Overview

Workplace: Institute of Entomology
Department: Department of Ecology
Laboratory: Laboratory of Insect Symbiosis
Employment relationship: Employment contract
Job type: Researcher
Researcher profile: R2
Duration: Fixed-term
Job status: Full-time
Job starting date: 1. 7. 2025 (negotiable) for 2 years
Application deadline: 10. 3. 2025

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Organisms frequently evolve similar adaptations in response to similar environments. Do these organisms follow parallel or unique (lineage-specific) trajectories? Is macroevolution at the molecular level deterministic or predictable under certain circumstances? We lack answers to these questions due to the scarcity of comparative genomic studies on massively multiply convergent organismal groups.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow who will dare to tackle these questions by employing a model system consisting of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) that independently adapted more than fifteen times to live in symbiosis with termites.

The successful candidate will apply comparative genomic methods to investigate the extent, and the timescale of parallel genome evolution associated with repeated transitions to parasitic lifestyle. They will have a head start since the genomic sequence datasets covering >5 independent origins of termitophily in Aleocharinae have already been generated or are currently being sequenced. The candidate is encouraged to expand upon this research direction and will have research resources to do so.

REQUIREMENTS:

Min. education level: PhD
Field of education: Biology, bioinformatics or related fields

WE REQUIRE:

  • Curiosity and enthusiasm about insect molecular evolution
  • Motivation and ability to lead a research project
  • Experience in comparative genomics with proven track record

WE OFFER:

  • Stimulating research environment of an international team (Colombian, British, Danish, Indian, Czech) focused on macroevolution of termites and their parasites
  • Living environment of a green campus within the most bicycle-friendly city in Czechia
  • Starting monthly net salary based on previous experience ~ 1,500-1,600 EUR (~ 120% of avg. net salary in the region, living cost is lower than in western Europe)

BENEFITS:

  • 5 weeks of paid holiday yearly (for 1 FTE)
  • Subsidized lunches in our own canteen
  • Standard health insurance and social security
  • Working in a stable, prestigious research institution of international importance
  • Welcome service and further support for foreigners (HR Award)
  • Work-life balance in a middle-sized university city offering options for outdoor, sport & cultural activities
  • Free language classes (Czech for foreigners, English for Czechs)
  • Concessionary services at the contractual operator and bank
  • Campus-based daycare for employees‘ children from the age of 1 year

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Biology Centre is located in České Budějovice (2 hours south of the capital Prague), a middle-sized city with ca. 100K inhabitants, relaxed atmosphere, over 750 years of tradition and a breathtaking countryside around. Both the town and the surrounding countryside provide numerous opportunities for research and leisure activities. There is also a growing international expert community at the Biology Centre CAS (BC CAS) and the University of South Bohemia (USB). In addition, the living costs are still low by international standards. Check out our Guide for Expats (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees) to read about life in the city and the Czech Republic.

The Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences holds the HR Award. Our selection process meets European standards for recruitment of researchers (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees/candidates/otm-r/) and we provide our employees from abroad with welcome service (visa application, administration, relocation & settlement support). Gender equality plan (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/about-us/gender-equality) has been accepted in 2022.

HOW TO APPLY:

We encourage candidates to prepare a research proposal for independent funding before or during the Postdoc. The recommended schemes include Marie Curie fellowship, EMBO fellowship, JSPS (for Japanese candidates only), and Postdoc individual fellowship (by Czech Science Foundation). The candidate will receive support and feedback during the proposal planning and writing.

Apply by sending a single pdf including a motivation letter (~ 1 page), CV, and contact information for two reference persons (one of them preferably a previous supervisor) via our official website https://jobs.bc.cas.cz/en/detail/240.

Informal inquiries can be directed via email to Aleš Buček (ales.bucek@entu.cas.cz).

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