Ondřej kováč
Ondřej initially studied experimental biology at Palacký University in Olomouc. However, due to his fascination with organic synthesis, he switched his focus to it during his bachelor’s thesis. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he pursued a master program in bioorganic chemistry, followed by a doctoral study (2016-2020) in organic chemistry. During his Ph.D. studies at Palacký University Olomouc, his research focused on diversity-oriented synthesis and methodology development (organocatalysis, pluripotent reagents, olefination methods).
In 2018, Ondřej undertook a six-month internship at Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria) in the group of Prof. Mario Waser, where he studied phosphine organocatalyzed [4+1] annulations reaction and cinchona-based ammonium salts as phase-transfer catalysts for various asymmetric transformations.
Subsequently, in 2020, he received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Experientia Foundation for an annual internship at Innsbruck University in Austria. As a member of Prof. Thomas Magauer’s research group, he was engaged in the total synthesis of the novel antibiotic Kibdelomycin. His postdoctoral stay was extended until 2023, during which he participated in Prof. Magauer’s ERC research grant that culminated in the first total synthesis of the neuroprotective natural product Ganoapplanin.
In 2024, Ondřej began his independent research as the Head of the Laboratory of Synthesis of Natural Products at Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic, thanks to the generous support of the Experientia Foundation Start-up grant (2024-2026).
Kovac lab 