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FYBICH
Are you a secondary school student interested in natural sciences or technology?
Join us and discover science through seminar Saturdays and thematic internships.
What is FYBICH?
Our educational programme offers 8 Saturday seminars during the school year, held both online and in person. In-person sessions also include practical workshops in our laboratories, where you can try modern laboratory methods and experience the world of science up close.
Registration is required for each seminar in advance. Participation in all seminars is not mandatory, but if you complete the entire programme, you will receive a certificate of successful completion.
Participation in the programme is completely free of charge. The only investment on your side is your time, curiosity and desire to discover. All study materials, lectures, laboratory workshops, refreshments and other costs are covered by us.
Seminar saturdays nad workshops
During the school year, we organise 8 seminar Saturdays focused on natural sciences and technology. Some take place online, while others are held in person directly at Contipro and may include workshops in our laboratories. Separate registration is required for each seminar.
Please note that the seminars are held in Czech only.
Registration for the Saturday seminars is available only on the Czech version of our website. To register, please click the button below.
Current internship topics
Each internship applicant selects one project topic from the list below. Alternatively, applicants may propose their own topic that they would like to work on. Participation in the internship is conditional upon subsequently entering the completed project in the SOČ competition (Secondary School Professional Activities). The internships are completely free of charge for students.
To apply for an internship, complete the application form and upload it to the registration form together with a motivation letter and a recommendation from a chemistry, biology or physics teacher, depending on the selected internship topic. Students work on their projects directly in Contipro’s laboratories in Dolní Dobrouč.
New internship topics will be published in October 2026.
Below, you can view the topics offered last year.
Stabilisation of modified hyaluronic acid with antiseptic effects
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used in products that support wound healing. An important part of the healing process is also preventing infection, which is achieved by adding antiseptic substances.
A promising alternative is the preparation of an antiseptic from HA through reversible chemical modification of its structure. The stability of this modification is an important condition for maintaining antiseptic activity.
In this project, chemically modified HA will be prepared, and conditions will be sought to preserve its maximum stability in solution. Various parameters will be tested, such as pH, the presence of salts and other active substances.
Nuclear magnetic resonance will be used to evaluate stability.
Hyaluronan-based carrier systems for mucosal application
This internship offers the opportunity to become familiar with modern carrier systems based on chemically modified hyaluronic acid, which spontaneously form nanoparticles in an aqueous environment.
Biologically active substances can be incorporated into these carriers, increasing their ability to penetrate biological tissues and prolonging their duration of action.
Internship participants will learn how to prepare carriers from different types of modified hyaluronic acid, perform their basic characterisation, such as particle size and surface charge, and test their interaction with mucous membranes, such as oral or nasal mucosa, using ex vivo model systems.
The internship will also include visualisation of carrier distribution using advanced microscopic methods, such as confocal microscopy.
The results of this work may contribute to the development of dosage forms intended for the treatment of diseases affecting the mucous membranes of the oral or nasal cavity.
The internship is suitable for students interested in pharmacy, medicine, biology or chemistry who want to gain practical experience in the development of carrier systems and their application in biomedicine.
Optimisation of nanofibre cross-section preparation using ion beam milling for characterisation by scanning electron microscopy
During the internship, the student will focus on the experimental preparation and characterisation of nanofibrous materials for microscopic observation.
The aim is to learn and optimise the ion beam milling method for creating high-quality cross-sections of nanofibres for detailed SEM observation.
The student will test different milling parameters to achieve clean and stable sections. Based on SEM images, they will evaluate the quality of the sections and propose recommended parameters for preparing similar materials.
The internship provides an opportunity to become familiar with modern methods of sample preparation for electron microscopy and to develop practical skills in material characterisation and experimental work.
Visual quality control of hyaluronan sheet forms for production process automation
At Contipro, we develop and manufacture a significant part of the equipment that enables in-house technological transfer between the research and development stage and the production stage of the life cycle of medical products based on hyaluronic acid and its derivatives.
These include not only unique devices for the production of new forms of hyaluronic acid, but also instruments designed for quality control of newly developed and manufactured products.
Quality control is an integral part of the production process. When carried out non-destructively and when it provides the required information in real time, it significantly increases the robustness of subsequent production.
The aim of this project will be to consolidate knowledge and explore the possibilities of using visible light to evaluate flat porous and non-porous forms of hyaluronic acid, in both reflection and transmission modes.
The evaluation will be carried out using a Keyence camera system with artificial intelligence elements.
Characterisation of skin microbiome enzymes that degrade hyaluronan
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used in many topically applied cosmetic products. It is still not fully understood how HA penetrates the skin, and it is also not known what happens to HA on the skin surface.
The skin is colonised by a bacterial microbiome, which may break down applied hyaluronic acid into smaller fragments with effects that may differ from those of the original molecule.
The student will become familiar with the method of hyaluronan zymography and will help verify the activity and specificity of bacterial lyases from the skin microbiome that degrade hyaluronan.
Optimisation of advanced glycation end-product determination using LC-MS
The aim of this internship is to optimise the determination of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
AGEs are formed by the non-enzymatic reaction of sugars with proteins, lipids or nucleic acids and play an important role in ageing processes and the development of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders.
The student will become familiar with the principles of analytical chemistry, biological sample preparation, chromatographic separation and detection using LC-MS.
The work will include testing different conditions to increase the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method, as well as processing the measured data.
These secondary schools cooperate with us
Most participants in our seminars come from the area around Ústí nad Orlicí. However, our doors are open to everyone.
You can meet secondary school students from Prague or Brno here as well. Where you study is not what matters. What matters is your interest.
How did students enjoy their experience with us?
„What I appreciate most about my internship at Contipro is the opportunity to experience real work in a biotechnology laboratory. At secondary school, very few people get to work with equipment that looks like something from a sci-fi film!”
Julie Košťálková
Gymnázium Vysoké Mýto
„I started attending the seminars in my first year, and I also took part in the summer school and an internship, where I tried working as a scientist. I decided to continue studying molecular biology at university and found work that I enjoy, find fulfilling and genuinely like.”
Tereza Tejklová
Gymnázium Žamberk
„Thanks to my internship at Contipro, I had the opportunity to take part in science competitions in the USA and meet young scientists from all over the world. My project was successful, and I brought home an excellent third place from INTEL ISEF.”
Ondřej Hubálek
Letohradské soukromé gymnázium
„One of the great things about the summer school was when a lecturer was so passionate about the topic that even something I would normally skip in a book suddenly seemed completely brilliant and fun. That was something! :)”
Vendula Hájková
Gymnázium Česká Třebová
FAQ
How often are Saturday seminars and workshops held?
The Seminar Saturdays take place once a month during the school year, from October to May. Online and in-person sessions usually alternate. All dates are published at the beginning of the school year on our website in the Seminar Saturdays and Workshops section.
Do I need to register for each seminar in advance?
Yes. Advance registration is required for each seminar via the registration form available on our website in the Seminar Saturdays and Workshops section. Registration usually opens approximately one month before the seminar takes place.
Will I receive a certificate or confirmation of attendance after completing the seminars?
If you attend all Seminar Saturdays and miss no more than one session, you will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the programme.
Are the seminars and workshops free of charge?
Yes. Participation in the seminars and workshops is completely free of charge. The programme is supported and funded by our company.
Can I apply for practical training with you?
We do not currently offer separate work placements for secondary school students.
However, you can apply for one of the available internship topics. If you are successful in the selection process, the internship may be combined with your compulsory school work placement by prior arrangement.
How does the internship selection process work?
You can apply for an internship in the autumn through the Current Internship Topics section. You may choose from the newly announced topics or propose your own topic related to our research.
Unfortunately, internship applications can only be submitted during the official selection process.
How can I apply for an internship?
Once the application period has closed, the supervisors of the individual topics will review the submitted application forms, motivation letters and recommendations.
Selected applicants will be invited to an in-person or online interview. The interview takes place in a friendly atmosphere and provides plenty of opportunity for questions from both Contipro and the applicant.