Opportunities

Characterizing zooplankton infochemicals and their effects on cyanobacterial traits

(Shared position between the University of South Bohemia and the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic)

We are seeking an enthusiastic PhD student to join our research team at the Department of Ecosystem Biology, University of South Bohemia (USB), in close collaboration with Dr. Kumar Saurav (Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences) and Prof. Adam Petrusek (Charles University, Prague). The position is based in the Czech Republic and is part of a newly funded project investigating chemical communication between zooplankton and cyanobacteria, and how these interactions shape the dynamics of freshwater ecosystems.

USB and IMIC facilities are located in the České Budějovice region, a relaxed city of ~100,000 inhabitants within easy reach of Prague and Vienna. The USB campus offers access to a vibrant research community and numerous modern facilities.

Project Overview

Cyanobacterial blooms pose significant risks to freshwater ecosystems through the production of toxins, alterations to food webs, and reduced water quality. Although zooplankton can be strongly affected by cyanobacteria, they also produce infochemicals that can modulate cyanobacterial morphology, growth, colony formation, and toxin production. Yet, the chemical nature, diversity, and ecological relevance of these cues remain largely unknown.

In this project, the PhD Candidate will:

• Characterize infochemicals released by copepods and cladocerans across a phylogenetic gradient of taxa common in Central European lakes and ponds.
• Examine their effects on cyanobacterial traits using bioassays and chemical profiling.
• Integrate approaches from freshwater ecology, chemical ecology, and microbial ecology.

Role of the PhD candidate

The PhD candidate will be central to the project and will work closely with collaborators at USB, IMIC and Charles University. Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining and cultivating freshwater zooplankton species.
• Running laboratory experiments testing zooplankton–cyanobacteria interactions.
• Preparing samples for mass spectrometry and working with chemical profiling datasets.
• Participating in field sampling and infochemical analyses.
• Analyzing ecological and chemical data (e.g., in R).
• Writing scientific manuscripts and presenting findings at conferences.

This position is ideal for a student interested in interdisciplinary aquatic science, combining organismal biology, chemical ecology, and modern analytical approaches.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in ecology, biology, environmental science, limnology, chemistry, or a related field.
• Interest in freshwater ecology, zooplankton biology, and chemical ecology.
• Ability to work across disciplines that combine ecological research with environmental chemistry.
• Experience in laboratory experiments, culturing organisms, or preparing samples for mass spectrometry is an advantage.
• Hands-on experience of HPLC and mass spectrometry is preferred.
• Experience with R or similar tools for data analysis is beneficial.
• The working environment is international; excellent communication skills in English are essential.

Position Details

• Funding: Fully funded PhD (4 years). The student will receive a university PhD scholarship and part-time employment on the project (starting at ~32,000 CZK (~1,330 EUR) in the first year, which may increase over time and includes health insurance and pension contributions) sufficient to cover living expenses in the Czech Republic.
• Host institutions:

• University of South Bohemia (USB), Faculty of Science, Department of Ecosystem Biology in Ceske Budejovice
• Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology (IMIC) of the Czech Academy of Sciences, in Třeboň (about 20 km from Ceske Budejovice)

• Start date: No later than September 2026.
• Language of the program:
• Applicants from all countries are eligible but a M.Sc. degree is required to enter a Ph.D. program in the Czech Republic.

How to Apply

Please send a single PDF comprising the following information to Dr. Claire Duchet (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Dr. Kumar Saurav (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) in cc with the subject: “PhD Application – Zooplankton Infochemicals Project”

Include:

1. CV
2. Cover letter describing your motivation and relevant experience
3. Contact details for 2–3 referees

4. Writing sample: thesis chapter, report, or publication

Deadline: 15 January 2026

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed shortly after. The invited candidate will then submit a formal application to the Faculty of Science at USB, with faculty-level interviews. The position can start from March 2026 onward. Therefore, candidates available only in the autumn are also encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to start their PhD no later than September/October 2026 at the start of the winter semester.

For questions or informal inquiries, please contact Claire Duchet (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

I am looking for enthusiastic postdocs to join our group and develop new lines of basic or applied research on various consequences of anthropogenic stressors on freshwater biota.

Our group's expertise includes laboratory experiments on individual behaviour (using Noldus Ethovision), physiology (with a focus on respirometry) and trophic interactions. We also conduct outdoor experiments in heated mesocosms to study the responses of whole communities to anthropogenic stressors such as climate change, various pollutants and invasive species. We also use mathematical models to study various dynamic phenomena, from predator-prey interactions to community assembly. This means you can expand your toolkit (depending on your previous background) and develop a more holistic approach to your future research.

Our lab is multinational and regularly publishes in leading journals (e.g. Ecology Letters, Water Research, Global Change Biology, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Hazardous Materials). The campus provides access to many other research groups and facilities, and we actively collaborate with a number of research groups in the Czech Republic and across Europe. The group is hosted by the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia and the Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, Czech Republic. The joint campus of both institutions is located in Ceske Budejovice, a laid-back town of about 100,000 people within easy reach of Prague and Vienna. Overall, the cost of living here is much lower than in many Western European countries and also significantly (P<0.001) lower than in Prague. 

Possible sources of funding include the various grant schemes of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (next deadline in April 2026), Marie Curie Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships (next deadline expected in September 2026) and a postdoc position funded by the University of South Bohemia (next deadline expected in September or October 2026). All these calls are open to applicants from all countries. GACR grants are usually for 3 years, while the latter two provide fully funded positions for 12-24 months. Marie Curie Fellowships offer an unprecedented combination of absolute freedom in the research agenda and extremely good financial conditions: the scholarship is higher than the salary of a full professorship and would allow you to live very comfortably in Czechia.

Informal enquiries are welcome - please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..