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The Biology Centre CAS has committed to respect The European Charter for Researchers and The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers and holds prestigious HR Excellence in Research Award (HR Award). Recruitment of researchers fulfils the principles of the Open, transparent, merit-based recruitment of researchers (OTM-R), which ensures unified course of selection procedure at all scientific institutes of the Biology Centre.

Fundamental principles of the OTM-R are openness, transparency and non-discrimination. Candidate requirements differ according to the nature of workload and are always specified in relevant job offer. Job offers are posted on this website and on other specialized portals. Selection procedures for research positions at the Biology Centre consist of two rounds (1st round: applications and subsequent shortlisting of candidates for the second round, 2nd round: interviews). For every selection procedure a selection committee of three members minimum is established, includes HR Department representative and is gender balanced. All candidates are informed on result of the selection procedure and every selection procedure complies with the effective EU regulation on the personal data protection.

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What do we offer to our employees?
Posted: 11. 2. 2025

PostDoc in Genomics of Convergent Insect Lineages

Institute of Entomology

Department of Ecology

Laboratory of Insect Symbiosis

Employment contract

Researcher

R2

Fixed-term

Full-time

1. 7. 2025

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:

PhD

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
  • Start: July 2025 (negotiable) for 2 years
  • 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 the REPLY button below.
 

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


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