ERC-funded PhD position in the Fish Evolution research group at Department of Zoology, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
Topic: Genomics of the visual sensory system in deep-sea fishes
Application deadline: 15th March 2025 (the candidate will be selected in March/April)
Start date: 1st October 2025
Duration: 4 years
Location: Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, EU
Research group: http://www.fishevo.com/
We are searching for a motivated candidate
With interest in molecular and evolutionary genomic approaches to reveal the secrets of how fish see in the deep sea. The project focuses on the evolution of the visual sensory system in fishes and includes transcriptomics applications (including single-cell transcriptomics) of the retina. The successful candidate will join the Fish Evolution research group of Zuzana Musilova at Charles University in Prague and will study eyes of species with extreme adaptations, some of them with unknown mechanisms.
We offer:
- An international research group with ERC funding located in an inspiring historical city
- A competitive salary sufficient to live in Prague
- Possibility to participate in international conferences, collaborations, and fieldwork
- A wide selection of courses at the Faculty of Science
We seek:
- A candidate with motivation and enthusiasm for biology, nature, and science, and with the ability and willingness to learn new approaches
- Fluency in English
- An M.Sc. degree in biology or related fields (or to be completed by September 2025)
- Experience with molecular genetics, other laboratory techniques, and some (basic) bioinformatics will be considered beneficial
The project:
Deep-sea fish have evolved extreme adaptations to their environment, particularly in their visual systems, where cone and rod cells are responsible for photoreception. Some deep-sea fish lineages have developed novel visual systems with unknown mechanisms (https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aav4632). Some species use multiple rhodopsins or have uncertain cone and rod identities, which is highly unusual among vertebrates.
The main goal of this project, funded by an ERC Consolidator grant, is to study these adaptations primarily from a single-cell perspective. Our group already has established working pipelines, and we offer state-of-the-art genomic tools and professional training for the prospective PhD candidate. While our main focus is molecular evolution, we aim to extract and interpret fascinating evolutionary stories from our findings. The candidate is expected to present their project at international conferences and contribute to research publications. All nationalities are welcome to apply.
How to apply:
All questions and applications (CV + half-page motivation letter + contact details for two references) should be sent directly to:
📩 Zuzana Musilova
✉️ zuzmus[AT]gmail.com or zuzana.musilova[AT]natur.cuni.cz
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION! 😊
📍 Contact details:
Zuzana Musilova, PhD
Department of Zoology, Charles University
Vinicna 7, CZ-128 44 Prague, Czech Republic - Europe
📧 zuzmus@gmail.com
