Two PhD studentships in Fungal Ecology and Evolution

Institute of Entomology

Department of Ecology

Laboratory of Fungal Ecology and Evolution

Employment contract

PhD studentships are available to work on the project A multiscale perspective on multitrophic interactions of bats, their parasites, and pathogens in the Laboratory of Fungal Ecology and Evolution.

Highly motivated candidates are sought to join a project funded by a Junior star grant of the Czech Science Foundation that aims to describe the importance of species in an obligate multitrophic symbiosis of bats, flies, and fungi for conservation of sites in relation to pathogens, climate, and land use change in the Anthropocene. The students will perform fieldwork in Europe and North and Central America to capture bats and collect bat flies. The project will include studying the latitudinal diversity gradient hypothesis, the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on parasitism across trophic levels, and fungal communities in bat roosts, in addition to lab work and downstream data analyses.

While the project has defined goals, we welcome candidates with initiative and interest in broadening its scope through independent hypothesis testing. There will be opportunities to develop the project in a direction of the student’s own choosing, and form collaborations with international partners.

Main requirements:

• A master’s degree (non-negotiable requirement for PhD study in Czech Republic) in ecology, mycology, entomology, or a related field
• Interest in (multitrophic) interactions
• Enthusiasm for working in the field in challenging and remote conditions
• Ability to work independently, and collaborate with other team members
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Experience in the use of ecological statistical analyses

Desirable:

• Working experience in tropical and/or temperate forests
• Research experience with a focal group (ecology, taxonomy, phylogeny)
• Experience in the molecular lab techniques and analyses in R
• Experience with writing manuscripts and the process of publishing

• 5 weeks of paid holiday yearly, subsidized lunches in our own canteen
• Pension insurance contribution, support of leisure sport & cultural activities
• Full health insurance and social security, student benefits for PhD students
• Free Czech language classes, professional trainings and mentoring programme
• Concessionary services at the contractual operator and bank
• Campus-based daycare for employees' children from the age of 1 year
• Welcome service and further support for foreigners (HR Award)
• English speaking, friendly & stimulating international working environment
• Work-life balance in a middle-sized university city offering options for various activities
• Working in a stable, prestigious research institution of international importance

Position details:

• Application deadline: December 5, 2025
• Interviews: mid-December 2025
• Start date: January 1, 2026 (negotiable)
• The successful applicants (two positions available) will receive a scholarship from the University of South Bohemia and employment at the Biology Centre CAS, for the 4-year PhD program in Entomology, sufficient to cover living expenses in Czech Republic.
• Applicants from all countries are eligible

About the workplace:

The successful applicants will join the Laboratory of Fungal Ecology and Evolution at the Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, under the supervision of Dr. Danny Haelewaters. The research facility is in Ceske Budejovice, a charming historical city in the south of the country, within easy reach of Prague and Vienna. The laboratory was recently established (2025) and is an international group of students and researchers studying fungi and fungal interactions. It is embedded within the Department of Ecology, a world-class center for tropical ecology research.

The Biology Centre is located in České Budějovice (max. 2 hours south of the capital Prague), a safe middle-sized city with ca. 100K inhabitants, relaxed atmosphere, historical centre and a breathtaking countryside around providing numerous opportunities for research and leisure activities. It has a growing international expert community at the Biology Centre CAS and the neighbouring University of South Bohemia. Check out our Guide for Expats to read about life in the city and the Czech Republic.

The Biology Centre holds the HR Award. Our selection process is transparent, open, non-discriminating and fair. For more information about the researchers recruitment policy at our institution, see our OTM-R. We provide our employees from abroad with welcome service (visa application, administration, relocation & settlement support).

Please send a CV, contact details for three professional references, and cover letter stating qualifications, relevant experience, and motivation for the position via the REPLY button below. 

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Danny Haelewaters (danny.haelewaters@entu.cas.cz).