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 evolution of the visual sensory system
in fishes and counts with application of transcriptomics (including the
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 the ERC funding located in an
inspiring historical city
- a competitive salary sufficient to live in Prague
- possibility to participate at international conferences, collaborations
and in the field
- wide selection of courses at the Faculty of Science

We seek:
- a candidate with motivation and enthusiasm for biology, nature and
science, and with ability and willingness to learn new approaches
- fluency in English
- a M.Sc. degree in biology or related fields (or to be finished by
September 2025)
- experience with molecular genetics, other laboratory techniques, as well
as with some (basic) bioinformatics will be considered as beneficial

The project:
Deep-sea fish have evolved extreme adaptations to their environment. Such
as in their eyes with cone and rod cells responsible for photoreception. In
several deep-sea fish lineages, a novel visual system with unknown
mechanism has been discovered (
https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aav4632). Some species use
multiple rhodopsins or have uncertain identity of the cones and rods,
something very unusual for vertebrates. The main goal of this project
funded by the ERC Consolidator grant is to study these adaptations mainly
from a single-cell level perspective. We have already working pipelines in
our group and, hence, we offer state-of-the-art genomic tools and
professional training for the prospective PhD candidate. While the focus of
our research is mainly on molecular evolution, we generally aim to
interpret cool stories out of our findings mainly in the context of the
evolution, fishes and their life. The candidate is expected to present
his/her project at international conferences and will be authoring research
publications. All nations applicable.

All questions and applications (CV + half-page motivation letter + contact
details for two persons who can be asked for a reference) should be sent
directly to Zuzana Musilova (zuzmus[AT]gmail.com or zuzana.musilova[AT]
natur.cuni.cz)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION:-)

Zuzana Musilova, PhD.
(zuzmus@gmail.com)

Department of Zoology
Charles University
Vinicna 7, CZ-128 44 Prague
Czech Republic - Europe

zuzmus <zuzmus@gmail.com>

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