After a period dedicated to family care, doc. Tersia Kokošková, Ph.D., is returning to the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at CZU Prague with support from the Returns to CZU programme. Her three-year project, SMART Game – Sustainable Meat Science And Technology for Game Meat, will focus on sustainable production and processing of common eland meat, a promising alternative farming species for sustainable animal production systems.
The Returns to CZU project supports researchers and PhD students returning to academic life after parental leave, long-term illness, or care-giving responsibilities. Its aim is to facilitate reintegration into research, mitigate the impact of career interruptions, promote equal opportunities, and create conditions for continued professional development. The grants provide funding for research activities, support staff, mentoring, training, international mobility, and services that help researchers balance work and family life.
For Tersia Kokošková, the grant represents a unique opportunity.
“My motivation was clear – this grant gives me the opportunity to resume my research activities and continue my professional development, whilst allowing flexibility to spend valuable time raising my son. Additionally, I am excited to mentor and support other young researchers through this project,” she says.
An important part of her return is the support infrastructure available to parents at the university. One of the key benefits is Poníček Childcare Group, a strategic CZU project established to expand access to quality childcare services for university employees.
“The possibility of using the Poníček childcare facility has been a tremendous help in planning my return to work. Combined with a flexible part-time schedule, it allows me to balance caring for my son while engaging in work that I enjoy and find professionally fulfilling,” she adds.
Research Focused on the Future of Sustainable Meat Production
The SMART Game project aims to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing carcass and meat quality in the common eland (Taurotragus oryx), as a model antelope species. Thanks to its resilience to challenging environmental conditions, efficient use of natural resources, and favourable nutritional profile of its meat, the species is increasingly recognised as a promising model for sustainable game meat production.
Despite growing interest from both researchers and producers, scientific knowledge on carcass evaluation, meat quality assessment, and processing methodologies for common eland remains limited. SMART Game brings together an Expert Team of primarily young researchers under the guidance of Tersia Kokošková to tackle these issues. The project will contribute towards establishing a standardised system for monitoring eland meat quality, integrating individual animal data, carcass assessments, and detailed analyses of economically important meat cuts. The research will also focus on optimising post-mortem processing strategies, particularly different ageing techniques, which play a crucial role in determining tenderness, flavour, and overall eating quality.
Another important component of the project is the development of value-added meat products. The team will investigate the production of biltong, a traditional South African dried meat product, with the goal of initiating the first scientifically validated processing protocols for common eland biltong.
Connecting Research and Practice
Tersia Kokošková is already collaborating with the CZU Food Pavilion on the development of innovative products made from common eland meat, some of which are already available for sale at the CZU Food Pavilion shop. Through this work, she brings valuable expertise and practical know-how from her native South Africa, where game meat processing has a long tradition.
“I am excited to share my knowledge and experience gained in South Africa and apply it in the development of new products here at CZU. I appreciate how the team at the Food Pavilion has embraced recreating traditional South African recipes, allowing me to share a part of my heritage. I feel that everyone involved enjoys being part of something innovative and meaningful,” she says.
The project will also contribute to the further development of the CZU Common Eland Research Facilities and the Laboratory of Animal Sciences. The resulting datasets will provide a valuable foundation for future projects and strengthen CZU Prague’s position as a leading centre for sustainable animal production research.
A Return that Opens New Opportunities
Beyond its scientific outcomes, the project demonstrates how targeted support can help talented researchers successfully resume their academic careers after a career break.
“I believe that programmes like this are extremely important. They help researchers rebuild their connection with science, creating space for professional growth whilst accommodating family responsibilities. I am very grateful to be part of this initiative and to continue my research at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences,” concludes Tersia Kokošková.
+ Information Box: Returns to CZU
About the Returns to CZU Project
The Returns to CZU project supports researchers and doctoral students in resuming their scientific careers after parental leave, long-term illness, or caring for a family member. Through return grants, the programme funds research activities, professional development, mentoring, international mobility, and measures that help balance professional and family responsibilities.
The project aims to reduce barriers associated with career interruptions, promote gender equality in research, and create an inclusive environment in which talented researchers can continue to develop their full potential.
Funded under the SMART Game: Sustainable Meat Science And Technology for Game Meat project, project no. [returns_czu_13_2026], co-financed by the European Union within the framework of the Jan Amos Comenius Operational Programme, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, project number: CZ.02.01.01/00/24_037/0013835.
