PhD position in Invasion Ecology & Global Change Full-time

We are seeking a PhD student to join our team for a newly funded three-year interdisciplinary project “Global change, freshwater snails and ecosystem effects: Will smaller invasive species dominate?”

Project Overview

The project will investigate the mechanisms and effects of species invasions along environmental gradients and their consequences for community- and ecosystem-level responses, using native and invasive freshwater snails as a model system. The project builds on our previous modelling studies (Sentis et al. 2017, Ecology Letters; Dijoux et al. 2024, Ecology Letters) and will utilise our on-site mesocosm facility (Duchet et al. 2024, Water Research; Duchet et al. 2025, Journal of Hazardous Materials). International collaborators include Assoc. Prof. Pavel Kratina (QMUL, London, UK), Dr. Arnaud Sentis (INRAE, Aix-en-Provence, France) and Prof. Otto Seppälä (University of Innsbruck, Austria).

PhD Position Details

You will be primarily involved in the experimental part of the project. Your responsibilities will include:

Maintaining snails in the laboratory and conducting experiments to test their responses to warming and eutrophication.
Participating in field sampling and mesocosm experiments.
Analysing ecological data (e.g., in R).
Writing scientific manuscripts and presenting findings at conferences.
Are you interested in interdisciplinary research that combines organismal biology, community ecology, and modern experimental methods? This position is ideal for you.

This is a fully funded PhD position (4 years). The PhD can start between April and September 2026, with an earlier starting date preferred. You will receive a university PhD scholarship and part-time employment on the project. The total monthly income, starting at ~32,000 CZK in the first year (~1,330 EUR, plus health insurance and pension contributions), is sufficient to cover local living costs.

Required Qualifications for the PhD Position

Master’s degree in ecology, biology, environmental science, limnology, or a related field.
Experience with laboratory experiments and culturing organisms; prior work with freshwater snails or other macroinvertebrates is preferred.
Experience with R or similar tools for ecological data analysis is beneficial.
The working environment is international; excellent communication skills in English are essential.

How to Apply

Please send an email with the subject “PhD Application – Snails Project” to Prof. David Boukal ([Please click the Apply button for the link or address]) and attach a single PDF containing the following:

CV
Cover letter describing your motivation and relevant experience
Contact details for 2–3 referees
Writing sample: thesis chapter, report, or publication.

Application deadline: extended until 15 February 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed shortly after. The selected PhD candidate will then submit a formal application to the Faculty of Science at USB, followed by faculty-level interviews.

Host institution: University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecosystem Biology. České Budějovice is a relaxed city of ~100,000 inhabitants and is within easy reach of Prague and Vienna. The campus brings together the University and several research institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, offering access to a vibrant research community and numerous modern facilities.

For questions or informal inquiries, please contact David Boukal ([Please click the Apply button for the link or address]).

Tagged as: Earth Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics