PhD position: Evolution of terpenoid biosynthesis in insects Funding for a PhD position is available at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic, in the Chemistry of Social Insects Lab led by Dr. Robert Hanus. IOCB Prague is one of the leading research institutions in the country, offering cutting-edge equipment and fostering a dynamic environment for interdisciplinary research and global collaboration. About a third of 200+ PhD students come from abroad. Our research group focuses among others on the chemical diversity, biological significance, and biosynthesis of terpenoids produced by insects. Terpenoid secondary metabolites are used by organisms for communication and defense, and the multitude of their biological activities is exploited by industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, or food and flavour. In this project, we address the question of evolutionary origin and functional properties of insect terpene synthases, the key enzymes responsible for the conversion of prenyl pyrophosphates into terpenes. Insect terpene synthases are unrelated to their plant or microbial counterparts and have evolved multiple times independently in different insect lineages. Our understanding remains limited in terms of their reaction mechanisms and structure-activity relationships. Within the PhD project, the candidate will functionally characterize a set of insect terpene synthases from unrelated insect clades and define their common and idiosyncratic structural features acquired during their multiple independent origins. The PhD project is funded by the European MSCA Doctoral Network 'ModBioTerp' and the grant support for the broader research project is funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (2024-2027). The main supervisor is Dr. Robert Hanus and a part of the project will be carried out in a partner laboratory within the ModBioTerp network. The monthly stipend includes 2690 EUR living allowance, 600 EUR mobility allowance, and 660 EUR family allowance (if applicable). The ideal candidate would be available early in 2025. The candidate must conform to the MSCA Mobility Rule: cannot have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Czech Republic for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before their recruitment date. Interested candidates should contact the main supervisor Robert Hanus (robert.hanus@uochb.cas.cz) and/or Jitka Stafkova (jitka.stafkova@uochb.cas.cz). https://www.uochb.cz/en/open-positions/303/evolution-of-terpenoid-biosynthesis-in-insects Jitka Stafkova Chemistry of Social Insects jitka.stafkova@uochb.cas.cz http://hanus.group.uochb.cz/en jitka.stafkova@uochb.cas.cz (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)