Two fully funded PhD positions
Biogeography, macroevolution
Department of Ecology, Charles University
These two positions have been filled in July 2023. However, we are always looking for motivated students. Please, contact Antonin Machac in case of interest to discuss possible funding and PhD options.
How did the diversity of life on Earth emerge? That is one of the fundamental questions in biology. Yet, we still search for the general principles that govern the evolution of diversity across regions (e.g. tropical rainforests, temperate forests) and taxa (birds, mammals). Knowledge of these principles is key for evolutionary theory, but also for prediction and biodiversity conservation.
The successful candidate will address this fundamental question. Namely, they will analyze the fascinating biodiversity of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles (approx. 30,000 species), integrating their phylogenies, maps and traits, to uncover the general principles that governed their evolution. This work complements the ongoing research within the team and will permit the student to work independently but also in close collaboration with other team members and research partners internationally (ETH Switzerland, S-BiK Frankfurt, UBC Vancouver, CMEC Copenhagen). The PhD topic provides flexibility of the pursued questions, which will be addressed using modern statistics, making the student highly qualified after graduation for work within academia or in the private sector. The combination of independent and collaborative work permits for secure, but also for high risk/high gain dissertation research.
PhD involves
- doctoral studies at the Dept of Ecology at Charles University in Prague: www.natur.cuni.cz/biology/ecology/department/about
- study of biodiversity in vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles) (approx. 30,000 species)
- integrating molecular phylogenies, maps and species traits to uncover the processes
that generate biodiversity across regions, across the phylogeny and over time
- addressing fundamental questions on the evolution of biodiversity, using modern statistics
(regression analyses, GIS geographic information systems, comparative methods, implemented in R)
We offer
- creative and supporting atmosphere in an international team
- membership to an international, diverse PhD student community
at the Department of Ecology of Charles University, Prague
- additional interdisciplinary experience through local (P. Kohout, D. Storch)
and international collaboration (ETH Zurich, Univ Copenhagen)
- competitive salary plus extra bonus through a scholarship
- fully covered health insurance and contribution to the social security system
- support for establishment of foreign employees via the Staff Welcome
Center of the University
- work near the historical center of a vibrant cultural Prague city
We require
- strong motivation for interdisciplinary research
at the interface of ecology, evolution and statistics
- MSc degree in Biology or related fields (in early fall 2023 at the latest)
- good spoken and written English, communication at the Department is
fully in English
Desirable but not required
- experience with statistics, R programming, GIS
- background in phylogeny-based research
- experience with publishing papers
Please submit your CV, one-page motivation letter, and two references
to Antonin Machac ([email protected]) Review of the applications will begin in March 2023
and will continue until the position has been filled. The exact start date is negotiable.
Biogeography, macroevolution
Department of Ecology, Charles University
These two positions have been filled in July 2023. However, we are always looking for motivated students. Please, contact Antonin Machac in case of interest to discuss possible funding and PhD options.
How did the diversity of life on Earth emerge? That is one of the fundamental questions in biology. Yet, we still search for the general principles that govern the evolution of diversity across regions (e.g. tropical rainforests, temperate forests) and taxa (birds, mammals). Knowledge of these principles is key for evolutionary theory, but also for prediction and biodiversity conservation.
The successful candidate will address this fundamental question. Namely, they will analyze the fascinating biodiversity of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles (approx. 30,000 species), integrating their phylogenies, maps and traits, to uncover the general principles that governed their evolution. This work complements the ongoing research within the team and will permit the student to work independently but also in close collaboration with other team members and research partners internationally (ETH Switzerland, S-BiK Frankfurt, UBC Vancouver, CMEC Copenhagen). The PhD topic provides flexibility of the pursued questions, which will be addressed using modern statistics, making the student highly qualified after graduation for work within academia or in the private sector. The combination of independent and collaborative work permits for secure, but also for high risk/high gain dissertation research.
PhD involves
- doctoral studies at the Dept of Ecology at Charles University in Prague: www.natur.cuni.cz/biology/ecology/department/about
- study of biodiversity in vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles) (approx. 30,000 species)
- integrating molecular phylogenies, maps and species traits to uncover the processes
that generate biodiversity across regions, across the phylogeny and over time
- addressing fundamental questions on the evolution of biodiversity, using modern statistics
(regression analyses, GIS geographic information systems, comparative methods, implemented in R)
We offer
- creative and supporting atmosphere in an international team
- membership to an international, diverse PhD student community
at the Department of Ecology of Charles University, Prague
- additional interdisciplinary experience through local (P. Kohout, D. Storch)
and international collaboration (ETH Zurich, Univ Copenhagen)
- competitive salary plus extra bonus through a scholarship
- fully covered health insurance and contribution to the social security system
- support for establishment of foreign employees via the Staff Welcome
Center of the University
- work near the historical center of a vibrant cultural Prague city
We require
- strong motivation for interdisciplinary research
at the interface of ecology, evolution and statistics
- MSc degree in Biology or related fields (in early fall 2023 at the latest)
- good spoken and written English, communication at the Department is
fully in English
Desirable but not required
- experience with statistics, R programming, GIS
- background in phylogeny-based research
- experience with publishing papers
Please submit your CV, one-page motivation letter, and two references
to Antonin Machac ([email protected]) Review of the applications will begin in March 2023
and will continue until the position has been filled. The exact start date is negotiable.