Graduate position: BC-CAS_Czechia.ButterflyConservationGenomics

PhD Position: Butterfly Conservation Genomics

(Please, feel free to distribute to all potential candidates)

Closing date: September 12, 2025

We are seeking a motivated PhD student to join our international team
at the Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences. You will be part of
an exciting project on population and comparative genomics of threatened
butterflies, with the aim of quantifying how habitat fragmentation affects
genetic diversity and adaptive potential in one of the most species-rich
yet highly threatened biotopes in Europe ??? dry grasslands and steppes.

You will have the opportunity to carry out fieldwork across the Czech
Republic and work closely with local managers and with the Czech Nature
Conservation Agency. New whole-genome sequencing data will be mapped to
chromosome-level reference genomes provided by our partners at Project
Psyche (https://www.projectpsyche.org/). Access to continental-scale
field samples and standardized population genomics protocols will
be provided by the European Population Genomics Consortium ??? LepEU
(https://lepeu.github.io/).

Priority will be given to candidates who have co-authored at least one
scientific publication (submitted or accepted). Experience with population
genetics, comparative genomics and/or the analysis of genomic data using
bioinformatics protocols is advantageous.

Multiple avenues for networking, hands-on training and mobility will
be available. Our research team is part of the 10kLepGenomes COST
Action (chaired by Prof. Niklas Wahlberg, Lund University, Sweden;
https://10klepgenomes.eu/) and close collaborators in this project include
Prof. Mark Blaxter and Dr. Joana Meier (Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK),
Dr. Kay Lucek (University of Neuch??tel, Switzerland) and Prof. Chris
Wheat (Stockholm University, Sweden).

Required qualifications:

- Master???s degree in biology or related fields (awarded
before start).

- Good communication skills in English.

- Independence and documented research productivity.

Funding and Environment:

The position is fully funded through a combination of research
grant salary and student stipend. The PhD program (4 years) is
based at the Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia
(https://www.prf.jcu.cz/en).

The research facility at the Biology Centre CAS
(https://www.entu.cas.cz/en/) is in Ceske Budejovice, a charming
historical city in the south of the country, within easy reach of Prague
and Vienna. Our working environment (Department of Ecology, Institute
of Entomology) is highly diverse and international.

How to apply:

Send your application in English to pavel.matos@entu.cas.cz, consisting
of one single PDF containing the following:

- Cover letter, outlining your motivation, how your
background and skills fit the project, and your potential plans within
the research focus of this position (max. 2 pages).

- CV, including contact details of at least two referees
familiar with your work.

The deadline for applications is September 12, 2025. The top ranked
candidates will be selected for an interview in English. The start date
is expected in autumn 2025.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. P??vel Matos-Marav??

Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences

Brani??ovsk?? 31, 37005, ??esk?? Bud??jovice, Czech Republic

Email: pavel.matos@entu.cas.cz

Web: https://pavelmatos.wordpress.com/

Matos Maravi Pavel Fortunato <pavel.matos@entu.cas.cz>

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