Ph.D. Position in Insect-Microbe Coevolution

Institute of Entomology

Department of Ecology

Laboratory of Insect Symbiosis

Employment contract

The Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, Czechia, opens a Ph.D. position in insect-microbe coevolution (https://www.entu.cas.cz/en/departments/department-of-ecology-and-conservation-biology/laboratory-of-insect-symbiosis/).

Termites host diverse symbiotic communities in their guts consisting of protists, archaea, and bacteria. Termite colonies also host inside their nests diverse arthropods - particularly rove beetles.The Ph.D. project will focus on the study of this tripartite termite-beetle-microbe association, which evolved many times independently but has never been investigated . 
The successful candidate will use phylogenetics and comparative genomics to study the coevolution between termites, their microbes, and their termitophilous beetles. We already generated sequence data for a large number of termites and termitophilous beetles and have extensive collections of preserved specimens, which will give the Ph.D. candidate a head start with their analyses. Collection of additional specimens may be possible if the successful candidate wants to do fieldwork.

• curiosity and enthusiasm about insects and their evolution
• excellent written and spoken communication ability in English
• MSc degree in biology, bioinformatics, or related fields    

The following previous experience will be seen favorably:
• Evolutionary biology
• termite and/or beetle taxonomy
• R/Python/Bash
• wet lab experience with next-generation sequencing
• bioinformatics and next-generation sequence data analysis
• phylogenetics 

• Supportive research environment with an international community situated in a green campus of the most bicycle-friendly city in Czechia
• Starting monthly net compensation based on previous experience ~ 1,000-1,200 EUR consisting of student scholarship and salary, competitive within Czechia (note that the living cost is generally lower in Czechia compared to countries in Western Europe)
• Participation in international collaborations (especially Japan)
• 5 weeks of paid holiday yearly (for 1 FTE)
• Subsidized lunches in our own canteen
• Standard health insurance and social security
• Benefits from Social fund and student benefits
• 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)
• Opportunity to take part in mentoring programmes as a mentor or a mentee
• Concessionary services at the contractual operator and bank
• Access to accommodation in dormitories at the campus shared by the BC and the USB

Starting date: April 2024 (negotiable)

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.

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 the REPLY button below.

Inquiries for further details are welcome. Please contact Aleš Buček via email ales.bucek@entu.cas.cz