I am a biochemist, parasitologist, molecular biologist, university teacher and director of the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences. My scientific work is focused on ticks and the agents of infectious diseases transmitted by them, virology and molecular biology of vectors and pathogens.
I was born on April 30, 1957 in Polička. I spent my childhood in nearby Oldřiš, where my parents ran the Na Bělidle inn. I studied high school in Polička.
After graduation, I went to Prague to study biochemistry at the Faculty of Science of Charles University. I graduated in 1981 in professional chemistry. In 1982, I received the title RNDr. in biochemistry. Instead of doctoral studies, I completed basic military service at a tank battalion in Jihlava. I didn’t get a recommendation for a PhD from university functionaries.
Then I worked at the Research Institute of Organic Synthesis in Rybitví near Pardubice. In 1983, I moved to the Institute of Sera and Vaccines in Prague, where I obtained a scientific degree (CSc. title, similar to Ph.D.) in the field of microbiology/virology in 1987. Three years later, I moved to České Budějovice and started working at the Institute of Parasitology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, where I still work today.
Since 1991, I have been a university teacher at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. At this university, I obtained a degree of associated professor (1997) and a professorship (2001) in the field of molecular and cellular biology and genetics. For seventeen years (2007-2023), I guaranteed the cross-border study program Biological Chemistry of the University of South Bohemia and the Johannes Kepler University in Linz.
In the years 1994-2002 I was the director of the Institute of Parasitology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. I was elected dean of the Faculty of Biology (since August 2007 the Faculty of Science) of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice for two terms of office, 2004-2011. In the years 2012-2016, I held the position of rector of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. Since 2017, I have been managing the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences. From 2022 I am the chair of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic.
I am the researcher and co-researcher of 24 research projects. 10x GA CR, 5x GA AV CR, 1x IGA MZd, 1x NAME OF MZe, 4x FRVŠ, 1x CONTACT, 2x ACTION, 2x INTER-ACTION, 1x MŠMT OP JAK. I am the co-author of 3 patents and 171 professional publications (WoS) with more than 4000 citations. ORCID: 0000-0003-0885-1849, Researcher ID: G-9762-2014, H-index: 36.
I have received several awards for my scientific and academic work. In 2009, I became the laureate of the annual “LeConte Lecture Award” at Georgia Southern University, Georgia, USA. In the same year, I received an award from the rector of the University of South Bohemia for the leadership of the Faculty of Science and an award from the mayor of the Statutory City of České Budějovice for contribution to science and representation of the city. This was followed by the Award of Chambers of Commerce of South Bohemia and Upper Austria (2012), the Memorial Medal of the Palacký University in Olomouc (2015), the honorary title “Doctor of Science”, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA (2016), the honorary title “Doctor of Natural Sciences”, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria (2018), Medal of Merit awarded by the mayor of České Budějovice (2021), honorary title “Doctor honoris causa”, University of Pardubice (2022).
You can read my detailed biography on Wikipedia or download it here.
1983 Libor Grubhoffer at the Research Institute of Organic Synthesis in Rybitví nearby Pardubice
1987 Libor Grubhoffer receives his CSc. degree (equivalent to Ph.D.) in microbiology/virology at Karolinum
1989 Libor Grubhoffer on internship in Uppsala, Sweden
2004 Libor Grubhoffer and biochemist John H. Law of the University of Arizona, member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
2009 Libor Grubhoffer and honorary doctors of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice Antonín Holý and Erik de Clercq
2009 Libor Grubhoffer and honorary doctor of the University of South Bohemia parasitologist James H. Oliver, Jr. from Georgia Southern University, USA
2012 Libor Grubhoffer is appointed Rector of the University of South Bohemia in České Buděhovice. Photo Deník/Martin Divíšek
2014 Libor Grubhoffer with Marta Smolíková, Bořek Šípek and Karel Schwarzenberg unveil the Václav Havel Bench. České Budějovice is the fifth city in the world to have a Václav Havel Bench
2015 Libor Grubhoffer and honorary doctor of the University of South Bohemia historian Jaroslav Med from Charles University in Prague
2016 Libor Grubhoffer receives the honorary degree “Doctor of Science”, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
2016 Libor Grubhoffer with Tomas Machula, the new rector of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
2016 Libor Grubhoffer and Erik De Clercq from KU Leuven, Belgium with students of Biological Chemistry
2017 Libor Grubhoffer with his wife Daniela and daughter Anna in the Dolomites
2017 Libor Grubhoffer with Eva Zažímalová and Zdeněk Havlas during a visit to the Biology Centre
2017 Libor Grubhoffer with friends of Erik De Clercq in Leuven on the occasion of the awarding of an honorary doctorate to John C. Martin, President of Gilead Sciences (right of Libor); seated first from left, Thomas Seitz, Nobel laureate; standing fourth from right Robert Gallo, second discoverer of HIV
2018 Libor Grubhoffer with Dejvice Theatre actors after the performance Elegance of the Molecule
2019 Libor Grubhoffer with Indian Ambassador Narinder Chauhan and Indian students
2023 Libor Grubhoffer introduces Jiří Friml – ERA Chair of the Biology Centre
2024 Libor Grubhoffer at the launch of the book “Science is life, life is not science”
2024 Libor Grubhoffer Chairman of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic. Photo by Tomáš Rubín, MFF UK
2024 Libor Grubhoffer with Eva Zažímalová at the presentation of the Lumina queruntur Prize to mycologist Danny Haelewaters. Photo Jana Plavec, CAS