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J. Grygar is a key figure in high-energy astrophysics and atmospheric monitoring for cosmic-ray observatories, best known for pioneering the use of robotic optical telescopes to study gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and calibrate ultra-high-energy cosmic-ray detectors. Grygar’s most cited work, “The bright optical flash from GRB 060117” (2006, 36 citations), reports the discovery of an extraordinarily bright prompt optical emission from a GRB, captured by the FRAM telescope at the Pierre Auger Observatory. This observation, showing rapid temporal flux decay within minutes of the burst, provided critical early-time data on GRB afterglows, advancing understanding of their emission mechanisms. Grygar also led the development of a novel atmospheric calibration method using FRAM, detailed in “New method for atmospheric calibration at the Pierre Auger Observatory using FRAM” (2007, 11 citations). This work introduced a robotic astronomical telescope for real-time atmospheric transparency monitoring, significantly improving the accuracy of cosmic-ray energy measurements. Grygar’s contributions bridge observational astrophysics and experimental particle physics, demonstrating how robotic telescopes can serve dual purposes—studying transient phenomena while enhancing detector calibration. Their innovative approach has influenced both GRB research and atmospheric monitoring at major observatories, marking them as a versatile and impactful researcher in multi-messenger astronomy.