PhD in Environmental Biogeochemistry

We offer a full-time PhD position in an interdisciplinary field encompassing biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, ecology, and environmental science.

The PhD position is part of the POLLCHAIN project, funded by the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR), investigating the bioaccumulation and origins of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the food chain, focusing on mid-trophic small mammals. The project utilizes long-term data and specimen collections from the area known as the “European Black Triangle” (the Ore Mountains study area) and contemporary samples from two additional study areas that differ in sources and contamination levels.

The successful candidate will join the research team of Markéta Zárybnická at the Dept. of Ecology in collaboration with Vladislav Chrastný at the Dept. of Environmental Geosciences, both at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Czech Republic.

We offer:

• Gross salary: 32,000 CZK/month (~1,280 EUR); net: ~26,000 CZK/month.

• Student accommodation on campus (6,000–10,000 CZK/month, for details, see here).

• Full medical insurance and social security benefits.

• Salary supplement for high-quality publications.

• Start date: October 2025 (PhD duration is four years).

• Guaranteed data availability (long-term collections and recent samples).

• Funding for fieldwork, lab materials, and travel expenses for the first two years.

• Access to fully equipped field and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, including spectrometry and mass spectrometry instruments.

• Collaboration with experts from different fields.

• Field experience across three study areas in Czechia, including the unique Ore Mountains region, historically affected by severe air pollution.

• International working environment with English as the primary language, located on a green and spacious campus in Suchdol, on the outskirts of Prague. The campus is 12 km from Prague Airport, a 20-minute commute from the city center by public transportation or bike, and a 15-minute walk from several protected natural areas.

• Excellent campus facilities, including a swimming pool, gym, athletic track, and indoor and outdoor sports fields.

We require:

• Strong communication skills in English and a willingness to learn new scientific concepts, computational skills, and field/lab techniques.
• A master’s degree (or equivalent) in biochemistry, applied chemistry, toxicology, ecology, environmental science, or a related discipline.
• Proficiency in scientific literature review, databases, and summarizing key findings.
• Experience with R (or similar statistical software), particularly with multivariate analyses and generalized linear models.
• Laboratory experience in analytical methods and field collection of biological samples is desirable.