doc. RNDr. Roman Kuchta, Ph.D.
Research Scientist - Laboratory of Helminthology
Evolutionary Parasitology
Institute of Parasitology
+420 387775488
krtek@paru.cas.cz, krttek@yahoo.com
216
Specialist in helminthology and aquatic parasitology including morphology, identification, diversity, ecology, phylogeny and evolution, life cycles, host-parasite relationships and transmission. Specialization in tapeworms (Cestoda) with focus on causative agents of human diphyllobothriosis and sparganosis (broad tapeworms). • Assoc. Prof. in Parasitology (University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic), 2018 • Researcher ID: H-7828-2012 • Born: January 20, 1979, Ostrava, Czech Republic. http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/11/health/salmon-tapeworm-food-study/index.html
Academic titles:
• PhD. in Parasitology (University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic), 2007
“Systematics and biology of tapeworms (Eucestoda) of lower vertebrates”
• RNDr. in Parasitology (University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic), 2002
“Cestodes of the family Dilepididae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) from fish-eating birds in Mexico: a survey of species”
• MSc. in Biology (University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic), 2002
“Biology of freshwater species of the genus Eubothrium (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea), parasites of fish in Europe”
• BSc. in Biology (University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic), 2000
“A comparative study of two sympatric species of the genus Eubothrium Nybelin, 1922 (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) – parasites of salmonid fish”
• Scopus Author ID: 7005570408
• ORCID: 0000-0002-4219-6924
• Total of 98 scientific papers (23 as first author and 25 as corresponding author)
19 book chapters
H-index 19
Total of 1190 citations according to SCI (May 2020)
• Short research stays abroad – Argentina (2017); Australia (2010); Brazil (2014); Bulgaria (2014); China (2015); Denmark (2015); France (2007); Japan (2007); Indonesia (2006, 2008); Korea (2015, 2018); Mexico (2014); Norway (2005, 2010, 2012); Peru (2004–2009); Russia (2004, 2007); Slovakia (several stays; 2005–2013); South Africa (2017); Svalbard (2008); Sweden (2010, 2012, 2019); Switzerland (several stays; 2003–2014); Thailand (2015); Ukraine (2012, 2013, 2015); United Kingdom (2000–2005, 2011, 2014); USA (2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2019); Vietnam and Cambodia (2010).
• Long research stays abroad – Fulbright Fellowship for (post)graduated study and research at University of Connecticut, USA (2009; No. 2008-21-03).
• Invited lectures (8) – 2007: University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA; 2009: New England Association of Parasitologists meeting, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA; 2010: Slovak and Czech Parasitological Days, Liptovský Ján, Slovakia; 2014: 13th International Congress of Parasitology, Mexico City, Mexico; 2014: V4 Parasitological Meeting – Parasites in the Heart of Europe, Stará Lesná, Slovakia; 2015: Annual Meeting of the Korean Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Soeul, Korea; 2016: 12th Czech and Slovak Parasitological Days, Ledeč nad Sázavou, Czech Republic; 2018: 14th International Congress of Parasitology, Deagu, Korea
• Honors: Otto Wichterle Award (2013) – given by the Czech Academy of Sciences to stimulate and encourage selected, exceptionally outstanding, promising young scientists.
• Principal investigators of the project: GAAV KJB600960902 (2009–2011) “Origin and homology of attachment organs in lower tapeworms (Eucestoda)”;
GAČR P506/12/1632 (2012–2016) "From fish to man and from water to the earth: evolutionary history of tapeworms parasitizing tetrapodes (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea)".
• Co-worker on the projects of Czech Science Foundation: Scholz T. 524/04/0342 (2004–2006); 524/08/0885 (2008–2010); Levron C. P506/10/1994 (2010–2013); Gelnar M. (2012–2018) "ECIP – European Centre of Ichtyoparasitology"; Scholz T. 15-141985 (2015–2017); 19-28399X “AQUAPARA-OMICS” (2019–2023); ; T. Scholz INTER-ACTION LTAUSA18 (2019–2021).
• Postdoctoral research associate of NSF project (PEET & PBI; Nos. 0818696 and 0818823) “A Survey of the Tapeworms (Cestoda: Platyhelminthes) from the Vertebrate Bowels of the Earth” (2008–2016) (see http://tapeworms.uconn.edu/).
• Organisation of conferences: Czech and Slovak helminthological days (2002, 2003, 2011); The member of organizing committee of the "Fifth International Workshop on Cestode Systematics and Phylogeny", České Budějovice, Czech Republic (2005).
• Lecturer at international courses in National University of Peruan Amazonia, Iquitos, Peru (UNAPI) (2005; 2006); Summer School of Fish Parasitology 2016: Parasites of Fish in Africa, Brno, Czech Republic (2016).
• Journal editorial board: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366)
• Teaching at Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia (PřF JU): “Biology of helmints” (from 2016), “Practical Course of Invertebrate Zoology” (from 2000) and “Field Course of Marine Invertebrate Zoology” (from 2002). At University of Ostrava (PřF OU): “Introduction to the Parasitology (from 2012)”.
• Supervisor at University of South Bohemia: 6 BSc. and 4 MSc. thesis finished.
• Popularization of the science:
– 3 articles in Czech natural journals Vesmír and Živa;
– participation in several programs in Czech Television and Czech Radio;
– tens of articles in journals and newspapers in Czech, but also some in international media such as CNN article in 2017 and 2019 (Kuchta et al. 2017. Emerg Inf Dis 23. a Kuchta et al. 2019. Emerg Inf Dis 25)
– series of articles and interviews about “alternative parasitology”
https://vesmir.cz/cz/on-line-clanky/2015/09/pravda-parazitech-jejich-vymitacich.html
– several presentations for public and schools;
– co-author of 2 photo exhibition and artist project “Gaia”
https://www.bc.cas.cz/novinky/detail/4457-seznamte-se-s-gaiou-unikatni-mikrarium-na-biologickem-centru/