********************GradStudentPositions********************

* Two PhD positions in Computational Biology at Charles University,
Prague *

We are recruiting two fully funded PhD student positions in computational
biology at the Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles
University (Prague, Czechia), in the group of Dr. Hana Rozhoòová.

Our research asks a simple "what-if" question: if we rewired the
genetic code, would evolution take different paths? Almost all organisms
on Earth share the same genetic code a mapping from 64 three-letter
codons to amino acids and stop signals. Because mutations typically change
one nucleotide at a time, the genetic code makes some amino-acid changes
easy to reach and others much harder potentially biasing evolution in
predictable ways.

Two PhD projects are available:

   1.  Genetic-code bias in amino-acid substitution patterns. The
       student will quantify whether amino-acid pairs that are more
       "accessible" under the genetic code (connected by more or
       shorter mutational paths) tend to substitute for each other
       more often in nature, and how this interacts with classical
       mutation bias.
   2.  Codon degeneracy as a source of evolutionary bias. Most amino
       acids are encoded by multiple synonymous codons (1-6 in the
       standard genetic code).

   We will focus on two questions:
   1. Do amino acids with more synonymous codons become more abundant
      because they are more "findable"?
   2. Synonymous codons differ in their one-step mutational neighbors.
      Can these differences help explain why organisms prefer some
      synonymous codons over others?

Both projects are purely computational, combining evolutionary simulations
with analysis of real biological data.

Applicants should hold (or soon obtain) a Master's degree (or
equivalent) in biology/computer science/math/physics/etc. Strong
candidates will enjoy programming and data analysis and be curious
about evolutionary questions; prior biology knowledge is helpful but
not required.

Start date: October 1, 2026
Duration: 4 years
Application deadline: March 31 2026

How to apply: email a single PDF (CV, transcript, motivation letter,
and contact details for 1-2 referees) to hana.rozhonova@natur.cuni.cz

More information:
https://natur.cuni.cz/en/biology/departments-and-work-places/department-of-cell-biology/research/rozhonovalab/opportunities

Hana Rozhonova <hana.rozhonova@natur.cuni.cz>

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