Institute of Soil Biology and Biochemistry of the Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice

Ceske Budejovice is a medium-sized town ca. 150 km south of Prague with 100,000 inhabitants, a relaxed atmosphere, and a growing community of foreign scientists and students at the University and the Biology Centre. Three faculties and five research institutes dealing with aquatic and terrestrial biota are located on the same campus, allowing easy access to other researchers and resources. Both the town and the surrounding countryside provide numerous opportunities for social and leisure activities. Living costs are low by international standards. Courses of Czech language are provided for foreign staff to reach a basic level of proficiency in everyday situations.

Homepage: https://www.bc.cas.cz/

Background

Fauna is highly abundant in soils worldwide, but their potential in regulating carbon in soil and helping mitigate climate change remains unknown, which hampers effective and sustainable management of soils in the face of global change.

Project description

The PhD project, funded by the Czech Academy of Sciences, will tackle this research gap in various experiments that will mainly focus on how earthworms, nematodes, and springtails, individually and in combination with each other, affect the proportion and formation of particulate and mineral-associated organic matter. The research will be conducted on various scales, including laboratory experiments at the Biology Centre CAS, an Ecotron experiment at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, and field experiments in the Global Change Experimental Facility of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Germany. The successful candidate will perform physical fractionation of soil, biomarker (amino sugars) and DNA extractions, conduct gas-chromatographic measurements, and will be involved in setting up and maintaining laboratory and field experiments.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a motivated individual with a strong interest in soil organic matter dynamics.

The successful candidate should have:

- a master’s degree in soil science or a related field

- previous experience in soil organic matter dynamics and stability and/or related to soil fauna

- previous experience in statistical analysis of data, preferably in R

- previous experience in biomarker extraction and gas-chromatographic analyses is a plus

- organizational skills, reliability, and a sense of responsibility

- the ability to fluently communicate in English

- good interpersonal skills and effective time management

What we offer

- challenging work that will push the frontiers of soil science

- inspiring and motivating workplace within an international team

- friendly atmosphere

- above-average PhD salary

- employee benefits (5 weeks of vacation, canteen, social fund)

- part-time work

Applications, consisting of a cover letter and a CV, including a summary of previous work experience and education, should be submitted via Email to Mrs. Kocar: sara.svehlova@bc.cas.cz.