Tomas Bata University in Zlín

My Education Journey in Tomas Bata University

I’m Abdulkadir Bozarslan from Turkey. My background is in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, which I studied for my Bachelor’s at Sakarya University.

After completing my Bachelor’s, I joined Tomas Bata University in Zlín (TBU) for a 9-month Erasmus Internship. The excellent facilities and high-quality education in polymer engineering motivated me to pursue a Master’s degree at TBU.
During my Master’s, I spent 6 months at Politecnico di Milano in Italy through the Erasmus+ exchange program, which enriched my experience. I then completed my Master’s thesis on “polymer impregnated adsorbents for direct air capture” at the Centre of Polymer Systems (CPS).
Afterwards, I worked on a 3-month project at CPS for the summer, focusing on adsorbents for CO2 capture. Inspired by this, I joined the PhD program in the Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials group, where I now focus on the same topic.
TBU has been key to my growth, providing exceptional resources and support. I highly recommend it to international students for its outstanding programs and research opportunities.

Why did you choose the Czech Republic? Why Zlín and TBU?
I chose the Czech Republic because it’s centrally located in Europe, making it a great hub for travel, plus the cost of living is really affordable. Zlín has a fascinating history, especially the lifeworks of Tomas Bata. It’s a small city, and I really love that since I grew up in a huge city in Turkey, so it’s been a nice change of pace. As for TBU, a good friend of mine had studied here and recommended it highly, so I trusted his suggestion—and I’m glad I did!

Can you tell us a funny story that happened during your stay in Zlín or your studies?
Oh, for sure! On my first day in Zlín, everything was perfect. I had an exciting day, got settled into my place, and met my amazing roommate. I was all set for a peaceful night’s sleep when suddenly… the snoring started! My roommate was snoring so loudly, it felt like I had a chainsaw in the room! I couldn’t sleep at all that night, but hey, it’s a funny memory now!

Do you have a girlfriend? If so, is she Czech or another nationality?
Yeah, I do! I actually met her here in Zlín. She was the exchange student from Indonesia, and we met through some ESN events. We hit it off, and we’ve been together ever since. It’s been a fun international experience for both of us!

Do you study Czech?
I know some basic Czech, mostly from working part-time while I’ve been here. I’m also learning more now, since I want to improve my language skills and, in the long run, apply for permanent residence. Plus, it’s always helpful to know the language when living in another country long-term!

What do you do now for your PhD?
I’m doing my PhD at the Centre of Polymer Systems (CPS) in the Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials research group. Additionally, I’m employed under a project related to my research. My supervisors are Ivo Kuritka and Michal Machovsky, who I’ve been working with since my Master’s thesis. I’m truly grateful to my supervisors for their guidance and support throughout my academic journey. My research is focused on developing solid amine-based sorbents for CO2 capture. Essentially, we are working on innovative technology to help reduce carbon emissions and stabilize atmospheric CO2 levels. In layman’s terms, the materials we work with are designed to capture CO2 directly from the air, which helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This contributes to creating a cleaner, healthier environment and can play a significant role in fighting climate change. I’m really passionate about this field because it’s directly related to mitigating climate change, which is a huge global issue.

Where do you want to go for Erasmus during PhD studies?
I haven’t made a final decision yet, but I’m thinking big this time – probably the USA, Australia, or maybe Canada. I’ve already done two Erasmus programs in Europe and traveled to 12 countries around the EU, so now it feels like the right time to explore somewhere further away.

Do you plan to stay in the Czech Republic after you finish your PhD?
I’d love to stay here after my PhD if the opportunity arises. Since coming to Zlín, I’ve really found a place where I can grow both academically and personally. If I can continue developing my career here, it’s definitely something I’d consider.

What is your favorite Czech food and drink?
That’s a tough one, especially for someone coming from Turkey, where we have tons of amazing food! If I had to pick, I’d say I’m a fan of goulash, and my favorite beverage is Malinovka a.k.a. raspberry soda. They’ve both grown on me since I’ve been here!