PostDoc Position in Microbial Ecology

Ústav půdní biologie a biogeochemie

Pracovní smlouva

Institute of Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry (https://www.upb.cas.cz/en) of Biology Centre (BC) of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join Dr. Anne Daebeler's group. The team will be working on a new project starting in spring 2023. The project aims to expose the cause and nature of interactions between nitrifiers and methanotrophs and quantify their ecological impact.

Nitrifiers and methanotrophs are microbial guilds responsible for aerobic transformation of reactive nitrogen and oxidation of methane, respectively. Both processes are fundamental ecosystem functions linked to nutrient cycling and global change. We hypothesize that interactions between these two guilds substantially contribute to the modulation of process rates. However, such interactions have hardly been investigated.

It is planned to employ a unique combination of multidisciplinary techniques, i.e. high-throughput sequencing, stable isotope incubations with integrated approaches of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, single cell sorting, and metaproteomics with synthetic microbial consortia. Collectively, these approaches are poised to gather a deep understanding of the links between carbon and nitrogen cycling to eventually be able to predict and mitigate climate change and protect Earths ecosystems.

The project will require (inter)national field work campaigns and research visits to foreign laboratories.

• We are looking for a highly motivated and independently working scientist with strong interest in collaborative & fundamental microbial ecology research.
• Applicants must hold a Doctorate degree in Microbial Ecology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology or alike.
• They should further have a strong conceptual and practical background on the application of molecular techniques for characterizing the identity and ecophysiology of microbial community members.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas/techniques will be of advantage: microbial ecology of nitrifying or methane oxidizing microorganisms, amplicon/metagenome/metatranscriptome sequencing and the associated bioinformatics, isotope labelling of uncultivated microbes, and cultivation of chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is mandatory.

• 1 extra week of holiday, i.e. 5 weeks of paid holiday per year in total
• Subsidized lunches in our own canteen
• Benefits from Social fund
• Full health insurance
• Working in a stable, prestigious research institution of international importance
• Friendly international working environment
• 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)
• Opportunity to take part in mentoring programmes as a mentor or a mentee
• Concessionary mobile tariff at the contractual operator
• Concessionary banking services at the contractual bank

The position is planned to start 1st March, but the starting date is flexible until early summer 2023. The initial offer is for 1 year and can be extended for up to 2.5 years (until December 2025). Full-time position, 40 hours per week. The gross salary is 50.700 CZK per month with the possibility of a 5% raise per year.

We welcome your application regardless of age, gender, cultural and social background, religion, ideology, disability or sexual identity. We promote equality of the sexes, therefore, women are given priority in case of equal qualifications and professional performance. We expressly welcome applications from people with a migration background.

The Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences holds the HR Excellence in Research Award. Our selection process is transparent, open, non-discriminating, and fair. For more information about the researchers' recruitment policy at our institution, see OTM-R (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees/candidates/otm-r/).

Ceske Budejovice (2 hours away from Prague) is a city with over 750 years of tradition. It has history wherever you turn, excellent beer, breathtaking countryside around, and a growing international expert community at the Biology Centre CAS (BC CAS) and the University of South Bohemia (USB). Check out our Guide for Expats (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees/) to read about life in the city and the Czech Republic.

If interested, please apply via the REPLY button below. The application should contain a detailed CV (including a brief description of research interests, previous employments, and publication list), reprints of your two most important published articles, and contact details of two references (letters of recommendation are optional). Applications should be sent as a single pdf-document. Please abstain from sending application portraits.

Further inquiries can be directed via email to Dr. Anne Daebeler: anne.daebeler@bc.cas.cz.