Three PhD positions in Horizon Europe MSCA-DN project INCITE

Biology Centre CAS

Employment contract

Additional call for three positions within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network “INCITE– Insect Clock Initial Training Experience” is open. 
Our network researches insect chronobiology with the aim of developing applications in insect production for feed and food, pest control, as well as basic research. We investigate the circadian and annual clocks, diapause, seasonality, sleep, endocrinology, circadian physiology and chronometabolism using combinations of established insect model species (i.e. Drosophila melanogaster) and emerging models, pest species, and economically important or beneficial insect (aphids, linden bugs, bumble bees, moths and butterflies, black soldier fly, houseflies, cockroaches).

INCITE will provide advanced multidisciplinary multi-level scientific training that spans from molecular genetics tools, genetic engineering, genomics and transcriptomics, immunocytochemistry and electrophysiology to behavioural assays to foster the next generation of European experts in an ambitious and multidisciplinary research environment in chronobiology and entomology.

Positions open for applications: 

DC1 - Non-Drosophila insect neuropeptides: their role in reproduction and seasonality

• Location: Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, Czech Republi
• Supervisor: Dr. David Doležel

DC7 - Photoperiodism: circadian photoreception driving body composition changes in migratory Lepidoptera 

• Location: University of Groningen, the Netherlands
• Supervisors: Prof. Roelof Hut, Dr. Casper van der Kooi 

DC8 - The interplay between circadian clocks and complex behaviours in a key bumble bee pollinator 

• Location: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel 
• Supervisor: Prof. Guy Bloch

• Successful candidates will be part of an international and interdisciplinary network with regular meetings and a strong cohort-effect of fellow PhD students
• Internships/secondments in other INCITE member labs are an integral part of the programme
• Intense training in chronobiology and related disciplines by leading experts in the field
• Competitive salary from the lucrative EU grant 

The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 to 48 months. In addition to their individual scientific projects, all doctoral candidates will benefit from accompanying education and career development measures, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.

Recruitment Calendar:

• Additional call opening: March 2025
• Application deadline for this additional call: April 14th, 2025
• Interviews: March-April 
• Start date of the fellowship: May-August 2025 (depending on the position and University)

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.

Candidates should submit the following documents as one single PDF file via the REPLY button below:

• A detailed CV (maximum 3xA4 pages)
• A motivation letter
• Two letters of reference 
• English transcripts of bachelor’s and, if applicable, master’s degrees
• Confirmation of eligibility – candidate cannot have resided or worked for more than 12 months of residence in the host country in the last 3 years
• List of selected projects of interest in order of preference

If candidates have a certificate of English language proficiency, or confirmation of study in English, it can be added to the application. Nevertheless, it is not mandatory. 

Further information about the INCITE project can be found at: https://incite.entu.cas.cz/