way of thinking. When experts from different fields meet for the first time, it often feels as though they are speaking different languages. Yet it is precisely these connections that produce the most exciting results today,” she believes.

Although scientists around the world are striving to replicate the natural structures of the human body, nature still remains one step ahead. “We have not surpassed nature yet. Bone, for example, is an extraordinarily sophisticated composite material that combines different structures and properties. Today, however, we have technologies that allow us to create similarly complex structures, so we are steadily moving closer. On the other hand, technological progress can achieve a great deal, but ageing itself also has its purpose, and not everything can be replaced. Even if we perfect the biomechanics of the human body, we still have a brain that ages in ways we cannot yet replace,” says Částková, tempering visions of immortality.

She sees one of the greatest opportunities of the coming years in multimaterial 3D printing of ceramics and their composites. “We are trying to combine different materials to achieve a desired set of complex characteristics. For example, the outer part of a biomaterial could be mechanically strong, while the inner part could be bioactive, degradable, and capable of interacting with the body. However, we face numerous technological challenges, especially at the interfaces between materials with different physicochemical properties. It would be wonderful if we could master the entire process—from preparing printing precursors to producing the final multimaterial structure for a specific application,” hopes Částková, noting that the impact of such a technology would be enormous both for fundamental research and for industrial applications.

Although science occupies a significant part of her life, she strives to maintain the much-discussed work–life balance. “I belong to the kind of people who think about their work in the evenings and on weekends, sometimes even discussing it with colleagues on WhatsApp during family activities,” she laughs. At the same time, she adds that she cannot imagine recharging her scientific batteries without sport, friends, and family. “You have to make time for yourself. Go cycling, play tennis, or spend time with the people close to you. That is the only way to maintain a positive relationship with your work,” she concludes. And she seems to be doing it well, because she speaks about her work with such enthusiasm and energy that it is almost certain that, in her case, the idea of a ‘final stop after becoming a professor’ is nowhere in sight.