Join Us | Phage Ecology & Evolution Group

Why join us?

Cutting-edge science

Work on fundamental questions at the intersection of phage biology, comparative genomics, and mathematical modelling — with real-world implications for understanding infectious disease.

Training and development

Gain deep expertise in bioinformatics, evolutionary theory, and data science. We invest in the professional development of every team member through mentorship, conferences, and collaboration.

International environment

Join a group embedded in a vibrant European academic community, with active international collaborations. The working language of the group is English.

Open Positions

Two fully funded positions are currently available.

PhD Position

PhD Student in Microbial Genomics and Evolution

Responsibilities

Conduct research in microbial genomics and evolution
Analyze bacterial genomic datasets using bioinformatic approaches and data science
Perform functional analyses of bacteriophage genomes from diverse ecological niches
Contribute to the development of research and publications in high-impact journals
Present research findings at meetings and conferences
Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary research team

Required qualifications

Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Data Science, Microbiology, Evolutionary Biology, or a related field
Good skills in programming/scripting languages such as Python or R
Solid background in bioinformatics or data analysis
Strong interest in microbial ecology and evolution and bacteriophages
Excellent communication and scientific writing skills
Strong written and spoken English (B2 level)

Desirable

Prior experience in comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis
Prior experience in bacteria / phage genomics
Prior experience in large-scale data processing or HPC clusters
Record of peer-reviewed publications

Postdoctoral Position

Postdoctoral Researcher in Microbial Genomics and Evolution

Responsibilities

Conduct independent research in microbial genomics and evolution
Analyze large-scale bacterial genomic datasets using bioinformatic and computational approaches
Perform functional analyses of thousands of bacteriophage genomes from diverse ecological niches
Contribute to the development of research projects and lead first-author publications in high-impact journals
Present research findings at meetings and conferences
Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary research team
Assist in mentoring students and junior researchers

Required qualifications

PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Data Science, Microbiology, Evolutionary Biology, or a related field
Strong computational and bioinformatic skills
Proficiency in programming/scripting languages such as Python or R
Experience using high-performance computing (HPC) or computational clusters
Track record of peer-reviewed publications
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Excellent communication and scientific writing skills
Strong written and spoken English
Interest in microbial ecology and evolution

Desirable

Experience in comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis
Experience in bacteria / phage genomics

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically (in English) to the HR department of the Faculty of Science:

personalni.prf@osu.cz

Please include all of the following documents:

Signed consent to the processing of personal data for the purposes of the selection procedure
Letter of intent
Curriculum vitae
Postdoc applicants only: copy of doctoral diploma

Deadline for applications: 15 July 2026.

For questions about the position and the research project, contact Dr Smug directly at bogna.smug@gmail.com. Informal enquiries before applying are very welcome.

Contact Dr Smug