Czech Priorities Thesis 
Support and stipend for young researchers in 2020-2021 
 
Many university students want to choose a ​high-impact research topic that could fill a real                             
gap in current academic knowledge and not end up “in a drawer”. This is not an easy task                                   
and students might get discouraged. We want to help! 
 
We have identified various research gaps in areas close to our mission, where new research                             
outcomes should be 1) potentially high-impact, 2) of interest by respected international                       
research organizations or 3) highly important for the Czech Republic. 
 
In this program, we offer support ​to all interested applicants​ in terms of: 
 
1. Helping to define a specific research question, hypothesis, and approach 
2. Connecting with relevant experts, organizations and/or advisors 
3. Offering ongoing mentoring and advice from our experts 
 
In addition, we will ​provide a 16.000 CZK stipend ​(in two payments) ​to selected applicants​.  
 
Application process 
If you are interested in performing research in the areas listed below, ​contact us by email,                               
and attach a 1-page summary consisting of 1) a description of your past academic work                             
& interests and 2) what specific topic(s) do you consider researching in the chosen area. 
 
We accept applications on an ongoing basis. We are looking for ​both Bc and ​MA theses,                               
that are planned to be defended in 2021​. They can be written in Czech, but English would                                 
be preferable. In case you have a topic from a different area that is in line with the mission of                                       
Czech priorities​ and you are confident that it may have a high impact, let us know, too. 
 
Main contact person 
Jan Kleňha, ​jan@ceskepriority.cz​, +420777301091   
www.ceskepriority.cz ​|​ Národní 339/11 ​|​ 110 00 Praha 1 ​|​ Czech Republic 
 
 
 
Research areas  
Science-policy interplay 
1. Assessment and evaluation of various models and best-practices of 
evidence-informed policymaking in other countries 
2. Assessment of current situation in the Czech Republic and recommended 
interventions - practical institutional and process improvements, e.g. real functioning 
of research institutions (their incentives, access to policymakers, research agendas, 
real results of influencing the policymaking process, etc.) or data availability (concrete 
gaps in data needed for effective policymaking) 
Measuring societal development 
1. Alternative well-being metrics and the correlation between GDP and well-being 
2. Theoretical avenues of application of alternative approaches to measuring well-being 
in policymaking, concrete recommendations for the Czech Republic 
3. Developing concrete comparisons of the Czech Republic vs. other countries or a 
functioning dashboard of existing metrics 
Methodologies for policy evaluation 
1. Map of various approaches and frameworks (selecting optimal approaches for 
various policy issues and decisions) 
2. Concrete methodology gaps (international and Czech-specific - shadow prices, 
discount rate, VSL, etc.) 
Assessment of existing public policies and budgets 
1. Impact evaluation of concrete measures in place (new laws & regulations or 
budgetary decisions) 
2. Comparison of their real impact vs. goals and expectations (ideally as formulated in 
the explanatory report accompanying the regulation) 
3. Evaluation of the process of policy formulation and ex-ante impact evaluation (their 
preparation and approval) and identification of specific gaps and areas for 
improvement 
Socioeconomic priorities 
1. Methodology or framework for 1) identification and mapping, and 2) evaluation, 
assessment, and prioritization of public policies and budgets 
2. Both mapping and prioritization of concrete real-life priorities in the Czech Republic 
based on current socio-economic challenges 
3. Learnings from abroad: Successful country-level strategies based on the 
identification and addressing priorities and subsequent positive development 
patterns 
 
______ 
The areas are inspired by ​our findings​, the ​Effective thesis​, and Oxford´s ​Global Priorities Institute​, among others. 
www.ceskepriority.cz ​|​ Národní 339/11 ​|​ 110 00 Praha 1 ​|​ Czech Republic