Workplace: Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Czechia
Department: Evolutionary Parasitology
Laboratory: Evolution of Protist Symbioses Laboratory
Employment relationship: Employment contract
Job type: Researcher
Researcher profile: R2
Duration: Fixed-term
Job status: Full-time
Hours per week: 40
Job starting date: 1. 7. 2025
Application deadline: 17. 5. 2025
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Are you curious about the still unknown processes that led to the formation of plastids? We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow to investigate the steps during plastid endosymbiosis using proteomic approaches.
Background of your project:
Plastid endosymbiosis has transformed our planet, introducing photosynthesis to eukaryotes and triggering the evolution of a massive diversity of algae and plants. Yet we do not know how it works – mainly because most endosymbiotic events took place such a long time ago. Kleptoplastidic microbes, which steal and transiently retain plastids from their algal prey for photosynthesis, offer the unique possibility to investigate plastid endosymbiosis while it is happening. Overall rare in eukaryotes, kleptoplastidy has evolved relatively frequently in dinoflagellates, a species-rich lineage of unicellular eukaryotes that is nevertheless understudied in its diversity. The Evolution of Protist Symbioses Laboratory utilizes known and newly isolated kleptoplastidic dinoflagellates as models to study the process of plastid endosymbiosis. For this specific project, one of the very few kleptoplastidic lineages in culture, the Ross Sea Dinoflagellate (RSD), will be employed in spatial and quantitative proteomic experiments to investigate several aspects of early plastid endosymbiosis. For more information on the lab and its research, please visit: https://protistomics.eu/hehenberger/
About your role:
You will be the driving force behind a project that integrates experimental and bioinformatic approaches to explore the long-term kleptoplastidic association in RSD. You will, together with our collaborators at the University of Cambridge, develop a (hyper)LOPIT protocol for this lineage, complement this approach with quantitative proteomic experiments and analyze the resulting data to help resolve the following fundamental questions: What is the composition of the plastid proteome in a kleptoplastidic lineage? How does the kleptoplast and control of the kleptoplast change during integration? Do endosymbiosis-associated gene transfers impact other compartments of the cell besides the plastid?
REQUIREMENTS:
About You:
You are an early-career researcher with a PhD in biology or molecular/cellular biology.
You are an enthusiastic scientist with proven research abilities that include persistence in resolving technical issues. Ideally, you have expertise in one or more of the following methodologies/fields: proteomics, mass spectrometry or bioinformatics/large datasets. Previous experience with dinoflagellates is a plus.
You are organized, accurate and responsible. Importantly, you possess excellent communication skills that contribute to a pleasant working atmosphere. You enjoy working collaboratively as part of a dynamic team on well-defined research projects. When necessary, your scientific passion enables you to work independently and demonstrate initiative by implementing state-of-the-art methodologies.
BENEFITS:
Our offer:
A fully funded position with a competitive salary for 3 years, with the possibility for extension.
Starting date: July 1st 2025
A general understanding of a healthy work/life balance.
Employment benefits:
• 5 weeks of paid holiday in total (for 1 FTE)
• Subsidized lunches in our own canteen
• Standard health insurance and social security
• Benefits from Social fund
• Welcome service and further support for foreigners (visa application, administration, relocation & settlement support)
• Free language classes (Czech for foreigners, English for Czechs)
• Opportunity to take part in mentoring programmes as a mentor or a mentee
• Concessionary services at the contractual operator and bank
• Access to accommodation in dormitories at the campus shared by the BC and the USB
• Campus-based daycare for employees‘ children from the age of 1 year
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
About your workplace:
Your work locations will be the Institute of Parasitology (IoP) (https://www.paru.cas.cz/en/), one of five institutes comprising the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Ceske Budejovice (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/homepage/), and the University of Cambridge, UK. The successful candidate will spend approximately one year in the UK in the laboratory of our collaborator, Prof. Ross Waller, to establish the spatial proteomics workflow.
You will be an integral member of the diverse and international research group led by Dr. Elisabeth Hehenberger, who has recently been awarded the prestigious European Research Council Consolidator Grant. You will have excellent opportunities to advance your scientific career in a supportive and stimulating research team that has built an extensive network of national and international collaborators across Europe, Japan and North America. The lab is located in a newly built open space research center of the IoP that houses three other labs focusing on various evolutionary aspects of microbial eukaryotes. The scientific expertise and technical facilities of these joint evolutionary research groups are highly complementary, forming the base of a collaborative and friendly environment for cutting-edge research. Outstanding facilities are available for cellular physiology, advanced imaging and each of the major -omics fields.
České Budějovice is located 2 hours south of the capital city, Prague, and 2 hours north of the Austrian Alps. Situated on the confluence of the Vltava and Malse rivers, it offers over 750 years of tradition and history. The many city parks and beautiful countryside contribute to a relaxed atmosphere. With about 100K inhabitants, the city nevertheless provides many educational, cultural and recreational opportunities. In addition to these advantages, the living costs are still low by international standards. Visit the Guide for Expats (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees/) to read about life in the city and the Czech Republic.
About the selection process:
The Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences holds the HR Excellence in Research Award. Our selection process is transparent, open, non-discriminating, and fair. For more information about the recruitment policy for researchers at our institution, see OTM-R (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees/candidates/otm-r/).
At the deadline, we will review all applications and select 3-5 of the best candidates to interview online. Final candidates will be contacted via email and asked to present their most significant contributions to their field of research.
HOW TO APPLY:
Application deadline is Saturday, May 17, 2025. Please submit your CV along with a motivational letter explaining your research passions and why you are uniquely qualified to join our research group. Apply through the REPLY button at the bottom of our official website: https://jobs.bc.cas.cz/en/detail/250
You are invited to submit the names and contact information of two references.
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(Use this contact ONLY for additional questions, NOT for sending applications. Please apply through the official website of the offer, thank you.)